Top Australian Online Blackjack Sites

How Online Blackjack Compares to the Live Game

If you've played real money blackjack in a live casino, you're probably already familiar with the flow of the game: the strategic decisions you have to make and the battle against the dealer. Online blackjack isn't all that much different, as all of the odds and rules are the same.

But that doesn't mean that online blackjack for real money doesn't come with its own advantages and disadvantages. The game tends to go faster online, though internet blackjack doesn't offer opportunities to count cards (since the "shoe" is reshuffled after every hand). Here's a look at five of the biggest advantages you'll see when playing blackjack online for real cash:

• More Variants: Most Australians are familiar with the classic game, as well as the popular variant Pontoon. Some casinos here even offer other variations like Spanish 21 or Super Fun 21. But internet blackjack offers a host of different versions of the game for real money, including some that are rarely found in live casinos, like Blackjack Switch.
• No Waiting: Blackjack tables in casinos are some of the most popular seats around, meaning it can be tough to find an open spot - especially at lower stakes. That's never a problem when playing online blackjack, where there's always a seat for you at exactly the table you want.
• Better Odds: Many live casinos now offer games that feature rules which give the house a much bigger advantage. Perhaps the most common of these is the 6-5 paying blackjack - a huge rip-off for players and a variant you'll never see in the online version.
• Big Bonuses: If you want to get the most out of your real money blackjack play, there's no better place to play than at an Australian gambling site. These sites are willing to give big bonuses to players when they make their first deposit, and while the standard bonus is sometimes restricted to only certain games with a big house edge, more and more sites are offering special online blackjack bonuses designed especially for fans of the game.
• Ultimate Convenience: With internet blackjack, there's no more need to travel hours to get to your nearest casino. Now, you can just turn on your computer or connect from your smartphone and start playing blackjack for real cash instantaneously, no matter where you are or what time of day it is.

History of Blackjack

While nobody is quite sure about the game's origins, there's one thing everyone knows for sure: blackjack, in one form or another, has been around for a very long time. Before the modern version of the game was solidified, the game was known simply as twenty-one. References to this older version of blackjack date back to around the year 1600, and already feature the key rules known today: the goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over, and aces can count as either one or 11 points.

The modern game developed after twenty-one was introduced to the United States. Gambling houses there were looking for ways to spice up the game, and decided that one way to do it would be to offer bonus payouts to players. One bonus was known as a blackjack - a hand with the ace of spaces and one of the black jacks - that paid 10-1 to a player who had it. While that bonus eventually faded away, the name and the idea of a higher payout for a natural 21 hand endured, which is why we call it blackjack today.

The game has remained virtually unchanged in the last century, though many new variants have been developed - especially in the last few decades, as proprietary games have become a bigger draw in casinos. Online blackjack first appeared in the 1990s with the development of online casinos. Australian gambling websites were quick to make blackjack one of the first games offered given its popularity both locally and globally.

Most Popular Blackjack Variants

Over the years, many variants on the standard game have been developed. Many of these feature a mix of rule change that benefit the player and the house, keeping the game at around the same balance but offering a different playing experience. Here are a few of the most popular real money online blackjack variants:

• Pontoon: Pontoon is almost certainly the most popular Australian online blackjack variant, as it is widely played in Australia's land-based casinos as well. In this game, players can double down on any number of cards, offers bonuses for certain hands (like 6-7-8 or 7-7-7), and allows player blackjacks and 21s to always win no matter what the dealer has. In exchange, there are no tens in the deck (though the face cards are still there), which hurts the player significantly. Overall, this is a good game for the player, sometimes offering even better odds than standard blackjack depending on the exact rule sets being used in each game.
• Blackjack Switch: In this game, the player must make two bets and play two separate hands against the dealer. However, the player is allowed to exchange the second cards in each hand to their advantage if they wish to do so. This is a huge edge for the player, but in exchange, blackjacks only pay even money and a dealer 22 pushes rather than busts. This is a complex game, which helps explain why it is much more common in internet blackjack sites than at brick-and-mortar casinos. However, it's also a game where the strategy for the player is tough to memorize and can sometimes be counter-intuitive.
• Super Fun 21: Like Pontoon, Super Fun 21 gives the player a host of ways to win: a hand of six cards that totals 20 always wins, player blackjacks always win, doubling down is always an option, and any hand of five or more cards that totals 21 wins even money. However, blackjacks only pay even money, meaning the house edge in Super Fun 21 is usually a bit higher than in other online blackjack games.
• Double Exposure Blackjack: This game gives the player more information, as both dealer cards are face up. However, you once again have to pay a price for this advantage: players will now lose on ties, and all blackjacks pay even money, meaning there are usually better odds in other blackjack games.

Finding the Best Online Blackjack in Australia

On this page, you'll find our picks for the top online blackjack sites in Australia. We've found the very best sites for Australians through a process of testing and reviewing in which we considered all of the features that are important in a good online gambling site. Our reviews are unbiased and will help you understand all of the different aspects at each site, allowing you to choose one that fits your internet blackjack needs.

When choosing the top Australian online blackjack sites, we considered a variety of criterion. First, of course, we looked at the real cash blackjack games on offer: was there a good variety? Are the rules favourable for players? We then looked at more general features, such as the quality of the software, the bonus offers available to players (specifically bonuses that could be used when playing blackjack), and what kinds of customer service options were available to gamblers who were had questions or issues while playing.

We also ensured that each and every site we recommended was as safe and secure as possible. Each of our sites has a history of trustworthy operation and excellent customer service that ensures you'll have a pleasant experience on the site. All of the highly-rated sites here are well-regulated to guarantee fair gameplay, and use only the best encryption standards to protect your personal information at all times.

We stand behind each of the websites recommended here, and any of them would make a great place for any Aussie to play real money online blackjack. If you're ready to start playing blackjack online, check out our reviews, choose a site that's right for you, and start playing internet blackjack today!

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