Online Blackjack for Real Money in South Africa 2024

Online blackjack

Online blackjack is a casino game where you are involved to the maximum due to a variety of betting options and actions during the game. The game is easy to find in SA, so you can access blackjack in South African online casinos with a perfect reputation. Online providers working on these games are Microgaming, NetEnt, Yggdrasil, and others.

On this page, you will not only see top-rated operators to play blackjack online but also learn more about the game and its variations. First of all, we’ll explain the basic rules and payouts. Due to such tips, it won’t be difficult to distinguish soft combinations from hard ones or decide when it’s better to hit or stand. Besides, you’ll learn about basic blackjack strategies and a chart with the most appropriate steps for your current situation. And blackjack online casinos listed on this page will suit you with their wide range of table games and frequent promotions for such software.

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Nonso N. Written & published: 20.11.2020 By author Nonso N.
Brad I. Reviewed & updated: 06.03.2024 By gambling expert Brad I.

How to play blackjack

Online blackjack in South Africa is a card game SA players can easily master. You play against the dealer and try to overcome them. The game's results are based on the hand values of a player and a dealer. Your goal is to get a hand value that will be higher than the dealer’s, but this amount shouldn’t exceed 21 (otherwise, a player busts). That’s why the game is said to take its roots in the Twenty-One family of casino games.

The game is played with one to eight 52-card decks. When talking about an online casino version for South Africans, the cards are continuously shuffled together, making it impossible to apply the card counting strategy. Before a round begins, a player needs to place a bet (there are also side bets like 21+3, Perfect Pairs, and Royal Match). Mainly, you put virtual chips of certain values on corresponding positions, though in some games, you are offered to regulate the stake via ‘+’ and ‘-’ icons. When the game begins, a player and a dealer get two cards. The dealer’s cards are one face-up and one face-down (the hole card).

Online blackjack interface

  • Online blackjack interface
  • Online blackjack interface
  • Online blackjack interface

Player’s decisions in online blackjack

Once the cards are dealt, players have several options:


  • Hit

    This means that you take another card to add its value to the hand you’ve got at the moment.


  • Stand

    You end the turn and stop on the hand value you’ve already got.


  • Double

    You multiply your stake by 2x, take a single card, and finish.

     


  • Split

    The option is available when there are the same value cards. You separate them to play with two hands.


  • Surrender

    You retire from the game by getting half of your bet (at different games, the option may be available in early and late variations).

Dealer’s decisions in online blackjack

Dealers can’t double, split, or surrender. Depending on the game’s type, a dealer may need to stop on hard or all 17s. When the dealer busts (gets a hand value of over 21), a player’s hand wins. In other cases, the hand values are compared, and the winner is the one with a higher value (but it shouldn’t be over 21).

Basically, your bets can bring even money. However, a blackjack combination (an Ace and another card having a 21 total value, for example, A + K) pays 3:2 (though some real money online casinos in South Africa can set smaller payouts).

Online blackjack RTP

🔥 BetSoft Single Deck Blackjack 99.62%
✅ RTG Blackjack Perfect Pairs 99.59%
🤵 Pragmatic Play Live Blackjack 99.50%
❤️️ Pragmatic Play ONE Blackjack 99.28
💩 RTG Super 21 98.58%

Blackjack card values

Since the outcomes of online blackjack games are based on hand values, it’s worth understanding how much certain cards bring and how to count these totals. Actually, it’s easy because all number cards bring corresponding values (eg. 8 points for an eight or 6 points for a six). As for face cards (pictures), they are all counted as 10. Aces are the most attractive in this regard since such cards can be counted as either 1 or 11 (always a value that is better for a player). 

For example, when you have a hand worth 14 and you get an Ace, it will be counted as 1 (15 in total) not to let you bust. And when you have a six, the Ace will bring you 11 to let you get 17 points. Moreover, when you are lucky to get a combination of an Ace and any of the cards from 10 to K, you get a blackjack (21). As for the card suits, they don’t influence the hand values, and you don’t pay attention to them.

Soft and hard combinations

As Aces can be counted as both 1 and 11, depending on what a player needs, they create soft combinations (the ones that can vary, adjusting to the players’ needs). And combinations that have stable values are called hard combinations. This detail is important not only when you are planning your next steps (for example, when you have a soft 15, you won’t take high risks when hitting, while a hard 15, in most cases, makes players stop). Besides, in some blackjack online game variations, the combination type (hard or soft) determines whether a dealer should hit or stand. But it all depends on the rules of the game you pick, so make sure to examine them beforehand.

Online blackjack basic strategy

Though all casino games at online casinos in South Africa are random, table games are based on certain rules and actions players take. That’s why SA players and mathematicians worldwide try to make correct strategies based on the deep game’s understanding. And the most common one is the basic online blackjack strategy. Simply put, it’s a guide that tells you what your next step should be. The solution will be based on your current hand and the dealer’s up card (the one with its value revealed to a player). Due to this knowledge, you can decide when to surrender, split, double down, stand, and hit.

Relying on mathematical research, this strategy minimises the house edge from 2% to 0.5%. However, these are the results provided in the long run. Moreover, the house edge is still present, which necessitates SA players to be careful. The range of steps is complex since there are loads of potential combinations on the field. These are several examples of the steps according to the basic blackjack strategy:

  • When you have hard 5 to 7, hit
  • On hard 8, you hit either on the 2 to 4 or 7 to A dealer’s upcard. On the dealer’s 5 or 6, you should double
  • On hard 9, double on the dealer’s 2 to 6 and hit on the dealer’s 7 to A
  • On hard 10, you double in nearly all cases, except for the dealer’s 10 and A when you need to hit
  • On hard 11, always double
  • On hard 12, you hit on the dealer’s 2 to 3 or 7 to A. In other cases, stand
  • On hard 13 to hard 16, stand on the dealer’s 2 to 6 or hit on the dealer’s 7 to A (on hard 16 and the dealer’s 10 or A, surrender when allowed)
  • On hard 17, you should always stand
  • On soft totals of A + 2 to A + 6, you hit on the dealer’s 2 or 3 (except for A + 6) and the dealer’s 7 to A, and in all the other cases (the dealer’s 4 to 6) you double
  • On A + 7, stand on the dealer’s 2, 7, 8, and A, hit on the dealer’s 9 and 10, or double on the dealer’s 3 to 6
  • On A + 8 and A + 9, always stand, except for the dealer’s 6 on your A + 8 (double instead)

In addition to the overall guide, you will find charts that display all the possible steps and the cards you and the dealer may have. On this chart, you will see all the possible actions. They are H (hit), S (stand), D (double), Dh (double down if allowed, if not hit), Ds (double down if allowed, if not stand), Rh (surrender if allowed, if not hit), and Rs (surrender if allowed, if not stand). Some charts also have the P (split the pair) option with Ph and Ps variations.

Winning odds in online blackjack

Basically, a winning online casino blackjack hand pays even money (1:1). However, when South African gamblers are lucky to get a natural blackjack combination (when the first two cards are an Ace and a ten-card, such as a ten or a picture card J, Q, or K), it pays 3:2. However, South Africans can try out more risky bets, also known as side bets, for a higher winning potential. For example, 25:1 for Perfect Pairs or up to 100:1 for different combinations on 21+3 bets.

Online blackjack tips

Of course, first and foremost, you should play blackjack online for real money at reliable online casinos in South Africa. However, there are some tips connected with the game’s rules. They will allow you to maximise winning probabilities and minimise house edge in online blackjack:

1

Learn the rules and explore the basic strategy

First, you need to learn the rules to understand what step is better for your current hand value.

2

Avoid insurance bets

It’s a bet that allows you to get your stake back when a dealer has a blackjack. However, you don’t earn money on such bets, and they increase your losses.

3

Don’t split fours, fives, and tens

When you have two tens, they already bring you a great total of 20. A hard ten from fives is also a good position. And splitting fours gives you two weak hands.

4

Double down on 11

It’s a good combination since you have a chance to get the next card worth up to 10, so you can’t bust, and there are good chances to get 21.

5

Be careful with side bets

This opportunity sounds attractive when you see the high payout potential. But you should also consider that the house edge will be just as high.

Card counting in online blackjack

Card counting is a blackjack strategy based on assigning a positive, negative, or zero value to each card. To understand what cards have been dealt, players need to physically watch the games and count the cards according to the determined system. For example, Stanford Wong introduced the idea of back-counting when a player stands behind the blackjack table when tracking the cards. That’s why it’s also named Wonging. But this strategy doesn’t work when casinos continuously use shuffling machines. And it’s always so for an online blackjack dealer since, unlike physical blackjack games at land-based casinos, online games are based on RNG, and players can’t track the cards and try to count them. That’s why online blackjack card counting is impossible; this also refers to high roller casinos.

Online blackjack play for free

 

Blackjack providers in SA online casinos

Due to the range of skilful and licensed gambling providers, you can access casino online blackjack for real money with good payout parameters and a range of additional options. The RTP of these games is high, while fairness is provided by regular RNG audits. The brands you find at the best SA online casinos are Betsoft, Playtech, Microgaming, and a range of others.

  • betsoft

    Betsoft

    It’s a reliable online gambling provider that has been around since 2006. You may know the vendor for its jackpot slots and seven mind-blowing online blackjack games. These are 21 Burn Blackjack, American Blackjack, European Blackjack, Pirate 21 Blackjack, Pontoon Blackjack, Single Deck Blackjack, and Super 7 Blackjack. Mainly, the bets on Betsoft blackjack games have a limit of $1 to $100 (or equivalent in South African rands).

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  • genesis gaming

    Genesis

    This vendor owns a few subbrands producing top-tier games, including unusual blackjack variations. One of them is Bunfox, and South Africans are sure to enjoy its Lucky Cat Blackjack (99% RTP) and Zombie Blackjack (99% RTP). In addition to the striking plots, these games have engaging bonus features. For example, Lucky Cat Blackjack offers a multiplier up to 100x when a dealer hits 22, while Zombie Blackjack has a coffin bet feature that can ‘rise from the dead’.

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  • playtech

    Playtech

    Playtech is one of the leading gambling pioneers launched in 1999. Today, it can offer the best online blackjack games for online casino players in South Africa. They are Premium Blackjack Single Hand, All Bets Blackjack, American Blackjack, Blackjack Peek, Blackjack Progressive, Blackjack Super 21, Cashback Blackjack, Double Attack Blackjack, Perfect Blackjack, and some others. These games are rich in side bets of different types.

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  • microgaming

    Microgaming

    Here is one more reputable brand that has been around since 1994. Microgaming has a wide collection of online casino table games for South Africans, including online blackjack. These are Classic Blackjack Gold, Atlantic City Blackjack Gold, Vegas Strip Blackjack, High Limit European Blackjack, Big Five Blackjack Gold, Blackjack Multihand, and more. By the way, the latter has an excellent RTP of 99.42%.

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  • netent

    NetEnt

    This Swedish vendor has been operating in the online casino industry since 1996. Its catalogue of online card games includes several titles, including blackjack variations. They are Classic Blackjack and Blackjack Single Deck (mobile only).

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  • pragmatic play

    Pragmatic Play

    Though this online casino provider was launched in 2015, it’s a top-tier company with 400+ fascinating games of different types. South Africans will find several online blackjack games with a high RTP here, including Royale Blackjack (99.6%), Double Exposure Blackjack (99.69%), and Multihand Blackjack (99.51%).

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  • yggdrasil

    Yggdrasil

    Since 2013, Yggdrasil has been delivering high-quality online gambling products. Its online blackjack games are Sonya Blackjack and Dr Fortuno Blackjack. The games not only have 3D graphics but also feature a range of side bets like 21+3, Perfect Pairs, and Fortune Bonus Bet.

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  • rival

    Rival

    Launched in 2005, this company has many online casino solutions for South Africans, whether slots or table games. As for online blackjack, these are Mini-Hand Blackjack and Rolling Stack Blackjack.

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  • rtg

    RTG

    The company has a great reputation for being in the iGaming market since 1998. As for online blackjack solutions, they are Blackjack and Suit' em Up.

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Blackjack with bonus bets

As winning hands in blackjack pay 1:1 (or 3:2 for natural blackjack), some providers add extra betting options to their games to let SA players place side bets (also known as bonus bets). These bets aren’t connected with your original bet and are based on the prediction of the dealer’s or your upcoming cards. 

Classic side bets in online blackjack

These are the most popular side bet variations in online blackjack:


  • Insurance

    This bet protects players when a dealer has a blackjack, but you just get your bet back rather than win anything.


  • Perfect Pairs

    Here, you bet on your cards. Available variations include Mixed pair (two cards of the same value of any suit or colour, 5:1), coloured pair (two cards of the same value and same colour, 12:1), and perfect pair (two equal value cards of the same colour, 25:1).


  • 21 + 3

    In this case, you bet on both your two cards and the dealer’s face-up card. When a certain combination is formed, you get a corresponding payout. These combinations are Flush (5:1), Straight (10:1), Three of a Kind (30:1), Straight Flush (40:1), and Suite Triple (100:1).

Advanced side bets in online blackjack

Besides, you may encounter other side bet variations at safe and secure SA online casinos. These can be the royal match (5:2), over/under 13 (1:1), super sevens (up to 5000:1 for three suited sevens), and more.

You need to consider the high house edge of these bets. It varies depending on the number of decks (for some combinations, at least several decks should be involved). For example, the house edge for 21+3 bets is 2.74%, 3.24%, 4.24%, 7.26%, and 13.30% for 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1 deck. For Perfect Pairs, this percentage is 8.05%, 12.54%, 21.50%, and 48.08% for 8, 6, 4, or 2 decks.

Most online casino providers operating in South Africa offer at least classic side bet variations like 21+3 and PP (eg. Sonya Blackjack from Yggdrasil). Besides, you can find more unusual side bet variations in games from Playtech. Double Attack Blackjack has the option to bet on the dealer’s busted hand (up to 15:1 if a dealer’s busted card is a six). But keep in mind that natural blackjack pays 1:1 here.

The best online blackjack casinos in South Africa

Before you experience real money online blackjack, you need to learn the rules and pick the best online casino in South Africa to fully enjoy the game. On this page, you will find a rating and reviews of the most appropriate gambling sites which meet the needs of SA gamblers:

1

Licences

A licensed SA online casino is much safer than a site that isn’t controlled by third-party gambling regulators, so offshore licences like UKGC, MGA, and Curacao definitely add reliability.

2

Payments

First of all, you will appreciate South African-friendly payment options like Visa, Mastercard, and ecoPayz. Besides, some operators are crypto-focused and provide options like Bitcoin.

3

Game collection

Make sure that there are enough real money online blackjack titles. Besides, it’s worth exploring the entire catalogue to search for other software types like slot machines and table games like roulette and baccarat.

4

Promotions

Bonus offers for table games are less frequent, but when you find one, it’s awesome. It’s just essential to analyse the wagering requirements to make sure that the offer is worth the effort.

5

Mobile optimisation

When you can gamble on your desktop, it’s nice. But it shouldn’t be the limit. That’s why it’s worth searching for mobile-optimised online casinos in South Africa that support both iOS and Android.

Conclusion

Blackjack is a table game with sky-high odds and a wide range of betting options. Though the rules are simple, there are many opportunities for those wanting to try various betting strategies and gambling tricks. This allows SA players to opt for bets with even payouts or more risky side bets with a higher potential. To find out about these options, explore online blackjack reviews of titles provided by top vendors like Yggdrasil, NetEnt, Rival, Pragmatic Play, and others. In South Africa, punters have many opportunities to try out the game, learn its rules, and benefit from its variations. You can play blackjack in South African online casinos where all conditions are adjusted for real money games in rands or other currencies. Rely on this ranking and make sure that the RTP of RNG-based online blackjack games is really stunning.

Online Blackjack FAQ

⭐ Can I play online blackjack for real money?

Yes, you can play blackjack games for real money if your casino balance have sufficient funds for betting.

⭐ Is online blackjack legal in South Africa?

Online blackjack games have a legal status in South Africa.

⭐ Is online blackjack rigged?

Responsible and licensed online casinos cooperate with only reliable game providers that develop blackjack games with unbiased odds.

⭐ How can I win in online blackjack?

You win 3:2 for getting natural blackjack and win 1:1 if your hand is higher than the dealer’s (without blackjack). Some blackjack games have side bets and bonus payouts that are higher than the mentioned prizes.

⭐ What are the winning odds in online blackjack?

Online blackjack is the best casino game in terms of payout percentage. Different blackjack variations offer player’s return between 97% and 99.5%, and even higher. Here are a few examples: Hi-Lo 13 European Blackjack (Microgaming) offers a 99.60% edge, Perfect Pairs Blackjack (RTG) – 99.46%, Super 21 Blackjack (RTG) – 98.94%. The potential return is maximized if you use an appropriate basic strategy for any given online blackjack.