This article looks at what crypto blackjack is all about, how it works, its advantages and possible shortcomings, and provides some recommendations of the best crypto casinos to play the game.
Let’s start by looking at what the game is all about.
What is crypto Blackjack?
Cryptocurrency blackjack is similar to traditional online blackjack with the same principles and rules. The big difference is that players do not use fiat to fund their play, unlike regular online casino blackjack. Instead, the funding is done with cryptocurrency. Bitcoin blackjack is the most common type of crypto blackjack, but there are others like Ethereum blackjack and Tron blackjack, as most casinos will allow you to play with different digital coins.
Also, cryptocurrency blackjack is provably fair. Since the game runs on a transparent code, a player can view and verify it. Unlike traditional blackjack, you will not just have to trust that the casino will give you fair odds.
How to play crypto Blackjack?
Online casino blackjack is easy to learn, even for an absolute newbie, as the rules are quite straightforward. And since most of the rules remain the same when playing crypto blackjack, it should also be quite easy to grasp.
Here are the main steps to follow when playing crypto blackjack:
Step 1: Buy crypto
This step will not be necessary if you already have some crypto in your wallet. However, for those that have never played any online casino game with crypto, the first step should be to get the digital coins you intend to use when playing. You will probably need a crypto exchange and wallet for that.
Step 2: Sign up with a casino and deposit crypto
Next, you have to sign up with the casino and deposit the crypto you want to use to fund your play. The casino should direct you on how to do this, but it typically just entails copying and sending crypto to the provided wallet address.
Step 3: Wager to start playing
Now you can wager to start playing but remember that while some casinos allow you to deposit crypto, they may still require you to wager in fiat. Also, keep the following important points in mind.
-
The rules of playing crypto blackjack are the same as any other online blackjack.
-
The game is played with a dealer, and you can either play as a single-player versus the dealer or with others, as most tables offer up to 7 spots.
-
When you make a wager, you receive a hand – the dealer and player are dealt two cards.
-
The goal of crypto blackjack is to create a hand with a higher value than the dealer has but equal to or lower than 21 points.
-
Each card is at face value, except Jack, Queen, and King which count as 10. An Ace has a face value of 11 or 1.
-
Blackjack begins with you begin with placing a bet, just like when you play other casino games.
-
Next, you will be dealt two face-down cards. The dealer also receives two cards.
-
At this point you will have the option to ‘Hit’ (ask the dealer for an extra card), ‘Stand’ (keep your current hand), ‘Double down’ (double your initial wager and draw one more card), or to ‘Surrender’ (giving up your hand).
-
A player with a hand value of 21 or the closest to it, wins the game. The dealer will often stand on a hand value of 17 or higher.
Step 4: Cash out in crypto
If you win, you can cash out immediately in crypto, which only requires you to select crypto as your withdrawal method and then provide your wallet address. Some online casinos also have a fiat cash-out option to allow you to convert crypto to cash.
What makes crypto Blackjack better than traditional Blackjack?
While there is not much difference between regular casino blackjack and crypto blackjack besides the currency you use to wager, gambling with crypto comes with several benefits.
Here is an overview of some of the benefits:
-
Easy to maintain your privacy – Crypto casinos respect data privacy, and you will never need to provide personal information when playing. And since no personal information is attached to your crypto wallet, it is easy to maintain financial privacy from credit rating agencies and banks.
-
Higher profits from winnings – While the price of the US dollar remains steady, the price of cryptocurrency can skyrocket overnight. Winning 1 Bitcoin at blackjack today is not the same as winning 1 Bitcoin the following week. Players stand to gain huge profits from playing with crypto, just make sure to pick the right time to cash out.
-
Increased fairness and transparency – You can use blockchain technology to verify card deals and probabilities, making it easy to tell which casinos offer fair odds. Also, most crypto casinos tend to be highly transparent, and how they are set up makes information concealing quite hard.
-
It is faster – Deposits and withdrawals take seconds. You can withdraw your winnings anytime you want without ever having to wait for any financial institution to process the payments. Simply add your wallet address, and your earnings will be sent instantly.
-
More game formats – Crypto casinos have several in-house blackjack formats. They will not restrict you to playing only a few standard versions, such as American or European blackjack.
-
Low fees – High fees can significantly decrease your profits when playing in online Casinos. But this should never be an issue with crypto blackjack since you never have to pay for things like credit card or withdrawal/deposit fees.
-
Welcome bonuses and rewards – Crypto blackjack sites are known for offering incredible welcome deposit bonuses, signup bonuses, and rewards for VIP players. Some crypto blackjack sites match your first deposit by 100%, which means you have more money to play with. A generous welcome bonus can be the difference between winning big at blackjack or striking out with the dealer.
What are the disadvantages of crypto Blackjack?
There is no doubt that crypto blackjack has many advantages over traditional blackjack, but it also has some shortcomings you should know before you start playing.
-
It is not available in some countries – While most online casinos will try to cater to a global market, crypto blackjack is unavailable in some countries due to regulatory and other restrictions. It is important to check whether a casino allows you to play the game from your country before making the deposit.
-
The volatility factor – The volatile nature is perhaps the greatest demerit of using crypto to play blackjack. The coin's value is constantly changing, especially with highly volatile coins like BTC, ETH, and XRP, which puts you at a greater risk of losing your investment. An easy way to work around this is to play with stablecoins like USDT, BUSD, and USDC or keep checking the market for the least volatile coins.
-
Unfamiliar bet denominations – The betting denominations can be quite weird when using crypto to play blackjack for the first time. Most casinos list your betting stake in millibitcoin, and it will take some time to figure out how to convert this into dollars when playing.
Crypto Blackjack strategies
Crypto Blackjack is different from other online table games, in that there are strategies you can implement to lower the house edge of the casino and win more often. There is one part of the game that differs from land-based blackjack, you can’t count cards online unless you’re playing live dealer blackjack with bitcoin. However, players have mastered several blackjack strategies for the online game.
So, let’s take a closer look at some of the proclaimed crypto blackjack strategies:
-
Memorize card rankings: Blackjack is different from other table games, it is therefore important that you memorize the card rankings in the game. So, it will be easier to make your next move. Aces are worth eleven or one, while Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth 10. Cards two through nine cards are worth their face value.
-
Stand on 17: The first rule of crypto blackjack is to stand on a hand of 17 or higher. It doesn’t matter if the dealer is showing an Ace or a 10, it's best to hold your hand.
-
Never split 10s: A pair of two 10s is already a strong hand. Holding a hand of 20 is better than losing out.
-
Split your aces: Blackjack players can split their hands and create multiple hands. It’s standard for players to split their Aces and 8s with other hands.
-
Double Down on 11: A hard 11, is one of the best-starting hands in blackjack. Take advantage of this hand by doubling down and maximizing your winnings.
Popular crypto Blackjack games
American Blackjack
American blackjack is a six-deck variant of the 21. Players can either split their hand if they receive two cards of the same value, or they can also double down on their hands with a cumulative value of 9, 10, or 11. In addition, players can place a wager referred to as “insurance”, if the dealer has a Blackjack. The game follows the same rules as Blackjack, with the dealer mandated to stand on 17 or higher.
Single Deck Blackjack
Instead of using two decks, this form of blackjack only uses one deck of cards, influencing the odds of the game. Single-deck blackjack has a higher RTP than conventional blackjack games, around 99.5%. All the rules of blackjack apply here, you can re-split two times and the dealer will stand on 17.
European Blackjack
European blackjack uses between 2 and 8 decks of cards, each containing 52 cards, making it impossible to follow cards. The dealer is only allowed to look at the card face down in front of them, once every player has made their decision. All the rules of blackjack apply, splitting hands is not permitted.
Lightning Blackjack
Lightning Blackjack follows the same rules as regular blackjack, intending to beat the dealer with a hand equal to or as close to 21 as possible. Each number card is worth its face value, while face cards equal ten and Ace is worth either 1 or 11. The difference in this variant, you can pay a lighting fee to qualify for a multiplier win. The lightning fee is only available when you win a hand and can therefore only be used on consecutive wins.
Vegas Strip Blackjack
Vegas Strip blackjack is a popular version of the game, where players are able to double down on either of their cards from the initial bet. They can split their initial bet into 4 hands. The variant of the game also allows players to split their 10s if they aren’t the same card, therefore players have more options to split hands.
Live dealer blackjack
Playing live dealer crypto blackjack is just like being at a land-based casino. Players are dealt a hand by a real dealer, and they get to follow what happens at the table through an HD live stream, which settings a player can adjust to their preference. Live crypto blackjack tables often attract VIP players and have higher betting limits than other variants. Naturally, there’s a limited number of seats available, so you might have to wait your turn.
Where to play crypto Blackjack
Bitcasino.io
Bitcasino.io is one of the oldest and most trusted names around. The operator began back in 2014 and takes security seriously. Under the casino’s gaming collection, you’ll find a dedicated blackjack section with a section of high roller games with exclusive betting limits. The casino offers more blackjack variants than most others, including Live Blackjack.
Also, the casino will give you up to 20% cashback.
Bitstarz
When you’re playing with high stakes, bonuses come in handy and nobody does it quite like BitStarz Casino. The platform offers several bonus offerings and an exclusive VIP program with unrestricted cashouts! That means if you play big with crypto blackjack, you’ll be able to access your winnings immediately. Receive a 100% deposit match up to 5 BTC plus 180 free spins when you make your first deposit at the casino.
Stake
When it comes to name brands, none shines brighter than Stake Casino. The operator is available in certain states throughout the U.S. and features over 3,000 crypto games. Stake Casino has made its name for favoring high rollers and high betting limits, which is a bonus for blackjack enthusiasts. Besides the appearance, the casino offers several perks like cash back, bonuses, and provably fair games. And you can use all the popular crypto coins to play at stake.
BitcoinCasino.us
Established in 2017, BitcoinCasino.us is one of the few available crypto casinos in the States and it hosts numerous crypto blackjack options as well as five different coins, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Dogecoin. There are various bonuses for you to pick but our favorite is the weekly cashback.
Bitcoin Video Casino
If you’re in the US or as matter of fact, anywhere in the world and want to play anonymous blackjack with crypto? Then Bitcoin Video Casino is the casino for you! iPlayCrypto's favorite casino couldn't be missing from the list as they provide you with the basic crypto blackjack experience without any hassle, without even having to register. Something like the Rynair of crypto casinos.
FairSpin
It’s fair to say that Fairspin offers one of the largest collections of live dealer Bitcoin blackjack casino games. It features 97 live blackjack variants with exclusive VIP tables for higher betting limits. The casino accepts 19 different cryptocurrencies. Playing blackjack with Bitcoin has never been easier.
Cloudbet
Established in 2013, Cloudbet is a household favorite amongst crypto enthusiasts. The operator stocks several variants of live dealer crypto blackjack games. Under the casino’s dedicated ‘Blackjack’ section, it features a variant of the game with an RTP of 99.71%. In addition, the casino has betting limits of up to $500,000 for VIP players and the hottest selection of Bitcoin blackjack games at your disposal.
BC.Game
With over 10,000 casino games, it’s no surprise that BC.Game made it onto our list. The operator offers 35 versions of blackjack from several software providers such as Evolution Gaming, Betsoft, BGaming, Pragmatic Play, and Red Tiger. When signing up at the casino, players will receive a 360% (tiered) deposit match up to 100,000 BCD.
