New Jersey was one of the first states in the US to legalize online gambling websites. Because of that, NJ now has the broadest range of online casinos that feature online blackjack as one of the top casino games.
No matter if you’re completely new to the game or you’re already familiar with it, you can learn more about playing blackjack online while in NJ. If you’re wondering what’s the best online blackjack bonus or what strategy to choose to secure a win, keep on reading.
What Types of Online Blackjack Bonuses Are There?
When players choose an online casino they want to play blackjack in, the first thing they usually look into is the bonus they are entitled to get. A bonus is a great way to jump-start your online casino experience or to simply spice it up if you’re not a new member. Let’s see what types of blackjack bonuses you can find:
- Welcome/Sign up bonus
- No deposit bonus
- Reload bonus
- Loyalty bonus
- High Roller bonus.
The Welcome or Sign up bonus is the most popular type of bonus. It’s reserved for every new player who joins an online casino platform. Usually, it’s the bonus you receive on your first deposit. Another name for this type of bonus is the Percentage or Match bonus. Basically, for every dollar you deposit, you will get an additional dollar in bonus money.
The No deposit bonus doesn’t require you to make a deposit. It serves as an incentive for players to begin their journey on that specific online casino.
Existing players can enjoy the Reload bonus. Its form is similar to the welcome bonus in the sense that a casino will match a certain percentage of your deposit. This bonus encourages you to keep funding your account and continue playing.
Another way to keep players active on the platform is to reward their loyalty. After a particular time spent in an online casino, players receive the so-called VIP status. The higher the VIP status, the better the Loyalty bonuses!
The High Roller bonus is not for the inexperienced players. It implies a high amount of deposits that can exceed 1,000$.
Before you opt for any online blackjack bonus, keep in mind that each of them has specific terms & conditions. Only after you’ve read them carefully should you add one of them to your account.
How to Register With an Online Casino NJ?
To start your online blackjack experience, you need to create an online casino account. There are a few steps you need to follow. Let’s get right to it:
- On the online casino platform you chose, locate the “Register” or “Sign Up” button. By clicking on it, you will access the registration form.
- You will see certain fields you need to fill out with your personal information and the payment method you prefer to use.
- Once you’ve completed all the steps, the next thing on the list is to log in to your account and open the Cashier section.
- Make your first deposit which will help you claim the welcome bonus. Depending on the online casino you chose, you might need a promo code to activate the bonus.
- Last but not least, when the money becomes available on your account, you can proceed to find the blackjack game that’s perfect for you.
Geolocation Restrictions
Given that online casinos aren’t legalized in every state in the US, the government had to think of some way to control who can actually play online casino games. As you probably assumed, the NJ online casino scene has some restrictions. To make it easier for you, we’ll mention the ones that matter the most.
The first and the most important one is that you need to be physically located in the state of New Jersey in order to play online blackjack. Now, let’s clear this up — legally, you don’t need to be a New Jersey resident to be able to play on an online casino platform. You can even create and fund your account while you’re not in the state; however, you won’t be able to play any games, online blackjack included.
That’s somewhat good news. You can have an account, but only when you enter the state of New Jersey will you be able to play your favorite online casino games. Apart from that, you need to be over 21 years of age to have the opportunity to play for real money. If you meet all the requirements, you can proceed to learn how to play online blackjack.
How to Play Online Blackjack?
Obviously, if you want to win at online blackjack, you need to know the rules of the game. What you need to know is that the rules don’t change, no matter if you play it in brick-and-mortar casinos or online.
When you open the blackjack section on any NJ online casino, you will be greeted by a wide array of blackjack variants. For now, we will stay focused on the standard version of online blackjack. Once you master this one, you will know them all.
Essentially, the goal of the game is to reach a score of 21 without going over it. The game begins when players place their bets. Next, the dealer will give each player two cards that are facing up. The dealer also takes two cards, but only one of them is facing up.
Now that you have two cards in front of you, it’s time to decide which maneuver you want to make. Let’s go through your options together:
- Hit — choose this option if you want the dealer to add another card that will boost your score.
- Stand — you decide to stand pat with your cards if you don’t want to receive any more cards.
- Double — after receiving your first two cards, you can opt to double your bet. Keep in mind that you can use this option only on the first two cards, but it can sometimes be unavailable to some players.
- Split — only if you have two cards of equal value can you choose to split them.
- Insurance — this is a side bet where you can try to guess if the dealer has a “natural blackjack”. If you are right, you will win the double amount of your initial bet.
The rules mentioned above are the base of the game. Now it’s time to learn about some strategies.
Choose a Blackjack Strategy That Is Right for You
The game of blackjack implies both luck and strategy. Of course, there is such a thing called beginner’s luck, but if you want to make winning in online blackjack a habit, you shouldn’t always rely on it.
While we covered the basics, keep in mind that it’s the strategy that can make or break you. Fundamentally, the game of blackjack is based on probability. In a single game, you can be dealt one of the 340 completely different hands. Fortunately, even though you can’t play god and choose which cards you’ll get, you can still influence the outcome.
That’s when the online blackjack strategy comes into play. If you’re relatively new to the game, you should rely on the Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart. This chart can be of great help in deciding what to do with the hand you’re dealt.
Once you get your cards, you can go over the chart and see what the possible outcomes are. Based on that, you can make an educated decision whether to stand, split, hit, or double down.
What we love about the blackjack charts is that they are available all over the Internet, and you can simply use them simultaneously while playing blackjack.
Another practice that appears from time to time in blackjack is card counting. It takes time to master it and, if properly implemented, it can considerably boost your chances of winning. Having said that, it does have some strong negative sides.
Even though card counting isn’t officially regarded as an illegal activity, land-based casinos have the ability to collect your winnings and ask you to step away from the table. Using this technique on an online casino platform can result in a permanent ban. So, think twice before choosing to go with this strategy.
Online Blackjack Variations
The widespread popularity of online blackjack includes the fact that the rules are easy to follow. Also, implementing a simple strategy can diminish the house’s advantage. Of course, over time, numerous variations of the game were developed, and they are equally as popular as the classic one. Here, we will mention just a few of them because the list seems to be never-ending.
Blackjack Switch
The main difference from the classic online blackjack is that you have the ability to swap the top cards between two hands you’re dealt when the game first starts. However, the payout ratio in this variation is 1:1, instead of the classic 3:2.
European Blackjack
This variation is played with two decks of cards. Players receive two face-up cards, and the dealer gets only 1. The other — hole card — which goes face-down is dealt to the dealer only after the player has decided how they want to play the cards. This version of the online blackjack is among the most popular ones.
Blackjack Surrender
If you’re not too optimistic about the cards you received and your future in that round doesn’t look too bright, you can choose to surrender. You will be able to take back your wager for a price of half your initial bet.
Pontoon
Even though it’s derived from the classic game of blackjack, pontoon rules are very different from the ones you know as the basic blackjack rules. In fact, the rules are changed in a way that makes you think we’re talking about a completely different game.
Here are some examples: you can choose to double down or draw more cards after you’ve split aces, winners are five-card hands that don’t go over 21, and so on. Pontoon is filled with action, which makes it so fun to play!
Play Live Blackjack
The online casino industry keeps on growing, and the technologies they use are extremely advanced. In fact, they are so good that you can now experience the thrill of a real casino from the comfort of your own home!
NJ online casino market was swept by the innovation called live blackjack. This type of online blackjack uses special software that allows you to enjoy the game even more. When you access a game in real-time, the dealer will lead the game, but you decide on the betting direction comfortably from your computer or mobile device.
Final Thoughts
The main reason players enjoy playing blackjack online is because they can use their skills to minimize the house’s advantage. If you’re a newbie, it will take some time and a lot of practice to develop your own style of play and strategies. Undoubtedly, that’s what makes blackjack the king of the casino card games.
Most importantly, you should enjoy a game of online blackjack, and you can do so by sitting comfortably in your favorite chair.
FAQ
We’ve gone through the basics of online blackjack. Naturally, if you’re new to the game, you would have some questions. We made sure to answer the most frequently asked ones. You can find them below.
Can I play online blackjack on my mobile in NJ?
That depends on the online casino you choose. Nowadays, most of the online casinos in NJ have their own mobile apps you can download and install. In case there is no app, you should be able to access the website via your mobile browser.
Are there real money blackjack mobile apps for New Jersey players?
Yes, there are! The mobile apps usually replicate the website of an online casino. That way, you will be able to have the real money online blackjack experience on your mobile device as well. However, before you install the app, make sure your mobile device is compatible with the version of the blackjack app.
Is playing online blackjack legal in New Jersey?
That actually depends on the state you live in. Before you decide to play online blackjack, check if your state is among those where online gambling is legalized. We don’t want you to get in any trouble. Luckily, online blackjack is legal to play in New Jersey. You can find a wide range of online casinos where you can enjoy your favorite casino table game.
Can I play online blackjack for free in NJ?
Yes, you can. Many online casinos in New Jersey now have the option of playing online blackjack for free. That means you can play the game without making any type of payment. We believe that this is the best way to become familiar with the game and, ultimately, see if you like it or not. Maybe it’s not your cup of tea, after all.