Online blackjack

Blackjack online is the classic casino game of blackjack in an online format. You can play this popular casino table game with 52 cards either in a virtual or a live setting at Royal Panda. Blackjack online is a quick and simple game, which can be played on any device, anywhere in the world, at any time. There are no opening and closing times for the games, and you can play whenever it's most convenient for you.

Playing Blackjack online has never been easier. All you have to do is sign up and create an account with Royal Panda, make your deposit, and proceed to select a blackjack game title from our extensive catalog. Of course, the next steps will depend on whether you've opted for a virtual or live dealer blackjack game. But essentially, most blackjack games commence with an allotted time for you to place your bet, followed by the cards being dealt by the live dealer or the computer.

If you feel that your chosen blackjack game is not for you, you can easily exit the game as soon as the round ends. From there, you'll be taken straight back to the blackjack lobby, where you can peruse something that is more to your liking, be it virtual or live. This certainly beats having to awkwardly walk around a land-based casino to see which gameplay is better suited for you!

If you're new to blackjack, you might want to initially opt for a virtual format of the game. This will allow you to pace yourself as you get to know the gameplay. Remember that live blackjack is much more fast-paced and you're running against the clock to place strategic bets with every round. 

Even in a virtual game, it's best to read about the rules prior to playing with real money. Here's a breakdown of the blackjack rules:

• In Blackjack, you'll be playing against the dealer, and not other players. Any other players at the table will also be playing against the dealer, and their outcome will in no way affect yours.

• Blackjack is played with a standard 52-card deck, but most versions of the online game are played with six to eight decks. This improves efficiency and reduces the chances of card counting.

• The objective of Blackjack is to get a hand with a value as close to 21, without going over. Simultaneously, your hand must have a greater value than the dealer's.

• The Ace is a relatively flexible card in the game, in that it can have a value of one or 11, depending on what's better for the hand. Numbers 2 to 10 retain their face value. Face cards, such as the king, have a value of 10.

• You must complete your turn first before the dealer plays their hand. Whilst you are free to take any action you deem fit, the dealer is bound by specific rules of what to do based on their cards.

Upon joining a virtual or live Blackjack game, you'll be invited to place your bet. This is done by selecting the value of your chips, and placing them on the table. Once the betting time has run out, the dealer will deal one card facing up to you, and then one card facing down to them. Another card will then be dealt to you and the dealer, this time facing up.

Once you have your two cards in hand, you need to choose from the next following steps:

1. Hit - Ask for another card.

2. Stand - Finish your turn with your current cards.

3. Split - You can only do this if you've been dealt two cards of equal value. A split is when you split the cards and play with two hands, but you'll have to double your wager to cover both of them.

4. Double Down - Double the value of your wager, get dealt another card and end your turn.

5. Surrender - This action is not available on all Blackjack online tables. If it is, it's where you can give up your cards in exchange for half your bet back.

6. Bust - This is not a choice that you make. This is when your hand has a value of 22 or more, and this is when you lose the game.

There are a very strict set of rules laid out for the dealer when they're playing their hand. It's important for you to know the dealer's limitations in the game, as it will help you improve your strategy. The dealer only plays their hand after all other players have ended their turn.

The dealer will start off by turning up the card that is facing down. If the hand has a value of 17 or more, the dealer stands. A hand of 16 or less requires the dealer to take one or more cards until the hand value is 17 or over.  If the dealer holds an ace, and counting it as 11 will total a hand that's more than 17 but less than 22, then the ace will be counted as 11.

Live Lightning Blackjack is one of Evolution Gaming's most successful live dealer games, thanks to its special twist. Although the base game is classic blackjack, this version incorporates the chance of winning special multipliers, leading to higher potential payouts. It is a relatively easy game to play once you've grasped the rules.

Anyone can play Live Lightning Blackjack, but if you want to activate the Lightning element of the game, this will come at an extra cost, just like any other side bet.

As soon as the betting time runs out, different multipliers are assigned to different possible hand values, ranging from 4 up to the Blackjack 21. Multipliers can carry a value of 2x up to 25x, and these are added to your standard payout if you win the round.

There are two formats to opt for when playing blackjack at Royal Panda, but you'll be able to take advantage of side bets in both versions. Live dealer blackjack will naturally come with a real-time professional dealer, who'll be using real cards on a real table. The point of live dealer blackjack is to emulate the land-based experience in a real casino, only in the comfort of your own home, minus the commute and the outfit. But just like at a real casino, live blackjack comes with a set time for you to place your bets, so you'll need to be quick and a somewhat seasoned player to be at ease during this game format. Moreover, you'll also have to wait for other players to end their turn before the dealer plays their hand. 

Meanwhile, in RNG Blackjack, you'll be playing a completely virtual game, where the outcome is determined by a computer algorithm, better known as a random number generator. In this format, you'll playing alone against the computer, so there's no pressure for you to round up your wager before time runs out. This is an ideal format for those who are still adapting to the nature of the game.