Online or live, blackjack is the most popular casino game and is available at casino and racino venues in Pennsylvania. You’ll also find roulette, craps, baccarat, and casino poker games.
With the gambling expansion bill, residents and visitors of the KeystoneState have even more options to play blackjack.
Experienced online gamblers will be familiar with a range of casino table games, but we reckon that live dealer blackjack is a great introduction to the world of online gambling, and with tables for all pocket sizes this enthralling game is open to anybody. Live dealer blackjack is arguably the best game of the live dealer catalogue of casino titles available to play online, via mobiles and tablets, and is without question one of the most popular, offering an array of social aspects, side betting features and player friendly rules.
On this page, we cover live and online blackjack in Pennsylvania. You’ll find out where to enjoy free blackjack games and how to play for real money online. We also offer information on the variety of formats and rules, and sidebets with progressivejackpots.
Finally, we cover bonuses and rewards, discuss the PAlaws that govern online table games, and examine what games are available at PA online casinos.
Is blackjack legal in Pennsylvania?
You can legally play blackjack in Pennsylvania as long as you are 21 years or older at any one of the licensed brick-and-mortar casinos. Also, you can play online for real money at Pennsylvania-licensed online casinos.
The Pennsylvania Gambling Control Board (PGCB) requires casinos to offer fair rules for their blackjack tables. This means paying 3:2 for blackjack, generous splitting or doubling rules, and that the dealer stands on soft 17.
Playing online blackjack for free at PA online casinos
If you would like to check out the games before committing with real money, most online casinos in Pennsylvania offer a demomode. Many casinos will give you a no-deposit cash bonus to let you try out a game for real money.
Demo games are available only via the software-based blackjack games. You can view live dealer games, though you cannot place practice bets. If you are playing demo games, the software will not remember your wins and losses; you will start fresh each time the game loads.
Real money blackjack games
All PA online casinos offer one or more real money online blackjack tables. Many also offer generouswelcomebonus offers, including free play with no deposit needed.
The key factor when moving to real-money blackjack is to select the games with the lowesthouseedge, which is a percentage.
The edge shows the long-term outcome of your bets, and when the random draw of cards is accounted for. The best games have a smaller number of decks (singledeck is best), liberaldoubling and splitting rules (including the ability to double after a split) and have the dealer stand on a soft 17.
When moving to real-money blackjack, you’ll need to know basicstrategy. This shows the correct action for every combination of the dealer’s up-card and your two cards. If you play differently than this strategy, you’ll be handing money to the casino over time.
Online casinos have side bets. These add an element of excitement to the game, and big windfalls of cash are possible. Keep in mind that these bets are “expensive” in terms of the house edge.
To play online blackjack for real money at a regulated PA casino, you’ll need to make a deposit. There are many ways to do this safely and securely. Most importantly, you need to be inside PA state lines, and at least 21 years old to play.
Popular deposit options include Visa and Mastercard credit or debit cards and prepaidcards. Also, you can use different types of banktransfers. Old-fashioned wires are expensive, although ACH transfers and billpay make great alternatives.
In addition, you can use cash at the live casinocage (each online casino is licensed by one of the live venues) or use 7-Eleven and CVS stores with PayNearMe.
Finally, third-party payment systems are popular. Brands the casinos will hopefully use eventually include PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill.
Which PA casinos have real money blackjack online?
- SugarHouse Casinoand their partner Rush Street Interactive will deliver online blackjack, along with other casino games.
- Hollywood Casino Online has teamed with IGT to be one of the first to the online casino market.
- Unibet Casino has partnered with Meadowlands to bring online gaming including a variety of online blackjack games to the Commonwealth’s residents.
Types of blackjack
The game of blackjack has become so popular that hundreds of variations exist. Most of these are small changes to the basic game rules. For example, some blackjack games allow surrendering your hand, while others do not.
In Pennsylvania live casinos, the standard (US rules) game is available, usually with one of two different side bets.
Stadium (electronic console) blackjack is also available, which allows you to play against a virtual dealer sitting at electronic tables. Variations include Spanish 21 and (at Mohegan Sun) InterlockBlackjack.
Live blackjack rules in Pennsylvania
The PGCB ensures that live casinos have player-friendly rules for live blackjack games. With a return-to-player (for perfect play) percentage of just 96.6%, these rules are a world away from Vegas games.
The key to this low-house edge is the following:
- Blackjack pays 3:2
- Doubledown any cards plus double after split
- Surrender available
- Dealer stands on soft 17
There are plenty of side bets available at live blackjack tables. Keep in mind that the house edge for these is veryhigh. If the jackpots get big enough, or maybe you enjoy the excitement of a possible windfall of money, then the following side bets are available:
- Blazing 777s (progressive)
- Lucky Ladies and KingsBounty
- RoyalMatch
- Match the dealer
- 21+3
Online blackjack variations
Online, casino sites must adhere to the same blackjack rules as brick and mortar casinos. There will be other variations though. The main distinction is between US and European blackjack.
- In the US game, the dealer will “peek” at his or her hidden card when the up-card is a 10 or ace. If he or she has a blackjack, the hand will not continue (players with blackjacks will tie and everyone else loses).
- In the European game, the dealer only getsone (visible) card. The second one is dealt once all the players have acted.
Live dealer blackjack is a popular alternative to the software-based format online.
It uses real dealers and a live video stream from a casino studio. Most games have seven seats, just like in a live casino. You drag and drop chips in order to bet, and pressbuttons to hit, stand, double, or split.
Live dealer games are hugely popular, adding a social element to online gambling.
There are many other blackjack formats that you can find at online casinos. Until all the PA brands are fully launched, we will not know exactly which games and side bets will be available.
Possible formats include:
- Spanish 21
- Blackjack Switch
- Free Bet Blackjack
- Pontoon
- Blackjack Burn
Blackjack casino bonuses & rewards
With competition between online casinos for new players, plenty of rewards and bonuses are available.
As well as smaller free bet bonuses, casinos will likely offer matchedbonuses on your first deposit and plenty of promotions including reloadbonusdeals.
One important factor for blackjack fans is that the playthroughrequirement for these bonuses is usually weighted. Since blackjack has a lower house edge (compared to online slots), you have to wager the bonus more times. Typical weightings are 10% of your bet count toward bonus clearance.
Good casinos (both live and online) will reward your play via a points collection system. Many casinos tie this system to their existing loyaltyprogram.
For example, SugarHouse PA uses the RushRewards program, and Harrah’s uses CaesarsRewards. As you play, you’ll unlock bigger and better bonuses. At live casinos, this can translate into free play, resort credit or comp hotel nights.
While the rewards for blackjack are not as generous as for slots, we do recommend you sign up for loyalty programs whenever possible. If you don’t, you’ll be missing out on free money.
Odds on blackjack
To understand the game, it’s a good idea to take a look at why it is so popular among casino players. The biggest draw is blackjack is not just a game of chance, but also a game of skill.
Players calculate odds on the fly to determine their next move. These odds can change depending on the number of decks being used in the game. Each blackjack variation can use a different number of decks, so it’s important to be aware of this before sitting down to a game.
Here is a look at how the number of decks used will influence the house edge of a blackjack game:
1 deck: 0.17 percent
2 decks: 0.46 percent
4 decks: 0.60 percent
6 decks: 0.64 percent
8 decks: 0.65 percent
Pennsylvania laws and blackjack games
Table games were added to live casinos in an expansion of the 2004 Gaming Act in January 2010. This set the tax rate at 16% for table games, which is much lower for slots. Under the PGCB rules, blackjack needs to be player-friendly, with a low house edge.
There was a gap between online blackjack games becoming legal and the first online casinos opening.
Gov. Tom Wolf signed the Gambling Expansion bill, Act 271, in October 2017. This set up a licensing process for online casinos, and the first sites went live in mid-2019.
Pennsylvania blackjack tables near you
You’ll find blackjack at all live casinos in the Keystone State. The games follow the player-friendly rules specified by the PCGB. The key difference between casinos is which side bets are available. These range from bets with fixed odds to those with progressive jackpot prizes.
Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack – 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Chester, PA 19013
Harrah’s PA Casino claims to have the most extensive collection of table games in the Philly area. Run by casino giant Caesars, Harrah’s has regular (PA rules) blackjack games, Spanish 21 and Dynasty Stadium blackjack. Located on the riverbank at Chester, this huge casino offers progressive jackpots via side bets on many games. Blackjack fans can enjoy the Lucky Ladies progressive side bet.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course – 777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville, PA 17026
There are two blackjack table games, and two side bets available at this casino-racetrack. Hollywood Casino offers regular blackjack with either the Lucky Ladies or 21+3 side bets. Also, you can play the cut-deck variation: Spanish 21. Based near Grantville, Hollywood is a huge casino. It offers slots, a sportsbook, racebook, and thoroughbred racetrack.
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin – 4067 National Pike, Farmington, PA 15437
With only 27 table games, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin is a smaller casino than many PA venues. It has Blazing 7s blackjack, a progressive side bet. At the time of writing, the top prize was nearly $16,000. In addition, you’ll find games with the 21+3 side bet. This resort is a perfect place to mix gaming and leisure. It has an 18-hole golf course and the biggest wine cellar in Pennsylvania.
Meadows Racetrack & Casino – 210 Racetrack Road, Washington, PA 15301
Located close to Pittsburgh, the Meadows Racetrack & Casino is a big casino with plenty on offer, including 67 table games. Blackjack has the popular Lucky Ladies side bet, and one called “inbet.” Blackjack is one of the games available at its prestigious high-limit room. Add plenty of dining options, nightlife and a harness racetrack, and you can see why The Meadows is popular.
Mohegan Sun Pocono – 1280 PA-315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
You’ll find a unique blackjack variation called Interlock Blackjack at Mohegan Sun Pocono. The dealer will identify his or her down-card as being small, medium or large before you act. There are also Blazing 777 side bets, 21+3 and Spanish 21. Electronic gaming terminals also let you enjoy blackjack without a dealer. Mohegan also offers plenty of slots and other table games.
Mount Airy Casino Resort – 312 Woodland Road, Mt. Pocono, PA 18344
Blackjack is available both on the regular casino floor and in the high-limit room at Mount Airy Casino. You can bet the “match the dealer” side bet and play two hands at once in some games. They also offer the popular Spanish 21 variant. Also, this casino provides you with the ability to enjoy blackjack in a nonsmoking environment.
Parx Casino and Racing – 2999 Street Road, Bensalem, PA 19020
With 199 casino tables, you’ll be hard-pressed to find more blackjack action than at Parx Casino and Racing. In addition, you can bet at electronic tables called “Fusion,” which allow bets on up to four live blackjack and roulette games at electronic terminals. Regular blackjack, along with a choice of side bets, is available in the high-limit room or on the casino floor.
Presque Isle Downs & Casino – 8199 Perry Highway, Erie, PA 16509
Located close to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Downs & Casino is a hybrid racetrack and casino. There are plenty of table games, including blackjack with the Blazing 777s side bet. This pays a progressive jackpot for three 7s of the same suit, with smaller prizes for other combinations of 7s. Unlike the other large PA live casinos, no Spanish 21 is at this venue.
Wind Creek Casino and Resort – 77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem, PA 18015
Online Casino Dealer School
Formerly called Sands Bethlehem, Wind Creek is a big casino with a choice of more than 200 table games. Blackjack features many of them, with Free Bet Blackjack listed among the regular and high-limit games. Side bets offers include 21+3 Xtreme, which adds a touch of three-card poker in the form of a side bet. The Kings Bounty bet is also available.
Rivers Casino – 777 Casino Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Pittsburgh’s popular Rivers Casino has 100 table games to choose from along with many more electronic gaming terminals. It has blackjack with the Blazing 777s side bet. This is linked to a progressive jackpot, which pays when a player gets three 7s of the same suit. While there are no blackjack variants at this venue, you can enjoy blackjack in the high-limit room.
SugarHouse Casino – 1001 N. Delaware Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19125
Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino, built on the site of a sugar refinery, has blackjack and Spanish 21 and a choice of two popular side bets. Blazing 777s is linked to a progressive jackpot, which is (independently) used by many live casinos in the Keystone State. The other bet is Lucky Ladies, which involves hitting suited queens for big (non-progressive) prizes. Some games also have match-the-dealer bets.
Valley Forge Casino – 1160 First Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406
While not the biggest Pennsylvania casino, Valley Forge Casino offers some interesting table game variations at its Merrion Township location. These include Super 4 Blackjack, which has a progressive jackpot side bet, and the cut-deck game Spanish 21. You will also find games with the match the dealer side bets.
Blackjack is a big part of the live dealer casino movement, one of the first live dealer games to appear a few years ago, and of the handful of games in live dealer format that comes in a few different varieties. This popular casino card game pits gamblers against the house rather than against one another, one of the many reasons why the game has been enjoyed since the early 18th century at casinos all over the world. Blackjack has a special place in many gamblers’ hearts, since it offers some of the best odds in the house. Played according to a few basic blackjack strategy rules, the casino’s edge is just 0.5%.
Of course, skilled players can shrink that advantage, and even turn 21 into a positive expectation game, by practicing card counting tactics. With the right training, a gambler who can keep even a basic count of the cards that have already appeared in the game can gain an edge against the casino. Card counters have fought for years for the right to use their strategy in casinos, though most gambling venues keep records of known counters and reserve the right to refuse to do business with them, except in Atlantic City, where card counting is specifically allowed at table games, if not exactly encouraged
2020 Casinos with Live Dealer Blackjack Real Money
Card Counting & Live Dealer Games
The issue of card counting comes up often in discussions of live blackjack games online. Live games, with a real dealer conducting the wagering and card activity, use webcam technology to connect you with a dealer in real-time. Adding a dealer to Internet blackjack means adding a real shoe made up of real cards. The appeal of this style of online casino play is supposed to be that the games are more realistic. Gamblers used to land-based casino play who miss the human contact when they play online games of chance may prefer to play roulette with a real human croupier, for example. But people who count cards may be tempted to think of the physical existence of a deck of cards as an opportunity to turn live dealer blackjack into a positive expectation game.
Does the existence of a physical deck, rather than a random number generator, really mean card counters can finally practice their strategy with the online game?
Theoretically, yes, if a player had a genius-level IQ and savant-level memory skills. Existing online casinos that use real dealers have shoes composed of between 6 and 8 decks, and almost all of these versions of the game use random shuffles and other tactics to prevent card counters from taking advantage of webcam dealers and their real playing cards.
How Does Live Dealer Blackjack Work?
Online Casino Live Dealer Blackjack
Each online casino offering live games looks a bit different, using their own color schemes, design elements, different screen layouts, and varieties of games. Blackjack played with a real human dealer looks similar to a standard Internet game, with the addition of an extra screen showing the dealer working the game. The player still uses some form of point-and-click interface to make game decisions and place wagers, but the action of the game unfolds live. Players can watch the shuffle, see the cards being dealt, and interact with the dealer almost the same way you would in a traditional casino.
Remember that the shoe in Internet games of 21 aren’t anything like the shoes used in land-based casinos. Online gambling depends on random number generators rather than a real deck of cards – unless you’re playing a human dealer game, you can’t see the shuffle or the cards themselves, only graphical representations of cards that are based on random numbers plucked out of thin air by the casino’s software. No matter how realistic a 3D blackjack game‘s graphics may be, no version of Internet casino play feels much like real casino gambling. In fact, it’s more like playing a video game.
Live dealer games run similar to their traditional other games – you have to sign up for an account with an Internet casino that offers these types of games, fund your account, and choose your specific live dealer game. As of this writing, the bulk of real-dealer Internet casinos offer at least two versions of blackjack: multiplayer and single player. The only real difference is the number of players sitting at the table and watching the same dealer and betting surface. Multiplayer games with a webcam-based dealer feel even more like actual casino play, thanks to the presence of other players.
After you’ve picked your favorite version of the game, place a bet and watch as the dealer lays out all the player’s cards. It’s very simple – the difference between live dealer casino play and standard online gambling is the mere presence of a human dealer, a set of real cards, and a little bit of dealer and player interaction.
What Types of Blackjack Games are Available at Live Dealer Casinos?
Until this type of casino game becomes more popular, game variety is a little bit limited. It’s important to shop around before you choose a site providing a real-dealer blackjack game and look at the variation in rules between the different games. Besides the choice between multiplayer and single player games, different sites have different rules in terms of splitting, surrendering, number of decks in the shoe, and other in-game rules. As technology improves, expect to see more variance in the casino games available with a human dealer shuffling and controlling the game.
Innovation in online gaming is somewhat rare since games offered at Internet betting sites tend to be the same even across different software platforms. As more sites add real dealer games into their libraries, and players catch on to the added realism you get with human dealers, player options will increase. For now, human dealer games are only slightly different from one provider to the next.