🃏 Online blackjack 101 – What is it, and how do you play?
Online blackjack is a digital version of the classic card game. It’s also sometimes known as 21. In this game, the objective is simple, you will need to beat the dealer by having a hand value closer to 21, but without going over. Numbered cards (2-10) are worth their face value, an Ace can be worth either 1 or 11 points, depending on which has more value to the hand, and face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10 points each.
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world, primarily due to the fact of it being such a simple game to learn. However, there are still many different strategies that have been developed over the long history of the game, which adds layers of complexity, skill and excitement.
👀 What types of online blackjack games are available?
The great thing about playing free blackjack, is there are so many different variations to the game. Each has its own unique twist, offering a new way to approach the game, and with different strategies and techniques to learn. Some of my personal favourites are listed below:
European blackjack
European Blackjack is one of the most popular variations of blackjack. In this game the dealer receives only one card, face up, at the start of the game and only draws their second card after all of the players at the table have made their decisions. This affects the strategy since you can not easily anticipate the dealer’s potential hand when the second card is dealt.
Perfect Pairs blackjack
Perfect Pairs Blackjack adds an exciting side bet to the traditional game. In addition to the regular blackjack bets, you can place a side bet on whether the first two cards will be a pair. There are three types of pairs, each with different payouts:
- Mixed pair: same value, different suits.
- Coloured pair: same value and colour, different suits.
- Perfect pair: same value and suit.
Spanish 21
In Spanish 21, all of the 10s are removed from the deck, leaving only 48 cards. Additionally, the game offers different rules to the traditional game, for example players can double down or ‘resplit’ on any hand, no matter how many cards have been dealt at that point.
Live dealer blackjack
Live dealer blackjack games are the perfect option for bridging the gap between online and land-based casinos. These games feature dealers who interact with the players in real-time via a live video stream. You can interact with the dealer and other players using an audio chat feature, creating a more immersive and social experience.
🏆 Why are sweepstakes casinos a good choice for blackjack?
Sweepstakes casinos offer a unique and appealing alternative for playing blackjack online, especially so in locations where traditional online casinos are restricted. Here are some of the key reasons why playing social blackjack games at a sweepstakes casino is a great idea:
Sweepstakes casinos operate under a different set of regulations to traditional casinos, meaning they are legal in the majority of US states. This makes sweepstakes blackjack games far more accessible to a much wider audience.
One of the reasons that sweepstakes casinos are permitted to operate is because they observe a ‘no purchase necessary’ rule. Rather than real money, you’ll only play at sweepstakes casinos with two virtual currencies, often called Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins.
Although you can’t play free blackjack and win real money, most sweepstakes casinos allow you to redeem your Sweepstakes Coin winnings for real cash prizes, once all applicable T&Cs are met.
Sweepstakes Coins and Gold Coins are made readily available to players for free via bonuses, promotions and giveaways. You’re not obliged to make a purchase at any time and playing socially is actively encouraged.
Many sweepstakes casinos incorporate social elements, allowing players to interact with friends and other players. This could be through chat channels, social events, social media or other channels.
Sweepstakes casinos provide an excellent opportunity for beginners to learn and practice blackjack in a free and low-pressure environment. You can use Gold Coins to play social blackjack games for fun, allowing you to develop your skills, understand the rules and test new strategies.
Dive into our handpicked sweepstakes casinos
1.
5 SC FREE + 250 Game Coins and 600 Diamonds
Players from United States of America accepted
2.
25 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
Players from United States of America accepted
3.
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
Players from United States of America accepted
4.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from United States of America accepted
5.
Purchase Offer: 20 SC FREE and 100K Gold Coins
Players from United States of America accepted
🚀 Top sweepstakes casinos with blackjack games
If you’re serious about playing free blackjack with no download, then you’ll need to find a high-quality sweepstakes casino that provides a mobile-optimised version of its platform. Using a well-designed mobile site will enhance your overall gaming experience, while still giving you access to generous bonuses, world-class gaming providers, five star customer support and much more.
These are my personal favourites:
| Brand | Blackjack Games Available | Bonus Offers |
| Stake.us | Blackjack (Stake Originals)
Blackjack (Pragmatic Play)
Stake Blackjack (OneTouch) | $55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback |
| McLuck | Gravity Blackjack | 7,500 Gold Coins + 2,5 Sweepstakes Coins |
| Wow Vegas | American Blackjack
Multi Handed Blackjack
Single Deck Blackjack | 1.75M WOW Coins + 35 Free Sweepstake Coins |
| Hello Millions | Gravity Blackjack | 15,000 Gold Coins + 2.5 Sweepstakes Coins |
| High 5 Casino | Limitless Blackjack
Hearts Blackjack
Clubs Blackjack
Diamonds Blackjack | 5 Sweeps Coins + 250 Game Coins + 600 Diamonds |
| Pulsz | Multihand Blackjack | 367,000 Gold Coins and 460 VIP Points |
| Golden Hearts Games | Old School Blackjack | 250,000 Gold Coins + 500 Sweepstakes Coins |
🏅 My top 5 sweepstakes casinos with online blackjack games
Well, now it’s time to take a closer look at some of the best sweeps blackjack sites. In this section I’ll cover all the strengths and weaknesses of some sweepstakes casinos that you’ll want to know about. Hopefully, it will help you to pick out a sweepstakes casino that suits your individual tastes. So, let’s get straight into it.
Stake.us – the leading US sweepstakes casino
Stake.us: Pros & Cons
- Generous welcome bonus
- Over 1,000+ casino games
- Excellent customer support
If you’ve not heard of Stake.us before then you must be living under a rock. Sorry but, like seriously? This brand is one of the biggest sweepstakes casinos in the whole of the United States. And with good reason, you can sign up today and get your hands on an awesome welcome bonus that includes $55 of Stake Cash, 260K Gold Coins and a 5% rakeback on your losses.
But, it’s not just about bonuses, Stake.us offers a superb games portfolio to match, with over 1,000 games to choose from. One of my favourites is Stake blackjack, their in-house exclusive sweepstakes blackjack game. They also have excellent customer support, but sadly no dedicated mobile app (not yet anyway), but that said, their website is perfectly optimised for mobile use.
Featured blackjack game: Stake Originals Blackjack
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
McLuck – play sweepstakes blackjack on mobile
McLuck: Pros & Cons
- Great bonuses and promotions
- High-quality mobile app
- Game developers like NetEnt and Pragmatic Play
Mcluck offers a sweepstakes experience that is hard to rival. As a new player you’ll get 7,500 Gold Coins and 2,5 Sweepstakes Coins, which is a very generous welcome package. They’ve got a lot more where that came from too! With daily login bonuses and many more promotions to keep you happy. This is paired up nicely with their super high-quality and professional mobile app, letting you play sweepstakes blackjack on the go.
With hundreds of individual games to choose from, many of which are built by leading iGaming developers such as NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. The only downside? There are no live dealer games currently, hopefully this will change soon, but in the meantime, their Gravity Blackjack game more than makes up for that in my humble opinion.
Featured blackjack game: Gravity Blackjack
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
Wow Vegas – best casino for slots
Wow Vegas: Pros & Cons
- 800+ slot games
- Daily login bonus
- VIP program
There are only three blackjack games available at Wow Vegas, after all, it isn’t for everyone. But if you’re looking for a change of pace why not try out some slot games instead? Wow Vegas is arguably the best destination for slot gaming, they have over 800 unique slot games from developers such as Netent, Microgaming, Play’N Go and more. They also have some brilliant bonuses including a welcome bonus worth up to 1.75M Wow Coins and 35 Sweepstake Coins. Be sure to check out their VIP program too, for even more fun rewards.
Featured blackjack game: American Blackjack
35 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
Hello Millions – huge welcome bonus available
Hello Millions: Pros & Cons
- Excellent welcome bonus
- User-friendly platform
- 5* customer support
How does a free 15,000 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweepstakes Coins sound to you? Well that’s exactly what you could get your hands on with this epic free welcome bonus from Hello Millions. This is a fantastic casino all round, with some brilliant games for you to enjoy. The platform is also super user-friendly, with a sleek design that is easy to navigate through the different gaming options. If you ever find yourself in a spot of bother, you’ll be pleased to hear they have a super high quality customer support service.
Featured blackjack game: Gravity Blackjack
27.5 SC FREE and 65K Gold Coins
High 5 Casino – play live blackjack
High 5 Casino: Pros & Cons
- Live dealer games
- Android and iOS mobile app
- Great design & usability
- Not available in all US states
One of my favourite aspects of High 5 Casino is their live casino offering, which includes blackjack, roulette and a selection of popular game show-style options. I’ve personally had endless hours of fun playing live blackjack here and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this platform just as much as I do. High 5 also features an aesthetic design with some great usability features, you can find games with easy navigation whether it be through category filters or the search bar. This idea of excellent usability has been mirrored across to their mobile app, which performs just as impressively.
Featured blackjack game: Limitless Blackjack
5 SC FREE + 250 Game Coins and 600 Diamonds
🔎 A closer look at the rules of blackjack
If you’re going to play sweepstakes blackjack, you better do it properly! To help you along your way, I’ve put together an In-depth section on how to play blackjack, right from the basics onwards.
Blackjack rules – the basics
Sweepstakes blackjack is a card game that is played against a dealer. The goal is to have a hand value as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. For this to be possible each card is assigned a value, these values are as follows:
- Number cards (2-10): Worth their face value. For example, a 5 is worth 5 points.
- Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): Each of these cards is worth 10 points.
- Aces: Can be worth either 1 point or 11 points, depending on which value is more advantageous for your hand.
During the initial deal each player and the dealer is dealt two cards. The players’ cards are dealt face up, while the dealer has one card face up, (which is known as the “upcard”) and one card face down (the “hole card”). After all players have considered their hands, the dealer reveals their hole card. The dealer must “hit” (draw more cards) until reaching at least 17 points.
Blackjack play options
When playing blackjack you will have to make a few important decisions based on the two cards you have been dealt.
These are your options:
- Hit: Draw another card from the deck. You can continue to hit as many times as you like until you decide to stand or bust.
- Stand: Keep the current hand and end the turn.
- Split: If the initial two cards are of the same value, they can be “split” into two separate hands, which are played separately.
- Surrender: In some games, players can “surrender” by forfeiting their hand if they believe they cannot win.
- Insurance: If the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you can place an “insurance bet” up to 50% of the original one. This side bet only comes into play if the dealer’s hole card has a value of 10 points, which would complete a blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack, the insurance pays at 2:1, but if not, then it’s lost.
💡 Top tips for playing blackjack at sweepstakes casinos
Despite being an incredibly straightforward game to play there is more to playing blackjack than initially meets the eye. So here are some tips to help you stay on the straight and narrow.
Understand the game rules
This may seem a bit obvious, but before playing social blackjack games, you’ll want to be very familiar with the rules of the game. Each sweepstakes casino may have slightly different rules, including variations in card values, and dealer rules. So, it’s important that you check the fine print for each different game before you start playing.
Make the most of bonuses and promotions
Sweepstakes casinos often offer a range of bonuses and promotions to attract and retain players. So make sure you are taking advantage of these offers to maximise your playtime and increase your chances of winning. One of my favourite bonuses is the welcome package over at Stake.us, which includes $55 Stake Cash, 260K Gold Coins and a 5% rakeback on your virtual currency losses.
The great thing about playing social blackjack at sweepstakes casinos is that it’s completely free to play. Play with Gold Coins while you perfect your blackjack skills in a low-pressure environment. You’ll have plenty of time to familiarise yourself with the game’s rules, develop and test different strategies and become comfortable with various scenarios. This practice time can build your confidence and improve your skills before you start playing with Sweepstakes Coins, where your winnings can be redeemed for cash prizes.
In some blackjack games, surrendering is an option that allows you to forfeit half your bet and end your hand if you believe you’re at a disadvantage. Understanding when to surrender, such as when facing a strong dealer upcard with a poor hand, can help minimise the impact of virtual currency losses.
Be wary of insurance bets
While insurance bets can seem appealing when the dealer shows an Ace, they are generally not recommended for most players. As the odds of the dealer having a blackjack are not in your favour, and the insurance bet typically has a higher house edge. But, hey, if you’ve got Gold Coins left in your budget or are feeling particularly positive, who am I to tell you what to do?
🧐 My final verdict on sweepstakes blackjack
I really had fun with this one! Playing sweepstakes blackjack is one of my favourite pastimes, so I’ve been honoured to share all of my knowledge with you. Hopefully you’ll be taking away some actionable snippets of information from my social blackjack guide, whether it be the specific rules of blackjack and how to play, or my overview of the best sweepstakes casinos to play at right now. All that’s left for you to do now is head over to one of those sweepstakes casinos, and collect your welcome bonus. What are you waiting for?
Try these top sweepstakes bonuses
1.
5 SC FREE + 250 Game Coins and 600 Diamonds
Players from United States of America accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus
2.
25 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
Players from United States of America accepted
3.
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
Players from United States of America accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus
4.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from United States of America accepted
Requirements (WR): 3x
5.
Purchase Offer: 20 SC FREE and 100K Gold Coins
Players from United States of America accepted
Min. Deposit: 20
❓ Sweepstakes blackjack FAQs
🃏 Is it legal to play sweepstakes blackjack?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos operate under a different set of legal regulations to traditional online casinos. This makes them legal and safe to use in most US states, even those where traditional online gaming is heavily restricted. Sweepstakes casinos are permitted to operate by allowing you to play casino-style games with virtual currencies and without the need to make a purchase.
📱 Can I play social blackjack games on a mobile device?
Yes, you can play at most sweepstakes casinos using a free blackjack app if the brand provides one, or via a mobile-optimised version of their website if they don’t. Either way, you are sure to have a great mobile experience with any of my recommended sweepstakes casino brands.
💰 Is there a minimum or maximum bet for sweepstakes blackjack?
Bearing in mind that all betting is done using one of two virtual currencies, sweepstakes blackjack games typically still have minimum and maximum bet limits. These limits vary by game and the sweepstakes casino brand itself, so it’s essential to check the specific rules for each game.
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