Category Archives: Casino News
How To Play Pai Gow Poker
In Pai Gow poker, a player will aim to make two different poker hands from seven cards, a five card hand and a two card hand. The value of the five card hand should exceed the value held by the two card hand and there is always a need to come out on top against the banker.
Best Pai Gow Casinos For US Players
We have broken down the best Pai Gow Casinos for US Players below:
| Rank | Casino | Visit | Review | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ![]() | Bovada Casino | Review | Best Cashier for US Residents |
| 2 | ![]() | Begado Casino | Review | Deposit Bonus Up to $9999 |
| 3 | ![]() | Lucky Red Casino | Review | 400% Bonus Up to $4000 |
How To Play Pai Gow Poker
The game is played with a deck of 52 cards but a joker is also used. The joker can be used to play as an Ace or it can used in order to complete a flush or a straight. All players involved with the game can place their bet into a circle which is directly in front of the players. After this, the dealer will roll a dice and this will determine which of the players around the table will receive the cards first.
From here, players receive seven cards and it is up to them to make two distinct poker hands, one of five cards and the other with two cards. The five card hand will be referred to as the high card section and the two card hand will be referred to as the low card section. Players need to ensure that their five card hand is the one that scores highest. If they don’t, they lose straight away so this should always be on your mind when playing Pai Gow.
If the low hand is higher than the high hand, this is referred to as a “foul” and the player will in essence forfeit the bet that they have played at this point of the game.
Pai Gow Poker Strategy: You must think of both high and low hands
In order for a player to win, their highest hand and their second hand must be better than the highest hand and the second highest hand from the dealer. If both the dealer and the player win a hand each, it is referred to as a tie or a push. In this instance, the bet is not won and it is not lost.
One of the things that helps to make Pai Gow interesting is the fact that any player involved with the game can ask to become to the banker. When this happens, every player around the table will compare the hands that they hold with the banker and not the dealer. In this instance, the banker will be the winner in any push or tie game. The banker will collect any wager that loses and they need to pay the winner from their own supply of cash. However, even if this happens, the casino will still collect as they take a 5% commission on all winning hands. This is the same as per the rules of baccarat or for mini-baccarat.
Given that the banker holds an advantage with the fact that they win tie games, it is often sensible to rotate the position of banker around the table. This is to ensure that every player has the same chance of winning over the course of an evening or an extended passage of play. Not every player has to be the banker and it up to players to decide if they wish to drop out or not. In some cases, this will see the banker role reverting back to the house or it could pass on to the next player at the table.
When it comes to ranking the high hand, the following order is the one that is commonly used in Pai Gow poker:
- Five Aces, which utilizes the joker card as being the fifth and final ace
- Royal Flush, which represents a 10, J, Q, K and Ace from one suit
- Straight Flush, which represents 5 cards of the one suit in a row and this is a slight change from the traditional rules of poker.
- Four of a Kind
- Full House, which is 3 cards of one rank and then a pair of cards of a separate rank
- Flush, which is 5 cards of one suit
- Straight, which is five cards in a sequence
- Three of a Kind
- Two pair
- One pair
Given that the lower hand needs to be a of a lower value than the high hand, once the ranking starts to dip down to two pairs and one pair, it is important for players to rank and position their cards accordingly. While the chances of winning may be slim if this is the level of cards that the player is able to play, it is better to have a valid pair of hands than to automatically forfeit.
Pai Gow, while always being a niche game in many casinos has managed to flourish in the era of online casinos. When it comes to finding a game that utilizes the rules of poker but provides them in a fresh manner, Pai Gow poker is a natural choice for many players.
Best Payout Casinos For US Players
There are many different things that a casino player should look for from an online casino site and reliability should always be one of them. There is no point in playing a lot of casino games online if there is no guarantee that you will be able to get your money back from them at the end of the day.
This is why it is crucial for US casino players to find the best payout casinos that will give them a degree of confidence when it comes to playing online casino games. There is a lot to be said for having fun when playing casino games but reliability is always the better bet in the long run.
Best Payout Casinos for US Players
The best payout casinos for US players are: Casino Titan, Slots Jungle and WinPalace Casino.
| 1 | Slotocash Casino | Review | $7,777 Free for Slots Best Cashier for US Residents | |
| 2 | Club World Casino | Review | Established 2005 100% up to $777 Slots Bonus | ![]() |
| 3 | Lucky Red Casino | Review | 400% Bonuses Up to $4,000 Over 80 Unique Slots Online |
We have provided a list of the most reputable online casinos that payout often and in a timely manner. That list of casinos is below:
Casino Titan: Best Payout Casino
If you are looking for a casino game where you will come back to time and time again, what is the minimum number of casino games you are looking to choose from. If you think that 100 casino games is a good level to have as your minimum, you will be very happy with what the Casino Titan site has to offer. This site, which is also a US friendly casino site will provide you with more than 100 casino games to choose from, which is a great starting point.
The positivity surrounding Casino Titan continues with the fact that there is a no deposit bonus available when you sign up with the casino too. Once you sign up, there will be a $7 no deposit bonus placed directly into your account. This means you don’t have to pay a penny to start playing, which is definitely a great way to get involved with an online casino site. If all casino sites were ran in this fashion, you would find that the bad casino sites would go out of business quite quickly.
There is no reason to think that the Casino Titan site is a bad casino site though, especially not with a huge 400% matched deposit bonus on offer. Casino Titan is definitely the sort of online casino that will be greeted happily by many players who are keen to boost their bankroll by a considerable amount. Having a strong bankroll is always a good way to bump up your chances of success and US casino players will love their chance to play on the site. For more information on Casino Titan, read our up to date Casino Titan Review page now.
Slots Jungle: Best Payout Casino
Sometimes you have to get out into the wilderness to find yourself and for some people, this would mean a trip to the jungle. Of course, if you don’t want to venture too far, you can comfort yourself with a trip to Slots Jungle Casino. There are plenty of great slots games to choose from and with this site being a US friendly casino site, everyone can get involved with the action.
One quick way to get involved with the action comes along with the 125 free spins that are on offer to new players. Getting something for nothing is always going to be a positive thing for casino players and Slots Jungle delivers in a big way. Free bonuses and spins will keep players happy and there is every chance that Slots Jungle players will come back for more once their free spins run out.
When the free spins do run dry, there is a chance to boost your bankroll by grabbing the 4 250% matched deposit bonuses that are on offer. With each bonus having an upper limit of $2,500, new players to the site can grab a total of $10,000 in total at Slots Jungle. For more information on Slots Jungle Casino, read our up to date Slots Jungle Review page now.
WinPalace: Best Payout Casino
When it comes to US friendly casino options, WinPalace Casino is one that has been developing a strong reputation. With not too many US friendly casino options to select from, when people find a good option, they will inevitably start to talk with friends. This means that there has been a good level of word of mouth praise for WinPalace in recent times and there is a lot to be said for a casino that is able to grow organically in such a fashion.
This is definitely the case with WinPalace but it never hurts to get a helping hand. This is why there is a cracking slots welcome bonus for new players. If you are looking forward to playing slots on the site, you should find that the 300% matched deposit bonus that is available for the first two deposits a player makes will be of great benefit. If you want to focus on other casino games, there is still a 200% matched deposit bonus that is available to casino players for their first two deposits. Whatever style of casino game you prefer to play, there will be something to your liking from WinPalace. For more information on WinPalace Casino, read our up to date WinPalace Casino Review page now.
Best Mobile Blackjack for US Players
Should you be a US based Blackjack player then you may be interested to learn there is a now a mobile casino gaming platform than allows you to be able to play this casino card game on the move via any cell phone or mobile device.
Best Mobile Blackjack Casinos
We have listed the Best Blackjack Casinos with the best bonuses and rewards for blackjack players on their mobile phone:
| Rank | Casino | Visit | Review | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ![]() | Bovada Casino | Review | Best Cashier for US Residents |
| 2 | ![]() | Slotland Casino | Review | Deposit Bonus Up to $1000 |
| 3 | ![]() | WinPalace Casino | Review | Supports iPhone and iPad Only |
This new US player friendly mobile gaming platform has been designed and developed by one of the leading lights in the online gambling world. Being an experienced provider of casino games and the software platforms they run on, you are guaranteed to get an excellent mobile gaming playing experience.
The Blackjack recently launched on this mobile platform is known as American Blackjack game and it comes with fully adjustable stake options to suit every player’s budget and some very liberal rules.
Mobile American Blackjack Game
This new mobile American Blackjack game uses six full decks of playing cards, and just like their online casino Blackjack game variants all of these decks are fully shuffled at the end of each game and before a new game is set into play.
There is no major differences regarding how you play American Blackjack comparing it to other Blackjack games and your aim is simply to beat the Dealers hand without going over a score of 21. You can place a wager as low as just $1.00 on each hand you play and the maximum current permitted stake per hand is a high rolling $100.00 per hand.
You will of course be able to try the American Blackjack game on your cell phone completely free of charge. American Blackjack uses the same playing rules as the Las Vegas Strip rules and if you are unfamiliar with these allow us to guide you through them.
You are allowed to split a hand only once, however when you have split a hand then you can double down on both or either hand. When you have been dealt an initial two card hand worth ten or eleven in value then you can double down that hand.
Insurance Wager
You will be offered the Insurance wager option whenever the Dealer’s up facing card is an Ace, and if you opt to take this side bet wager then you are required to place a bet of exactly half the amount of your initial starting base game stake on this bet.
Should the Dealer’s down facing card when revealed by a ten value card then he will have Blackjack, and if you have taken the Insurance wager then your Insurance wager is a winning one and you are paid out at odds of 2 to 1 on your side bet wagered amount.
Payouts
If your hand beats the Dealer’s hand without going over a total of 21 then you are rewarded with a payout of even money so if you have placed a $100 wager and beat the Dealer’s hand then you will receive $200 back.
However if you have an unmatched Blackjack hand, that being a Ten valued card along with any Ace then you will get a winning payout for this hand at odds of 3 to 2 and as such if you have wagered $100 on that hand then you will receive a winning payout of $250 in total.
There is no Surrender options offered when playing the American mobile Blackjack and the Dealer is going to check for a Blackjack or Peek as it is known when he is holding an Ace as his up facing card.
Play Mobile Blackjack on your Cell Phone
Should you wish to play this American Blackjack game on your cell phone or on any mobile device then please feel free to checkout any of our featured mobile casino sites, each one of them will offer you a new player welcome bonus which should hopefully enable you to start playing with a hugely increased starting balance.
Card Counting Basics In Blackjack
The beauty of card counting when playing Blackjack is that anyone can do it. While there is of course an art to mastering how to count cards and do it almost without thinking. Once you understand the theory of how to do it you can then fine tune your playing strategy to incorporate the finer details of becoming a most efficient card counter and increase your chances of winning.
Best Blackjack Casinos
We have listed the Best Blackjack Casinos with the best bonuses and rewards for blackjack players:
| Rank | Best BlackJack Site | Review | More Information | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bovada Casino | Review | $500 Table Games Bonus Sunday Blackjack Special | ![]() |
| 2 | Grand Parker Casino | Review | 11 Different Blackjack Games $4000 Table Games Bonus | ![]() |
| 3 | WinPalace Casino | Review | $5000 In Blackjack Bonuses 6 Different Blackjack Games | ![]() |
The reason people count cards is that there will often come a time when the cards which are remaining in the shoe or deck are more beneficial to the player than the dealer. This happens whenever the deck is rich in lower valued cards as opposed to higher valued cards.
By keeping track of which cards have been dealt out into play and subsequently removed from the deck, the player can then utilize this knowledge to their own benefit. But only when of course there are more low valued cards than high valued ones still remaining in the deck.
The most basic of all card counting systems will use what is known as the high/low count, and this is where you keep a mental track of each card which has been dealt out, this is done by allocating a value to each playing card and then doing some simple arithmetic as the game plays out.
Hi/Low Count – Card Values and Running Count
Each card in the deck needs to be allocated a card value, and as such all playing cards used in any game of Blackjack whereby someone is using a hi/low count are given the following values:
Low Value Cards: The two, three, four, five and six cards each have a value on the hi/low count method of counting cards of Plus One. These particular cards when remaining in the deck are very useful to the dealer and as such the more of them which have been dealt out and the fewer number of them still remaining to be dealt the better it is for the player.
Zero Value Cards: The Seven, Eight and Nine cards are all zero valued cards so when counting cards they do not affect the count, which will be explained shortly.
High Valued Cards: The Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace cards all have a value in regards to counting cards of Minus One, and these particular cards are more helpful to the player than the dealer when a deck is rich in them.
Once you have learned the value of each playing card then you need to wait until a new shoe of cards has been put into play, and then simply keep a running count as each card is dealt out.
This is known as the Running Count and by either adding one or taking one away from this count as the game unfolds you will then be aware when the deck becomes player friendly.
When the game first gets underway you start with a count of zero and as such depending on which cards then get dealt out the count will be either remain at zero or become a minus count (when lots of high valued cards have been dealt) or a plus count (when more low valued cards have been dealt out).
As an example let us presume the following cards have been dealt out:
K (-1), 2(+1), 7(0), 4(+1), 6(+1), 8(0), Q(-1), A(-1), 3(+1), at this point in the game the count is +1, and by taking a look at the betting strategy below, this will show you how much to wager depending on the value of the count.
Betting Strategy when Counting Cards
When a new deck has been put into play you will be betting just one unit stake, this could be for example the minimum permitted stake allowed on the game you are playing, so we will use as an example a $10.00 minimum bet.
As you are keeping track and counting each card dealt out while the count is still at zero, you simply place $10.00 on each hand you are playing. The count will of course fluctuate upwards and downwards as the cards are dealt out, however you will need to increase your wager once the count becomes more positive.
The amount you wager will be increased as follows based on the current count of the cards (this betting strategy is based on a six deck shoe): When the count is zero or a minus figure, then stick to those one unit ($10.00) wagers.
If and when you get to a point in the game where the count is +18 you need to place two units ($20.00) as your staked amount, a +36 count will call for an increase to four unit ($40.00) wagers, a +54 count will see you increasing your wagers to eight units ($80.00). For every deck in the shoe, the numbers go up or down by 3. For example, on a 5-deck shoe you increase the wagers at +15, +30, and +45.
As with any gaming system or strategy you are best advised to get as much practice in as possible, as by mastering both the way to count cards and also fully understanding the wagering strategy. While testing the system out in private you will not run the risk of making any costly mistakes when playing in a land based casino!
Basic Blackjack Strategy
You will often hear the term “perfect playing strategy” when you are researching how to play Blackjack. While most players have a basic understanding of how to play Blackjack what many players lack is the knowledge to play the game perfectly.
Best Blackjack Casinos
We have listed the Best Blackjack Casinos with the best bonuses and rewards for blackjack players:
| Rank | Best BlackJack Site | Review | More Information | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bovada Casino | Review | $500 Table Games Bonus Sunday Blackjack Special | ![]() |
| 2 | Grand Parker Casino | Review | 11 Different Blackjack Games $4000 Table Games Bonus | ![]() |
| 3 | WinPalace Casino | Review | $5000 In Blackjack Bonuses 6 Different Blackjack Games | ![]() |
Using perfect Blackjack playing strategy involves having the ability to know how to play each and every hand based on what cards you are holding along with the card or cards that you can see the Dealer holding.
As you will know when playing Blackjack you are faced with many decisions once your initial two cards have been dealt out to you. These options can include you being able to Hit, Split, Double Down, Stand and/or Surrender your hand along with possibly taking the Insurance side bet if offered.
The art to playing Blackjack profitably is for you to play the variant which offers the lowest house edge. With dozens of different variants on offer this may seem like a daunting task as each variant available will come with different game play rules, payouts and also the number of decks of cards in the shoe can vary which will affect the house edge.
However one game which does offer a tiny house edge is the Classic Blackjack game and below we will let you know the best way to play this particular variant to allow you to get that low house edge whenever you play it.
Blackjack Basic Strategy
Insurance: Let us start with the Insurance wager, this particular bet offered to players whenever the Dealer’s hand could be a Blackjack hand is the worst bet you can make at a Blackjack table. This is due to the large house edge attached to it, so when offered the best basic Blackjack strategy for this wager is to always refuse it.
Double Down: When playing Classic Blackjack you can Double Down when you have a Hard 9, 10 or 11, however the only time you should perform such a move is when you have been dealt a pair of fives or a Hard ten or eleven and the dealer is showing a 2 to 9 valued card, or when you have a Hard nine and the Dealer is showing a 2 to 6 valued card.
Splitting a Pair: You should always split Aces when playing Classic Blackjack no matter what card the Dealer is showing. You should always split a pair of nines unless the Dealer has a 7, 10 or an Ace card showing if he does then stand your hand.
Always split a pair or eights unless the Dealer has a ten or Ace showing, if he does then hit your hand. A pair of sevens should always be Split unless the Dealer has 8, 9, 10 or an Ace showing if so Hit your hand unless he has a 10 in which case your should Stand your hand.
A pair of sixes should be Split unless the Dealer has a 7 to Ace valued card showing if he does hit that hand. Split a Pair of threes when the Dealer is showing a 4 to 7 valued card or Hit your hand if he is showing any other card.
Split a pair of 2’s when the Dealers is showing a 3 to 7 valued card and Hit your hand if he is showing any other card. These are the only times you should Split a hand when you are playing Classic Blackjack.
Standing a Hand: You should always stand a pair of tens, any Hard 17 or above hand and all Soft 18 to Soft 20 valued hands the only exception to this strategy is when you have a Soft 18 and the Dealer has a 9 or 10 hand in which case you should hit that hand.
If you have a Hard 13 to a Hard 16 hand then always stand that hand unless the Dealer has a 7 to Ace card showing in which case you should hit that hand. You should Stand a 12 valued hand when the Dealer is showing a 4, 5 or 6 valued card.
Hitting a Hand: The other times, other than those already mentioned in the above sections, that you should Hit your hand is when you have a Soft 13 to a Soft 17 hand, no matter what card the Dealer is showing you should always Hit your hand. Also always hit a Pair of 4’s no matter what card the Dealer is showing.
Aces and Fives Card Counting Strategy
You may have seen our article which covers the basics of card counting, however there are several more advanced types of card counting systems you can put into play when playing Blackjack. Whilst the theory and mathematics of these more advanced Blackjack card counting systems may seem complicated, the actual way in which you put them into operation can be relatively simple to learn.
Best Blackjack Casinos
We have listed the Best Blackjack Casinos with the best bonuses and rewards for blackjack players:
| Rank | Best BlackJack Site | Review | More Information | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bovada Casino | Review | $500 Table Games Bonus Sunday Blackjack Special | ![]() |
| 2 | Grand Parker Casino | Review | 11 Different Blackjack Games $4000 Table Games Bonus | ![]() |
| 3 | WinPalace Casino | Review | $5000 In Blackjack Bonuses 6 Different Blackjack Games | ![]() |
One such card counting strategy is the Aces and Fives method and this will interest you if you are looking for very easy ways to master the art of counting cards when playing at a land based casino. Be aware that you will not be able to count cards at an online casino as the decks are shuffled at the end of each game or before a new game is dealt out.
Aces and Fives Card Counting Betting Strategy
The way in which this Aces and Fives card counting strategy works is quite ingenious as it does away with you having to keep track of each single card that has been dealt out, and this is often the hardest part of counting cards.
The logic behind it is that as you are paid at odds of 3 to 2 for a Blackjack hand as opposed to even money on all other winning hands. As such whenever a deck become rich in Aces then a slight advantage is offered to players whilst at the same time the Dealer will be getting a slight advantage when there are a lot of five cards still in the deck.
So by keeping track of just the Aces and Fives that have been dealt out a player, more so when playing a single hand Blackjack variant will be able to locate a point in the game when either they are getting a slight advantage or conversely when the Dealer is.
You will first need to choose a base unit stake amount, let us for the sake of argument call this $5.00, then you will start to play when a new deck is in play by adding or subtracting a number for each Five or Ace that is dealt out.
Your stating score will be zero then each time a five is dealt out you add one to your current total, should an Ace get dealt out you then subtract one from this total, obviously if more Aces are dealt out than fives then your total could be a minus figure.
When each new hand is dealt out then you need to use your unit stake to determine how much you will be wagering on the next hand. If your total is positive, I.E. one or above then add that number of chips to your next wager, so if your initial wager is 5.00 and the count is two then your next bet will be 5.00 plus 2 x 5.00 chips which equals $15.00 in total.
However if the count stays at zero or is a negative then remove one chip from your bet if your wager was two or more chips, if it was one single chip then keep that in play for the next hand. You can always try the system out at home and master how to use it before visiting your local casino and trying it out in person for real money!
You should also ideally learn the basic playing strategy of Blackjack. Many land based casinos have no problems with you using a strategy card when playing at any of their live Blackjack tables, in fact many of them actively encourage it.
How To Play Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the simplest card games and this is one of the reasons why it is so popular across the world. Many people learn the basics and principles of blackjack at an early age in order to improve their counting skills but it is only after people reach legal gambling age that the true merit and importance of blackjack comes to light.
Best Blackjack Casinos
We have listed the Best Blackjack Casinos with the best bonuses and rewards for blackjack players:
| Rank | Best BlackJack Site | Review | More Information | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bovada Casino | Review | $500 Table Games Bonus Sunday Blackjack Special | ![]() |
| 2 | Grand Parker Casino | Review | 11 Different Blackjack Games $4000 Table Games Bonus | ![]() |
| 3 | WinPalace Casino | Review | $5000 In Blackjack Bonuses 6 Different Blackjack Games | ![]() |
Knowing how to play blackjack is an important skill and while it is a very simple game to play, learning the best way to play can take some time. It is fair to say that blackjack is an easy game to play but a difficult game to master.
How To Play Blackjack
The simplest thing to remember when playing blackjack is that you are looking to get as close to 21 without going over. If you get 21 in two cards, with an Ace and face card, this is referred to as “Blackjack”.
Learn the house rules
When learning how to play blackjack, it is important to pay attention to the house rules as this can affect how you will play. Some casinos have a policy of “standing” when the dealer hits 17 or greater. Others will take a “hit” when they receive a soft 17, which consists of a 6 and an ace. Typically, it is better for the player when the dealer stands on soft 17 as we don’t want to give the dealer a free card to get to 21.
Learn the card’s value
While this should be relatively straightforward, it is worthwhile making sure you know what every card is worth. The number cards represent the value displayed on the card. All of the face cards carry a value of 10. The ace card can be either an 11 or 1. The card is considered to be an 11 unless this number will place you over 21, if this is the case, an Ace counts as 1.
Know the order of play
When playing blackjack, the player is at a slight disadvantage compared to the house because the player has to play first. This means that if the player “busts”, which means getting a score over 21, your money is automatically lost with the casino taking your cash. It doesn’t matter if the dealer then proceeds to go bust with their hand; you still lose your cash.
Learn the vocabulary
There is some basic vocabulary used in blackjack which is not too difficult to understand but you need to grasp the meaning of it quickly to make the most of your time.
The term “hit” means to take another card while “stand” means that you will stick with the cards you hold and do nothing else. You will find that some casinos offer insurance when playing blackjack. This becomes available when a dealer holds an ace in their first card and if you take out insurance and the dealer then goes on to make blackjack, the insurance bet will be paid out at 2-1. It is advisable to never take insurance unless you are card counting, but even then insurance is widely regarded as a losing bet.
If you “double down”, you will double the level of bet and you will receive just the one additional card with no more cards available to you. If you “split”, you will make two separate hands from your initial hand. You can only split if both of your cards are of the same value. If you win after split, you will receive double the money. If one hand wins after splitting, a player will break even. If a player splits and then loses both hands, double the amount of money is lost.
Blackjack Strategy Review
Plenty of blackjack players like to embrace the game and will put whatever happens with their hand down to luck. This can be a good way to approach playing blackjack and as long as you have good limits about how much money you will bet, you can stay on top of the game. However, blackjack is not a game purely based on luck. Yes, there is an element of luck in what cards turn up in the course of a game but good blackjack players will be prepared for all manner of eventualities and this is where having a good blackjack strategy can bring benefits.
Best Blackjack Casinos
We have listed the Best Blackjack Casinos with the best bonuses and rewards for blackjack players:
| Rank | Best BlackJack Site | Review | More Information | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bovada Casino | Review | $500 Table Games Bonus Sunday Blackjack Special | ![]() |
| 2 | Grand Parker Casino | Review | 11 Different Blackjack Games $4000 Table Games Bonus | ![]() |
| 3 | WinPalace Casino | Review | $5000 In Blackjack Bonuses 6 Different Blackjack Games | ![]() |
There are a number of different blackjack strategies to choose from. It should be noted that there is no blackjack strategy that is 100% successful but many players believe that certain strategies provide them with a greater likelihood of success. If a strategy can help a blackjack player to overcome the house odds and win a lot more than they lose, then they would be mad not to implement it. Read our overview of the basic blackjack strategy for more information on how to win at Blackjack.
Best Blackjack Strategies
Before learning some of the more advanced blackjack strategies, make sure you know How To Play Blackjack; knowing the rules is key to understanding the following strategies.
Blackjack Card Counting
One of the more popular and controversial strategies is card counting; live casinos are always on the look out for card counters looking to take advantage of the house. Online casinos typically shuffle the deck after each hand so card counting has no effect; but practicing card counting by playing blackjack online is a good strategy if you plan on playing at a live casino soon. For more information on card counting, read our Card Counting Basics page.
One of the more advanced card counting systems is the Aces And Fives Card Counting Strategy. We encourage you to try this system out after learning the card counting basics and put your knowledge to the test.
Martingale blackjack strategy
The Martingale strategy is one of the most famous blackjack strategies and like so many blackjack strategies, it works in theory. This strategy requires players to bet 1 unit on a hand. When a bet is successful, the player returns to play again betting 1 unit. However, if the best is unsuccessful, the player then doubles the amount of money they bet with. The process of doubling each bet after losing should continue until a bet is won and then the betting amount returns to 1 unit.
By continually doubling the betting amount, each win will provide a profit for the player. The problem comes when a player has a run of bad luck and eventually cannot afford to double their betting amount. If this occurs, the player will have made a large loss and happens more often than you think. Each win will only make a minimal profit for a player so there would be a need to play for a very long time to make any notable amount of money. Also, if the table has a limit on how much can be bet on an individual game of blackjack, a losing streak could see you unable to place a bet of the required size.
In theory, the Martingale blackjack strategy works but in reality, players need an awful lot of money and time to make it worthwhile.
D’Alembert blackjack strategy
The d’Alembert blackjack strategy is classed as a negative progression system. This means that when you lose a hand, you raise the betting amount by one unit and when you win a hand, you lower the betting amount by one unit.
The theory behind the d’Alembert system is that you don’t go chasing losses, which is one of the biggest problems for many blackjack players. This system provides players with an opportunity to get money back in the long-term with the opinion that over the longer term, the results of wins and losses will be 50/50.
This blackjack strategy is a really simple one but even a minor run of losses can see you losing a lot of money. Again, the need to have a sizable bankroll, patience and a table willing to allow you to place high bets are required for this bet to be a success.
Solid blackjack betting strategies are key to turning the edge in your favor. While playing blackjack online you wont be able to do any card counting, you can practice your live blackjack strategy so you can perhaps turn a profit at your next visit to the casino.
Mac Casino Sites in the US
For years one of the most frustrating things about owning a Mac OS or MacBook is that many programs simply were not compatible with the machines. As they run a totally different operating system compared to most Windows based PC’s, it meant that many online casinos simply overlooked the Mac as it was such a niche market.
The continued success of Mac products has almost forced the hand of online casinos to provide a product for these types of users. As it stands many of the larger casino brands now offer specialist Mac download options for their users.
PC – Mac Compatibility
One of the easiest and most common ways around providing for Mac users is simply to provide browser based online casinos. This means that the operating software used to run these types of casinos is almost redundant as they can be run directly from the browser. So whether you are running Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer or some other browser variation, then each will be able to run the client.
The problems arise when making specialist download products specifically for the Mac. Casinos which only have a download function and no instant browser play option means that for a Mac user to play on said casino, they will need to be able to download it to their operating system. As the majority of products don’t cross over between say Windows and iOS based platforms, this becomes a problem.
The global expansion of Mac products has been unprecedented over the last 10 years or so. Throughout their full range of computers, tablets, smartphones and music players, they have managed to sell a staggering amount of products. As they continue to do so well Mac based casino products are likely to continue to rise and the availability of these will also continue to be apparent.
Mobile Integration
Mobile integration into Mac – or Apple- based smartphone and tablet devices causes another major headache for US based casino operators. Whilst they can simply build a browser based product for their PC and laptop users, mobile users will not be able to access these due to the limited availability of flash on their devices.
The only way to overcome this is build a unique standalone casino app. This obviously costs more money for the casino rooms and whilst at the minute these are very limited for US players, as the market grows this should pick up.
Future of Mac Casino products for US based players
The US casino market is just starting to turn a corner with more sites starting to re-accept US based players again. This means integration into the Mac world will be slow for many as they continue to find their feet. But it’s definitely a market which is very lucrative, and casino owners will be keen to tap back into that market.
The future almost certainly lies in the tablet and smartphone markets with the iPad and iPhone being the targets here. These are the future of online gambling as a whole, and with these two products being the most popular in each respected market, you will likely see a lot more casinos offering their services on each product.
Best Mac Casino Site for US Players
As you will have likely picked up from this article so far, Mac options are relatively slim picking for US based casino punters; but there are options out there. The best comes in the form of the Bovada casino. Whilst it does not have a dedicated Mac download version – yet- it’s one of very few to offer a browser based version of its casino client.
New Mac users can enjoy up to $500 from their first deposit. The bonus is an exact match of 100% ranging from $50 to $500. It’s worth noting that Bovada has one of the biggest ranges of casino games in the industry and is also one of the most reputable companies out there.
Deposit Options for US Based Casino Players
The online casino world has radically changed over the past 10 years, especially for US based players. Gone are the days where you can simply sign up and use any old method to play at pretty much any casino you choose. Casinos are much more selective about not only who they let onto their site, but also what deposit options you can choose from.
This guide will hopefully give you an indication of ways in which you can fund your casino account. It is worth noting at this point that some casinos will provide more deposit options than others, so it is worth checking each one before signing up.
Depositing Via American Express (AMEX) At Online Casinos
The American Express card was a worldwide symbol of power and prestige, in terms of baking at least. The card has seen a decline over the years but it’s re-brand into AMEX has seen it come back bigger and stronger. This is now a plausible and popular method of banking with many US based casinos.
Depositing Via Bank Wire At Online Casinos
Bank wiring money is one of the safest forms of depositing funds into your casino account. This is mainly because you are getting the details of your casinos bank, rather than them yours. There are downsides to the bank wire as transactions can often take a few days to process and withdrawals taking up to several weeks. The high rollers often use this method to deposit and withdraw large sums from their accounts, but if you don’t fall into that bracket then you should use an alternate and faster options will be more suitable.
Depositing Via Visa At Online Casinos
Visa is the biggest financing company in the world, and it’s no surprise to see it as one of the main deposit options for US based players. There are many different Visa payment methods to take advantage of including pre-paid debit cards which can be used at cash terminals around the world. The Visa cards are also the easiest way to fund your e-wallets, so even if you are not directly using your Visa credit or debit card to fund your casino account, it may still be a way to bridge the gap in getting money online.
Depositing Via MasterCard At Online Casinos
MasterCard is another brand synonymous with online payments. Unfortunately over the last few years they have made it almost impossible to use their credit cards to deposit into online gambling accounts for US based players. But there are ways around this, one of them being the pre-paid cards from MasterCard. You can simply deposit money from your bank account onto these pre-paid cards before then depositing onto your casino of choice. It may be worth noting at this point that many sites, whilst accepting deposits, will not accept withdrawals to MasterCard’s of any kind.
Depositing Via Pre-paid Cards At Online Casinos
Pre-paid cards are quickly becoming the deposit option of choice for many US based casino players. With the majority of credit card requests being declined by the banks, the pre-paid option allows players to top up their card and simply put their money on to their casino with the minimum of fuss. These top ups can occur online or even via a host of high street shops where money can be transferred across both.
Depositing Via Western Union At Online Casinos
If you can’t use one of the credit card options above, then check to see if the casinos can use a money transfer option such as Western Union or Money Gram. These money transfer services let players use their credit cards and many casinos now accept funds through these methods.








