The Best Online Blackjack Casinos in NZ

New Zealand players love blackjack, and for a good reason. It is an exciting game, and the odds of winning can be among the best of all casino games. However, finding an online casino that accepts New Zealanders and offers great options can take time and effort. To make your search easier, we’ve compiled a list of the best online casinos in New Zealand that provide great blackjack games for real money.

A List of the Best Blackjack Casinos

History of Blackjack

Blackjack has been around for many years and is a favourite game for casual and professional players.

Blackjack has its roots in the English card game Vingt-Un, whose origins have yet to be discovered. The earliest written reference to the game was found in a book by Miguel de Cervantes, written between 1601 and 1602. This suggests that blackjack may have been played in Castile from the early 17th century. More recent mentions of Vingt-Un can be found in France and Spain.

The first record of Vingt-Un being played in France was recorded in 1888, and the first set of rules for the game appeared in Great Britain in 1800.

The game eventually made its way to the United States in the early 1800s and was renamed “Blackjack” around 1899.

How We Determine the Best Online Casinos to Play Blackjack

With so many online casinos with blackjack, it can take time to determine which ones offer a quality gaming experience. When we rank the best online blackjack NZ casinos, we look at four important criteria: bonus offers and promotions, reliability, variety of blackjack games and live blackjack games. Let’s break down each of them.

• Bonus Offers and Promotions

We want to ensure that players who register an account at an online casino receive lucrative bonuses and promotions when playing blackjack. Bonuses and promotions are often used as an incentive to attract new players and reward loyal customers. Therefore, we make sure that the sites we recommend have generous bonus offers that reward players for their continued play.

• Reliability

When you play online gambling games like blackjack, your chosen site must be reputable, reliable and safe. That’s why we consider the security measures in place at each casino before recommending them to our readers. We also make sure that any winnings are paid out quickly and securely.

• Variety of Blackjack Games

The choice of blackjack games available is another important factor when ranking online casinos. We look at a range of factors, such as game options (single deck or multi deck), betting limits (for both low-rollers and high-rollers), game rules, house edge (which affects profitability) and more. This ensures that our readers can access various options when playing blackjack online.

• Blackjack Games with a Live Dealer

Online casinos offer many different types of gambling games, including live dealer versions where players can interact with real dealers in real-time from their home computer or mobile device. For this reason, we always check the availability of live dealer blackjack games at each online casino before recommending them to our readers.

We pride ourselves on ensuring that our readers get access to the best possible experience when playing online blackjack at the best casinos in NZ. That’s why we carefully evaluate each before recommending which ones you should try first.

Blackjack games provide an outstanding balance between luck and strategy.

Oliver Kemp (NZCasinoMagic expert)

Bonuses at Online Blackjack Sites

If you want to maximise your winnings and increase your gambling experience, you should take advantage of the bonuses available on the best blackjack sites. These bonuses come in different types, each offering unique benefits. Let’s take a closer look at them.

• Welcome Bonus

Most blackjack online casinos offer some form of “welcome bonus” when you first join their site. This bonus is usually offered in the form of extra credits that you can use to play. It’s important to note that these bonuses often have wagering requirements.

• Deposit Bonus

A deposit bonus is a type of bonus offered by many online casinos when you fund your account. The bonus size varies from site to site, but it is usually given as a percentage of your deposit (for example, 100% up to NZ$100). Again, there are usually wagering requirements associated with any deposit bonus, so read all the details carefully before taking advantage of this offer.

• Cashback Bonus

Some online casinos offer cashback bonuses as an incentive to loyal customers who play on their site for an extended time. This bonus can come in the form of extra credits that are added directly to your account balance.

• Loyalty Programs

Online casinos also offer loyalty programs as another way of rewarding customers who frequently play on their sites. Loyalty programmes usually involve the accumulation of points, which can then be redeemed for rewards that you can use when playing blackjack and other games on the sites.

• Live Casino Bonus

Some online casinos also offer special ‘live casino bonuses’ where players play live dealer games, such as blackjack, against a real dealer from their home.

Blackjack on Mobile Phone

Mobile blackjack is fast becoming a popular format for casino games. With cutting-edge graphics and a sleek user interface, mobile blackjack is a unique platform for enthusiasts to enjoy the classic game on their phones or tablets while on the move. With an ever-growing number of online casinos offering mobile blackjack solutions with different rules and betting limits, there has never been a better time to join this exciting form of casino entertainment. Now you can enjoy the thrill and challenge of blackjack from wherever you are with mobile gaming today.

The Basic Rules of Blackjack

At the start of each round, players place bets in the “betting box” at each position. Usually, a player can control or bet in any number of boxes at one table. The player whose bet is at the start of the betting box starts to play, and the other bettors “play behind him”. Each box receives a starting hand of two cards, visible to those playing on it. The dealer receives the first card face up, and in games with ‘hole cards’, the second card face down, which the dealer peeks at but reveals only when it turns the dealer’s hand into blackjack. In European casinos, the dealer’s second card is only played once the players have played their hands.

The aim is for players to win money by creating card totals higher than the dealer’s hand but not exceeding 21. To begin the game, dealers deal cards from one or two handheld decks or a dealer’s shoe. Then, on the player’s turn, a player can choose between a hit, a stand, a double, a split or a surrender.

What they mean:

• Hit – take another card
• Stand – to end players turn
• Double – double wager, take a single card and stop
• Split – if two cards have the same value, split them to make two hands
• Surrender – make a half bet and quit the game

Once the boxes are finished playing, the dealer’s hand is decided by drawing cards until the total value of the hand is 17 or higher.

The value of the cards is determined as follows: numbered cards are counted at face value, face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are counted as ten and Aces are counted as 1 or 11, depending on the player’s choice. If the total value of the dealer’s hand exceeds 21, it’s a bust, and all bets win immediately. If the dealer doesn’t bust, each remaining bet wins if his hand is higher than the dealer’s and loses if lower.

If a player has a total of 21 on his first two dealt cards, this is called “Blackjack”, and the player automatically wins the hand unless the dealer also has it, in which case the hand counts as a draw. If the player has blackjack, the payout is usually at odds of 3 to 2. Many blackjack games also offer a side bet called insurance, which can be made if the dealer’s face card is an Ace.

A Closer Look at Blackjack Features and Variations in the Rules

Blackjack rules and regulations vary from place to place, so it’s important to be aware of the variations before sitting down at the table.

• Pontoon

Pontoon is a type of blackjack played in Asia. The main difference between Pontoon and the standard version of blackjack is that it allows you to double up before you hit.

• Spanish 21

The Spanish 21 is one of the most exciting varieties of blackjack. It uses Spanish decks with 48 cards instead of 52 (four tens are removed).

• Dealer Hits Soft 17

Most casinos require dealers to hit soft 17, which means they will hit another card instead of staying and taking the count of 17. This rule increases the house advantage by about 0.2%, making it more likely that you will lose than win each round.

• Number of Decks

The number of decks used can also affect your chances of winning or losing a round. Most casinos use six decks, but some use four or eight decks to increase their advantage over players. Generally, with fewer decks, you have a better chance, as fewer cards are involved in the game.

• Late/Early Surrender    

Late surrender allows players to surrender their hand after seeing the dealer’s up card, while early surrender allows players to surrender their hand before seeing what card the dealer has been dealt.

• Resplitting

Resplitting is rare, but it does exist at some tables and can give you an advantage over other players unfamiliar with the variation. Resplitting occurs when a player receives another pair after splitting, allowing them to split again and gain even more potential winnings.

• Switch  

The switch is another popular variation of blackjack, in which players can switch cards between their two hands if they think it will give them a better chance of winning.

• Double Attack 

A double attack is where players can double their initial bet after seeing the dealer’s up card. However, this also adds additional risk, as you could lose twice as much money if you guess wrong.

Try playing one of these variations if you want extra fun for your next blackjack game. Each variation offers something unique, giving players a better chance of winning big and adding an extra level of challenge and risk.

Live Dealer Blackjack

Blackjack with a live dealer provides an exciting online gaming experience bridging the gap between playing in a land-based casino and an online casino. Players can interact with a live dealer in real-time through a webcam, making blackjack play more similar to a real casino. This type of blackjack also offers better odds than a traditional game, as no random number generator is involved. As technology advances and becomes more accessible, live dealer blackjack is becoming increasingly popular, with players looking to take their game to the next level.

Strategies and Tips for Winning at Online Blackjack

It’s an easy game to master, but there’s also an element of strategy that can help you increase your chances of winning. With the advent of online blackjack, more opportunities exist to practice the game and hone your skills. Here are some strategies and tips on how to win.

• A Basic Strategy for Blackjack

One of the best ways to win is using a basic strategy blackjack chart. This chart will provide a list of suggested moves based on the cards you’ve been dealt and the dealer’s upcard. While this strategy does not guarantee a win every time, it can significantly increase your chances of success in the long run. However, it is important to note that this type of strategy can be less effective in certain games, such as Spanish 21, so check out the variations before using this approach.

Basic strategy blackjack chart:

H-Hit

S-Stand

D-Double down

X-Split

• Money Management Techniques

Another key factor in winning is money management. While playing, limiting how much money you’re willing to lose before exiting the game is important, so you don’t spend too much money too quickly. It’s also a good idea to set aside some of your winnings so you’ll always have something to spare if your luck runs out. In addition, setting aside time each day to play blackjack online for free will help you keep your senses sharp and maximise your chances of winning for real money.

• Know When To Quit

Finally, knowing when to stop is an important part of mastering online blackjack. While you may be tempted to keep playing after a few wins or losses, knowing when to stop can keep you from making bad decisions that could cost you more money than you need.

Online blackjack can be fun and lucrative if you do it right. Using a basic blackjack strategy scheme and practising good money management techniques can increase your chances of winning while minimising your losses.

Conclusion

Ultimately, playing at online casinos in New Zealand provides a fun and convenient experience you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. You can quickly sign up with a few clicks and get access to all the popular blackjack variations in just a few minutes. While there are many options, the best online blackjack casinos in New Zealand offer secure banking methods, regular promotions, reliable customer support and more.