Blackjack Online in New Zealand

One of the most well-known casino games in the world is blackjack, or vingt-un which is French for "twenty-one". At River Belle Casino, you can enjoy a premium blackjack experience with smooth gameplay, stylish graphics, and a variety of games.

How to Play Blackjack

Basic Blackjack Rules and Objectives

To win at blackjack, you must beat the dealer by getting a hand value closer to 21 without going over.

Card Values and Hand Rankings

All number cards 2-10 are face value, face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are 10, and the Ace is either a 1 or 11, whichever benefits your hand.

A hard hand has no Ace, or the Ace is counted as 1. A soft hand contains an Ace counted as 11. A Blackjack is an Ace + a 10-value card on the first two cards dealt.

Step-by-Step Gameplay Guide

Place your bet before the cards are dealt.
Initial deal: you and the dealer each get two cards. Yours are both face-up, while the dealer has one face-up, one face-down.
You make your decisions first: hit, stand, double down, split, or surrender.
The dealer then reveals their hidden card and must hit until they reach 17 or higher.
See who wins!

Potential Payouts

A Blackjack pays out 3:2, while a regular win pays out 1:1. An insurance win pays out 2:1. A push (tie) will return your bet, while a loss forfeits it.

Online Blackjack NZ Variants

There are several versions of blackjack to choose from:

Classic Blackjack – The original, most widely-played version, it uses one or more standard 52-card decks. The dealer must hit on soft 17 and players can choose to double down, split pairs, and take insurance while trying to beat the dealer. If you enjoy the classics, also check out our online roulette in New Zealand.
European Blackjack – Played with two decks and no hole card for the dealer, in this version the dealer only receives their second card after all players finish their turns. Players can double down only on 9, 10, or 11 and cannot surrender.
Atlantic City Blackjack – This version uses eight decks, allows late surrender, and players can split up to three times (including aces) and double down on any two cards. The dealer must stand on soft 17 and peeks for blackjack.
Buster Blackjack – A side-bet variant where the player wins if the dealer busts and the payouts increase based on how many cards the dealer busts with.
Bonus Blackjack – The main game follows standard rules but with optional side bets for specific combinations.
Vegas Blackjack – Typically this style uses four decks, the dealer peeks for blackjack and stands on soft 17. Players can double after splits and re-split.
Multi-Hand Blackjack – A player can play multiple hands simultaneously against one dealer while following the same rules as Classic or Vegas Blackjack.
Live Blackjack – Offering an immersive, casino-like experience, this version is played via live-streamed dealers in real time and usually follows the same rules as Classic or European Blackjack.

Blackjack Terminology

Whichever variant you choose to play, there are key terms to know:

Bust – a hand totalling more than 21, automatic loss
Double down – double your bet and take one last card
Hit – take another card
Insurance – a side bet offered when the dealer shows an Ace, it pays if the dealer has blackjack
Push – a tie between you and the dealer
Split – if you have two cards of the same value, split them into two hands (requires an extra bet)
Stand – don’t take any more cards
Surrender – if allowed, forfeit half your bet to exit a weak hand early

Blackjack Strategy and Betting Systems

How to learn blackjack basic strategy? By reading on, of course!

Martingale System: Double your bet after every loss and, when you win, you recover all previous losses plus a profit equal to the original bet. It’s simple and effective in short bursts, but risky during losing streaks.
Paroli System: Increase your bet after each win (up to three times), then reset to your base bet. Safer than Martingale and capitalizes on hot streaks but requires consecutive wins to be profitable.
Oscar's Grind System: Increase your bet by one unit after a win but keep it the same after a loss. A conservative strategy with slow profit accumulation.
Parlay Betting Strategy: Double your bet after each win by using profits only. It’s high risk, but with big potential returns during winning streaks.
Flat Betting: Bet the same amount each hand, whether it’s a win or a loss. This is the easiest for beginners and controlling your bankroll.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blackjack

Can you count cards in online blackjack?

No, the software reshuffles the deck automatically after every hand so it is not possible to count cards.

How many decks are used in online blackjack?

Up to eight decks of cards.

When should I split 8s in blackjack?

You should always split a pair of 8s to take a soft 16 and turn it into two potential 18s.

Are blackjack odds better with more players?

No, the number of players doesn’t influence the odds, but you will have a lower chance of getting more blackjacks.