Online Blackjack at NY Online Casinos

Legal Online Blackjack Gaming in New York: Everything You Need to Know

Online blackjack remains illegal in New York. While online sports betting became legal in NY in January 2022, online casino games like blackjack have yet to become legal. Since games of chance are technically illegal in New York according to state law, blackjack is only legal in certain locations, which we will discuss below.

Despite online casino games not yet being legal in New York, there's hope for NY blackjack players. Online sports betting delivered a financial boon to the state, which could lead to the legalization of online casinos, which will undoubtedly feature blackjack, as soon as 2024.

Online blackjack is incredibly popular with online casino gamblers, so demand for its legalization in New York will always be high.

Most recently, on the heels of the successful launch of online sports betting, state senators introduced new legislation to legalize online casino games in early 2023. That bill included all online card casino games unlike a previous attempt that focused on online poker and would allow mobile sports betting companies to incorporate online blackjack games into their product.

That bill was not included in the New York state legislature's 2023 budgets, however, and, for now, that's bad news for the New York blackjack player community, which is clamoring for the state to make online blackjack legal. According to estimates, the earliest New Yorkers can expect to be able to win real money and play blackjack online is 2024.

Potential Top Online Blackjack Sites for New York Players

Once online casinos are legal, New York will surely see a flood of online gambling operators applying to be licensed. Many of the national online casinos that offer blackjack in neighboring New Jersey will likely vie to become operators in New York. The list of online casinos that serve New Jersey bettors and might do the same in New York includes:

• BetMGM Casino BetMGM offers a legacy Vegas brand with a best-in-class blackjack online casino. According to BetMGM's website, their live dealer blackjack experience is backed by a top-tier user interface, top-notch video and sound quality and phenomenal playability.
• Caesars Casino & Sportsbook Caesars brings another legacy Vegas brand to the blackjack online casino space and offers another online casino from a mobile sports betting leader. Caesars describes itself as the world's most rewarding gaming company and offers online slot machines and table games where legal.
• DraftKings Casino DraftKings is one of the major players in the mobile sports betting game space and also competes in the online casino gambling arena. DraftKings offers a wide array of table games and a variety of blackjack games as well as a quality mobile gaming experience.
• FanDuel Casino FanDuel is another one of the leaders in the mobile sports betting industry and also offers online table games. FanDuel offers many popular online casino games and a highly-rated mobile app.
• Golden Nugget Casino Golden Nugget Casino is a staple of online gambling in New Jersey, and it has recently become part of the overall DraftKings gambling family.

New York casinos already established in the state's gambling landscape will likely also attach themselves to online blackjack and other table games. Most of these land-based casinos already make blackjack games a key component of their offering to gamblers in the Empire State. Three primary types of land-based casinos in New York could supplement their in-person table games with online gambling:

Tribal Casinos

Tribal casinos are some of the longest-standing in-person New York casinos offering table games including blackjack to New Yorkers. Only three tribes run legal gambling properties in New York: the Oneida Indian Nation of New York (OIN), the Seneca Nation and the St. Regis Mohawks. Popular tribal casinos under each nation in New York include the Turning Stone Casino (Oneida), the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls and the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino.

Racinos

Racinos are casinos housed at the race track across New York, and many of them also boast popular table games like blackjack. Popular racinos frequented by New Yorkers include Tioga Downs & Casino, Saratoga Casino and Raceway and Raceway Vernon Downs.

Commercial Casinos

Commercial casinos are the newest of the brick-and-mortar casinos in New York. Popular commercial casinos include Resorts World Catskills and Rivers Casino & Resort.

What Kind of Welcome Offers and Existing Player Rewards Might NY Blackjack Sites Offer?

First Deposit Bonus

Nearly every online sports betting site or casino offers gamblers a NY casino bonus when they make their first deposit. Not all of these bonuses are created equal, and it's important to look for the bonus that suits your risk tolerance and gambling style.

No Deposit Bonuses

No deposit bonuses are similar to first deposit bonuses, with the critical exception that they don't require a deposit. They allow you to try out online casino games without wagering real money to help you decide whether you enjoy the experience before you deposit.

Reload Bonus

If you run out of funds, your online casino may offer you a bonus to reload additional money. This is a common bonus casinos offer to convince users to stay with them after their initial sign-up. As you move past your initial deposit, it's worth considering casinos that offer you reasons to stick around.

Monthly Bonuses

To reward loyal customers, online casinos may be offered regular bonuses for remaining an engaged member. This could also include seasonal promotions at certain times of the year.

Free Spin Bonuses

While more commonly associated with games like roulette and slot machines, free spin bonuses allow gamblers occasional free play to keep them engaged with a casino.

Referral Bonuses

If you know somebody interested in getting into online sports betting or casino games, many sites will offer you money for referring others to their business. Oftentimes these bonuses come in the form of free play or bonuses, the size of which will depend on how many people you refer.

VIP Programs

Many casinos have built-in bonuses for active members, especially those that gamble significant money regularly. These are sometimes called high-roller bonuses, but some online casinos have lower thresholds for active customers.

How to Choose the Best New York Blackjack Sites

When blackjack becomes legal to play online in New York, you will need to choose among numerous casinos that receive licenses to bring online table games to players in the Empire State. Here are a few things to look for when choosing a casino to play blackjack online:

• Bonuses: Initially, many casinos that offer online blackjack will attempt to entice gamblers by offering substantial sign-up bonuses. A great way to choose a casino is to assess how much in free play and welcome bonuses they are offering customers at sign-up. To make money, you have to bet money, and the more free play you start with the better chances you have to run up your bankroll.
• Variety of games: It's important to know how many different blackjack games an online casino offers and what they are. Different blackjack games have their subtle strategic differences, and it's especially important to know which side bets casinos offer with their blackjack games.
• Quality app: When playing any game online, especially for real money, it's important to have a high-quality app experience. If a casino's app frequently glitches or loads slowly, it can be hard to build up the trust necessary to risk real money, and poor app performance can take the fun out of the game. Checking the app store for good reviews and looking on the internet for additional information can go a long way to help players learn about the best app to play blackjack and other games on. For instance, you'll want to visit NYCasinos.com to read our in-depth reviews. Also, note that a quality customer service operation can help smooth out the casino app experience.
• Live dealers: Some players prefer the peace of mind of playing with a live dealer flipping the cards in front of them when playing blackjack. Picking a NY casino app that features a real dealer leading the game live is an exciting feature that many gamblers enjoy. Having a live dealer option can give casinos a leg up on the competition for online blackjack players.

How to Sign Up to Play Blackjack Once Online Casinos Are Legal in NY

Once blackjack online becomes legal in New York, download your casino app of choice from your app store of choice - or just sign up on the operator's website. Here's how:

1. Use the links on this page or on our review pages to go to the official website of the casino you chose.
2. Create a username and password upon opening the app or navigating to the website so you have an account with the online casino.
3. Enter the personal information required by the operator. The information you'll likely need to provide includes your residence, which confirms you're in a legal gambling state You'll also probably need to provide other personal details like the last four digits of your social security number.
4. Enter an applicable promo code if we list one here. Once legal online blackjack goes live in New York, every online casino will have a welcome offer to entice gamblers to play table games with them.
5. Upload additional documentation and deposit funds. If New York requires bettors to upload additional documentation, such as your driver's license, you'll need to add images of those documents. Once you're squared away, use your deposit method of choice to add funds and hit the virtual blackjack tables!

Playing Blackjack at Sweepstakes Casinos in NY

While blackjack remains illegal to play online for real money in New York, sweepstakes casinos offer a loophole by which gamblers can play popular table games for fun and some real stakes. These casinos use a currency that only has value within the app, often referred to as sweeps coins. Those coins can be purchased by players to play blackjack and other casino games including slot machines and three-card poker. Coins can later be redeemed for prizes.

Popular sweepstakes casinos include Chumba Casino, particularly notable for its blackjack, WOW Vegas, a newer, hugely popular brand in the space, and Pulsz. All three, as well as other casinos, offer significant free sweeps coins giveaways at sign-up.

Social Blackjack in NY

Social casinos operate similarly to sweepstakes casinos and there's little difference between the two concepts. Social casinos don't always require any sort of real money element, instead emphasizing the fun and collaborative experience of playing table games with others online. These casinos usually offer a ton of free play bonuses. When they do incorporate real money, they use the sweepstakes casino model with sweeps coins. Blackjack games at social casinos can be a great way to practice your skills and enjoy the love of the game without risk.

Playing Blackjack at Land-Based Casinos in New York

Currently, land-based casinos are the only places in New York to play blackjack legally for real money. Most of the land-based NY casinos are owned and operated by Native American tribes - most notably the Seneca Nation and the Oneida Indian Nation - on tribal lands.

Blackjack games are prominent features at those casinos. For example, the popular New York casino Turning Stone Casino, operated by OIN, offers blackjack, double-deck blackjack and Spanish 21 (It also has an associated social casino it would likely convert into an online casino were online casinos legalized.)

The other brick-and-mortar casinos in New York are racinos or commercial casinos. Popular racino Tioga Downs in Upstate New York offers blackjack, Spanish 21 and a version of blackjack with different side bets called Blazing 7s. Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady is a commercial casino that offers regular Blackjack and Blazing 7s.

The Potential Benefits of Playing Blackjack Online in New York

Playing blackjack at a casino can be an awesome experience, but often it's inconvenient, especially in a state like New York, where many casinos are located away from major urban areas. Playing blackjack games online when it becomes legal in NY casinos will offer gamblers a convenient and easy-to-access blackjack experience that won't require a commute.

Some gamblers prefer to play blackjack in the presence of a real dealer, and online blackjack can appear excessively digital. However, many online casinos offer live dealer blackjack that simulates the in-person casino experience. The combination of that simulated experience and the convenience of gambling from your phone is hard to beat!

How to Play Blackjack

Blackjack is a classic casino game also commonly known as 21. Each player attempts to beat the dealer's hand by achieving as high a score as possible without going above 21. The cards 2 through 9 in each suit carry that exact point value, whereas cards 10, Jack, Queen and King are all worth 10 and Aces are worth either 1 or 11. If a player's total card value exceeds 21, they "bust" and lose the hand.

Before the cards are dealt, each player places a wager in the designated area. Players can also place various side bets, depending on what type of blackjack games they're playing and what the casino offers. The amount of money a player can wager will vary by the stakes set by the casino, and there is usually a minimum and maximum wager.

In a standard game of blackjack, each player is dealt two cards face-up to begin the hand, while the dealer deals herself one card face up and one card face down. Players whose initial cards equal exactly 21 are paid out immediately, provided the dealer doesn't also have 21. 

Each player is then asked by the dealer whether they would like to "hit" and take an additional card from the deck to increase the total of their existing cards closer to 21, or "stand," meaning to remain with the cards they currently have. Players can also deploy additional wager modifications at this stage, including double down, in which the player doubles their wager and receives one additional card, and splitting cards, in which a player with two of the same numbered cards (two 7s, for example) adds a second wager to play both cards as independent hands.

After each player either stands or busts, the dealer then turns over her face-down card and plays out the hand. Typically, the dealer plays until reaching 17 through 21 or busting by exceeding 21. After the dealer's action is concluded, all players that didn't bust with higher scores than the dealer are paid an amount equal to the money they wagered. Players that have already busted or have lower scores than the dealer lose the money they wagered. The dealer also pays out applicable side bets at the rate stipulated by the casino.

Types Of Blackjack Online

Blackjack is among the most popular table games, and as such online casinos often have several variations of blackjack games.

Classic Blackjack

The most common version is Classic Blackjack, the rules of which are described above. A common variation is European Blackjack, which contains subtle tweaks, including using two or more decks instead of one. One of the main differences in comparison to Classic Blackjack is that the dealer doesn't "peek" to check for blackjack until all the players have finished playing out their hands. Also, European Blackjack has limitations on doubling down; players must have values of nine, 10 or 11 to double down.

Spanish 21

Another common online blackjack game is Spanish 21. In Spanish 21, the 10-cards are removed from the deck. Leaving only the face cards as worth 10 makes it harder to get as close to 21 as possible. On the flip side, however, Spanish 21 offers the player some friendlier rules, such as no ties; if both the player and the dealer have a blackjack, the player wins. Also in Spanish 21, you can give up, or "surrender," and get half your stake back. This is useful if you're dealt a poor hand.

Some versions of blackjack adjust how the cards are dealt. For example, Face Up 21 is an online blackjack game where the dealer's cards are dealt face up, but if both the player and the dealer get blackjack, the player loses.

Side Bets

Other types of blackjack are differentiated by the varying side bets they offer. One such example is Perfect Pairs blackjack. In Perfect Pairs, you play traditional blackjack, but there's a side bet that hits if your first two cards have matching values. The side bet pays more if the cards are the same color, i.e. queen of hearts and queen of diamonds, and significantly more if the two cards are an exact match. While Perfect Pairs is one of the most common side bets in blackjack games, other popular side bets include Royal Match, Over/Under 13 and Lucky Ladies.

Online Blackjack Tips and Betting Systems

Blackjack is generally difficult to play at a consistently winning level, but there are strategies players can implement to win more money over time. Strategies to consider when playing blackjack online include:

• Play optimally: It's wise to follow a standard blackjack strategy chart when you play, which advises when to hit, stand or double down based on the initial cards you have been dealt and what the dealer is showing. While blackjack will always favor the house, you can improve your success by following the decisions recommended by the chart.
• Pay attention to the dealer's cards: It's wise to adjust your strategy while playing blackjack to fit the cards the dealer has. While achieving a higher score generally increases your chances of winning, busting eliminates them. Say the dealer is showing a 5 or a 6. The most likely total score they have is 15 or 16 since a significant plurality of the cards in the deck are worth 10. Meanwhile, you have 13, 14, 15 or 16, scores that carry a significant likelihood of the next card resulting in a bust. In this case, it's better for you to stand and hope the dealer busts. Likewise, if the dealer is showing an 8 or 9, you should try to get as high a score as possible because the dealer likely has 18, 19 or 20.
• Be consistent: Pick a strategy and stick to it. If you hit on 16 against a 7 or higher, do it nearly every time. Likewise, if you prefer to hit on 12 against a 2, do that nearly every time. If you remain consistent, you'll maximize your chances to make money and your playing partners will know what to expect from you.
• Take advantage of doubling and splitting: Generally, blackjack is designed to slightly favor the dealer's odds to win. Doubling down and splitting cards offer players a chance to win more money when the deck presents them with high probability winning situations. You should almost always double down when your two cards add up to 11, and, depending on what the dealer is showing, you should double in most situations you start with 10 and many where you start with 9. In terms of splitting, you should always split aces, and you should split most eights and sometimes sevens.

Are Offshore Blackjack Sites Safe for NY Players?

Offshore online blackjack sites offer a much riskier experience for online gamblers. Sometimes these sites can be fraudulent, but even when they're not, it can be difficult to withdraw winnings. It's always preferable to use a regulated, legal casino for security and peace of mind and an enhanced user experience catered to NY players. Offshore online blackjack sites just aren't worth the risk they carry. Until online casinos are legalized in New York, it's wiser to make a trip to New Jersey to play at regulated sites.

Benefits of Playing Blackjack Online vs Land-based Casino

Currently, land-based casinos offer the only legal option for New York gamblers to play blackjack for real money. Oftentimes, these casinos are the only places New Yorkers can play blackjack in the area, and thus those casinos can dictate the games and odds they offer to gamblers. When blackjack becomes legal to play online, many different casinos and sports betting entities will compete for registrations and gambling dollars from New York residents. The competition will lead to better bonuses, user experience and benefits for New Yorkers gambling online.

Author

Patrick Leary

@patrickkleary

Patrick is a second-year MBA student at Seattle University. He majored in journalism at Marquette University. Seattle sports are his passion.