Live dealer blackjack NZ – how to play online and win real money
Live dealer blackjack is the perfect game for those who like to combine skill and luck, are looking for a realistic casino experience and want the possibility of winning real money.
This guide delves into some of the variants that are most popular with Kiwi players, also showing you how to play for free. We explain the rules for live blackjack dealer tables, and offer our expert tips around how to win.
Let’s start right away with our curated list of best live dealer blackjack sites in NZ.
Best live blackjack casinos online in September 2024
The best live blackjack games in New Zealand – trending titles
With so many live blackjack variants to choose from, things can get confusing if this is your first time playing. Below you can go through the most popular blackjack variations to better understand the differences.
Classic blackjack
This is the most basic of blackjack variants, with dealer and player getting 2 cards each. Score a higher hand than the dealer without going over 21 and you win.
Single Deck blackjack
This one has the lowest house edge of all blackjack variants, at 0.15%, which is why it’s so rare to find. Only one deck is used and the dealer hits on soft 17.
Blackjack Switch
This live dealer blackjack game lets you play two hands together and to switch the top cards from each hand, giving you better odds.
European blackjack
The most widely played of live blackjack dealer games, this variant only lets you split once during the round. You can only split 10-value cards with the same face or value.
Spanish 21
You won’t be dealt any number 10 cards, but the rules are less strict than other live blackjack types. You can double down as much as you like and all face cards have a value of 10.
Double Exposure blackjack
The dealers’ first cards are dealt face up when playing live dealer blackjack of this type. However, if both player and dealer hit a natural blackjack, the dealer wins.
Features of top live blackjack real money casinos
The best live dealer blackjack sites offer a high standard to ensure a super online gambling experience. Here are the features you need to look for when picking a site.
?? No. of live blackjack tables | 12+ |
?? Popular titles | Blackjack Switch, Spanish 21, Double Exposure Blackjack |
?? Live blackjack casino bonuses | Cashback bonus, deposit match bonus, reload bonus |
?? Live blackjack apps | Android & iOS |
?? Software providers | 2+ |
?? Top NZ dealer blackjack site | Jackpot City Casino |
How we rate the best real money live blackjack casinos
When rating the best live dealer blackjack sites, our experts follow a very specific, data-driven process. This includes scoring all those elements that spell the difference between a stellar online gambling experience and a mediocre one. Only those that score consistently high across all the criteria below make it on our list of best live blackjack casinos.
Range & quality of live blackjack tables
A superb live dealer blackjack experience depends a lot on whether the site offers the best live blackjack casino games. Our experts expect to find a good choice of variants, tables that are open 24/7 and highly-trained dealers streaming from professional studios. We also look for the presence of low-stakes and high-stakes tables to ensure that all bankrolls are catered for.
Sites like Rizk casino offer a large variety of stakes and variants, with games streamed from high-end Evolution studios, so they score very well in this regard.
Live software providers
NZ players have access to many live blackjack software providers, but we like to make sure that the leading names are on the list before placing it on our list of best live blackjack. TonyBet offers our highest scoring live dealer blackjack online, with games by Evolution, Pragmatic Play Live, Playtech, Ezugi, Lucky Streak, Beterlive and Atmosfera.
However, anything between two and four different providers is considered reasonable, as long as they are reputable.
Live blackjack casino bonuses & tournaments
If you’re looking for a live blackjack casino bonus, this isn’t always easy to find at NZ online casinos. Many of our recommended sites allow you to use the regular first deposit match offer on live dealer blackjack games, contributing anything between 5% and 20% to wagering requirements. Wildz casino is quite rare offering a 50% weighting, so it receives our experts’ vote.
Some sites offer specific live dealer blackjack online bonuses. Quickwin is one of them, and the site also runs Drops & Wins tournaments on live blackjack real money games, which makes it one of the best options for Kiwi players looking for the best deals on this game.
Live blackjack apps
With so many NZ players enjoying gambling on the go, stands to reason that we expect the best live blackjack casinos to be fully accessible on any mobile device. Mobile casino apps, are the most obvious way to access live dealer blackjack tables on your Android or iOS.
Sites that don’t have an app but are fully mobile responsive, like Cosmo, still get our seal of approval. What matters is that it can be accessed from any mobile device, including tablets and iPads, and that most of the live dealer games are included on mobile.
Safety & game fairness
To qualify for the best live dealer blackjack, a casino must be licensed by a reputable gambling regulator, for example the MGA or the UK Gambling Commission, like Rizk. Our experts will not recommend any unlicensed live dealer blackjack sites, as these offer no guarantee of protecting players’ funds and their rights.
A gambling license guarantees the minimum level of security, but we keep our top votes for the best live blackjack casinos that offer additional security measures, such as independent auditing of games, SSL encryption and responsible gambling tools. 7Bit casino fulfils all these criteria, which is why we fully recommend it.
Live game lobby experience
If you enjoy live blackjack dealer games, chances are that you’ll also want to give other live tables a go. To ensure there are no disappointed players, we test the whole live game lobby experience when rating casinos.
Our highest scores go to those sites that offer a full package of live games, including classics like live roulette, live game shows, live slots and other titles like Sic Bo. It’s very difficult to beat the likes of BetAndPlay casino, for example, with 700+ live tables that make for an excellently equipped lobby.
Overall live casino rating
Finally, our experts take a good look at all the other elements that make a great live blackjack casino. Starting with the user-experience of the site itself, and whether it’s easy to navigate and to find our favourite live blackjack games listed.
Following that, we rate the cashier policy, including whether casino payments that are popular in NZ are included, as well as how long it takes to cash out. We also test customer support to see what options are available and how long they take to reply. If we’re satisfied on all fronts, then we’ll go ahead with a high score for this criterion.
Live blackjack casino bonuses to claim now
Live blackjack real money casinos all offer a range of casino bonuses to entice players. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the bonuses can be used on live blackjack tables. It’s important when signing up to a new casino to read all terms and conditions carefully to check whether the bonus cash is eligible on your favourite games.
Here are some of the more common promotions that can be claimed by blackjack players.
Live blackjack welcome bonus
The best live blackjack casinos offer bonus cash specifically for use on a live blackjack table. Sadly, live casino bonuses aren’t quite the norm, but the occasional online casino NZ does offer them. Winawin is an example, giving out 100% up to NZ$450 on live online blackjack. Alternatively, look for sites that allow live games to contribute to wagering requirements, such as Wildz.
Live cashback bonus
Losses are a part of life that all players learn to live with, but no-one can deny the appeal of recouping some of your lost money. This is what cashback bonuses are for, giving players a percentage back. This is usually a loyalty offer, with the percentage ranging between 5% and 10%.
Live blackjack tournaments
These see players compete against each other, with those who nab the highest leaderboard positions being rewarded with huge cash prizes and other rewards. The tournaments are typically hosted in conjunction with software providers like Evolution Gaming, and they run for a specific period. Pragmatic Play’s Drops & Wins Live are very popular with Kiwi players, and you will find them regularly hosted at Quickwin.
Popular software for live casino blackjack
The level of gameplay you get to enjoy at the best live blackjack sites depends very much on which software provider is hosting the games. While there are many brands available, the top ones ensure the smoothest, high-definition streaming with an overall polished product, including professional live blackjack dealers.
Below we list our experts’ top live blackjack dealer providers.
Live vs RNG real money blackjack online – which should you play?
Players who are live dealer blackjack online pros can tell you that few things equal the high of playing your favourite game in a realistic setting, with human dealers. But if you’re undecided, here’s a list of pros and cons to help you choose.
| Live dealer blackjack | Play with human dealers and real players | Chat function gives the game a social feel | Cutting-edge streaming technology makes you feel like at a real casino | Might be daunting to join seasoned players | Requires more thought than RNG version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular casino blackjack | You’re in full control of when to place your bet | There isn’t the pressure of dealing with other people | There isn’t the pressure of dealing with other people | Lack of human dealer can make it feel artificial | Restrictive one-angle footage is less engaging |
| Live dealer blackjack | Regular casino blackjack |
|---|---|
| Play with human dealers and real players | You’re in full control of when to place your bet |
| Chat function gives the game a social feel | There isn’t the pressure of dealing with other people |
| Cutting-edge streaming technology makes you feel like at a real casino | There isn’t the pressure of dealing with other people |
| Might be daunting to join seasoned players | Lack of human dealer can make it feel artificial |
| Requires more thought than RNG version | Restrictive one-angle footage is less engaging |
Play for free now
So you’ve decided that you’d like a bit more time before plunging into the world of live blackjack casino. The good news is that you can practice some basic blackjack strategy on the free demo versions that our recommended sites offer for RNG blackjack.
You won’t be able to try out actual live blackjack games for free, but as soon as you’ve built up the confidence you can move on to the real tables.
Live blackjack for beginners – how to play
Before you join a table, it’s best to make sure that you understand the game correctly. Live dealer blackjack rules are pretty simple, and it won’t take you long to figure out how live blackjack works.
To make things easier, our experts have compiled the below step-by-step guide for how to play with a live blackjack dealer.
- 1
Join your preferred live blackjack table
Make sure that the minimum buy-in is suited to your budget and that you pick a basic variant for the first time. European or Classic blackjack should work out well.
- 2
The dealer announces that the table is closed
At this stage, no new players can join so the dealer starts giving out the cards.
- 3
You’re dealt your cards
You will be dealt two cards face up. The dealer and any other players also get two cards. However, the dealer’s hand only has one card face up.
- 4
Decide whether to hit or stand
Check your cards carefully and see whether it’s worth standing or if your hand is low enough to risk another hit. If you decide to stand, the dealer follows the same process with the rest of the players.
- 5
The round ends
This is when the cards start being revealed and you can gauge how you’ve done.
- 6
The winner is revealed
The round is won by players who scored higher than the dealer without going over 21.
- 7
The next round starts
You’re invited to take part in a new hand or to leave the table.
How to win at live dealer blackjack online
Playing at blackjack online casinos involves a good measure of skill, and some luck, and you can certainly win real money if all the stars align. You can help your luck along by following our tried and tested blackjack tips that help you understand the game and which bets work best for you.
If you want to play your best live dealer blackjack games, it’s essential that you understand the rules properly. While the game depends on a good portion of luck, you will also need to master an element of skill, which is exactly what makes it so thrilling.
A 100% guaranteed win is impossible, but our live blackjack dealer tips below can certainly increase your chances.
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Understand how blackjack strategies work
Find a good live dealer blackjack strategy and incorporate it within your game. Even if you do it perfectly, the outcome depends on luck. However, a structured approach to bet types, insurance and so forth can increase your chances of a win.
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Choose variants with a low house edge
This applies mostly to newbies, as once you’re used to the game we encourage you to experience the different thrills all variants offer. Single Deck blackjack and Atlantic City blackjack have the lowest odds at 0.13% and 0.36% respectively. Be aware that different bet type will also affect the house edge.
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Try to understand card counting
Not one for everyone, but if you manage to get the hang of live blackjack game card counting you’ll be maximising your chances considerably. Be warned that you’ll need to focus well and to employ some arithmetic, so try to practice alone beforehand.
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Figure out what the different bet types mean
Read through the basics so you know when to split, which side bets are allowed on your variant, if you’re allowed to resplit and when and how to double down.
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Face cards shouldn’t be split
Doubling your hand doesn’t mean doubling your chances of winning. It does mean doubling your chances of losing, though.
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Do split Aces and 8s
An exception to the above is when you’re dealt aces or 8s. A hand of 16 is not worth standing for and it’s too risky to hit, so splitting is the only way out. Aces follow the same reasoning, whichever value you give them.
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Don’t chase losses
A losing streak happens. Don’t try to break it by going over budget as that’s the start to a slippery slope.
Should you play live blackjack online?
Are you up for the best live dealer blackjack, or still unsure whether it appeals to you? Let’s take a look at this popular game’s pros and cons below.
Pros
- It involves some skill, which adds to the thrill factor
- There are many variants to experiment with
- You can practice on the RNG free demos first
- The basic rules are very easy to learn
- The social element gives it a real casino vibe
- It offer flexible stake options to suit different budgets
Cons
- There’s an element of luck, so you can’t guarantee a win
- Some of the bet types can increase the house edge
Play these live casino games instead
Live dealer blackjack FAQs
Can I play live blackjack online?
Yes, this guide includes a list of our best live blackjack casinos. This has been curated by our experts, who follow a rigorous process of testing and reviewing. The process is transparent and is based on a set of criteria that include safety and security, game choice and quality, payment options, mobile responsiveness and more.
What is live dealer blackjack?
Live dealer blackjack is an online casino game with human dealers and live interaction. It’s streamed from live casino floors or from a software provider’s studio in real time, using cutting-edge technology and multiple camera angle to make players feel immersed in the game. You can find out more in our section about trending blackjack games.
How do you win at live dealer blackjack?
Winning at blackjack requires both luck and skill, so you can never be sure of the outcome. However, our experts have compiled a list of live blackjack tips that will help you maximise your chances. These include basic strategy, bankroll management and learning the rules of the game.
Is live dealer blackjack fair?
Yes, the casinos recommended in this guide are all licensed by reputable gambling authorities, to ensure game fairness via regular auditing. Moreover, we only recommend games by licensed software providers who employ professionally-trained dealers that expertly lead the games by following the rules.
Is live blackjack better than the RNG version?
This depends on personal preferences. Live blackjack offers authenticity and social interaction, while the RNG version is faster and more convenient for some players. When comparing live blackjack vs RNG blackjack, both have their pros and cons but some Kiwi players prefer the live version for the social element it offers.
Written by Ramona Depares
Ramona Depares is an award-winning journalist focused on cultural and entertainment related content. Based in the Mediterranean gaming hub of Malta, she has taken a deep interest in gambling related news since the earliest days and has seen the global landscape evolve. Ramona specialises in the legal and regulatory aspects of gaming across multiple jurisdictions, with specific interest in NZ and US markets. She is also a best-selling author of fiction and non-fiction books.