Blackjack mixes skill, strategy and a fast pace, which makes it one of the most played card games at mobile casinos. This guide covers four blackjack games at JackpotCity Casino: what the rules are, what each pays and what to expect from each on a phone screen. JackpotCity offers a downloadable casino as well as instant play in the browser.
The four games compared
| Game | Type | Listed RTP | Side bets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegas Single Deck Blackjack | RNG, single deck | 99.69% | Insurance only |
| VIP Blackjack (Evolution) | Live dealer | 99.28% | Perfect Pairs, 21+3 |
| Classic Blackjack Gold | RNG | 99.9% | Yes |
| European Blackjack Gold | RNG, two decks | 99.6% | Over/under 13 |
The four games in the table share a 3:2 payout on a natural and a 1:1 payout on an ordinary win. The four games differ in deck count, in the dealer's peek, and in the side bets beside the main hand. Vegas Single Deck Blackjack uses one deck and shuffles after every round. VIP Blackjack streams a human dealer and offers Perfect Pairs and 21+3. Classic Blackjack Gold lists the highest return in the table, at 99.9% with basic strategy. European Blackjack Gold uses two decks and an over/under 13 side bet that pays 10:1 on an exact 13.
Vegas Single Deck Blackjack
Microgaming's Vegas Single Deck Blackjack plays with one deck instead of the usual several. The animations are clean, the interface is easy to tap through on a small screen, and a Quick Deal option speeds up each round. The listed RTP is 99.69% if you play optimally.
How to play
Pick your chip size, place your bet and take two cards. Then hit, stand, double down or split. You can only double on hard 9, 10 or 11, and only pairs can be split. The dealer hits soft 17 and checks for blackjack when showing an ace or a 10-value card.
Features and payouts
One deck sounds like a gift to card counters, but the game shuffles after every hand. Insurance is the only side bet. Blackjack pays 3:2, regular wins 1:1 and insurance 2:1, though insurance rarely pays off over time.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Auto-Rebet and Quick Deal for faster play | Low maximum bets for high rollers |
| Clear graphics and animations | No surrender option |
| High listed RTP of 99.69% | No side bets beyond insurance |
Choose it for classic blackjack with player-friendly rules and nothing in the way.
Vegas Single Deck Blackjack removes cards from one 52-card deck during the hand, so a ten or an ace already dealt changes the next draw. Vegas Single Deck Blackjack then shuffles before the next round, which clears that information. A count from the previous hand does not carry over, because the shoe never continues. Doubling stays on a hard 9, 10 or 11, so other totals stay hit-or-stand decisions. The dealer hits a soft 17, and an ace with a six takes another card. That dealer card and the single deck sit in the same rules, and the listed RTP of 99.69% already includes both. Insurance is a separate stake on a dealer ace and pays 2:1.
VIP Blackjack live dealer
Evolution's VIP Blackjack, released in 2018, puts a real dealer on your screen with traditional rules and a few modern features. It is aimed at players who stake more per hand.
How to play
- Choose a licensed casino that carries VIP Blackjack.
- Set a budget and a strategy before you sit down.
- Place your bet when the round opens.
- Decide to hit, stand, double down or split based on your cards.
- Beat the dealer's total without going over 21.
Features
- Pre-Decision: make your choice at the same time as other players, so rounds move faster.
- Side bets: Perfect Pairs and 21+3.
- Fast Play: quicker deals.
- Settings: adjust sound and view, bet behind other players and use live chat.
- HD stream: clear video, even on a phone screen.
Payouts
Regular wins pay 1:1, blackjack pays 3:2 and insurance pays 2:1.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Pre-Decision keeps rounds moving | No background soundtrack |
| Perfect Pairs and 21+3 side bets | Listed RTP of 99.28% is a little below some other live blackjack tables |
| High-definition stream |
A live stream uses far more data than an RNG table, so play it on Wi-Fi or a strong mobile connection.
VIP Blackjack deals from a physical shoe, and the cut card ends that shoe. VIP Blackjack shows each card on camera, so the cards still in the shoe stay visible. The listed RTP of 99.28% is the published figure for basic strategy on the main bet. Perfect Pairs pays when the first two player cards are a pair. 21+3 pays on a three-card poker hand from those two cards plus the dealer's upcard. Each side bet takes its own stake. A loss there leaves the main-hand payout unchanged. Pre-Decision locks the hand before the rest of the table acts, which shortens the wait on a phone. A live picture uses more data than a software hand, so a weak connection stalls the stream. Read the felt minimum first. VIP limits sit above the $1 and €1 software minimums on the other three games.
Classic Blackjack Gold
Classic Blackjack Gold Series is published by Games Global. The aim is the usual one: beat the dealer with a higher total, a natural blackjack or a dealer bust. The dealer stands on 17. You can double down only on your first two cards and split up to twice.
How to play
Start in demo mode to practise for free, or switch to real money. Set your stake before the deal. Bets run from $1 to $200 per hand. The game runs on Android and iPhone as well as desktop.
Rules and payouts
The dealer does not peek for blackjack when showing an ace or a 10-value card. You cannot split unlike 10-value cards, but you can hit split aces. Doubling is limited to hard 9 to 11. The deck is reshuffled every round, so counting does not help.
A natural blackjack pays 3:2 (1.5 times your bet) and other wins pay 1:1. Insurance costs half your bet and pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack; it is usually not worth taking. Classic Blackjack Gold Series lists an RTP of 99.9% with basic strategy.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| One of the highest listed RTPs for blackjack, at 99.9% | Doubling limited to hard 9 to 11 |
| Plays on desktop and mobile | No multi-hand play |
| Clear, transparent rules |
Classic Blackjack Gold stands the dealer on every 17, including a soft 17. Classic Blackjack Gold does not peek under an ace or a ten. A double or a split can lose the extra stake if the dealer then shows a blackjack. A natural pays 3:2, which is 1.5 times the original stake. A push returns the stake. The help screen sets the stake from $1 to $200 a hand. Demo mode uses the same rules with play money. The live VIP table on this page has no demo. The shoe is rebuilt after every round, so a count from the last hand does not apply. Split aces can take a hit. Doubles stay on hard 9, 10 and 11.
European Blackjack Gold
European Blackjack Gold is part of Microgaming's Gold series. The table design is realistic, the animations are detailed and the HTML5 version plays in a mobile browser.
How to play
- Choose a chip value from 1 to 200.
- Tap Deal.
- Hit or stand once the cards are out.
Aim for a total closer to 21 than the dealer's without going over. You can double on 9, 10 and 11 and split once into two hands.
Features and payouts
- Side bet: bet that your first two cards total more than 13, exactly 13 or less than 13. Exactly 13 pays 10:1.
- Autoplay and Auto Re-bet: preset a number of hands and stakes, or repeat the same bet without picking chips each round.
Blackjack pays 3:2 and insurance 2:1.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Detailed graphics and table design | The extra options can overwhelm beginners |
| Bets from €1 to €200 | Played with two decks only |
| Side bet, autoplay and auto re-bet | |
| Listed RTP of 99.6% |
European Blackjack Gold deals from two decks. European Blackjack Gold allows one split, which turns a pair into two hands with separate stakes. A double is available on 9, 10 and 11 only. The over/under 13 side bet reads the first two cards before any hit: above 13, below 13, or exactly 13. An exact 13 pays 10:1 on that side stake. Autoplay repeats a chosen number of hands at a preset stake. Auto Re-bet repeats the last chip selection. The HTML5 table draws in the phone browser, so this game needs no separate app. The listed RTP of 99.6% is the figure published for basic strategy. Chip values run from €1 to €200.
How to play blackjack on JackpotCity on your phone
- Create an account on JackpotCity Casino. Registration takes a few minutes.
- Open the casino on your phone. Use the browser for instant play, or install the casino's own app from its website if one is offered for your phone and country.
- Log in with your account details.
- Open the blackjack section in the casino games menu.
- Pick a game. Each has its own rules and features, so check the help screen first.
- Place your bet with the on-screen chips.
- Play your hand using basic strategy. Our guides to blackjack variations and advanced blackjack strategy go further.
Set a deposit limit in your account before you start, and treat every session as paid entertainment.
A phone session at JackpotCity Casino uses the same account as desktop play. JackpotCity Casino keeps the chip selector and the hit and stand controls available on a portrait screen in these games. Open the in-game help before the first real-money hand and read the double and split lines. Those two rules change between the four tables. Set a deposit limit in the account tools, then pick a stake that leaves several bets in the session bankroll. The strategy and variations guides in the steps above cover card totals. This page stays on the four JackpotCity tables.
