Best Live Blackjack Sites NZ

Who will get closer to the magic number of 21 without busting – you or the dealer? That’s the simple, suspenseful question at the heart of blackjack. With live dealer blackjack you can play this casino classic against a real dealer without even having to leave the house. Check out our list of New Zealand’s best online casinos and you can sign up to experience blackjack the way it was meant to be played.

Live blackjack vs RNG blackjack

Random Number Generator (RNG) blackjack is basically an online computer game, with slick graphics depicting the table and cards and a software algorithm generating the values of the virtual cards as they’re dealt. No other humans are present – it’s just you vs the machine.

By contrast, live blackjack channels the feel of an actual casino by featuring real dealers with real cards at real blackjack tables. The action is streamed to you by webcam, and you’ll even be able to speak to the dealer using the special chat window on your screen, adding to the casino-like realism of it all.

Live blackjack on mobile

Gaming on the go has never been bigger. That’s why most operators offering live dealer blackjack are fully mobile-optimised, bringing the casino action right to your smartphone or tablet. Providing you have a good web connection, you’ll be able to play through the casino’s website or mobile app, wherever you happen to be.

Live blackjack variations

Before you plunge into the world of live blackjack gaming, it’s worth getting a feel for the various types of live blackjack games out there. Online casinos offer different variations of live dealer blackjack, adding some exciting novelty to the mix. A few you may come across include:

•   Party, a low stakes variation with the emphasis on fun, complete with background music and a bubbly TV-style host as well as a chatty dealer.
•   Sports, which blends the pleasures of the casino and sport, with the dealer giving a running commentary on sporting events in real time.
•   Speed, an exhilarating version where players compete to Hit, Split or Double Down in the fastest time.
•   Salon Privé blackjack, where high rollers can bet big in specially appointed, single-player private rooms, often overseen by VIP Room Managers.

Bonuses

You shouldn’t have to look too far to find some pretty enticing bonuses in this corner of the gaming world. Live dealer blackjack games are a super competitive area for online casinos, so expect lots of online casinos to be vying for your custom with giveaways and incentives. The two main types to look out for are:

•   Matched deposits, where a casino will match your first cash deposit up to a certain percentage, often 100% or more
•   No deposit bonuses, where you’ll be given a cash gift as soon as you sign up, without even having to invest any money yourself

There are usually some strings attached to bonuses. You’ll very often need to bet a certain amount to be able to cash out your winnings. These wagering requirements will be stated in the terms and conditions, so be sure to have a read.

How to play live blackjack

The basic rules of live blackjack are simple. Each round begins with the dealer handing you two cards. Cards two through to 10 carry their face value, while jacks, queens and kings are worth 10. Aces, meanwhile, can be worth either one or 11, depending on what’s most beneficial to your hand.

The aim is to get closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over 21 (which is a “bust”). If your initial cards are an ace and a face card or a 10, that’s a blackjack, which means an instant win. Otherwise, you can choose to “hit”, which means being dealt another card to hopefully get closer to that magic number, or “stand”, which means sticking with what you’ve got. You can also “double down”, which means doubling your bet and drawing one extra card only. Alternatively, if you’ve been dealt a pair, you can opt to “split”, which will let you play with two separate hands at the same time.

After you stand, it’s time for the dealer to start drawing cards, until he or she achieves a value of 17 or above. Whoever ends up with a hand closest to 21, wins.

New sites

The world of online gambling is always shifting. New live dealer blackjack sites pop up all the time, so you can look forward to discovering new variations on the game, themed tables and eye-catching new user interfaces. And that’s not even mentioning the attractive sign-up bonuses that they usually put on to kick-start a player base, including the possibility of bonuses without any wagering requirements attached.

Of course, it’s important to check that these newcomers offering live dealer blackjack are licensed and fair – you can count on CasinoSelect.co.nz to only feature sites that are legit.

Live blackjack software

You might be signing up with a well-known virtual casino, but live blackjack itself will be coming courtesy of highly specialised software companies that work behind the scenes to make it all happen. Leading companies such as Evolution Gaming, NetEnt and Playtech create the immersive Vegas-like sets, produce the games and take care of the live streaming for the various online casinos.

That said, you’ll often see that some of the larger online casinos have branded tables and live blackjack dealers wearing their company colours. That’s because they’ve forged partnerships with particular software providers to bring players a more bespoke experience.