There are a number of different blackjack bonuses and we will discuss each of them below. Before we proceed, however, understand that before accepting a blackjack bonus, it is important that you thoroughly read the terms and conditions regarding the bonus. Some bonuses will require that you wager so much money on a completely different type of game (such as a particular slot) prior to having the bonus deposited into your account. In order to receive your bonus, you need to know what you need to do and the terms and conditions is right where that information is to be found.

The Welcome Bonus

The welcome bonus is not considered a free bonus because typically a welcome bonus is more of a matching bonus. In other words, the casino will match your deposit up to a certain number of times up to a certain amount depending on what type of promotion they have going on at the time. It is commonly referred to as a sign up bonus and at some casinos, a new player bonus.

As a general rule, an online casino will match your first deposit with the casino 100% up to a certain dollar amount (usually $100). For example, let’s say the welcome bonus was a match bonus of 100% up to $100 for initial new player deposits. If you were to deposit $150 for your first deposit, you would receive an extra $100 as a free bonus (or welcome bonus) from the online casino. However, there will be terms and conditions such as wagering requirements that will need to be met prior to receiving the free bonus so be sure to check this out.

The Percentage Bonus

As a general rule, the percentage blackjack bonus is just like a match deposit bonus except the percentage match amount is 100%. This percentage amount could be below or more than 100%. For example, it could be a 50% match deposit bonus meaning that they’ll give you $0.50 cents for every dollar of your deposit up to the specified amount by the casino. It could also be a 200% match deposit bonus meaning that you would receive $2 for every $1 that you deposit into your player account up to the specified amount by the online casino. While the latter is obviously much better, it is not one that is seen often right now due to the state of the gambling market in some areas.

The No Deposit Bonus

Probably the most loved by new gamblers or seasonal gamblers that are looking for a new place to settle in, the no deposit bonus is a bonus that is given to you by the online casino without requiring an initial deposit from you. Typically, the no deposit bonus is only available to new gamblers that have never signed up for an account with the online casino and thus does not currently have one.

Regardless, there are still wagering requirements with no deposit bonuses and will likely have you betting on casino games other than blackjack such as online slots. Check into this first. No deposit bonuses are generally used to lure in new players and give them the ability to play for real money at their casino to get a feel of their venue without having to risk any of their own money.

If you are one of those blackjack players that think to yourself, “I can’t win this. It’s impossible,” then you need to turn those thoughts around. The mentality of blackjack can be very difficult, but it is an important part of becoming successful in blackjack gambling. While you may not believe you can win, you can if you put yourself out there.

If you are doubting yourself then it is probably because you don’t really know the rules of the game. You may think that you do, but there’s more to it than just getting your cards as close to 21 as possible and beating the dealer. There are a lot of strategies that you can put to work to determine whether or not you should hit, stay or double down.

Since you need to become a better player in order to stop really doubting yourself, you need to teach yourself strategies. Work on one strategy until you have it down. If you have more problems with controlling your money then you may want to work on creating a better plan for your blackjack bankroll. Whatever your problem is, whatever it is that is causing you to doubt yourself, learn what you need to do to fix it and do so.

Understand that you are not the only beginner in the game and you are definitely not the first person to come along doubting your ability to play and win at blackjack. There are plenty of “you” out there. You just need a little push to get things going and get on a better path. And it all starts right here. You can win at blackjack – online and offline – but you have to put your whole mind into it. Don’t assume you will fail. Instead, assume you will succeed. The confidence will do wonders.

Bodog Casino (http://casino.bodog.eu/) is a top site for online gambling and specifically blackjack.  Bodog has been online for fifteen years and has proven itself to be one of the leaders in the online gambling industry.  They offer a variety of games with bonuses as well.  On your first deposit with them you will get 10%.  This website is available 24/7 and does not require you to download software making gambling nearly instantaneous.  Bodog does award cash comps and this is based upon your gambling activity.  If you have any questions there is live support from casino host 24/7.

Players Only (http://www.playersonly.com/) is another top gambling website for a Mac.  Players Only does not offer a download version and relies upon an online Flash version instead.  This online gambling casino focuses on providing quality over quantity.  Players Only has seven different variations of blackjack you can play, with instructions for each one.  Players Only does provide several different bonuses.  Every Tuesday they have a happy hour where gamblers have 10% cash back.

Lock Casino (http://www.lockcasino.com/) is a popular gambling and blackjack website.  Lock Casino does require that you download software to be able to play.  Lock Casino decided that they were tired of the typical Flash versions of gambling and decided to put forth a much higher graphic quality game than their competitors.  Lock Casino does have a great variety of games to play multiple version of Blackjack.  They have the standard 21 blackjack game along with Perfect Pair Blackjack, Super 21, Face Up 21 and Euro blackjack.

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Aladdin’s Gold Casino (http://www.aladdinsgoldcasino.com/) is currently one of the most popular gambling websites for blackjack for those running windows.  They have developed a great reputation through the years with gamblers and they use Real Time Gaming software.  Real Time Gaming software is a software developer that has been proven to be trustworthy and reliable.  Aladdin’s Gold Casino provides the option of downloading specific games to play or to play online using a Flash version.  Either option will provide six different kinds of blackjack for pure gambling and playing enjoyment.  Aladdin’s Gold Casino also consistently provides great bonuses for their players.

Rome Casino (http://www.romecasino.com) is another popular venue for online blackjack and gaming.  Rome Casino does require you to download their software before you will be able to play any of their games online.  The download is only 3MB and should take around a minute to complete.  The software they use was created by TopGame.  They do provide several bonuses and promotions to entice you to play there.  They currently offer a 200% bonus of your first 3 deposits and 150% on your next 3.  They offer royale black jack and multi hand blackjack.

Blackjack Ballroom Casino (www.blackjackballroom.com) is a location to go that specializes in blackjack.  While they do host other games to play to wager up, blackjack is the premier game on this site.  They host 7 different multi hand blackjack games and 7 different single hand blackjack games.  Blackjack Ballroom Casino is serious about maintaining fair play and are independently reviewed by auditors along with their random number generator. Players are also able to track their play and gambling using the PlayCheck function.  One interesting promotion is that you are given $500 as a sign up bonus.  With this money you can play any game and bet any amount for free for your first hour.  Your winnings are yours to keep!  Blackjack Ballroom Casino does require you to download their software to access their games and play.

Lucky Red Casino (www.luckyredcasino.com) may be a newer online blackjack and gambling site but is quickly establishing itself as a great destination for online gaming.  They use Real Time Gaming software as well so can rest assured that it has solid graphics and exceptional trustworthy game play.  Lucky Red Casino does provide the option of instant play using Flash software or a downloadable version as well.  They are currently running a promotion that has a 400% welcome bonus.  They currently offer 24/7 customer support over the phone.

If you are looking for a solid online blackjack experience then you definitely need to check out Winpalace Casino (http://www.winpalace.com).  They run on Real Time Gaming software so you know that it is independently verified and provides great graphics and a great selection of games to play.  Their 24/7 customer service is reliable and they clearly value their customers.  They host a wide variety of games, from slots to video poker to table games.  You will need to download their free software to get online to play and hit those blackjacks!

It was just last week that we reported a blackjack player taking an Atlantic City casino for just under $6 million and now we are reporting $15 million won in the City? Well, thankfully for the city, the winnings are by the same individual who is now known as Pennsylvania resident Don Johnson, a 49-year-old CEO of a Wyoming-based company that is linked to horse racing computer based software.

Johnson was able to take $4.23 million from Caesars Atlantic City as well as nearly $1` million from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa last December before winning $1.8 million throughout March and April and went on to win $2.25 million during two nights in April. He went on to take Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City for $5.8 million in a 12-hour duration in which he caused the casino to be at nearly a $2 million loss for the month. All that being said, over the course of about six months, this Pennsylvania man won just over $15 million.

He says that he has been banned by a couple of casinos in Nevada – Harrah’s and Caesars – as well as Atlantic City’s Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort and Resorts Casino Hotel. Some reports state that this CEO, who started betting on blackjack about 15 years ago at 25 bucks per hand, was making bets of up to $100,000 per blackjack hand.

Johnson denied being part of any MIT related team and would not talk about his blackjack strategy with the Press. “I’m not breaking any laws,” he said. “I’m beating them with my own skills.”

Can you teach me? Please?

This huge win pulled the Atlantic City Tropicana casino down as they were at an ultimate loss because of this huge win when the profits for the casinos in Atlantic City were laid on the table. The casino was at a loss of $1.8 million for the month of April at the blackjack tables.

Despite the fact that the casino reported the lowest profits of all casinos in Atlantic City, revenue was down about seven percent all around. This is the 32^nd month in a row that the casinos in this vicinity have seen gaming revenue declines. The last time the City saw any growth in terms of gambling revenue was back in August 2008.

Casinos in Atlantic City have been dwindling down for some time now. The Division of Gaming Entertainment in new Jersey says that the casinos have dropped from $311.5 million to $289.4 million from last year to this year.

Mark Giannantonio, the casino’s CEO, said, “We ran very unlucky.” The CEO is being replaced by Tony Rodio, a veteran gaming exec, but it has been said that there is no connection in his dismissal with the loss the casino took in April.

Now, the rules for double exposure are the same as blackjack except for a few minor changes such as the following:

- Both of the dealer’s cards are showing.
- All ties are won by the dealer unless there is a natural blackjack.
- Players may only split once.
- A player blackjack will payout even money.

Now, some of the rules for double exposure can vary depending upon the casino in which you are playing at as each casino – online or offline – will have their own set of rules. You may even find that one table allows one thing while the table next to it does not. Some of the variations in rules could include:

- Use of six or eight standard decks of cards.
- Dealer is required to hit/stand on soft 17.
- The player gets tied blackjacks or they are pushed.
- Doubling is/isn’t allowed after splitting.
- Players can/can’t split more than once.
- Players can/can’t double on any initial two dealt cards.
- Players can/can’t split 10 value cards that are not the same – such as Jack and Queen.

Double Exposure blackjack takes the guessing out the game, which is one of the reasons why some gamblers like it. They don’t have to put too much thought into what the dealer’s other card is and how they should go about their next play based on what that card might be. You’ll know if your hand beats the dealer or not so you’ll know whether you should hit or stand. No longer do you have to cross your fingers and toes hoping that the hole card of the dealer will be in favor of you rather than himself.

As a basic strategy for the game, players should draw if their hand is lower in value or ties with the dealer’s hand especially when the dealer has to stand on a soft 17. If you are in a game in which the dealer wins all ties then if your hand matches the dealer’s hand value – even if it’s two 10′s for a 20 value – go ahead and hit; otherwise, you are giving your bet over to the casino when there is that chance, even if it very slim, to obtain an Ace.

Double Exposure exposes the dealer’s cards so that you don’t have to assume that second hole card. It is an easy way to play blackjack and while it may not be popular in many casinos today, it is a very profitable and enjoyable blackjack game.

Usually, a blackjack tournament will consist of several rounds. There are usually about six players at each table per round. A blackjack tournament usually follows an elimination format meaning that only one or two players from each of the blackjack tables will advance forward in the tournament to the next playing round.

Regarding the rounds, somewhere between 15 and 30 hands will be played depending on the particular casino in which you are playing – online or offline. Each player will begin the round with the same number of chips and the player with the most chips at the end of the round will proceed to the next.

In blackjack tournaments, there is a button that will be placed in front of a player. This button indicates that this player will receive their hand first, will bet first and play first. The button will move around the table with each hand so that each player gets the opportunity to act first – although that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good thing.

Blackjack tournaments will normally consist of around three to five rounds of elimination. Most tournaments will take two players from each of the active tables in the first round and then one player from each table in subsequent rounds. The final round will consist of one table, usually of six players. Sometimes, tournaments will have more than one qualifying round in the first round so that if you don’t make it through to the next round the first time, you can re-enter the tournament for another chance to advance.

The entry fee for blackjack tournaments will vary and will likely depend on the size of the tournament. You can find tournaments for $10 entry while you can find larger ones for around $500. The payouts will obviously be larger for the bigger tournaments that cost more for entry. Sometimes, tournaments can feature more than $1 million in prize pool payouts. Typically, the tournaments will pay out at a minimum of six places.

As a general rule, online and offline casinos both hold blackjack tournaments daily and/or weekly. Tournaments that are held daily will have a low entry fee – you may even be able to find some daily tournaments that are free to enter.

Blackjack tournaments can definitely be a ton of fun and if you know how to play the game right then you can earn a large paycheck.

Depending on where you play, the rules will vary. For example, some casinos will require that dealers stand on a soft 17 while others will require that the dealer hit. The below multi-deck blackjack strategy is for when the dealer does stand on a soft 17 and surrender is permitted.

Dealer Stands on Soft 17 Strategy

Hit or Stand

Always hit on a hard 11 or lower.

Always hit on a soft 17 or lower.

Always stand on a soft 19 or higher.

Stand on a soft 18 unless your dealer has a 9, 10 or an Ace then you should hit.

Stand on a hard 12 if the daeler holds a 4, 5 or 6 – otherwise, hit.

Stand on a hard 13, 14, 15, and 16 if the dealer has between a 2 and a 6 – otherwise, hit.

Double

If the dealer shows 3-6, double your hard 9, soft 17 and soft 18.

Double your soft 15 or soft 16 if the dealer shows between 4 and 6.

Double your soft 13 or your soft 14 if the dealer shows a 5 or 6.

Double a hard 10 unless the dealer shows an Ace or 10.

Double a hard 11 unless the dealer has an Ace.

Split

Never split your 5′s or 10′s but always split your 8′s and Aces.

Split your 2′s and 3′s when up against a 4-7 from the dealer.

Split your 4′s if the dealer has a 5 or 6.

Split your 6′s if the dealer has a 3-6.

Split your 7′s if the dealer shows between 2 and 7.

Split your 9′s if the dealer has 2-6 or an 8 or 9.

Surrender

If you have a hard 16, assuming that it is not a pair of 8′s, then you want to surrender if the dealer has a 9, 10 or an Ace showing.

If you have a hard 15, surrender if the dealer shows a 10.

Dealer Hits on a Soft 17 Strategy

Double on a soft 18 if the dealer has a 2.

Double on a soft 19 if the dealer has a 6.

Double on 11 if the dealer has an Ace.

Surrender 15, 17 and a pair of 8′s if the dealer has an Ace.

A Few Other Tips

As with standard single-deck blackjack, insurance is also not recommended with multi-deck blackjack. If you count cards, then multi-deck blackjack isn’t for you. It can be very difficult to keep an accurate count and you are at significant risk of losing a load of cash.

Watch the Draw

One of the most important things to know in blackjack is when you should and when you shouldn’t. There are a number of in-depth charts available online for players to memorize; however, memorization isn’t everyone’s strong suit. If you don’t have time to learn the strategy charts or have the capability of doing so then try to remember this one simple tip: don’t hit if there are a lot of dealt low cards when your total is above 11 but below 17. The reason for this is that you have a relatively high chance of busting if you hit so instead of taking the chance and busting yourself – let the dealer or one of the other players take that card just in case.

Double Down

While many would say otherwise, doubling down can be a great move for you as a blackjack player but only when used correctly. You should double down anytime you have a 10 or 11 and the dealer’s face up card is at six or below. Usually, this move will come out in your favor and it’s definitely worth the chance taken if you have a high chance of doubling your stake.

Split Sensibly

There is a simple rule that goes hand-in-hand with splitting at the table; however, most people still don’t abide by it and lose money because of it. Don’t ever split your 10’s but always splits your eights and your Aces. Two Aces equal 12 together but are potential blackjacks when separated. Two eights equal 16 together, which as you probably know is one of the worst numbers in blackjack, but can equal much better numbers when split. Further, with two 10’s, you have a total of 20, which aside from 21 is the best possible number to have in the game of blackjack so there is no reason to split them apart and risk it all when you most likely have the winning hand with two 10’s.

Never Purchase Insurance

For experienced gamblers, insurance is a sucker bet. Insurance is not something you should ever purchase when playing blackjack. It is simply a way for the casino to get some money back because so many gamblers fall into the trap of thinking that purchasing insurance is the way to go. Insurance makes you risk more money at a possible chance of making sure you end up with even money but more often than not, you will lose your original wager as well as your insurance bet. The risk isn’t worth it when it is very difficult to determine if the dealer has a blackjack.

Raise Your Wagers As Play Progresses

You should always start off small and work your way up. As you win, you should raise your wagers. On the same token, you should lower your wagers as you lose. This helps you maintain a positive cash flow and bankroll while ensuring you stay in the game as long as possible.

Give Your Full Attention to the Game

It is very common for gamblers to let their minds wonder when playing blackjack as well as any other casino game. When you lose your concentration, dumb moves come into play that cost money – money that the casino then receives. If you can see that your mind is away from the game then get up from the table and take a break – go grab a drink, a bite to eat or something to help gather your concentration and get your head back into the game. Your money is what is at stake when you lose your focus so you should do whatever it takes to win the game.

Set Logical Goals

When gambling, you should always set goals for yourself; however, don’t set goals that are completely out of reach. Instead, set rational goals that you will be able to achieve. When you reach that goal, stop playing – at least for a bit. Too many gamblers don’t know when to stop and that’s how they lose all the money they have won. If you set a goal of $1,000, when you reach it, stop. Quit while you are head as it’s the only way to minimize your losses while maximizing your gains and that is exactly what you want to do when playing in the casino.