How Much Can You Make Playing Blackjack in Online Casinos?
Sometimes the average John Doe can catch a glimpse of a professional Blackjack player becoming known for winning big money while playing Blackjack. This is usually reported in media outlets where the lucky (are they really lucky) is talking about the cornerstone moment in his or her life. Under these circumstances, winning money becomes utmost desirable to passionate Blackjack players around the globe. In other words the notion to make a living off Blackjack games instead of losing money as the dealer wins.
Clearly, it takes either professional players and/or a card counter and/or a whole lot of fortunate events. But is this really the case? Or is there another way of maximizing the bankroll while playing a basic Blackjack strategy? We will tackle this major question of Blackjack casino games in this article. But not targeting land-based casinos but online casinos instead. Can you become rich when it comes to Online Blackjack and if yes, how to make more and more money? Let’s cut to it and dive right into this topic!
How to get rich playing Blackjack: Don Johnson
(source: https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Business/blackjack-player-won-15-million-reveals/story?id=15971410)
Before we tackle the “How”, it seems logical to include a legitimate story of a high-stakes Blackjack player earning more than just an impressive amount of money. As was reported pretty much 10 years ago, Don Johnson (not to be mixed up with the famous actor) won a staggering amount of $15 million while hitting the Blackjack tables in 3 different casinos. To be more precise: Atlantic City casinos. In the time between December 2010 and April 2011, he managed to make money at the Borgata ($5 million), the Tropicana ($6 million), and from Caesars ($4 million).
While it may seem like the first argumentative conclusion, Johnson was not actually card counting in order to make money. Quite on the contrary: those specific casinos rather gave him special deals as a high roller where he was to be absolved of certain percentages of his losses. This could go up to a 20% discount even! So basically the casinos reduced their own house edge without anyone to count cards included. As is known, counting cards can invert the advantage of a casino’s house edge and that is why most casinos do not greet a card counter nicely. Although, at the same time it is not illegal also.
Coming back to the case of Don Johnson, we are not speaking of a person without any prior Blackjack experience. A 15-year gambling knowledge where he was starting off with pretty high $25 bets certainly made him a knowledgeable if not masterful Blackjack player. The essence of the story: hadn’t it been for the discounts on (possible) losses in order to attract high-rollers, this ethereal winner story might have never actually happened!
Odds of Making Money at Blackjack
The only way to understand your actual chances is to have a look at the average house edge which is boasted by a specific Blackjack game. In general, it can be said that the casino game is among those which show the least favor towards the house. But it certainly all depends on the variations which are played. A house edge of 1% indicates for example, that in the long run, a casino will make $1 out of every 100 bucks wagered. The house edge is influenced by factors such as the number of decks, the (non-)favorable rules like “dealer stands on soft 17” but also re-splitting and doubling down, as well as casino comps (free comps can truly lower the house edge tremendously like Don Johnson’s casino journey proved!).
Blackjack games have different house edges after all. Single-deck Blackjack can go as low as 0.13% but is barely to be found in casinos anymore. Atlantic City Blackjack on the other hand is coming along with a 0.36% house edge which is mostly due to the permittance to split up to 3 times and other rules. Classic Blackjack yet again can even rise up to 0.50% edge.
It should be clear, therefore, that not every Blackjack table offers the same chances to make money. Blackjack games vary from game to game and can be more or less likely to be a bad idea.
Blackjack Strategy: Basic Strategy is needed
Whenever you play Blackjack or start playing Blackjack, you cannot do without a basic strategy at least. No one can expect a beginner to play perfectly, but the basic strategy is a must. Blackjack strategy is always based first of all on the diverging types of casino games. It makes for a big difference if you are playing multi-deck Blackjack or single-deck games for example. Furthermore, the dealer’s position is crucial. Will he stand on soft 17 or will he hit on soft 17?
On the other hand, you can master basic strategy by being aware of the distinctive amount of mathematically likely outcomes Blackjack can have. This is where strategy charts come into play since they are capable of providing decision guidelines under special prerequisites. We have been looking at one of those chart scenarios in another article, which you can find here.
Basic strategy can easily allow you to memorize the most promising moves as you see your own two first cards and the dealer’s up-card before you. This includes all instances where it might be best to double down, to stand, to hit another card, or to split. Or even surrender if you are allowed to.
Perfect Basic Strategy in a Couple of Steps
Playing careers can initiate whenever a predetermined set of decision paths has been acquired over time. No one becomes part of the annual Blackjack ball where 100 of the best Blackjack gamblers gather to socialize and compete against each other by hoping for the wisdom to envelop oneself. As sarcastic as it may sound, Blackjack needs time, experience, strategy as well as trial and error.
If you want to make money playing Blackjack, you will have to be aware of a couple of behavior consequences:
General Recommendations while you play Blackjack
- Memorize a basic strategy (chart). These guidelines are the fruitful soil of a winning hand.
- Train yourself towards a bankroll management practice. Playing on a minimum bet won’t be the best starting point. Depending on the betting limits, you should probably double the available min bet. This means that you need a bankroll that is big enough to cover for Blackjack fluctuations. Especially at first results can be quite bumpy. This requires enough money on your end.
- Always split Aces and Eights and but never split Tens. You can read more about this in the following article at GuruCasinoBonus.
- Show self-control by not losing balance when the dealer’s cards triumph over yours. A piece of advice like this one in Blackjack sounds idiocratic but trust us: having the guts of switching tables can increase your chances.
- Prioritize casino games where the dealer stands on soft 17.
- Play at $5 to $15 bet spread tables.
- Do always choose a 3 to 2 Blackjack table over a 6:5 table. Playing Blackjack on tables paying 6 to 5 for a natural Blackjack is a bad bet in the medium and long run.
- Avoid side bets and insurance bets. A side bet is only valuable if you are running count while you play Blackjack.
Online Casino Environment Advice
- Join a player’s club in order to collect casino comps. Since we are talking about online casino scenarios, this is not really easy to find in light of poker being more in the spotlight. Free meals or discounts like in Johson’s case are pretty much ruled out by the book. Nevertheless, it can happen that you receive extra incentives through a VIP program targeting online (live) casino environments.
- Card counting might be possible in online blackjack but barely anywhere near as “easy” as in brick and mortar casinos. The dealer shuffles the cards basically every time a new hand is dealt which hardens even casino-savvy Blackjack players from counting cards online.
- In a similar manner, you will not be able to spot the hole card via peeking at the dealer’s hand. Playing Blackjack online does not allow for hole-carding.
- Use the advantage of online casino bonuses in your favor. Terms and conditions can be harsh when it comes to wagering those bonuses though. Blackjack is not the only game in the table category which at best contributes 10% towards the wager. Maybe even less.
- Play Blackjack games for free online. The demo versions allow for this to happen without any risk. We recommend low-key entries such as Blackjack Atlantic City by RedRake.
Do not play anymore Blackjack if you keep losing
Something which should not be underestimated when talking about how much can you make playing Blackjack is the role of busts and streaks of losses. Just as much as one professional player can maybe make a living from Blackjack, another one can just go broke also. Playing Blackjack comes with the hurdle that despite lowering the edge, you can still end up losing money. Basic strategy is statistically a more than suitable approach to make more money with the game.
The element of luck is always at hand nonetheless. If you play full-time and end up wasting half your monthly paycheck per day, you can get into serious trouble. Sincerely keep this in mind and direct your (potential) gambling problems towards the existing support institutions. Here you will get the help that is necessary to escape the maelstrom.
Can you make money playing Blackjack Online?
Online Blackjack comes with certain restrictions which we already mentioned beforehand. You cannot really count cards in light of the cards being shuffled before each new hand. And this goes both for the live casino and the Random Number Generator blackjack version. There are additionally only so many casinos that let you benefit from a bonus system where the card game crosses a mere low two-digit percentage towards the wagering requirements.
In comparison with land-based casinos, getting an edge over the casino is accordingly complicated. Before you can approach the winning zone, the tough wagering might already send you into bonus bankruptcy. Professional Blackjack under online casino circumstances could offer the same chance to make a living if it wasn’t for the wagering of bonuses.
That is one major reason why we actually prefer to play blackjack without an active bonus. The stressful background of getting the requirements fulfilled just falls flat. You can concentrate more on the game at hand and use basic strategy in order to hit the ceiling. Although card counting cannot be focused upon, online casino Blackjack still remains a possible moneymaker.
Concluding Remarks
Making money playing Blackjack is ultimately not only wishful thinking. If you manage to memorize basic strategy decisions and game-reliant charts, you are already pretty well equipped. No someone might raise the legit question of why not every professional Blackjack player is a millionaire then. There are a few “buts” attached to the overall observation.
Since online players are not traveling to Las Vegas or Atlantic City to play Blackjack, card counting is barely a possibility. Then again, casinos are actively trying to get rid of card counters either way by banning them from land-based casinos. To count cards might not be illegal but likewise, no casino team will stand by and support this strategy. Also, Blackjack online does not come with perks such as the ones Don Johnson was receiving.
Together with bonus wagering in online casinos, the rich person’s life ahead does not come much easier. And lastly, the self-control it takes to succeed is not among everyone’s personal traits additionally. Re-raising the initial question on how much can you make playing Blackjack we can summarize it the following way: you can make millions of Dollars but neither was this happening in online casinos yet nor is this something which occurs based on simple chance. Rather take our advice and make the best of them in terms of profit while playing Blackjack!
How much can you make playing Blackjack FAQ
Is it easy to make money in Blackjack?
Nothing in life is easy. This also goes for the popular card game. Likewise, Blackjack is among the casino games with the lowest house edge in favor of the casino. Combined with strategies and card counting you can further reduce this number and turn it to your advantage. Accordingly, it can be said that making money with Blackjack is easier than with many other casino games.
Is it possible to be a professional Blackjack player?
Why not should be the counter-question. As long as you get playing careers extended by thorough studying of strategy charts and basic strategy guidelines, no one can be in your way. Additionally, a whole lot of experience, time, and patience are personal behaviors that support the endeavor. And not to forget about the neverending element of luck.
How much does the average Blackjack player make?
This depends on so many factors that a simple answer is not trustworthy in any case. Average bet, hands per hour, game rules, number of decks, and so on have a major influence on this. All in all, the income can vary from just a couple of bucks up to thousands of dollars a day.
How much money can you win playing Blackjack?
Making money playing Blackjack is definitely not an illusion. As we have shown in our article, one lucky (and beneficially supported) Blackjack gambler was able to win $15 million across 3 casinos. In less than a year! This fairytale-like episode shows that nothing is truly impossible when it comes to huge wins with the beloved card game.
Can you make money playing online Blackjack?
You can, yes. But online Blackjack is boasting some aspects such as ongoing shuffling of decks, no real chance to count cards, bonus wagering requirements, etc. which do not exactly contribute to a player’s performance. Nonetheless, making cash while playing Blackjack on the internet is not deemed impossible for sure.
