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    Atlantic City Blackjack in Online Casinos

    Did you know that blackjack was frowned upon in North America until some of its rules were changed? Blackjack’s popularity grew even more in North American gambling halls after betting was legalized in Nevada. Las Vegas was the state’s largest betting hub.

    The state of New Jersey took a more profound interest in gambling. In the 1970s, the state realized the possibility of receiving tax revenue and considered expanding gambling. Casino gambling was legalized in 1976 but was restricted to Atlantic City, where the first casino (Resorts Atlantic City) opened two years later.

    Atlantic City operators sought to attract more clients to their establishments. They were heavily competing against Las Vegas and decided to provide blackjack tables with liberal rules. This variety of blackjack was fondly referred to as Atlantic City Blackjack. One notable rule of the variation was that players in Atlantic City could double down on any two cards. Though seemingly small, this rule won gamblers from the surrounding states.

    The emergence of online casinos in the 1990s marked a significant change in Atlantic City Blackjack. Players didn’t have to travel to New Jersey to enjoy the game. By downloading the online casino software to their computers, they had easier and unlimited access to the game.

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    Everything You Need to Know About Atlantic City Blackjack

    Whether you’re new to New Jersey or not a gambling fan, you’ve most likely heard of or played Atlantic City Blackjack. This blackjack variation started as an experiment but ended up being one of the most popular blackjack varieties in the world.

    Atlantic City Blackjack has some significant differences that tell it apart from Vegas Strip Blackjack. For one, it permits the surrendering of hands. Next, while Vegas Strip Blackjack uses four decks of cards, it uses eight. Lastly, the dealer should stand on soft 17. These differences, and those applied during splitting and doubling down, make this a fun and exciting game.

    What Exactly is Atlantic City Blackjack?

    Atlantic City Blackjack is a variation of blackjack with roots in New Jersey. Its table limits any chance of a gambler busting before the game ends. You should try to achieve a total sum of cards near 21 and not go beyond this.

    If you have any digit above 21, the croupier wins. This is known as ‘bust.’ Should the Atlantic City Blackjack croupier stand on 17, the case is similar. Blackjack croupier rules permit the dealer to see if they have any blackjacks. This may seem like a disadvantage on your end, but it isn’t. The game allows you to double down if you have any two cards. As a plus, you can also split cards at least three times to two hands. Please note that this doesn’t apply to the Ace card. If you choose to split ace cards, you will be dealt with a single card only in the next round.

    Blackjack hand values are simple to understand. The digit cards (2 to 10) are worth their face values, Aces are worth 1 or 11, and face cards (King, Jack, and Queen) are all worth 10. With a ten-card and an Ace, you can achieve 21. This hand is referred to as blackjack. It’s the best possible hand.

    Besides being a popular game, you stand to gain plenty of advantages by playing Atlantic City Blackjack. Some of these benefits are:

    • The game is easy to learn since it doesn’t involve complicated calculations. All you need to do is learn the rules and sharpen your skills if you’re a beginner.
    • It has a late surrender feature that allows you to save half your initial stake just before the game ends.
    • Its rules are in your favor. For example, the croupier can peek for blackjack, which keeps you from losing more cash by splitting and doubling down.
    • There are free versions of it online that you can play for as long as you want.
    • You receive instant payouts when you win. The longest you’ll have to wait is 5 business days, while the shortest is 1-2 days.
    • It offers a variety of payment options.
    • It’s highly interactive, and you can play it at any time of the day.
    • You don’t have to worry about your details since Atlantic City Blackjack sites are secure. They use the latest security encryption software to safeguard your information.
    • It has a lower house edge than other varieties.

    Playing Atlantic City Blackjack: Rules, Strategies, and Tips

    It’s one thing to hear about Atlantic City Blackjack and a different one playing it. If it’s your first time, you may find the experience overwhelming, and that’s understandable. No one can learn everything in a matter of minutes.

    The good thing is, once you know what all the cards mean and understand the concept of the game, you’ll be looking forward to each round. All it takes to enjoy a game of Atlantic City Blackjack is having the right mentality about it. To make the learning process easier, we’re providing you with all the info you’ll need. Feel free to read it as frequently as you want.

    Atlantic City Blackjack Rules

    We briefly touched on them earlier, but we’ll expound on them a bit more in this section. In Atlantic City Blackjack, the number of decks used is eight. Each deck has 52 cards. Joker cards are left out of the decks. Despite the slight differences, it makes use of all the basic blackjack laws.

    Are you looking to be part of the Atlantic City Blackjack craze? Then here are some Atlantic City blackjack rules that you should learn and observe as you play:

    • You Can Surrender Late When Necessary: with late surrender, you can give up and forfeit half your gamble when the croupier checks for blackjack and doesn’t have it.
    • The dealer Stands on Both Soft & Hard 17: unlike in other blackjack varieties where the croupier hits on soft 17, to the casino’s advantage, Atlantic City Blackjack demands that the dealer stands on both hard and soft 17.
    • Players Can Double Down After Splitting: Atlantic City Blackjack allows you to split whichever pair you choose and resplit three times to form up to four hands. The number of times you can split depends on the casino you decide to play in.
    • Players Can Double Down After Splitting: at any point of the game, if you’ve received a pair of cards of similar value, you can split your hands. Please note that you can only split aces once. And, you can only split your hand three times if you decide to use this alternative.

    A crucial point to bear in mind is every casino has its limits and allowances. Some of the rules to look at are the number of decks the establishment uses, what the rules are as far as the cards the player can double on is concerned, what surrender alternatives are permitted, and what the blackjack payout is (the best choice for the player so far is 3:2).

    How to Play Atlantic City Blackjack

    Atlantic City Blackjack is the kind of game that requires concentration and careful thinking before making any move. Therefore, we recommend that even when you’re on the go, play the game when you have sufficient time at your disposal.

    That said, playing the game is as exciting as receiving your payout when you win. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to enjoy it.

    • Identify the casino that you wish to play in. Remember to read the Terms and Conditions on the website or consult the customer care service to know what to expect.
    • Register by filling in your details- your password and username. Some casinos may require you to create a profile.
    • Join a table. There are many tables available, and you get to decide the one you prefer.
    • Place your bet. When you’re ready to go, hit Deal. As a general financial safety measure, it helps to start small and gradually increase your bets as you proceed.
    • Decide on what action you’ll take, whether double, hit, split, or stand. If you’re unsure what step to take, gut instinct doesn’t always cut it in a gambling game. A wise move to make is referring to the ‘Help’ section of the game.
    • After improving your hand to as close to 21 as you can, hit Stand and let the dealer have their turn.
    • The dealer plays, and when they lose to your cards, go bust, or beat your hand, the round ends.
    • You receive your cash from the dealer. At this point, you’ll decide whether you want to start a fresh round or receive your earnings and leave the table. If you choose to play another round, please check your bankroll first- if it has enough money to take you through another round and, possibly, earn you some more money.

    Atlantic City Blackjack Betting and Payouts

    Even when betting is exciting regardless of the result, let’s be honest: Gamblers play to win. That’s the case whether you prefer playing at your local casino or on the internet.

    If you win at an online casino, you receive cash in your bankroll immediately, but it takes more steps to get your money into your purse or wallet. Cashing out at a brick-and-mortar casino is often easier than at an online gambling center.

    Just walk across the establishment with your smartcard, slot machine voucher, or chips, and you’ll get your money. When choosing an Atlantic City Blackjack casino, the payout is one thing to consider. The payout is essential as it determines whether the establishment will make a profit in the long run. Most of the time, the Blackjack payout is 3:2, but this isn’t the rate for all gambling establishments. That’s why it pays to do some research before joining a particular casino. Some pay 6:5.

    In Atlantic City Blackjack, the payout works to your advantage and lowers the house edge. A 3:2 payout, for example, means that you receive one and a half times your original gamble. If you wager $10, the payout can earn you $15 in net profits from your blackjack. In contrast, a 6:5 payout means that you get a mere $12 for every $10 you wager, which translates to a heartbreaking reduction in your overall profits. It’s easy to join a table with such a horrible payout if all the rest are full or you’re a beginner. The good thing is you can never lack a table in Atlantic City Blackjack.

    By avoiding the 6:5 payout tables, you’re contributing to their eventual removal from the casino’s floors. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about stumbling upon such tables as they’re close to rare. Many Blackjack tables stick to the more-preferred 3:2 payout.

    Atlantic City Blackjack Strategies

    A significant advantage of Atlantic City Blackjack is that it’s possible to determine the chances of a particular card being dealt. This is because players know how many cards the deck has plus the cards that have already been dealt.

    The perfect pattern forms a strategy called the Perfect Blackjack Strategy. This strategy lets you know the best mathematical decision to take in any situation and lowers the house edge to an impressive 0.39% when followed to the letter.

    The Perfect Blackjack Strategy is expressed as a chart, and though it’s easy to read, it takes a while to learn. The moves on the strategy are proven by mathematics to be optimal. You should always stick with them unless you count cards, which can’t be done in random-number-generated online games because the shoe is shuffled once again after each round.

    Before you can learn the technique, here are some additional strategies that you can use:

    • Always stand on hard totals of 18 or any number after it.
    • Always split 8s and Aces.
    • If the croupier displays an A, 9, or 10, always surrender a 16.
    • If the dealer is showing a 6 or 5, double down on soft totals A-2 to A-7.
    • Always give up a 15 if the croupier shows a 10.
    • Never split ten-value cards such as 10-J or 10-Q or a pair of 5s.
    • Double down on hard 9s if the displays anything from 3 to 6.
    • No matter the circumstance, never buy insurance.
    • Always hit hard totals of 4 through 8 except if the cards are paired.
    • Double down on all totals of 11 against dealer upcards 2-10.
    • Double down on all totals of 10 if the dealer shows anything from 2 to 9.

    Atlantic City Blackjack FAQ

    What is the Main Goal in Atlantic City Blackjack?

    Like all other blackjack varieties, the main goal in this variation is to get a more favorable hand than the dealer without going bust and receiving a score that’s above 21. At the end of the round, as long as your hand is nearer to 21 than the croupier’s, you win.

    What are the Payouts in Atlantic City Blackjack?

    The payouts in Atlantic City Blackjack are 6:5 and 3:2. However, the former is very rare due to its unappealing offer. If ever you come across a table that offers it, don’t think twice about looking for another table. A gambling establishment with a 6:5 payout seeks to gain more earnings than players, raising the house edge in the process.

    What are the Table Minimums for Atlantic City Blackjack?

    Table minimums for this blackjack variation are $5, $15, and $25. It’s worth keeping in mind that landing a $5 deal is close to impossible unless you check-in in the mornings or early afternoons.

    Plus, the figures vary from casino to casino. Some may offer higher figures, while others could give lower ones. Before settling on a particular one, identify several options, and compare the prices. The one with the options that you can afford is the most suitable.

    What is the Best Strategy for Atlantic City Blackjack?

    All strategies work best in Atlantic City Blackjack, but you only have to pair a technique with the right betting situation.

    Each technique has been tested and tried over time by experts, raising their credibility in the gambling arena.

    What are the Odds in Atlantic City Blackjack?

    Since it has a low house edge of 0.36%, Atlantic City Blackjack offers incredibly high odds of winning to players. It provides 3 to 2 odds while insurance provides 2:1.

    How Old Should One Be to Play Atlantic City Blackjack?

    It all depends on the state and the version of the game you’re playing. If you’re playing for free, some states lower the age requirement to 18. A few push it up a bit to 19 or 20.

    However, if you’re looking to play for real money, almost half of the states have a 21-year-old age limit.

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    Maryna Mykhailiuta

    My name is Maryna, I am content manager and author of articles at SlotsUP. Our team is constantly in search of decent brands and updates in iGaming industry to reveal our experience to you. We try to create the best content for our visitors and make sure that we speak the same language.