Play 200+ free blackjack games online (no download)
Practise your blackjack skills by playing free versions of the classic card game here at OnlineCasino.co.nz. Discover free blackjack games you can play without risking your money in New Zealand.
Free blackjack games
What is free blackjack?
Free blackjack is an online casino game you can play without placing real money bets. The aim is the same as the real money version: to form a hand equal to or as close to 21, while beating the dealer in the process.
You’re dealt two cards, and you can opt to stand or hit to try and make your hand’s total closer to 21. However, you need to be careful, as if you go over 21, you go bust and lose your bet. You can’t win money when you play free online blackjack, but you can practise your strategy.
How to play free blackjack online
Getting started with free blackjack online couldn’t be easier. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be playing within minutes:
Visit our free games library and decide which blackjack variant you want to play for free. You don’t need to sign up or download any software.
If you want to play blackjack for free at a licensed online casino, select one of our recommended NZ sites and create an account.
Check to see if there’s a no-deposit sign-up offer. This enables you to play games for free, but still be in with a chance of winning real money!
Browse the online blackjack library and select the game you want to try.
Play the game’s demo version before deciding if you want to place a real-money bet.
Types of free blackjack games
The classic blackjack game has evolved over time, as developers have introduced fun and unique new versions. Of course, the fundamentals of the game are still the same. Here are some of the most popular variants you can play online for free:
Blackjack Switch
In Blackjack Switch, you get two hands instead of one. When all the initial cards have been dealt, you can switch the top two cards of each hand to try and make the best possible blackjack hand.
European blackjack
European blackjack is essentially classic blackjack. Between two and eight decks of cards are used, and you can hit as many times as you like to try and reach 21.
Atlantic City blackjack
Atlantic City has become a popular blackjack variant because of its low house edge. There are a few specific rules in this variation to be aware of regarding splitting your hand. Also, in this version, the dealer checks for blackjack when their upcard is an ace or 10.
Blackjack perfect pairs
If you’re a fan of side bets, you’ll love blackjack perfect pairs. The game follows the standard rules of blackjack, but if your hand features a ‘perfect pair’ (two identical cards of the same suit), you’ll bag the biggest prize. You’ll also be awarded if your hand features a standard pair.
Single-deck blackjack
Rather than playing with up to eight decks of cards, single-deck blackjack is played with just one. As a result, the house edge is considerably lower.
Double exposure blackjack
In double exposure blackjack, both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face upwards and so are ‘exposed’ to the player. This gives you helpful information before deciding whether to hit or stand.
Blackjack surrender
Blackjack surrender lets you ‘surrender’ your initial two cards if you’re unhappy with them. After receiving your cards, you can then wait for the next hand and decide whether to hit or stand.
Free blackjack strategy – a beginner’s guide
Knowing when to hit or stand is one of the most important things when putting together a blackjack strategy. Going bust must be avoided at all costs. Given that the dealer must stand on 17 (in most blackjack games), it makes sense for you to also stand on 17 or 18 on most hands.
Another helpful tip is knowing when to split your cards. Splitting 10s is a bad idea as they form a great starting hand, but splitting aces or eights can be beneficial. The beauty of playing free online blackjack is that you can try these things without risking money.
As all picture cards are valued at 10, it’s more likely the next card will be 10 than any other, so keep that in mind.
Top starting hands
Knowing the strongest hands in blackjack will help you hone your strategy. Here are the top three starting hands:
Traditional 21
You always win with this hand, no matter the variant. You can form 21, also known as ‘blackjack’, with a 10 or picture card plus an ace.
Hard 20
A hard 20 is any two 10-valued cards (10, J, Q, or K). The likelihood of receiving an ace with the next card is extremely low, so you should always stand on a hard 20.
Soft 18
A soft 18 comprises an ace (equal to 11) plus seven. Some people like to hit on soft 18 as the ace can revert to one, but it’s entirely up to you. In other words, you can play the hand as eight or 18.
Counting cards
You can count cards while playing online blackjack for free, as it’s not illegal to do so. However, counting cards is difficult because online casinos use random number generators (RNG) that shuffle the deck to ensure outcomes are always random.
Live blackjack games are a good way of practising your card-counting skills as a real dealer shuffles the deck before you. Still, these games are not typically offered for free at online casinos in NZ, so you’ll have to risk real money in order to try it.
Free blackjack key terms
Here are some of the key terms in free blackjack you should be aware of before playing:
Blackjack – when you make 21 with an ace and 10 or picture card.
Bust – if your hand goes over 21.
Double down – if you have a promising hand, you can double your bet and receive only one additional card to try and beat the dealer.
Hit – when you ask for another card from the dealer.
Split – when you have a pair of cards and split your hand into two separate hands. You need to match your initial bet for the new hand.
Stand – when you’re happy to remain with the cards that you currently have.
Top 5 tips for how to win free blackjack
Though blackjack is mainly a game of chance, meaning there’s nothing you can do to guarantee a win, there are certain things you can do to maximise your gameplay:
Experiment with different strategies when playing free blackjack, so you know when it is best to hit or stand.
Make the most of the double-down option. When you have a hand that equals eleven, doubling down can be a good option to try and hit 21 with one card.
Splitting pairs can also be an effective strategy – aces and eights are the best pairs to split.
Mix things up and try different free blackjack games to find your favourite.
Make notes when playing free blackjack and recognise what works and what doesn’t. This will help you when you start playing real money blackjack.
Free blackjack vs. real money blackjack
Here are the main differences between playing blackjack for free and for real money at online casinos in New Zealand:
| Free blackjack | Real money blackjack |
|---|---|
| ✅ Unlimited play without risking your bankroll | ✅ More thrilling gameplay as real money is at stake |
| ✅ Huge selection of games | ✅ Chance to win real cash prizes |
| ✅ No download or sign-up required if you play here at OnlineCasino.co.nz | ✅ Live dealer blackjack available |
| ❌ Can’t win real money or claim deposit bonuses | ❌ Your money is at risk every time you play |
| ❌ Not all blackjack games are available for free | ❌ You need to sign up and create an account at a real money casino |
Top online casinos to play blackjack for free & real money
Playing free blackjack on mobile
As a Kiwi player, you can enjoy free blackjack on the go, no matter where you are in New Zealand. All of our recommended online casinos in NZ are fully optimised for mobile, so you can visit the mobile casino via your browser, log in and start playing.
You can also download a mobile app if the operator offers one. These provide many benefits, including bespoke features such as intuitive UI, enhanced security measures, and alerts notifying you of the latest games and bonus offers.
Why play free blackjack?
The benefit of free blackjack games is that you can play without worrying about your real money bankroll. It also lets you practise your blackjack strategy and try exciting variations.
Another positive is that you don’t need to sign up to an online casino to play blackjack online for free. Head to our free games library and enjoy 200+ free blackjack games.
Top 5 online casinos to play free & real money games
| 🏆 Best overall online casino | |
| 🎰 Best for pokies | |
| 🂡 Best for blackjack | |
| ♦️ Best for roulette | |
| 🎲 Best for baccarat |
Check out other free games guides
Free blackjack FAQs
Yes, you can play blackjack online for free without risking any of your own money.
You can play over 200 free blackjack games here at OnlineCasino.co.nz. You can also play free and real money blackjack at top casinos like JackpotCity and Ruby Fortune.
No, you can’t win real money on free online blackjack. You can only win cash if you deposit at an online casino and place a real money bet.
In free bet blackjack, you can split or double down on each hand for free. It’s not the same as free versions of online blackjack, as it’s still a real money casino game.
Yes, you can play blackjack without depositing real money. Head to our library of free online games to get started.
You can practice blackjack online by playing free versions of each game. You can work on your strategy without risking your bankroll.
