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A review of the best free/paid iphone & android blackjack apps on the market

Do you like playing blackjack on the go? Personally Im really getting into downloading apps lately (Im about 10 years late) so I had a look at the top blackjack apps available on the market at the moment. I instantly fell in love with most of the apps I’ve listed and reviewed below, with just a few clicks you are ready to go! I will be reviewing more in the future but for now here’s a list of some very decent blackjack apps you should download, hope you enjoy and if you have any suggestions or any other apps we should know about let us know in the comments!

Blackjack MH (Pepper Stuff) Price: £1.49

Apple Version – https://itunes.apple.com/GB/app/id284445825?mt=8&affId=1758689
blackjack MH app

The undisputed leader in Blackjack apps, MH might well be the most elegant transition of all from casino to smartphone or tablet. Dispensing with fripperies, it revels in its serious gameplay and seriously useful features set. The engine is slick, and MH’s fast emulation allows for up to three hands being bet at a time – with up to three splits in each case.
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With its reputation for being a casino game you can actually succeed in beating, it’s perhaps unsurprising to see a few nods to those trying to learn optimum strategy. But it is a shock to see quite so many genuinely effective learning features. From the wealth of card-counting tutorials, to the numerous stats and game logs that you can use to nail down your technique, MH is very much an app that can turn you into a casino monster.

MH has even joined the online revolution, offering seamless online play. And you can also choose to play against bots, should you wish to do without online play, but still hanker after some electronic rivalry.

Astonishingly good in pretty much every area, MH is the very epitome of casino apps.

Pros:

Great engine
Strong learning and card-counting features.
Choice of online play or bots

Cons:

None really, but it is a serious game for serious players

Blackjack 21 Live (AbZorba Games) Price: Free

Android Version – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.mvns.games&hl=en
21review

AbZorba’s Live Multiplayer Roulette is one of the best and certainly the most fun you can have at the roulette table. Blackjack 21 Live does exactly the same thing for blackjack and in our opinion, its one of the best blackjack apps for android. This particular casino game may attract the more serious players, but AbZorba brings exactly the same sense of fun that it does to Roulette, letting you buy gifts and cocktails, and playing up the community aspect. However, there is a strong engine underlying everything, and the game plays extremely well.

As the name suggests, this is very much about the online facilities. Indeed, the ability to sit down at one of over 100 tables and start playing (and chatting) alongside other gamers worldwide makes this a truly enjoyable experience. You can even see how you’re doing by finding yourself on the international scoreboard – thus adding to the competitive edge. Designed from the ground up to be an online version, this is the best that we’ve seen if you want true multiplay.
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Where 21 Live doesn’t fare so well, is on its learning facilities, and it lacks the comprehensive options for learning about card counting etc. that you get on Blackjack MH. Blackjack 21 Live is very much a game rather than a serious tool for improving play. Nonetheless, if it’s a bit fun that you desire, we can think of no more enjoyable experience.

Pros:

Online element is fantastic
Most fun to play of any blackjack game
Stable engine

Cons:

Not as geared towards teaching you how to play optimum strategy, count cards etc.

Blackjack (MobiityWare) Price: 69p

Apple Version – https://itunes.apple.com/GB/app/id284752907?mt=8&affId=1758689

casino This perennial app favourite (from the developers of the class-leading Solitaire) has a stellar reputation for challenging gameplay (by which we mean that the dealer cleans up on a regular basis), but it is starting to face strong competition from the polished MH and the online-heavy Blackjack 21 Live. The engine isn’t quite as swift nor the interface as intuitive as MH’s, but this still a very solid version.

Like MH, Blackjack offers learning features, including coaches on counting cards. However, you don’t get the sheer number or quality of the aids found on MH. It can’t match the above app’s in-depth stats, nor the amazing choice.

It also lacks the choice of online features and competitive bots offered on MH. In short, Blackjack may have more years under its belt, but it’s starting to look rather behind the times.

Pros:

Well-established and reasonably playable
Affordable

Cons:

Not as slick or sophisticated as MH
Learning aids not as deep
Needs to offer more facilities for playing against other players

Blackjack 88 (Code Redman) Price: Free

Apple Version – https://itunes.apple.com/GB/app/id426424525?mt=8&affId=1758689

casino A very eye-catching version that combines strong visuals with a strong range of features, Blackjack 88 is very much a viable option for those who don’t take to MH. The 3D table immediately grabs the attention, and while the effect will wear off after a while, the graphics are certainly larger and more alluring on this version. This doesn’t affect gameplay, either, and the engine remains fast and playable.

88 doesn’t offer the sheer wealth of learning aids packaged with MH, but it does still have some useful tips on optimum play, recommending what you should do at key stages. You won’t become an expert card counter with this app, but you may finetune your game.

Blackjack 88 can become quite expensive if you want to start buying piles of extra chips. However, you aren’t forced to do this, and if you run out, you get an automatic top-up after 15 minutes.

The app is perhaps a little more geared towards in-game purchases than we’d like, but the app itself is free.

88 is a nice adaptation of blackjack. However, 3D visuals apart, it does lack a significant distinguishing feature. The learning aids are good, but not as in-depth as on some apps, while a lack of online play also limits its appeal.

Pros:

Eye-catching 3D graphics
Simple strategy coach
Don’t necessarily have to spend money on extra chips

Cons:

Learning features not as deep as on some
No online play

Blackjack + (Chronological Ltd) Price: Free

Apple Version – https://itunes.apple.com/GB/app/id424782747?mt=8&affId=1758689

casino Here’s one for lovers of busy interfaces. You don’t get a shortage of onscreen options with Blackjack+, and the sheer number of icons can be bewildering for those who just want to play a simple game. That’s a shame, because the engine itself plays well and fairly.

Plus goes some way towards the professional approach of MH, showing you a little about card counting and strategy, and letting you track your longterm progress. It doesn’t go anywhere near far enough to be a serious contender for MH’s crown, though. The visuals are quite fun, but it really needs something like online play to become a truly entrancing experience. It’s a decent choice for those who don’t want the depth of MH, but want a few more professional features than some of the more entertaining apps can offer.

Pros:

Fair play
Solid options for improving play

Cons:

Doesn’t go as far with its learning aids as MH
No online feature

BlackJack 21 (Super Lucky Casino) Price: Free

Android Version – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.genina.android.blackjack.view&hl=en

blackjack 21 super lucky casino app review

21 has a confusingly similar name to the other major Android app here. That, as it turns out, makes a great deal of sense, as the missing word ‘Live’ points to perhaps the one thing that holds 21 back – the lack of online multiplay. Strangely, the developer tries to make this one of 21’s strengths. While there’s some truth to the idea that it’s sometimes great to be able to just get on and play, rather than waiting for other players to turn up, we do miss the fact that it’s not built around live multiplay. You can compare your rank to that of other players, though, which does add an element of competition.

The app itself works quite nicely, with a good clean interface that also does a good job of taking you through the correct strategy. You can learn a good deal about best blackjack practice from this app, even if it lacks the sheer depth of MH, for instance. However, ads can be a problem, and it’s not always the most stable.

Pros:

Clean interface
Decent learning aids

Cons:

Limited multiplay support
Ads and stability not the best we’ve seen

Social Gaming and the Future

In its loosest sense, a ‘social game’ can count as any game that draws together a number of people. By this definition, the first ‘social game’ could be something from as far back as the Egypt of 3100 BC – the creation of the first board game, Senet. Alternatively, you might see 1974, and the launch of Dungeons and Dragons, as the true opening shot. By the 2000s, role-playing games were making the transition from the living rooms of feverish schoolboys to the hot cables of the internet, and the MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) was born. These highly visual fantasy extravaganzas pulled together dozens of players from around the globe, pitting them against one another across fierce battlefields, or forcing them to journey through vast landscapes, co-operating with other players to complete quests and rise through the ranks. Everquest was the first to make a big impact, as early as 1999. However, it was in 2004, with the launch of World of Warcraft, that MMORPGs became big news – and bigger business. Less game-like variations, like Second Life, would also grab the attention, and these titles would even create their own real-life markets, allowing in-game objects to switch hands in return for genuine cash.

Today, though, the genre of ‘social gaming’ is just as often associated with those titles played on social media sites, like Facebook. Early minor successes often revolved around building a virtual world, and managing farms were a regular subject – plant and harvest crops, feed animals and take them to market etc. The Rolls-Royce (or Massey Ferguson!) of farming simulations, and the first Facebook title to truly seize users’ attention, was Zynga’s Farmville in 2009. With its cute graphics and involving worldscape, this game had users playing for hours a night. It worked on a very clever advertising campaign that decorated your wall with regular posts commenting on your progress, encouraging or challenging you to better your friends and contacts. The never-ending volley of reminders brewed an irresistible mix of competition and co-operation, making it truly a gaming experience that you could share with everyone around you.

Many of the most popular Facebook games have been infuriatingly addictive puzzlers that keep users coming back for just one go, even as they actually intend to update their wall or contact a friend. The early browser game, Bejeweled, would force you to match tiles while fighting an increasingly frantic time limit. This style of gaming would go on to inspire multi-chapter Facebook series like Pet Rescue and Candy Crush. By May 2013, Candy Crush Saga had established itself as the most popular game in the world, overtaking even the sequel to Farmville, and the smartphone/tablet phenomenon that is Angry Birds.

Profit margins have been high on many of these games, and successful titles can acquire huge userbases in very little time. Frontierville, a twist on Farmville, took just 36 days to amass 20 million players. The hyper successful MMORPG, World of Warcraft, on the other hand, needed four years to rack up the same figures. The basic model offers a variety of ways of making money. Subtle advertising is one approach, but there are better routes to riches. Some games, like Mafia Wars, work as ‘Freemium’ titles. These programs are freely distributed, but the customers are encouraged to send in real money in order to buy add-ons, new levels, and other features. The non-existent entry cost means the games open themselves up to a lot of users. You only need a modest portion of those to become ‘super users’, spending oodles on in-game features, and you have a bulging bottom line. These titles may spread more and more to alternative technologies, like smartphones, tablets and Google Glass, but many of the concepts will remain.

Future games consoles, like the PS4, will have social gaming at their very core. The much-anticipated DriveClub racing game, for instance, will have teams of drivers working together in World of Warcraft-style Guilds. It won’t just be about who can drive more quickly, and every player will feel they have something to contribute individually, regardless of skill level. But DriveClub will also incorporate aspects of Facebook games, presenting you with constant tournaments and leaderboards, and inspiring you to keep improving by constantly telling you how all of your friends and your friends’ friends are getting on in the game. Indeed, the future games titles won’t really be games at all. They’ll be virtual communities, in which the game is merely the hook that brings like-minded users together for a good time.

The Art of Picking the Right Blackjack Bonus

We’re all told that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Well, in the world of Blackjack, there is. Or at least, the lure of it. Many casino sites run promotions designed to get punters signed up and playing their games. Delicious carrots are often dangled in front of users (both new and old). But are these pure gold, or rotten to the core. Let’s have a look at the options.

Welcome Bonuses

Most ‘welcome’ bonuses work in a similar way. You deposit a certain amount of money, and the casino ‘rewards’ you by giving you a bonus equal to a certain percentage of your original deposit. A 100% bonus, for example, would mean that a £100 deposit resulted in an actual playing balance of £200. There is a catch, though..

You’ll generally be expected to stake a certain amount of money before you can withdraw that bonus. For instance, you might be asked to ‘rollover’ 25x your deposit and bonus. In the case of that £100 deposit with its 100% bonus, you’d be expected to play through 25 times £200, or £5,000. If you had anything left in your account by the time you had placed £5,000-worth of bets, you’d be able to withdraw it. However, the casinos know that’s unlikely to be the case.

The point is that, in Blackjack, the casino has a built-in edge (assuming you’re not employing a strategy like card counting). It’s a very small edge in this particular game – 0.5% or less with proper strategy – but it does exist. Over a few hands, the house advantage is unlikely to make much difference. But if you’re working through £5,000 of bets, for instance, placing one pound chips every time, that amounts to 5,000 bets in total. Stretched over a long sequence like that, the casino’s slight edge means your money will gradually trickle away. If you drop to smaller stakes, you’re effectively extending the number of bets you participate in, which renders the casino’s advantage over you even more unbeatable. The edge in Blackjack is very small, but it’s still present, so, unlike sports betting, it’s hard to turn blackjack bonuses into genuine cash.

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However, we shouldn’t dismiss them out of hand. You’re still getting ‘free’ money, so if you want to have a night at the cards, it’s generally better to have the bonuses than not. With Blackjack’s low edge, you’ve got more of a chance of success in this game than in almost any other. You can also try out strategies knowing that you’ve got, perhaps, double the chips. They’re unlikely to be a path to riches, then, but there’s little advantage to turning them down. Do note, though, that Blackjack’s low house edge makes it a less appetising option for casinos. Many offers either exclude Blackjack altogether, or insist that money can only make up 5% of the total towards any rollover requirements – effectively making it unplayable. So pick carefully if you’re looking for hot Blackjack action.

Look for a low rollover where possible. The more hands you have to play, the more decisive the house edge will be on your play, so go low where possible. Betfair Casino lets you get a lower multiplier when you deposit larger sums. If you deposit between £35 and £499, for instance, you have to play through the bonus and deposit 25 times. If you deposit as much as £1,000, though, the rollover multiplier drops to 15x. Admittedly, the lower amount does come with a larger bonus (of up to 200%) attached. But with that high 25x rollover multiplier, we can see why Betfair are keen to seem generous. Some sites may also offer a ‘sticky’ bonus. In this scheme, you won’t ever be able to withdraw the bonus, although you would be able to withdraw winnings on it. Accordingly, rollovers can be lower.

No Deposit Bonuses

These are often very similar to Welcome Bonuses. The big difference is that you don’t have to deposit any money with the site. Accordingly, the wagering requirements tend to be rather steep. Winner.com, for example, lets you play with $30 without making a single deposit. You do, though, have to rollover this bonus 40x, making $1200, before you can make any withdrawals. As with many firms, it’ll take you longer still to pay off this rollover while playing Blackjack. You may also be given the chance to make as much money as possible in a small period of time (30 minutes, for example). Many of the best no deposit schemes don’t hang around for long, so it’s a good idea to check on the web, or to join a service like the free No Deposit Bonus Newsletter (http://www.nodepositbonus.cc/newsletter).

Loyalty Schemes

Rather than a big one-off welcome bonus, you might want to look for sites that allow you to amass loyalty points that can then be converted into real cash. The more you play, and the larger the sums, the more points you’ll earn. 32red.com lets you exchange every 1000 points for 10 free casino chips, for example, although you may have to play through this bonus if you’re not a member of their invitation-only Club Rouge. Intercasino.com’s Loyalty Points system lets you earn money for every 100 points gained. Admittedly, Blackjack doesn’t pay well on this site (just as it doesn’t on Maxcasino.com’s ‘Complimentary Points’ scheme), but you’re still getting a chance to make some free money at no risk. You may also get additional monthly bonuses through their My Bonus 4 Life scheme, provided you’re an active player.

Alternative Payments

Occasionally, sites let you make money just from using a different payment option. Winner.com, for example, will pay you an extra 15% on your deposit when you use certain e-Wallet accounts, like Skrill/Moneybookers. You do have to satisfy a 12x rollover to receive this money, though, and most varieties of Blackjack contribute no more than 20% towards paying that off.

Bonus or Booby Prize

It’s best not to take many of these bonuses too seriously. They’re generally a way of adding a few more chips to your account that you may or may not see again. Certainly, as a means of making an easy few hundred, they’re unlikely to come good, although Blackjack’s low edge and rollover requirements of 15x or lower would give you a fighting chance. Essentially, you’re being given free money, and services like the Loyalty Schemes are particularly good at putting a few extra chips into your pocket while not distracting you from your main pastime of playing Blackjack. As such, you should keep an eye open for such deals. Do be careful to read the small print though.

Famous Blackjack Players You Should Know About (Part -1)

Blackjack is one of the most common and popular casino games. Some of us enjoy a game of blackjack every now and then for a bit of fun however over the past few years certain individuals took it to the next level, studied the game and made a lot of money from it. We have combined a list of the most well known blackjack players who have devoted a big part of their life to this game and have become millionaires.

Edward O. Thorp

Edward Thorp is and American mathematician that was born in 1932. Hes is most well known in the blackjack world for writing the book “ beat the dealer”. Beat the dealer focused on beating the casino’s house advantage by using the card counting strategy.

When Edward Thorp was testing the theory of card counting, casinos at that time didn’t even realise it was possible but they were all proven wrong. Thorp put his theory to practice with his partner Claude Elwood Shannon and started making a lot of money by visiting different casinos in Las Vegas. Beat the dealer is the first book ever written about card counting and many professional players still refer to it today as the best book for beginners.

Ken Uston

Ken Uston was born 1935 and he’s on the most famous blackjack players that is most well know for commercializing “team play” in blackjack. Ken always thought of himself as a very good business man and not a professional gambler. He had a lot of success in the stock market industry before he quit his job and devoted his life to playing blackjack.

It all happened when Ken Uston met a man named Al Francesco, a professional blackjack player. They became very good friends and soon Ken joined him and learned how to play the game with team play. They had a team of several people playing at blackjack tables and counting cards, once the odds were in their favour they would “signal” an other player to join the game and drop a lot of money. This system worked really well for them as casinos at that time were not clued up on card counting methods. After years of using this method and making a lot of money casinos finally caught up with all the card counting methods and banned Uston from certain casinos. This didn’t stop him as he hired a make up artist and used several different disguises in order to continue playing his favourite game. Apart form his career as a professional blackjack player Ken Uston also wrote several best selling books including “The Big Player” and “Million Dollar Blackjack.

Stanford Wong

Stanford Wong also known as John Ferguson was born 1943 and he is a famous blackjack player as well as a well know author. Wong enjoyed playing games from an early age and one of his hobbies was looking into blackjack probabilities and creating strategies for better odds. As many other blackjack professionals wong read Thorp’s book and began counting cards.After studying Thorps theories Wong came up with his own unique card counting strategies that were very complicated but precise. The most well know strategy is called “Wong Halves”.

Wong soon realised that his hobby was making him more money than his full time job as a teacher which resulted in him quitting his job and pursuing a career in professional blackjack. He became a very successful player and his also a member of the blackjack hall of fame. Apart from his gambling career he also went on to write several best selling books including “ Professional Blackjack” which is one the most popular blackjack books ever written.

Keep an eye out for part 2 as we will be looking into the lives of more famous blackjack players and celebrities…

The most popular variations of Blackjack

Blackjack is one the most popular games played at casinos and also at home were its also known as 21. As most other games when playing blackjack especially at online casinos you will notice some game variations that might apply in some casinos but not all. Generally speaking if you follow the basic strategy and rules which we have explained in our “blackjack strategy” section here you could join and play at any casinos, however there are some rules you need to look out for that could help you improve your chances of winning. For that reason we have decided to do a post on the rule variations of blackjack you might come across when playing online or at brick & mortar casinos.

Classic rules

This is the classic version of blackjack were each player is given 2 cards and is playing against the dealer. The main objective is to get as close as possible to 21 by adding the value of each card, if you get 21 you win however if the sum of the values of your cards is more than 21 then you lose.

The basic rules are explained in more detail in our “how to play” section on our homepage.

American blackjack

With this blackjack variation the rules are bit more flexible than the European version however many players prefer the European game. The dealer is handed one card facing up and one card facing down compared to the European version were the dealer only has one card facing up. Also players are given the option to use the “surrender” rule anytime throught the game. Players are also allowed to double down on any hand and are not restricted to double down only for specific cards like the European version(9, 10 &11).

European Blackjack

European blackjack in one of the most popular versions that’s slightly different due to the following reasons. The game is always played with two decks of cards and the dealer must “hit” if the value of his cards equals to 16 or less. With this variation you can “split” however you can only do it once. You can also double down only when you have 9, 10 or 11. The dealer is dealt only one card facing up and the surrender rule is not allowed in this version.

Single Hand Versus Multi Hand Blackjack

Single hand is played with one deck of cards and only one hand is played each time. If you are starting out in blackjack we recommend you play single hand as it’s easier than the multi hand version.

The Multi hand version of blackjack is aimed to more advanced players that are comfortable and experienced at playing the classic version of blackjack. The main difference with this variation is that you are mutlitasking and playing five hands at the same time, you are given 10 cards in total. By playing this game you have more chances of winning money unless the dealer has a blackjack which will result in you losing everything. The game is confusing enough as it is and therefore in order to make it less confusing certain rules are applied that don’t apply to single hand blackjack. You can’t re-split at any time, you cant double up aftre splitting or double up when you have 9-10-11, you cant surrender and as for the dealer, he needs to stand on a soft 17. If you are a begginer you could give this a shot however we suggest you play a demo version of the game instead of depositing money as it’s quite a confusing game that requires experience and a lot of concentration.

Blackjack Switch

This is quite an interesting variation of blackjack that’s been popular recently.

When playing blackjack switch you are dealt two hands instead of one or five for the multihand version and you are allowed to switch cards from one hand to another which results in a very low house edge. Specifically players are allowed to swap the second card in order to get a better result. One of the main differences is that if a dealers hand is equal to 22 then this counts as a pushed hand and therefore you don’t win or lose unless you have a blackjack which means you win that hand. It’s dealt face up and its usually played with 6 or 8 decks of cards.

Pontoon

Pontoon is a british version of blackjack, the main objective is the same as the players hand needs to be 21 in order to win or as close as possible to 21 and not over. The main difference when playing pontoon is the number of cards you have, obviosuly if you exceed 21 then you get burned however if the value of your cards is 21 then you win and this is called a pontoon instead of a blackjack. The number of cards in a single hand overides the overall card value. A hand of 5 cards that equals 21 of less will beat a blackjack, A hand of 3-4 cards that’s is equal to 21 will also beat a blackjack. So in other words the more cards you have the better as long as you don’t exceed 21. Also another imprortant difference is that a player has the option of buying a card to increase the stake if the value of the cards is less than 21.