No longer confined to a single city in New Jersey, Atlantic city has spread far and wide thanks to some very popular recreations of the gameon the web. We'll see below that the game boast a few quirks that are favourable to players and, in fact, is more popular with some gambling fans than the original.
In addition to covering all those rule changes and how to affect payouts in the game, we'll also be highligthing the best place to play as well as what to expect when playing on mobile
Adam Volz
Content editor
Reason to play
Boasts a few fun quirks not offered in the standard game
Is a variations that some US players will be more familiar with
Like standard blackjack, has basic strategy to take advante of
Offers a low house edge if you make the right moves
Allows the use of a late surrender bet in the game
How To Play Atlantic City Blackjack
If you're looking to familiarize yourself with the standard game first, check out our page on how to play blackjack.
STEP 1
Place Your Bets
After joining an Atlantic City Blackjack table you’ll be prompted to place your bets then, when you’re ready to go, hit Deal. As with standard blackjack, the aim is to get as close as possible to, but not exceed, 21. If the dealer has a faceup 10-value card or Ace they’ll offer you the chance to place an insurance bet.
STEP 2
Hit? Stand? Split? Double?
Now you need to decide whether you’re going to hit (take additional cards), stand (leave your hand as it is), split (split your hand into multiple hands) or double (increase your bet by up to 100% for one more card, but agree to take no more after) as appropriate. If you're still learning Atlantic City Blackjack rules and are unsure of what to do, check our strategy charts below.
Hit or Stand
STEP 3
Close Out Your Hand
Once you’ve improved your hand to as close to 21 as possible, but not more than that or else you’ll go bust, it’s time to hit Stand and let the dealer play their hand. Remember, they must stand on all hands with a value equal to 17.
STEP 4
The Dealer Plays
After turning over their facedown card, the virtual dealer will build their hand in much the same way that you did. When they’ve gone bust, beaten your hand or lost out to your cards the round will be over, and winnings will be issued.
Special Rules of Atlantic city Blackjack
When you sit down to play Atlantic City Blackjack online you need to be aware that the game differs from the standard variation in a few important ways. Below you’ll find a few of the key elements of Atlantic City Blackjack rules explained:
Dealers will check for blackjack when they’re showing an Ace or 10
You can split your hand up to three times when you are dealt two cards of equal value
Aces can only be split once, and players receive just one more card for each Ace after doing so
Players can double on any hand, including after splitting
Dealer stands on all hands worth 17, including soft 17 (a hand including an Ace counted as 11)
Late surrender is available after the dealer has checked their hand for blackjack when showing Ace or a 10-value card
Insurance is available, but taking it is still an unwise move. Find out more about this in our top tips
Action
Winnings
Decks
4-8
Player win
1/1
Player Blackjack
3/2
Push?
Yes
Tied Blackjack
Dealer
Dealer Stands on ALL 17
Yes
Dealer Stands on soft 17
Yes
Insurance bet pays
2/1
Surrender bet
Yes
Split
Yes
Re-split
Yes
Expert Mode
n/a
Double Down
9, 10, 11
Multi-Hands
1-5
SIDE BET: A-J spades
n/a
SIDE BET: A-J any suit
n/a
SIDE BET: Two suited cards
n/a
SIDE BET: Any Pair
n/a
SIDE BET: 3-of-a-kind
n/a
SIDE BET: Red/Black Pair
-
SIDE BET: Colored Pair
-
SIDE BET: Perfect Pair
-
House Edge
1.31%
Free Atlantic City Blackjack Reference Charts - Get Yours!
Basic strategy for Atlantic City Blackjack is almost identical to that of the standard variation of the game, with just a couple of minor differences. The inclusion of the Surrender button, for example, changes the (statistically speaking) correct move in some instances.
In time, you’ll get a feel for the right move to make in each situation. Until then, you can use our free reference charts to improve your knowledge of Atlantic City Blackjack rules:
Pair splitting
Find out when to split your pair into two hands or keep it as it is.
Comparing Atlantic City Blackjack to Other Variants
Playing Atlantic City Blackjack online is quite similar to standard blackjack. For that reason, much of the information below will look pretty familiar if you’re used to playing the traditional version of the game. The good news for fans of Live Dealer game is that Atlantic City Blackjack in 2022 is more widely available in this format that many other variants
Blackjack Variants
Player Win (payout)
Player Blackjack (payout)
Live Dealer
Mobile
RTP
European
1/1
3/2
Yes
Yes
99.6%
Surrender
1/1
3/2
No
Yes
99.65%
Switch
1/1
1/1
No
Yes
99.87%
Atlantic City
1/1
3/2
Yes
Yes
99.6%
Perfect
1/1
3/2
No
Yes
99.58%
What Makes Atlantic City Blackjack Stand Out from the Rest?
It’s the addition of the option to surrender hands and the dealer being forced to stand even on a soft 17 that differentiates Atlantic City Blackjack from other similar titles. The Surrender allows you to claim a refund for a portion of your bet if you feel the dealer is going to win the hand. Of course, you can still take Insurance against the dealer having blackjack if they hold an ace. The 50-percent refund means players can move quickly on to the next hand. With the house edge of standard blackjack standing at around 0.5% with proper play, Atlantic City Blackjack (as do the other variants in the table above) slightly favors players who know what they’re doing.
Other Blackjack Variants You Can Play
European Blackjack
A “high risk, high reward” variant that removes the opportunity for the dealer to check their hole card for blackjack
Atlantic City Blackjack Comparison of the Top Providers
- 8 decks used
- Allows 1 split per hand
- RTP: 99.51%
- Not available to US players
- 8 decks used
- Allows 2 split per hand
- RTP: 99.64%
- Not available to US players
- 6 decks used
- Allows 2 split per hand
- RTP: 99.67%
- Not available to US players
Playing Atlantic City Blackjack on Mobile
With a few different casino software providers offering versions of Atlantic City Blackjack in 2024, you'll find that mobile versions are also widely available. You’ll find Atlantic City Blackjack in both dedicated mobile apps and on responsive versions of casino sites that have been optimized for use on mobiles.
Wherever and however you play Atlantic City Blackjack, online casino sites worth their salt generally do a very good job of replicating the game for use on iPhone, iPad, Android and so on. This is thanks to their use of reputable software providers.
If you’re familiar with the rules then you can jump straight in and play for real money but, if you need to spend a bit of time getting used to the mobile interface or are still unfamiliar with the finer details, then you can usually play it for free as well.
Atlantic City Blackjack Strategy Tips
The good news for folks playing Atlantic City Blackjack online is that, although a couple of minor tweaks are advisable, you really won’t need to change up your standard blackjack strategy too much. Just bear the following tips in mind:
Remember That the Dealer Must Hit All 17s
Although you’ll always want to get your hand as close to 21 as possible, it’s worth remembering that the dealer has to stop when they hit 17. This might affect your own treatment of hands worth 17 or 18.
Be Careful When Splitting Aces
Remember that you only get one additional card for each of your two new hands when you split Aces. That’s not to say that splitting Aces is a bad move, just that it can be a little risky if you’re unlucky enough to draw two low cards.
Insurance Remains an Ill-Advised Bet
There isn’t a well-known blackjack variation out there in which insurance mathematically represents a good bet, and Atlantic City Blackjack is no exception to that. You’re much better off becoming more familiar with Surrender, but…
Don’t Overuse Surrender
Some players get overly fixated on Atlantic City Blackjack’s addition of the Late Surrender rule and, as a result, end up throwing away hands that they really should be playing. Consult our strategy chart when in doubt!
Where are the best places to play Atlantic City for real money?
If you’re new to the game or an experienced blackjack player looking to really perfect your skills, take some time to follow our handy how to play guide.
Our team of experts give you a sneak peek at the top secret blackjack tips you need to know about. Learn how to give yourself the best chances with these tips.
Done properly, counting cards is a clever way to lower the house edge in online blackjack. Use our blackjack card counting trainer to improve your skills, and odds.
Adam Volz is an online gambling expert who specialises in researching and writing content to help players find the best casino for them. Expect Adam to use his attention to detail and experience working in different markets worldwide to find the best online casino experiences around!
Alexander Korsager has been immersed in online casinos and iGaming for over 10 years, making him a dynamic Chief Gaming Officer at Casino.org. He uses his vast knowledge of the industry to ensure the delivery of exceptional content to help players across key global markets. Alexander checks every real money casino on our shortlist offers the high-quality experience players deserve.
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