It’s the classic table game most synonymous with casinos. But the 11 Michigan online casinos have several different blackjack offerings to differentiate themselves from the pack.
For instance, DraftKings Casino has a remarkable 22 different blackjack varieties.
Now, many of these are variations of regular old blackjack packaged in different themes. For instance, there’s DraftKings Pride Blackjack, along with Detroit Pistons, Christmas, and Vacation variations.
Online gambling companies are leaning into this table game classic to try and lure sports betting customers into the casino.
At DraftKings, sportsbook or daily fantasy sports players who have already deposited can receive $100 of free blackjack credit if they have not yet played at DraftKings Casino. Several gambling sites offer late-night casino bonus credits for blackjack players, too.
The perks of playing online blackjack in Michigan
Advantages of online blackjack include the convenience of playing from home and the lower table minimums.
You can play $1 hands from your couch. Good luck finding a $1 table in a downtown Detroit casino (you won’t).
Another plus is that Michigan online blackjack games pay off 3:2 on blackjacks, while some retail spots have switched to 6:5. There’s also no dealer to tip at home, though if someone brings you a drink from the kitchen, do say thank you.
There are also more blackjack varieties on your computer or phone than you’ll find on any casino floor in Michigan. Live dealer blackjack options are also on the way to Michigan, likely later this year.
Here are some of the other variations of blackjack that are available at online casinos right now.
1. Poker & Pairs
Where To Play: Barstool, BetRivers, DraftKings, FanDuel, Four Winds, TwinSpires, and WynnBET
A couple of side bets flank your base bet in this game. The pairs bet pays up to 30:1 for a suited pair with the player’s two cards. The poker side bet involves taking your two cards and the dealer’s up card and making a poker hand. A suited three-of-a-kind pays out 100:1.
The game details the expected payback (return to player) as 96.8% for the poker side bet and 96.6% for pairs.
For comparison, it says the base blackjack hand has a 99.6% expected payback over the long term, provided the player makes the correct player choices.
The IGT game has a $1 minimum bet and a $2,000 maximum.
2. Premium Blackjack Pro
Where To Play: BetMGM
It’s regular blackjack at Premium Blackjack Pro, but again, there are some side bets to consider.
The Perfect Pairs side bet can pay up to 25:1 for a Perfect Pair, and the 21+3 side bet is a common one on casino floors. There, your two cards and the dealer’s up card combine for a three-card poker hand. A suited three-of-a-kind pays off 100:1.
According to the game, the theoretical RTP for the main blackjack game is 99.49%. The 21+3 side bet is 96.29% and the perfect pairs is 95.91%.
Premium Blackjack Pro is a WIN Studios game. For the base hand, the minimum bet is 10 cents and the max is $2,500.
BetMGM has the most online casino games so far in Michigan, so it’s no surprise it has one more blackjack game to offer.
3. Zappit
Where To Play: BetRivers, DraftKings, FanDuel, Four Winds, Golden Nugget, TwinSpires, and WynnBET
In Zappit, you’ve got a chance to trash (or zapp!) some bad hands.
The SG Digital game allows the player to zap a hard 15, 16, 17 or 18 and get a whole new hand. The trade-off for that benefit is that if the dealer draws 22, it’s a push and not a win.
The maximum bet is $100 with a 10-cent minimum. According to the game’s overview, the expected return to player is 98.87%.
