Blackjack is a rewarding game to play at online casinos. It offers a high RTP, players have a long time to think about their decisions, it’s anonymous, and West Virginia casinos are offering players some lucrative new player bonuses to be taken advantage of.
On this page, we will look into the variations of blackjack, the basic blackjack strategy for excellent returns and efficient play, some important blackjack terms, as well as some top casinos for online gambling in West Virginia.
Legal West Virginia Blackjack Sites – Brief Summary
This section will feature mini-reviews of four fully legal online casinos offering West Virginia online blackjack. They have been selected for their blackjack options and stellar new customer bonuses.
Perhaps more importantly, however, is that each of these casinos has been licensed by the West Virginia Lottery Commission and is rigorously audited by third parties to ensure player protection and safety.
So if you are looking to play online blackjack in WV, you should definitely start with one of the sites listed below!
DraftKings
5/5
100% Deposit Match Up to $2,000
DraftKings is a household name in the gambling industry, leading the fantasy sports craze for years. As online casinos began to legalize, they leveraged their platform to create incredible gambling experiences for their customers. They offer tons of slot titles, as well as blackjack, craps, keno, and roulette games. Players can get the hang of each game with a helpful demo mode or play a hand on the go with the Android or iOS mobile app. The new player offer at DraftKings is here to make an impact: a 100% deposit match up to $2,000 that comes with effective wagering requirements of 30x (15x original deposit and 15x deposit match). Blackjack at Draftkings contributes 20% on the dollar towards these wagering requirements.
FanDuel
5/5
FanDuel $1,000 Risk Free for 24 Hours
FanDuel is another longstanding fantasy sports platform that has now established a robust online casino presence. They have many games available for customers, including blackjack, roulette, craps, and many slot machines. The FanDuel promotion is a 24-hour risk-free period, where players will be eligible for a refund of up to $1,000 in the form of bet credits should their accounts be in a state of net loss after the promotional period. The bet credits refunded are considered bonus money and carry a 1x wagering requirement. Players can play at FanDuel throughout the state with the fantastic FanDuel mobile app available for both iOS and Android devices.
BetRivers
5/5
100% Deposit Match Up to $250
While BetRivers West Virginia only offers one blackjack title for players, it’s the solid traditional version of the game, in which players can play up to three hands per round. On top of this, players can take advantage of the excellent BetRivers new player promotion, a 100% deposit match of up to $250, with a wagering requirement of just 1x, even on blackjack! Players can play blackjack on their desktop, laptop, or Android mobile device. Unfortunately, there is no dedicated iOS app available for BetRivers at this time, although most iPhones should be able to support gameplay on Safari.
BetMGM
5/5
100% Deposit Match Up to $2,500 + $50 FREEPLAY Bonus + 50 Free Spins
BetMGM has an offering of seven blackjack games, including five blackjack pro titles where the player can play multiple hands and two traditional blackjack games. Each new player will be credited with $25 FREEPLAY on the house, which carries a 1x wagering requirement, and players who choose to deposit will receive a 100% deposit match of up to $1,000, which comes with a 15x wagering requirement. Blackjack games at BetMGM contribute 10% towards wagering requirements, so players must wager 10x the specified amount.
How to Play Blackjack?
Finding online blackjack in West Virginia is easy, but do you know how to play? Here are some quick pointers to get you started.
Hit: Hitting will ask the dealer to give the player another card.
Stand: Standing is to stick on the number of cards you have.
Bust: Busting is going over the limit of 21 and losing the game.
Double Down: Doubling down allows a player to increase their wager after drawing their first two cards, up to a maximum of 100% additional bet. After which, they will only receive one additional card.
Split: Players can split two cards if they are pairs, and players can make a maximum of two splits for a total of three hands. Players can double down these hands as usual. Players can only split Aces once, after which the player may draw only one additional card per split hand.
Push: A push is a draw between the player and dealer. In some game variations, a push can result in a dealer win, such as in Spanish 21.
Surrender: Players can surrender their hand and return half of their original bet on tables with a surrender option. Players get to see the dealer’s visible card before choosing, making surrendering a good choice if you feel you don’t have at least a 50% chance of winning.
Insurance: Insurance is a side bet offered when the dealer’s visible card is an Ace. Players can bet up to half of their original stake, which will payout if the dealer draws a card with a value of ten, which would result in a dealer blackjack.
Natural: A natural, or natural blackjack, is when the player gets 21 with their first two cards, i.e., 10 and Ace.
Basic Blackjack Strategies
Blackjack is a strategic game that, while very complex, can be boiled down to what is referred to as the basic strategy. Playing this strategy ensures that players are getting some of the highest returns available in the entire casino and is a large part of why table games such as blackjack typically count less towards your playthrough requirements.
The first note to make is that the insurance option is never worth your time. The bet offers a 6% house edge versus an approximate 0.5% house edge when correctly playing the basic strategy.
The player will first check their cards and the dealer’s visible card. We can get a good judgment of how strong each hand is from just this information.
Here are some things to do with that information according to basic strategy:
Stand when your hand is ten points or higher than the dealers, and you have 12-16.
Hit when your hand is nine points or lower than the dealers, and you have 12-16.
Hit when you have a soft 17 (Ace & 6).
Always split Aces and 8’s.
Double down on 11 when the dealer has between 2 and 10.
This might sound like a lot of information initially, but after some practice, players will get used to the decisions to make, as there are not that many outcomes. If you want to learn the strategy, a good idea is to play a demo version of blackjack!
Variations of Blackjack Games
Blackjack originated in France around the 1700s and has since taken the world by storm with many variations of the classic game played in casinos online and around the world today. Below are some common variations you might find when playing WV online blackjack and how each is played.
European blackjack
European blackjack is probably the most common version of the game today. Players will receive an even money payout for a win or a 3/2 payout for a natural blackjack (two cards totaling 21 points).
European blackjack features just one side bet. Side bets are ways you can win that aren’t in the standard version of the game. This side bet is an insurance bet and is rarely worth taking as it offers a house edge of around 6%.
Players can also opt to split their cards, creating two hands from the initial two cards.
A dealer’s natural blackjack will beat all player hands besides a player natural, which will result in a push. The dealer usually stands on soft 17.
Spanish 21
Spanish 21 is a blackjack variant that comes with many side bets to keep players engaged.
In Spanish 21, all four ’10’ cards are removed from the game, so the average number of cards to reach 21 is increased. However, this is good for the player as many of the side bets are won by having more cards in your hand. As an example, having 5, 6, or 7 cards will trigger a side bet win.
21 always results in a player win
The dealer will always stick on 17 (except in a few variants).
Check the info tab on the game you are playing to check the side bets available, as there are many, and they often change between providers.
Vegas Strip blackjack
Vegas strip is comparable to European blackjack, although players can split any pairs up to three times, and players can double down on any total.
Vegas strip also offers side bets, and each casino and variant of Vegas strip will offer different side bets, so it’s worth checking out the information tab on the version you are playing to see what they are and how to win!
Blackjack Switch
In blackjack switch, a player has two equally staked hands, which comes with the ability to swap the second card of each hand, giving the player an obvious advantage.
To equal out the stakes in favor of the house, there are some changes.
Dealer 22 results in a push against non-busted hands.
Natural blackjacks pay the same as a regular win.
Dealer hits on soft 17.
Switching to blackjack only counts as 21, not a natural blackjack.
The Best Brick and Mortar Casinos to Play Blackjack in WV
If you want to try your hand at blackjack in a land-based casino environment, we have you covered! We have crafted mini-reviews of four West Virginia casinos for you to consider, complete with their blackjack offerings and other fun stuff.
The Casino Club at the Greenbrier
With a gaming floor measuring over 100,000 square feet, the Casino Club at the Greenbrier sports 300 slots and 37 tables, with blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and more. Built on 11,000 acres of wooded grounds in White Sulphur Springs, WV, the Greenbrier is a five-star luxury hotel, spa, and golf course.
Players must adhere to the dress code: resort casual before 7 PM and business casual after 7 PM. You can check the finer details for the dress code on their site.
If you are not staying at the hotel, you must hold a membership to the resort to play at the Casino Club, which is $1,590 annually.
Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort
Set on 77-acres of Ohio River hillside, Mountaineer Casino holds a full-size horse racing track providing year-round entertainment and daily casino action between 9 AM and 4 AM.
The 78,000 gaming space houses over 1,000 slots, 42 table games, including regular blackjack and Spanish 21, and a dedicated poker hall.
Guests will also find a range of restaurants, bars, and other quality entertainment options.
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack
Wheeling Island’s Casino floor, at over 90,000 square feet, houses 20 live table games, including blackjack, roulette, and craps. It also has a 20-table poker room, 1,400 slots, and 151 hotel rooms.
Wheeling Islands blackjack offering isn’t quite as good as some of the others on this list, but players should still find what they are after here. Players will also find a few electronic blackjack terminals slotted around the massive casino floor.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has a superb selection of 74 table games, including traditional blackjack and Spanish 21. Other table games include roulette, baccarat, craps, and more. In addition, players will find various poker games, a dedicated no-limit poker room, and over 1,400 slots.
Players will also find horse racing, three luxury dining options, and even live shows and events.
FAQ
Is online blackjack legal in West Virginia?
Yes! Online blackjack has been legal in West Virginia since 2019, with the first casino allowing players to be dealt a hand in July 2020, when DraftKings casino opened its online casino in partnership with Hollywood Casino at Charlestown Races. Players should ensure they only play at casinos that the WV Lottery Commission has licensed to protect their finances and identity.
Which WV online casinos have blackjack available for players?
All of the online casinos in West Virginia allow their players to be dealt a hand in blackjack. That said, casinos may have different variations of the classic game available to players. So simply sign up for the one that looks good to you, ensure you have a great new-player sign-up bonus, and have fun!
Can I use the welcome bonus to play blackjack?
Of course. However, each casino has a different policy on how their wagering requirements are played and how much each game contributes. Therefore, it’s worth considering how much blackjack counts towards your welcome bonus wagering requirements. Often, it’s either 10% or 20%.