To play a good game of blackjack, the law requires you to be at least 21. Do you know what else requires you to get 21? Beating the dealer at blackjack. We certainly know how conducive an atmosphere exists in Denver's paradise of West Virginia, but is the blackjack scenario the same?
The very idea of “free” resonates with greater attention from the audience. Think about the last time you were drawn to something only because it had a “free” label on it. The case is the same here too.
Hold on though, chief. Where “free” sounds like rainbows and butterflies, there is a small element of notoriety too. As the rumors go, free means cheap. But is this the case with online blackjack? Or is it so good that people choose to play it for free?
The answer to that is multifaceted. Look, the games are pretty fun to play. Be it the premium paid versions or the free games, there is no doubt about the resonating fun factor associated with it. The free games themselves are so much fun that people don't quite find the need to pay if they are playing it casually.
There is a deeper reason for this. Every blackjack provider ideally wants to get hold of as big an audience as they can. This is why they are compelled to make the games free—or at least the demo variants. Players here choose to play these free demos before they are sure of investing in the premium counterparts.
The other reason is that they are pretty much risk-free. You aren't investing anything, so there is nothing to lose. Pretty good for a short and social session of gaming.
That being said, don't mistake it to be addiction-free. Much like the paid versions, the free games can be pretty addictive if you aren't practicing moderation. Do play within limits.
Playing Free Blackjack vs. Real Money Blackjack
Let's get one thing cleared. Be it real money vs free variants, blackjack is a pretty intense and yet fun game. The question is—what are the differences between free and paid versions?
Before that, let's get one thing cleared. When it comes to free games, you aren't investing any money. Oftentimes you don't even have to create an account on the said casino's website. On the other hand, real money blackjack requires you to invest the money as well as sign up to the website or casino.
Now that we have cleared that out, there is another thing for you to keep in mind. Much like every other sphere of gaming, free vs real money has its own sets of pros and cons.
Depending on what your ultimate objective is, you should find the type that is better suited for you. There are no real winners per se. Understand your use case and play accordingly.
The first major difference is that free games are a good way to gauge whether you should invest in that game or not. You don't even need to sign up for most free games, unlike the paid versions. This is pretty good if you aren't sure of both the game and the website.
The other difference is that you can use the free game as a proverbial training ground. There is a good chance that if you are playing good hands in the free blackjack game, you will do well if you play for real money.
On the other hand, if you wish to make a good buck or two out of an intense gaming session—you pretty much have to play for real money. There is also another difference in the fact that there might be discrepancies in opponent experience in free vs real gaming.
5 Steps to Switch to Real Money Blackjack
Before you step into the competitive world of online blackjack, be sure to do your homework. Now that you have made up your mind to go where the real money is, you better not be slacking. We have a few tips so you can make the most of online blackjack. Follow these 5 steps for optimal results. And take it with a pinch of salt.
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Firstly—understand this. You will be investing a fair amount into gaming. You better be sure that the money you're spending is worth the experience. How do you do this? Simple. You should try out all available games at your disposal before you hop on to the most appropriate one for real money.
2
Before you start browsing which games are more suited to your tastes, be sure to only check valid and licensed casinos. Most of the well-known casinos are quite obviously regulated by gaming bodies in West Virginia. Please stick to those—we'll explain why in a while.
3
After deciding where to put your money, you need to do a thorough background check regarding the said gaming website. Be sure to check all the T&Cs of signing up and the associated sign-up bonuses. Be sure to claim them too.
4
Be extra careful to check all the titbits regarding payments and transactions. Remember how we mentioned valid and regulated casinos? This is where the catch arises. Oftentimes “pseudo” valid casinos get hold of your credentials and misuse them. This is why you should be wary of the intricacies of transactions.
5
Finally, know how to play the game. Make sure to strategize well and know when to split, double, or even surrender. Speaking of which—know your limits too. Practice moderation when it comes to online gambling, and always play responsibly.
Popular Blackjack Variations to Try for Free
If the plain old blackjack gets too mundane for you, we are here to assure you that you won't ever get bored with the game itself. Why? Variations. Here are some of the few different variations that blackjack poses. A must-try.
The first of the lot would be Spanish 21. If you are one of those who hates ties and draws, this variation is best for you. After all—there will be one winner and one loser here. That being said, this is also good if you are seeking side payouts. Low-cards also hold pretty good values here.
Vegas Strip Blackjack is yet another variation that you should try. Also called the American Blackjack, this game is about the special shoe and the 4-8 decks placed in it. Other than that, the payouts here are pretty good too—2:1.
European Blackjack is one variation that most definitely makes the game as memorable as it is now. Not having a joker in this variation, the ace also holds either 1 or 11. Also, you cannot re-split here. If the dealer holds an ace, you can't even surrender. Ready to play with such risks?
Atlantic City Blackjack is another variant. This one is pretty quirky because you can split the ace only once. The split ace and 10 count as 21 and not as blackjack. Value cards can be split too.
Finally—the quirkiest of them all. Blackjack Switch molds the game like no other. Can you imagine switching or trading between two hands as per convenience? Cheating in other books—not here though.
Legit WV Blackjack Casinos
Looking for legit WV online casinos to try your hand at? Look no further than these. Here are some legit casinos that you ought to check out if you are from West Virginia.
FanDuel
5/5
FanDuel $1,000 Risk Free for 24 Hours
What if we told you that you could play risk-free for 24 hours? What if we told you that your losses would be 100% returned up to $1,000? Sounds too good to be true right? That is what FanDuel is all about. While most would say that FanDuel is most appropriate for sports betting, the reality is far from it. with an exquisite range of blackjack games at your disposal, FanDuel is a must-try.
BetMGM
5/5
100% Deposit Match Up to $2,500 + $50 FREEPLAY Bonus + 50 Free Spins
With more than 150 types of games, BetMGM is as grand as it can get. Just have a look at their offline casinos—and you'll see why their online counterparts are just as exquisite. Despite all the luxury, the minimum wage is as low as $5! This has been done keeping in mind that most users would ideally want to start with a low-risk game. Once they get the hang of it, they would invest further. By “they,” we mean you—play right now!
DraftKings
5/5
100% Deposit Match Up to $2,000
You might argue that DraftKings has a better portfolio regarding core games like CSGO or even sports betting. We'd like to differ though. The online casino portfolio here is super impressive too. And with that massive 100% deposit match bonus of up to $2,000? Good enough incentive for us to be hooked. Is there any other place deemed to be the casino paradise? We think not.
Summing It Up
One glance at the online casino space and you'll see how spoiled you are going to be with the sheer choices. Choices regarding websites, games, bonuses, variations—what have you. One glance at the online gaming sphere and you will see why it is so enticing to both the uninitiated and the trained eye. The question thus remains—once you hit that proverbial country road to legal online casino success, would you want to go back home?