How to Play Atlantic City Blackjack Online

Frank Scoblete
Updated 7 February 2025
Senior Content Editor

The game of blackjack has been a staple in real money online casinos for as long as we can remember. The reason for this is surely due to the simplicity of the game. It takes no longer than a few moments to understand how to play but, thanks to the number of bets that can be placed, you'll probably need a little longer to get fully acquainted.

Atlantic City Blackjack: How To Play

Even though the rules and characteristics of the game are somewhat unique, it is still based on the classic version of blackjack. You must familiarize yourself with what the game is in its most basic form before jumping into any of the other variants. Once you have done that, we have put together a step by step guide to help you through Atlantic City Blackjack.

1

Making Your Wager

Your first task is to find a table at your online casino where you're able to play Atlantic City Blackjack. Once you've done this, you'll need to place your bet. When you're ready to start, hit the deal button and you're on your way to hours of fun.

2

Make A Decision

Once you've been dealt your first card and revealed what your situation is, you'll need to decide whether you're going to take another card (hit), don't take another card (stand).

Splitting refers to when you separate your two cards which basically allows you to play two hands in the same round. This will usually be done with picture cards or aces. You'll be allowed to double your bet if you feel like you have a good chance of winning. The catch being that you'll not be permitted to take another card after this bet has been made.

3

Finalize Your Hand

After you have completed your turn, meaning that you've taken as many cards as you deem necessary before going bust, you'll then close your hand. Now it is time for the dealer to take their turn.

4

The Dealer’s Turn

The dealer will go through the same process as the player. However, they are not allowed to keep taking cards once they've reached a total of 17. Once completed, the winner will be decided and that is the end of the round.

Atlantic City Blackjack Rules

Even though this version of the game is very similar to that of the original blackjack, there are a few key differences which you must be aware of in order to get the most out of this game.

The dealer is able to check for blackjack should their hand contain an Ace.
Players are able to split aces only once and thereafter they will only be permitted to take one more card for each.
You'll be able to split any cards up to 3 times during the round should they be of the same value. Obviously this excludes Aces.
Any hand can be doubled after being split
The dealer is obligated to stand on all hands that total 17.
This version allows players a late surrender, but only after the dealer has checked to see whether they have blackjack should their hand contain either an Ace or 10.
Dealers will offer players insurance should they have an ace in their hand.

Using A Blackjack Strategy

The best way to increase your chances of getting an edge over the house is to play free blackjack. This offers you the opportunity to hone your skills by trying different strategies. This is an invaluable tool when it comes to mastering the game of blackjack and we can’t stress enough how important it is to make full use of the free versions.

Pair Splitting

Pertains to when a player is able to split up their two cards of the same value. This may not always be an advisable move so check out our splitting strategies in further detail.

Soft Totals

This refers to when a player has a hand that is lower than 17 which includes an ace and a low card. Here you'll need to decide whether you want the ace to be 11 or 1.

Hard Totals

Here a player will have a relatively high hand that consists of a 10 and a low card. This is not as flexible as a soft total which makes it a tougher hand to call.

Late Surrender

This refers to when a dealer will allow a player to surrender their hand. This will give the player half their bet back which may seem like a good choice but it's not always advisable.

Variations of Blackjack

Atlantic City Blackjack is almost exactly the same as the original blackjack with a few subtle differences. This version is best suited to American players and is becoming increasingly popular within the online casino world.

Let’s take a look at some of the other variations of blackjack available to players:

Blackjack Variants Player Win (payout) Player Blackjack (payout) Live Dealer Mobile RTP
European1/13/2YesYes99.6%
Surrender1/13/2NoYes99.65%
Switch1/11/1NoYes99.87%
Atlantic City1/13/2YesYes99.6%
Perfect1/13/2NoYes99.58%

Mobile Blackjack

The mobile arm of online casinos has seen a massive bloom in popularity recently and for good reason. Almost every single person has a mobile device these days which allows everyone to access blackjack games online. Online casinos and developers are fully aware of this fact which is why they are ensuring their games are mobile compatible. Almost all online casinos will have mobile versions of Atlantic City blackjack which means you'll be able to play the game whenever and wherever you like. Whether you're using a smartphone that uses iOS, Android or Microsoft operating system, you'll be privy to everything the casino has to offer with little to no difference in gameplay and graphics.

Atlantic City Blackjack From Different Software Providers

Even though Atlantic City Blackjack is a variant on its own, there are also versions of the game that differ when looking at the different providers at an online casino. Here are some of the most popular versions of the game that we have found and for you to check out.

This version is set with an RTP of 99,64, which is better than some slot games which shows that there is more of a chance to win when you have a strategy on your side and allows you to 2 splits per hand and uses 8 decks to cover the game.

Here we have a version that allows 1 split per hand and brings players an RTP of 99.5%. This still goes to show that blackjack is won by players more often than any other game at an online casino and makes use of 8 decks as well.

Another version of the game that allows players 2 splits per hand and has the highest RTP of 99.67%. The game uses 6 decks so it increases the chances of players building a winning hand with fewer possibilities in the deck.

Atlantic City Blackjack Tips

All 17s Must Be Hit By The Dealer

In this version of blackjack, the dealer is always required to stand when they have a total of 17. This definitely gives players a better chance when playing aggressively.

Watch Out When You’re Splitting Aces

Splitting aces may not always be the best idea. All too often players will immediately split this pair, but you're not always guaranteed to draw 2 high cards.

Insurance Bets are Not Recommended

Even though this variation offers insurance, this is not always an advisable move.

Surrender With Caution

The game has a surrender feature which allows players to redeem half their bet should they deem their hand is not good enough. Too many players will overuse this which is not always the best idea.

Senior Content Editor
Frank Scoblete is a casino gaming expert with 35 books, over 6,000 articles, and extensive media experience, including consulting for films, TV, and hosting radio shows. He has also organized gaming festivals across the US and Canada, cementing his status as a leading authority in the field.
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Fact-checked by Reza Shojaei
Editor-in-chief

This page has been reviewed by Reza Shojaei, a pioneer in iGaming with over 15 years of experience. As the founder of CasinoTop.com and Value Marketing, he specializes in market analysis, player safety, and regulatory compliance. Reza’s collaborations with top operators and regulators reflect his commitment to fairness and innovation in online gambling.

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