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BLACKJACK

General comments: Most Internet casinos that offer Blackjack games do not deal into the deck(s) as is done at brick-and-mortar casinos. Because it's very easy to do in an electronic game, the cards are shuffled after every round of play and that basically renders card counting useless. However, there are some exceptions and that feature ranks very high with us, as you'll see by our ratings. If a casino shuffles the cards after every hand of play or if you're not a counter, then you should seek out a single-deck game that has rules favorable to the player. Remember, there is no advantage to be had by playing at a multi-deck game versus a single-deck game, unless it offers extraordinary rules that lower the casino's edge over you. The single-deck game where the cards are shuffled after every hand of play will comprise our second tier of recommendations.

Games for Card Counters

#1 Global Player Casino - This casino has been an advertiser with us for over three years and during that time I've never heard from a player who hasn't been paid by them. We co-sponsor a monthly Blackjack tournament with Global Player Casino that attracts a large group of participants and culminates in a unique multi-player "final", where the winner then faces me in a head-to-head match.

But you don't have to be a tournament player to enjoy the many different types of Blackjack games available here. Some of the multi-deck games deal into the decks by as much as 50%. In any casino, 50% penetration is very shallow, thus card counting is of limited value. That said, you're still better off playing a game like that - assuming you're a counter - as opposed to a game where your cards always come from a newly-shuffled deck, if all other rules are the same.

#2 Intercasino - This is another casino with a long-term record of fairness. They have never advertised with us, so I've had no experience with readers of ours who may have had a problem with Intercasino. I will say, though, that they have a good reputation for honest games and prompt payment of their customers. All of the features of their Blackjack game can be found at other casinos that use the Cryptologic software that Intercasino uses. If you want to count cards at Intercasino, you'll have to play at the multi-player tables, because those are the only games where they deal into the decks. It's a 6-deck game that offers 33% penetration.

#3 Stanley Acropolis Casino - Owned by the Stanley Leisure Group, a major British bookmaking firm (it's legal over there), this casino offers just one Blackjack game, which is dealt from six decks. But the rules are pretty good (S17, DOA2, DAS) and they deal at least 102 cards of the 312 in the shoe before shuffling. The shuffle is shown by a message that comes up and it happens only after you've completed your play for that round. While this casino has never advertised with us, we have yet to hear from anyone who hasn't been paid after winning there.

Single-Deck Games

#4 Pharaoh's Casino - Utilizing the software from Boss Media, this casino has an excellent reputation. The Blackjack game uses a single deck and the dealer stands on soft 17. You may double on any first two cards and double after splitting pairs. These liberal rules give the player who uses the proper playing strategy a tiny edge of 0.10% over the casino.

#5 Royal Vegas Casino - This casino is part of the Fortune Lounge Group of Internet casinos, which includes 7Sultans Casino, Vegas Palms Casino, Fortune Room Casino, Vegas Towers and Vegas Villa Casino. They have been advertisers here for nearly a year and during that time, we have never heard from a player who hasn't been paid by them. These casinos use the highly regarded software made by Microgaming Systems. Their single-deck game has a casino edge of only 0.12%, assuming the player uses the proper Basic Strategy for this game. (An accurate strategy card for this game is available at www.thewizardofodds.com/)

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