Online blackjack is a mainstay game in modern online casinos, it is in fact one of the more popular online casino games, because of the favorable odds it gives players. The online version of the popular card game wasn't always this successful though. In the beginning, the absence of the live dealer - a central piece in casino blackjack - was something players couldn't really come to terms with. The lack of a live person dealing out of a set number of decks created trust issues. Players couldn't be certain that the deal was indeed fair and even more importantly: they couldn't count cards. Not knowing exactly how many decks of cards the casino's RNG uses is still quite a problem for blackjack players today. Fears associated with the lack of a live dealer though have largely been assuaged. Even players who count cards and establish edges based on their skills like to play online these days. Frankly, they're still unable to count cards, but they can make up for the lost edges through the online casino bonuses and rake back-like loyalty deals, which are often more beneficial than card counting.

One of the goals of online casino gambling has always been to create an environment and an atmosphere as close to actual live casinos as possible. The reason is a simple one: most gamblers are simply crazy about the actual feel of live gambling establishments. Online casino software graphics have come a long way since their humble beginnings. Some however, won't settle for computer generated graphics. Some online casinos have gone as far as this chase for realism is ever likely to go: they've introduced live casino dealers, actual people who deal from actual decks of cards to online blackjack players.

In online casinos which feature such live dealers, players can clearly see not only the dealt cards, but also the decks used by the dealer. In the beginning, live dealers used regular-size cards for dealing, but it turned out players couldn't see the dealt cards clearly. The situation was remedied through the introduction of larger than regular cards.

Large online casinos feature regular blackjack as well as live dealer tables. Players can choose between the two variants. There can be as many as 20 live dealer tables, where new players can join those who already play there. The experience is indeed quite similar to a live casino.

Regardless of whether you play at a live dealer table or at a regular online blackjack one, you should always make sure that - like online poker props - you get the most out of the time you spend at the tables. Use basic strategy and apply for all the bonuses and loyalty deals for which you are eligible.