| Updated: September 18, 2025Microgaming’s Atlantic City Blackjack is one of the most popular versions of online blackjack, and it follows the typical rules of the game played in Atlantic City casinos. It is played with eight standard decks of 52 cards each, which are shuffled before every round.
Microgaming has released this game as part of its Classic and Gold Series, and the two versions are practically identical except for the design – the Gold version looks, of course, a bit more elegant and polished. Still, both games are based on the same rules and have the same RTP of 99.65%.
Rules and Gameplay
Atlantic City Blackjack by Microgaming is an American hole-card game that uses eight standard decks of cards. Normally, the dealer’s second card is dealt face-down, but the dealer may peek if the face-up card is an Ace or a 10-value card (10, J, Q, K). By rule, the dealer must hit until reaching 16 and stand on all 17s, which typically favors the player.
Once the initial cards are dealt, players can Hit, Stand, or Double their bet. Doubling is allowed only on the initial hand or after a split. Splitting is allowed on any pair (cards of the same denomination or value) up to three times – the only exception is aces, which can be split only once. In addition, only one card is dealt to each split ace, and both hands automatically stand.
Distinctive Features
Microgaming’s Atlantic City Blackjack does not differ much from the standard casino game. However, it features the Insurance side bet, which can be placed only when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. This wager equals half of the original stake and lets players “insure” themselves against a dealer blackjack. This side bet wins only if the dealer gets blackjack, offering a payout of 2:1.
Another interesting feature in this version of virtual blackjack is the Surrender rule – players can surrender and forfeit half of their bet if they believe they are likely to lose the round. In many blackjack variants, surrender isn’t available at all, but Microgaming has introduced the Late Surrender rule. This allows players to surrender their hand after the dealer has checked for blackjack.
Conclusion
Atlantic City Blackjack is a great casino game for players who are looking for a more traditional gaming experience. Because it is straightforward and features liberal rules, it is also suitable for beginners.