Hardly there is another card game, which is as popular as blackjack is, and so much so that it is now an inseparable part of the portfolios of brick-and-mortar and virtual casinos. The card game has turned into a casino mainstay for a variety of reasons, and its relatively straightforward rules and action-packed gameplay is what keep most players glued to the blackjack tables. The low house edge and the opportunity to reduce it to a minimum is what further adds up to the appeal of the card classic.
Even though the origins of the game are still subject of a heated debate, most experts consider that the game was introduced back in the 1700s. Considering how long the blackjack’s history is, it makes sense that an array of variants of the classic were designed. Atlantic City Blackjack is among the most sought-after versions of table game that continue to hold the attention of gambling enthusiasts from all corners of the globe even today.
The game took off all the more recently, and the number of software developers that add variants of the card classic to their gaming suites is heavily on the rise. Let’s take a closer look at the rules of this variant of the card classic and some of the options players will have when they want to enjoy it over the Internet.
Rules and Fundamental Principles of Atlantic City Blackjack
It is hardly a surprise that Atlantic City Blackjack is so immensely popular among players as no other variant of the card classic offers as player-friendly rules as this one. The aim of the game, as well as the way cards are valued are exactly the same as with the rest of the variants of the card game available out there. Once again, gambling enthusiasts pit against the dealer, and the objective is to get as close to 21 as possible without exceeding this total.
Players who are looking to come to grips with Atlantic City Blackjack should bear in mind that initially, the dealer will get a face-down (hole card) and face-up card. Still, what sets Atlantic City Blackjack apart from the rest of the variants of the table game is that the dealer is allowed to “peek” at his/her cards. Needless to say, this works to the edge of players because if the dealer has a blackjack, they will only lose the amount they have initially staked, and will not lose money on feature bets.
While discussing the distinct features of Atlantic City Blackjack, we should also point out that eight standard decks (52 cards) are normally used. That being said, the game has a number of subtleties players should fully understand before they start making real-money bets.
Doubling Down in Atlantic City Blackjack 
Splitting in Atlantic City Blackjack 
Late Surrender and Insurance Bet in Atlantic City Blackjack 
Dealer Standing Rules in Atlantic City Blackjack Doubling Down in Atlantic City Blackjack
The rules of Atlantic City Blackjack are far more advantageous to players when compared to other versions of the card classic, and the option to double down on just about any hand total goes to show this beyond doubt. Besides, the option to double down is available also after players have split their hand, which is yet another beneficial rule to them. Still, they should bear in mind that doubling down can only be done on players’ initial hand.
This is not the case in European Blackjack, where players will be allowed to resort to the double down option only if the total of their hand is 9 through 11. In some casinos, the rules are even stricter, and to opt for the double down option, the total of players’ hands should be 10 or 11.
Splitting in Atlantic City Blackjack
When it comes to splitting pairs, players will certainly appreciate how relaxed the rules of Atlantic City Blackjack are. As they play, gambling enthusiasts can take advantage of the split option up to three times, which is to say that no more than four hands can be in play at the same time. One of the best things about such blackjack variants is that gambling enthusiasts can use the split option on just about any two cards if they have the same face value. Yet, it is important to note that this will not be the case when you want to split Aces, and doing so cannot be done more than once.
Something to bear in mind if you have chosen to enjoy such a blackjack variant and you have split ten-valued cards and you are dealt an Ace, your hand’s total will be 21, but this will not be considered a blackjack. When you split Aces, you will only get one extra card per Ace.
Of course, gambling enthusiasts should not forget that the rules might vary from one version of the card classic to another, and for this reason, they should not forget to closely examine its ruleset.
Late Surrender and Insurance Bet in Atlantic City Blackjack
Normally, Atlantic City Blackjack variants allow players to benefit from the late surrender option, which lessens the house advantage further. What this means is that gambling enthusiasts will only be allowed to give up their hand if the face-up card of the dealer is a ten-valued one or an Ace and he/she has already checked for a blackjack. If such is the case, the round will end right off.
Yet, overusing the surrender rule is easily something to avoid, and contrary to what many players consider, taking advantage of this option does not improve their chances of getting additional payouts. Instead, they should be rather cautious with it in order to make sure that they will not throw away good hands.
Players should consider going for the surrender rule when they are dealt a hard 16 while the hand of the dealer has a total 9 through 11. Another case in which using the surrender rule might be a good idea is when your hand’s total is 15, while the dealer is showing 10.
Yet, it turns out that this was not the case when the Atlantic City Blackjack variant first appeared, as back then, players were allowed to take advantage of the early surrender option. This is no longer the case, and presently, casinos only allow players to surrender their hand after the dealer checks his/her hole card. It goes without saying that the early surrender option is much more advantageous for players, which goes to explain why it is rarely found.
Dealer Standing Rules in Atlantic City Blackjack
One of the most essential specifications of such games avid casino fans should be mindful of is that the dealer is required to invariably stand on soft 17s. For starters, soft hands are such in which an Ace is dealt, and its value can be either 1 or 11. Needless to say, the opportunity to adjust the value of the hand players are dealt is something to look after as it effectively lessens the house edge.
As we mentioned already, the fact that the dealer peeks to check for a natural is also beneficial for players due to the fact that if this is the case, the round will end, and they will not incur any further losses.
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- Multi Hand Blackjack
- Blackjack: Introduction to the World’s Most Popular Casino Game
- How to Play Blackjack
- Blackjack Hands
- Blackjack: The Good and the Bad Rules
- Mathematics of Blackjack
- Blackjack Strategy: The Best Way to Win Consistently
- Blackjack Side Bets
- Blackjack Variations
- Blackjack: Tips for Beginners
- Advantage Play in Blackjack
- How to Count Cards at the Blackjack Table
- Money Management in Blackjack
- Edward Thorpe and the Ten Count System
- The Zen Count System
- The Advanced Omega II Card Counting System
- The Uston SS Card Counting System
- The Ace/5 Card Counting System
- The Knock Out Card Counting System
- The Red 7 Card Counting System
- The Wong Halves System for Card Counting
- Choosing the Best Blackjack Game Online
- How to Play Live Dealer Blackjack
- Microgaming Blackjack
- RTG Blackjack
- NetEnt Blackjack
- Mobile Blackjack Apps
House Edge and RTP of Atlantic City Blackjack
The above-mentioned rules might vary a bit from one blackjack variant to another, and as you might already know, these changes will also have an impact on the house edge, and the profit players should expect to get.
House Edge for Odds of 6 to 5 
House Edge for Odds of 3 to 2 
Rules That Decrease the House Edge House Edge for Odds of 6 to 5
Please note that the house edge will jump significantly if the rate at which the house pays is not 3 to 2 but 6 to 5. When players join a blackjack table where the offered payout is 6 to 5, this should serve as a red flag that the profit they should expect to get will be smaller.
House Edge for Odds of 3 to 2
Thus, if we assume that the blackjack variant you have chosen to give a shot offers a regular payout of 3 to 2 and you have placed a winning bet of $5, this means that you will collect a payout of $7.5. Still, this will not be the case if the offered payout is 6 to 5, as the payout gains players will collect for blackjack will be worth $6. In spite of the fact that the difference in the profit gains might seem negligible at first, gambling enthusiasts should bear in mind that it will become more pronounced over the long term.
Rules That Decrease the House Edge
The low house edge is easily what makes Atlantic City Blackjack variants instant attention-grabbers as if the house edge in regular variants of the card classic is around 0.5%, variants of this kind are even more advantageous for players.
If properly used, the late surrender option can help players reduce the house edge by 0.07%. Re-splitting Aces is also an option gambling enthusiasts can make use of, and if they decide to do so, the house edge will dwindle by 0.08%.
Still, it should be pointed out that the decrease in the house edge this rule results in is outweighed by the rule, which allows gambling enthusiasts to re-split their hands to a total of three hands, and which helps the house build its advantage by 0.01%.
As we said already, according to the ruleset of Atlantic City Blackjack variants, the dealer is required to stand of soft 17s, and this way, the house edge is reduced by another 0.22%. The opportunity to double down, no matter the total of their hand gives players an edge of around 0.25%, while the rule, which allows them to double down after they have split their hands gives players an edge of 0.17%.
Given that the Atlantic City Blackjack variant players have chosen sticks to the rules we specified already, the house edge will be around 0.39%. Of course, this might not always be the case as the ruleset might differ slightly from one casino to another, for which reason the first thing players need to do before they start placing real-money bets is to check the peculiarities of the preferred blackjack variant.
Best Atlantic City Blackjack Variants to Enjoy Online
Blackjack is an inseparable part of most software providers’ gaming suites these days, which makes it possible for players to enjoy a number of variants that offer attention-grabbing twists. This is exactly the case with the versions of the card classic we will focus on now.
Atlantic City Blackjack by Red Rake 
Atlantic City Blackjack Gold by Microgaming
Multi-Hand Atlantic City Blackjack by Microgaming 
Atlantic City Blackjack by Cryptologic 
Atlantic City Blackjack by iSoftBet Atlantic City Blackjack by Red Rake
Red Rake is a software provider, which is celebrated not only for the slots it creates but also for the table classics, and their take on Atlantic City Blackjack is easily worth checking. It is a multi-hand blackjack version, and giving it a try means that players can bet on up to four hands at the same time. It is important to note that the game is played using eight standard decks, and they will be re-shuffled prior to every round.
The look of this game indeed impresses, while the background sound will almost certainly make players forget that they are placing their bets through their computer. There is nothing extraordinary about the payouts players will be awarded as they place their bets or when the total of the dealer’s hand is 17 as in such cases, he/she cannot make more moves. As for the other options, blackjack aficionados are allowed to double down no matter the total of their hand and even after using the split option.
The creators of gaming content from Red Rake have chosen to add an extra thrill to the card classic, and have equipped it with the 21+3 side bet. Based on the cards of the first hand, the highest payout gambling enthusiasts can get is 100 to 1. Finally, before players give Red Rake’s Atlantic City Blackjack a shot, they should consider that its RTP is 99.54%.
Atlantic City Blackjack Gold by Microgaming
Microgaming is one of the best-known creators of table and card classics, and its portfolio comprises a plethora of blackjack variants. The game-making studio has come up with several Atlantic City Blackjack variants, and the one from its Gold Series is indeed one of the worthwhile options available out there. The offered payouts, as well as the dealer’s standing rules are exactly what players might expect from most other Atlantic City Blackjack versions online casinos offer.
That being said, the realistic design of the table and its elegant and sleek look draw the attention of avid casino fans right away. As for the rules, while playing Microgaming’s Atlantic City Blackjack Gold, gambling enthusiasts can make use of the surrender rule on their first two cards and given that the dealer does not have a blackjack. In spite of the fact that they are allowed to double down after a split, players should remember that they can use this option only on their first two cards.
Splitting is an option blackjack fans can take advantage of if they are dealt cards of the same denomination or value. Please note that gambling enthusiasts can use the split option up to three times in a row, and thus to end up with four hands at the same time. When they go for splitting Aces, however, they will get one extra card per Ace.
With this version of Atlantic City Blackjack, players can make use of the insurance bet if the face-up card of the dealer is an Ace.
Multi-Hand Atlantic City Blackjack by Microgaming
Microgaming’s Multi-Hand Atlantic City Blackjack is a variant of the card classic, which allows players to pick and choose from a number of chip denominations and decide if they wish to play one, two, three, four, or five hands at the same time. The game catches the eye with its crystal-clear visuals and smooth graphics, which is only natural, considering which gaming studio stands behind its creation.
As they take a closer look at the ruleset of this game, players will notice that the dealer needs to stand on all 17s. The number of decks used in this game is eight, while its RTP runs into 99.65%.
The split rules of this game are unlikely to surprise players as while Aces can be split only once, cards that have the same value or denomination can be split up to three times, which means that ultimately, there will be four hands on the table.
The double down option becomes active as soon as players have opted for a split or on the two cards they were dealt at the beginning of a new round. If the face-up card of the dealer is an Ace, gambling enthusiasts will be offered the opportunity to make an insurance bet, which pays at odds of 2 to 1 and does not cover any further hands.
If they wish, players can use the surrender option, but this will be possible only if they are not dealt any extra cards and the dealer does not have a blackjack.
Atlantic City Blackjack by Cryptologic
Cryptologic is one more software provider, which has given its best to respond to the preferences of fans of the card classic, especially those who are taken with the Atlantic City style. The game interface is easily user-friendly, and players are offered the chance to customize it in order to make sure that their betting session will be enjoyable. The game relies on eight standard decks, but what more experienced players might be pleased to find out is that they can bet on up to five hands at the same time.
What players will easily enjoy about this version of the card classic is that double downs are not restricted, and the option is available even after a split. Just like the above-mentioned variants of the card classic, the one which is sourced from the gaming suite of Cryptologic allows using the split option on any two cards, and even after players have split the hand they were dealt.
It can safely be said that the splitting rules are what make the creations of the provider stand out from the crowd as players can use the option just once. Fortunately for players, they will not be prevented from splitting the ten-valued cards.
If players do not think that their hand will bring them a payout, they can give up on it, but this will only be possible if the dealer has already checked for a blackjack.
Atlantic City Blackjack by iSoftBet
Atlantic City Blackjack by iSoftBet is also an option avid casino fans might be eager to explore because of its true-to-life visuals and intuitive design, which works equally well across all devices. This is blackjack variant players are most likely to be hooked on because of its authentic gameplay and low house edge.
The provider has equipped the game with eight standard decks and is equally appealing for players, no matter their bankroll, because of the wide array of chip denominations they are offered a choice from.
One rule of this blackjack variant players should be mindful of is that the dealer is required to stand on all 17s, but also needs to draw to 16. The surrender button becomes active on players’ first two cards but not if the dealer has a blackjack. The insurance bet, on the other hand, becomes active if the face-up card of the dealer is an Ace.
If they are about to split their hand, players should remember that they can play with up to four hands at the same time. Still, this rule does not apply to splitting Aces, which is possible only once.