How to Play Blackjack Online in Malaysia with a Welcome Bonus

November 4, 2024 12:42 pm

Blackjack is a card game that has been familiar to the world since the 17th century. Its long history has garnered a huge fanbase and several variants over time. The basic idea of blackjack online is to beat the dealer and get a winning hand.

The early days of playing blackjack in land-based casinos transformed into blackjack game online in the early 1990s as people moved towards digitisation. 

Earlier, blackjack followed traditional rules and was played against a computerised dealer. Sooner than people thought, technology produced online live blackjack, where gamblers could play just like in a real casino with live video streaming. 

With virtual and augmented reality, blockchain, and artificial intelligence in the mix, the evolution continues at breakneck speed.

Online casinos today offer numerous blackjack games with different rules and versions. These include Classic Blackjack played with a single deck or eight-deck Lightning Blackjack, which rewards multipliers on top of regular payouts. 

The best part is that you can access real blackjack online games anywhere with an internet connection. People are no longer restricted by the limited hours of physical casinos. The accessibility of blackjack games on mobiles and tablets has greatly enhanced its popularity. 

Growing Popularity of Blackjack in Malaysia

The fast-moving lifestyle of Malaysians and smartphone culture welcomed online blackjack casinos operating in Malaysia with open arms. Several Malaysian punters play blackjack games as well as participate in blackjack tournaments in online casinos. 

Gambling is banned in Malaysia according to the Muslim Sharia Law. Similarly, The Betting Act of 1953 that applies to Chinese and Indian communities also restricts gambling; however, these laws are not appropriately enforced. And so you find many gambling lovers in Malaysia hoarding to register at international online casinos to play their favorite blackjack games. 

Blackjack, a skill-based game, seems to have struck a chord with Malaysians. It is a perfect mix of luck and strategy. It also offers players an opportunity for social interaction—a gap which live casinos have now managed to fill. 

Gambling is also promoted via influencers in Malaysia. Some notable influencers are Aileen Koh Ooi Leng, Hayatunnuffus Zakariya, Nurul Syifa Aliya Adanan, Nurazalina Mustafa, and Noor Shahnez Marzuani. 

Getting Started with Online Blackjack in Malaysia

With a huge number of online casinos on the market, choosing a reliable and legit site is often tough. Analysing the security protocols and legality of a casino is important before you start gambling.

Again, you would not mind extra money to bet on, and why not, when modern online casinos offer bonuses of all shapes and sizes to woo punters? However, you should always read the terms and conditions of these offers to claim fair deals only. 

Also, perform a general internet search on review sites to understand a casino site’s overall reputation and to learn about past players’ feedback. You can find out the casino’s responsiveness to payout requests and how the customer service staff responds to queries.

Most importantly, check out the blackjack online options and the entire game collection, and also note the software providers backing the platform. Watch out for known names like Evolution and Playtech that have produced many of the best-in-class blackjack games.

Dafabet is a promising online casino for Malaysians, considering a variety of casino games and bonuses for new and recurring players.

Here are the steps to create an account at Dafabet:

Step 1: Visit the Dafabet website

Step 2: Click the ‘Join Now’ button. 

Step 3: Fill out the form with your name, date of birth, username, and password and set a currency preference. Then click ‘Create Account’.

Step 4: Check your email and click ‘Go to Dafabet’ to verify your email.

How to Play Blackjack? Blackjack Betting Rules Explained

Understanding blackjack is not difficult, even though the terminology around it might sound overwhelming. We are here to clear the dust and give you precise and concise information to make the information easily digestible.

Most Blackjack games are played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards. However, not all games use a single deck, some blackjack variants use six or up to eight decks. 

The primary objective of blackjack is to beat the dealer with the best hand total, as per blackjack betting rules. The number of players on the blackjack table is not fixed. Some tables accept 5, 7, or 12 players seated on a semi-circular table. You will find most tables accepting seven players, even though that does not make a difference to your game, as you are only competing against the dealer in Blackjack online. 

Each blackjack table has a specific limit on bets, which ranges from $5 to $15,000.

Basic Blackjack Rules

To beat the dealer, your hand total should be as close as possible to 21. If you go over, you will bust or lose the game according to the blackjack rules. 

Coming to how to play blackjack? The game starts with the dealer and the players receiving two cards each. There are two broad blackjack variations, European and American Blackjack. 

In European Blackjack games, the dealer’s second hand is dealt face down, which is the Hole card. In American Blackjack variants, the dealer can peek at the hole card if their upcard is a 10-point card or an Ace to check if they have a blackjack; if not, the game proceeds as usual.

You will now strategise to improve your hand with the following decisions, which players must make before the dealer’s Hole card is revealed.

• Stand: If the hand is good, the player will stand, meaning they opt not to get additional cards.
• Hit: You make an additional stake to get more cards one by one until you Stand.
• Double Down: You get one more card by doubling your initial stake. Some games have lax Blackjack double down rules, and might let you double down at a a lower amount.
• Split: If you have a pair in your hand, that is, two cards of the same value, you can split them into two hands and get two more cards, of course, by increasing your stake. Splitting can be allowed for up to four hands, depending on the blackjack online variant you are playing. Per the blackjack split rules, some games won’t let you double down after split. 
• Surrender: If your hand does not compete, you can surrender and regain your stake. Some casino blackjack rules accept ‘Late Surrender,’ which lets players Surrender even after the hole card is revealed and after they have used some of the above strategies. If you exercise Surrender before the Hole card is shown, it is called ‘Early Surrender’.

After the players have improved their hands with the abovementioned strategies, the dealer reveals the Hole card. As per blackjack rules, the dealer can only use Stand or Hit to improve their hand. 

In the end, payouts are given if you beat the dealer. If there is a Push situation, the total point value of the dealer and the player is the same, you get your stake back. 

Understanding Blackjack Hands

Each card in the deck is assigned a specific value based on which blackjack online hand rankings are decided. Here are the blackjack card game rules for counting the point value of a hand.

• A: 1 or 11
• J, Q, K: 10 points each
• 2-10: Counted at their face value

The point value of all the cards, except Aces, is straightforward. The blackjack ace rules are a little different. The value of an ace depends on what is beneficial for the hand to make a total of 21. That is why any hand that involves an ace is called a Soft Hand. 

A Soft 17 Hand in blackjack game is popular as some game variants allow the dealer to use ‘Hit’ on Soft 17, while some do not. 

A Blackjack means a total of 21, which can be made with two face cards and an ace or just with an ace or point 10 value card (when the Ace is counted for 11 points). 

According to the blackjack 21 rules, a blackjack hand is always the winner unless the dealer and the player have blackjack, a ‘Push’ situation in which the player’s stakes are returned. However, in games like Spanish 21, a player’s blackjack outranks a dealer’s blackjack and is not considered a Push; instead, the player wins.

In some games, you can also make an Insurance bet against the dealer’s blackjack, often recommended only to professional blackjack online players.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Playing Online Blackjack

Let us check out some quick blackjack rules regarding mistakes you should avoid when playing. 

• Hitting on Soft17 is often not recommended, as you are likelier to bust.
• Placing an insurance bet is not wiser as the probability of error is huge.
• Doubling too often is often not cost-effective for the stakes you must put in.
• Splitting 10s, 5s, or 4s, as these hands are more likely to win against the dealer without splitting.
• Blackjack betting online on a 6:5 payout variant instead of the standard 3:2 compromises your win amount.

8 Types of Blackjack 

The long history and the players’ enjoying variations have led to different blackjack games being created over time. Some use different numbers of decks and rules, such as the decisions players can make and how the hole card is dealt. Below, you can find the popular types of blackjack games:

• Spanish 21: This blackjack game is played with 48 cards instead of the standard 52 with 10s removed. Due to the reduced possibility of blackjack without the 10s, the rules of this blackjack online game are quite flexible. The British variant of this Blackjack game is known as Pontoon Blackjack and uses a slightly different terminology.
• Classic Blackjack: The game follows standard blackjack rules, except the dealer can peek at the hole card to check blackjack. Here, you can split all 10-value cards, ie. J and Q can be split since they have a point value 10. 
• European Blackjack: In European blackjack, you cannot peek at the Hole card. The dealer must hit on a total of 16, and the players cannot split different Point 10 value cards.
• Progressive Blackjack: In a progressive blackjack game, a separate side bet, usually under $1, is made toward the common jackpot pool. A specific combination of cards will trigger the jackpot prize. A progressive jackpot can be linked to an American or European blackjack game, and the rules vary accordingly. 
• Double Exposure Blackjack: In this blackjack variant, both the dealer’s cards, the upcard, as well as the hole card, are dealt face up. It gives players a better opportunity to win, and so it comes with relatively tougher rules. The dealer wins in case of a tie, except if it is a blackjack tie, and draws on 16. Also, blackjack does not count in a hand made after splitting, involving an ace card.

• Perfect Pairs Blackjack: This American blackjack version involves a side bet on the players getting a pair in their first two cards. It could be a perfect pair (same suit and value card), a coloured pair, or a mixed pair (same card of different suits). Sometimes, this game comes with a 21+3 bet, that is, betting on a poker hand with the dealer’s upcard and players’ initial two cards.
• Blackjack Switch: In this American blackjack game, you will play blackjack online with two hands. The players can switch the second card of the two hands to improve their total, but the bet on the two hands should be identical. The dealer’s 22 pushes all the players’ hands except a blackjack hand.

Blackjack Variants/Features	Spanish 21	Classic/American Blackjack	European Blackjack	Progressive Blackjack	Double Exposure Blackjack	Perfect Pairs Blackjack	Blackjack Switch
Decks	6, 8 (without 10s)	1, 2, 4, 6, and 8	2	4	6	1, 2, 4, 6, 8	6, 8
Dealer Soft 17 Rule	Can Stand or Hit	Can Stand or Hit	Stand on Soft17	Can Stand or Hit	Stand on 17	Stand on 17	Hit on Soft 17
Blackjack Payout	3:2	3:2 or 6:5	3:2	3:2	1:1	3:2	1:1
Player’s 21 Against Dealer’s 21	Win	Push	Push	Push	Push	Push	Win
Doubling Down	Sometimes Allowed	Only after the initial two-card hand	Only on 9, 10, and 11 total	Only on 9, 10, and 11 total	Only on 9, 10, and 11 total	Only after the initial two-card hand	Always Allowed
Double Down After Split	Always Allowed	Mostly allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Allowed	Always Allowed
Late Surrender	Always Allowed	Allowed sometimes	Not allowed	Allowed sometimes	Not allowed	Allowed sometimes	Always Allowed
Splitting Pairs	Up to 4 hands (including Aces)	Up to 3-4 hands (No Aces can be split)	Once	Not allowed	Once	Once (no aces)	Up to 4 hands (including Aces)
Insurance	2:1	2:1	2:1	2:1	N/A	2:1	2:1

Effective Blackjack Strategies: Comprehensive Strategy Chart 

Beginner Blackjack Strategies

A starting hand that is either blackjack or easily gets you to a blackjack total is lovely. Some great starting hands in an ascending order and the related online blackjack strategy are:

• 21 or Blackjack
• Soft 18 (A and 7) versus a 7 upcard: You should Double Down this hand according to the best blackjack strategy card. 
• Hard 11 against the dealer’s 6 upcard: Again, you should Double Down this hand.
• Hard 20 against dealer’s 8: Stand is a good blackjack betting strategy.
• Soft 20 (A and 9) against dealer’s 8: It is better to Stand with such a hand.

Also, some players believe your order of the seat on the table impacts your gameplay, while many do not believe this to be true. The person sitting opposite at the first place to the right of the dealer is called the first base, while the person on the last on the left is the third base. 

As per the blackjack strategy table, Card counters prefer third base to have enough time to perform their calculations before their chance. The position in the center is called the Shortstop and is preferred by beginners. We will discuss card counting in blackjack online in the following paragraphs.

You should always follow the blackjack basic strategy to have a better chance of winning. Despite your game outcomes, ensure you play with a fixed bankroll.

Blackjack Strategy Chart

Intermediate Blackjack Strategies

Bluffing is a technique through which players bet in such a way that indicates they have a better hand than they actually do. A more calculated way to bluff is to semi-bluff, where you at least have a chance to win the pot with your chosen strategy. You should analyse the pot odds for a better chance at semi-bluffing. You should bluff in the following three scenarios:

• When your opponents are trying to read your strategy
• To add unpredictability to the game, especially when your opponents are counting cards.
• When you wish to change the game’s pace

Advanced Blackjack Strategies

Players can use strategies like card counting, where they try to estimate the number of high-value cards in the deck and the probability of the dealer getting the blackjack. In multi-deck blackjack online games, players maintain a running count instead of a true count of cards to adjust the probability. However, not all casinos allow card counting.

Other advanced betting strategies revolve around assigning a pattern to your stakes in the game. Among the two popular of these meta-game strategies are:

• Martingale System: In this system, you will double your bet after a loss. If a win comes later, you might recoup the losses you have suffered. 
• D’Alembert System: A more sustainable way to bet is to increase your bet after a loss only by a fixed amount. In case of a win, you will decrease your stake by the same amount.
• Oscar’s Grind: In this strategy, you keep the bet the same until you lose and double it in case of a win. 
• 1, 2, 3, 5: This strategy involves betting according to the Fibonacci sequence. After a losing bet, the player increases the stake in that order. In case of a win, you move two spaces down.

Online-Specific Blackjack Strategies

While the basic blackjack strategy guide remains the same across different blackjack formats, there are subtle differences between online and live blackjack. 

For example, card counting is only possible in live blackjack and is not practical in virtual or online blackjack. 

Also, you should know that Blackjack online free mode is only available in virtual blackjack. You cannot practice blackjack online in a live casino. 

However, you can use Blackjack software to practice card counting and run simulations in live blackjack. This allows you to practice your strategy, learn from your mistakes, and increase your chances of winning.

An interesting part of playing Blackjack is that you can also play on more than one blackjack table simultaneously. This balances out your odds, but you must play fast and make quick decisions. 

Exploring Dafabet Blackjack Platform: Features, Bonuses, and More

Dafabet is the best blackjack gaming platform for Malaysians. It offers a welcome bonus to new players who make their first deposit immediately after signing up. Let’s delve deeper into its features. 

Bonuses and Promotions at Dafabet

Malaysian players get 160% up to RM 480 when joining the Dafabet platform. This can be considered an online blackjack bonus, as you can use the bonus money to play any blackjack game on this platform.

Players can also receive daily free spins, a 10% weekly deposit bonus, a first-day refund bonus, 10% cashback in the first week, and a free chip no-deposit bonus after signing up.

The site also offers a 4-level VIP program that rewards players between 5-15% cashback depending on their level in the program.

Registering and Competing

If you have already signed up at Dafabet, the process to start a blackjack online game at Dafabet is quite simple. Here is how:

1.Login to the platform. Enter username and password on the top and click ‘Log In’.

2. Click ‘Cashier’ and then ‘Deposit.

3. Pick a ‘Deposit’ option, enter amount, and place your request.

4. Check the table games in the ‘Casino’ section. 

5. Pick a preferred game, say ‘Perfect Blackjack’.

6. Click ‘Play Now’ to launch it.

7. Click on the ‘+’ icon against the Chip. It will open up the chip denominations. The minimum bet is MYR 1.25 and the maximum is MYR500.

8. Select a betting area on any of the circles, and drag the chip according to your desired bet amount. If you wish to make the dealer’s Perfect Pair side bet or on your own cards, you must select the area, and place the chips. Click ‘Deal’. 

9. Pick your strategy. If the dealer’s upcard is Ace, you also have the option of insurance, your balance gets deducted according to your decision. The dealer reveals the face down card, and if you are closer to 21 than the dealer, you will win the bet. You can place a withdrawal request from the ‘Cashier’ section.

Depositing Funds and Payment Options

Players from Malaysia can access various payment options to deposit to play real blackjack online real money at Dafabet. These include a local bank transfer, PurplePay VISA/Mastercard, Payz, AstroPay, Bitcoin, Tether, and other cryptocurrencies. 

Though all the available modes are secure, cryptocurrency is best for quick and anonymous transactions without sharing personal bank account details. E-wallets like AstroPay and Payz also offer instant withdrawals, but you must link them to your mobile number or email ID. 

If you use a traditional bank transfer, you should expect a slight delay in your fund processing.

Mobile Blackjack in Malaysia: Play Anytime, Anywhere

Playing blackjack on mobile is safe and easy in Malaysia, with casinos like Dafabet offering a mobile-optimised website. Mobile play is similar to playing on a desktop device, with the added convenience of playing whenever you like.

You can also play blackjack games online on dedicated mobile applications that can be downloaded on the latest Android and iOS devices and accessed on the go. These offer legal online blackjack, as most casinos have renowned licenses from international gambling authorities that are also valid on mobile sites and applications. 

However, mobile applications consume space on your device. Also, some apps might have low response time and compromise on the game variety you have on the desktop. With desktop play, even though there is no such limitation, you must stick to a particular location to enjoy your blackjack game. 

Competing in Online Blackjack Tournaments 

Players can also play blackjack in tournaments where they will compete against all the other players of the tournament to win. The idea is to win as many chips defeating the other players. These involve multiple rounds of play each with a certain number of hands. The winner receives the biggest prize and other top players receive smaller shares. 

Here is how you can enter these tournaments:

1. Enter the tournament from the online casino and exchange your cash for chips.
2. Match the initial bet placed by your competitor.
3. Once you receive your cards, take your strategy decision.
4. Wait for the result. Check if you qualified for the next round.
5. After other players are eliminated, a final winner is declared. 

Tips to participate in tournaments:

• Check the tournament rules.
• Go after short term wins.
• Go ‘all in’ with your chips rather than placing them in strings.
• Learn to decide and play quickly

Different Types of Online Blackjack Tournaments

There are various types of Blackjack online tournaments. Let us understand what these are and how they work.

• Sit & Go: These are conducted at lightning speed. Players sit, and as soon as the table is full, the game starts, and you must knock your opponents out quickly.

• Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs): You enter these tournaments with a particular entry fee and try to collect as many chips as possible by beating all the other players on different tables. 
• Freerolls: This type of tournament does not involve an entry fee, but it yields real money prizes.

If you are all set to pick a blackjack online game, join Dafabet today and test what luck has in store. Let us warn you there are inherent risks in gambling and you should always take stock of your money and time while playing. We urge you to gamble responsibly and within limits.