Besides the 3 am poutine in La Banguise or bagels at St-Viateur Bagel, Montreal has a lot more to offer: real-money blackjack gambling. And when summer heat rises, so does the action at the felt tables. So, regardless of your experience with the game, this summer is shaping up to be one of the boldest seasons for blackjack lovers in the city.
The beauty is how several factors intertwine to make for an engaging experience. Beyond just the normal glimmer of casino lights, the river breeze on Ile Notre-Dame, the soft shuffle of eight-deck shoes and the immersive live tables ensure your experience is memorable.
And thanks to online platforms, you can still engage in blackjack from anywhere. There are numerous real money online casinos that ensure you can move fluidly between physical and digital tables. This keeps the adrenaline flowing, whether you’re inside Casino de Montreal or lounging on a rooftop terrace in Old Port.
Some Notions of the Game
The first step to getting started in blackjack gaming is taking a seat at the table. You can easily identify the tables by their green playing surface. After that, find a spot that isn’t already occupied and start to place your initial bet. Remember to never hand your money to the dealer; place it on the table.
The dealer will then convert your cash into value chips, which you can place in the designated betting area on the table before the first card is dealt. After this point, you cannot change, remove or add to your initial bet. Be sure to stick to the table’s posted minimum and maximum limits.
For beginners, Aces can count as either 1 or 11, face cards count as 10 and all other cards carry the face value. A ‘blackjack’ happens when your first two cards are an Ace paired with a 10, marking a perfect 21, the highest possible hand in this game.
Being the only one allowed to handle them, the dealer deals the cards from a shoe. And while the dealer deals one card face up and keeps the other face down, each player receives two cards face up. Thankfully, card counting is legal in Quebec. You can technically count cards at the table without being tossed out, like in other regions where this is considered illegal. But since this strategy helps players gain an edge over the house, a good number of casinos often frown upon it.
Where to Play
In Montreal, you’ll find the largest casino in Canada, Casino de Montreal, which is situated on Notre Dame Island. It has two former Expo 67 pavilion buildings and is usually open to the public every day of the week.
To access it, consider using the De la Concorde Bridge through Cité de Havre or the Jean Drapeau Metro Station. But now that some sources claim the casino has closed its blackjack tables, you may want to stay connected just in case things change in the next few days.
And for blackjack lovers who may want to try other forms of entertainment, this destination has numerous options. In fact, during this summer, the 21-metre multimedia wall at the Valet Bar will light up your evening with guest artist performances as follows:
- Every Thursday evening from 5 pm to midnight
- Friday and Saturday (3 pm to 3 am)
- Sunday (4 pm until midnight)
Other Places to Follow the Action: Casino du Lac-Leamy
Just about 200km from Montreal, you’ll find this popular destination that was opened in early 1996. It’s also designed to serve the nearby city of Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. The hotel has over 65 tables, of which blackjack is one of them. Thankfully, when you visit the destination, you’ll find many other entertainment opportunities besides blackjack to make your experience more engaging.
For instance, there is a 1,100-seat theatre which has hosted several electrifying music performances in the past. Visiting the casino when there are ongoing music concerts can also ensure you have something extra to enjoy besides the cards. During this summer, popular bands like LoveU2 are set to fill the air with their high-energy performances and interpretations of U2’s greatest hits – something you don’t want to miss.
But What if the Tables are Full?
As packed and exciting as the casino floor can be, there are times, especially on weekends, when waiting for a seat feels like lining up for a sold-out concert. That is where online casinos swoop in to save the day. Thanks to their convenience, you can access them from your hotel room, Airbnb balcony or even during a long Uber ride.
This convenience, which many modern shoppers love, is actually one reason why online casinos are popular in this region. Did you know that, according to alphabridge.co, more than seven in ten customers often consider it an important factor when transacting? This is no different in the gambling industry, where convenient access to entertainment is a thing.
Beyond convenience, many of these platforms have made it possible to access more realistic blackjack experiences, even remotely. You can now log in and instantly enjoy a real table with a real dealer in live dealer blackjack games and place bets in Canadian dollars from your phone or laptop.
Considering all these options, you don’t want to miss out on Montreal’s blackjack vibe this summer. Whether you’re doubling down under the soft lights of Casino de Montreal or betting from your phone at W Fort Lauderdale, just know that the cards are in the air.
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