Tag Archives: virtual reality

000, Blackjack, Online Gambling

The Future of Blackjack is Now!

Leave a comment

By Joshua Maddox

If you walk out on the high street and ask the average Joe to name a popular card game, you can bet that one of the top answers will be Blackjack. And whilst many of those people will know the basic rules of trying to make 21, what they may not know is how far the game has come in this modern age. Many people think of the typical basic card game played in casinos or between friends. But there have been so many developments over the years.

We’re not just talking about the fact it can now be played online, or within video games such as Fallout: New Vegas, it’s the fact there are so many varieties now. There are hundreds of different variations all with their own rules and features, such as European Blackjack which is played with fewer decks and doesn’t allow the dealer to check if they have Blackjack. Then you have other forms like Face Up 21, where the dealer’s hand is shown straight away, giving players better insight.

But new variations of the classic game isn’t all that’s new, there have been recent technological advances to help how people play too. First it started by bringing Blackjack to online casinos, then those same websites introduced live Blackjack as an alternative, where you have a live dealer involved, rather than it all being computer generated. It was a great way to imitate being in a live casino, which was especially welcome during the lock-downs that were introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

But that also brought forward another development within the world of Blackjack, to further enhance that experience of being in a casino. A development many didn’t think would arrive for a few years, but the future is happening now. We are of course talking about virtual reality (VR) blackjack, an experience like no other. It’s no longer just about playing with a live dealer, you can also sit at a table with other people, and look around your surroundings as if you were actually there.

Virtual Casino

Sadly, they are yet to introduce a waiter/waitress service for someone to bring you drinks and snacks whilst you play. But there are always food delivery services for that, or if you have a partner or friend you live with who treats you like the king or queen that you are, then you can get them to fetch all the goodies whilst you focus on playing virtual reality Blackjack.

And here are some worthwhile titles worth checking out:

Blackjack Bailey VR

Whilst this isn’t one of the best VR titles out there, it is great for perfecting your betting strategy, because this isn’t a title on a live casino. Instead, Blackjack Bailey VR which is developed and published by iCandy Games, is a title you can find on both the Steam platform, and on the Oculus Store, and doesn’t require real money to play. Instead, you’re stuck in an animated casino with an animated dealer who is controlled by a computer AI. This allows you to get to grips with the rules of the games, and get some practice in before you start playing for money.

Blackjack VR

If you don’t have one of the fancy VR headsets though, don’t worry. You can buy special headsets that help turn your compatible smartphone into one. Then you can head over to the Google Play Store to buy this title, which is actually a lot more realistic than the one above. It is still animated, and doesn’t take place in a live casino, but the graphics are more tuned to a real life casino, rather than appearing quite childish. Another top title to get some practice in.

Virtual Casino Blackjack

PokerStars VR

PokerStars are a name you may well have heard of since they operate as an online betting company. And whilst the title does suggest that this is a poker game, it also has multiple other games to play as well. You get to create your own avatar to sit at the table and play with other real people online. Amongst the additional games to play are Blackjack and Slots. But what makes PokerStars VR one of the best of the bunch is its social aspects and being able to interact with other people at your table.

Slots Million

If you’re looking to get a little more serious, one of the biggest and best places that offer virtual reality Blackjack are Slots Million, who actually set up the very first online VR Casino for real money. And their software is incredibly impressive. You can walk around their digital casino, pass the bar and to the slot machines, or take a stroll over to the tables to place some bets. It’s the closest you’ll get to being in the real thing. You won’t be able to play this one on your phone though, it does require a proper VR headset and a PC capable enough to run it. But once you have all that, you’re in for one hell of a time.

And there you have it, not just the reasons for why the future of Blackjack is already here, but some of the best games you can check out too. Only time will tell what the future holds now, but don’t be surprised if before long, we’re using VR equipment to control robots in real casinos so it’s as real as it gets without being there in person. That may be getting a little ahead of our time though, but it would be one impressive experience if it were to become reality.

BLOG MENU

000, Blackjack

Modern Day Blackjack Developers Should Remember Atlantic City Blackjack When Marketing Their New offerings

Leave a comment

Playing BlackjackBy Anna Lucas

The game of blackjack is evolving, whether traditionalists care to believe it or not. It has had to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the internet gambling scene and is competing with other highly progressive games such as slots when it comes to attracting players. When developers come up with innovative ways of playing the game, they need to bring in as many players as possible. Looking back in history will give game creators some good ideas about how to market their original offerings, with the introduction of Atlantic City blackjack in 1978 being a landmark event in the timeline of the card game.

What is Atlantic City Blackjack?

Atlantic City has long been one of only a few places in the USA in which gambling was legal. But the New Jersey city didn’t earn that status until the late 1970s, which was way after Las Vegas had boomed in popularity and become a major gambling hub. Blackjack had been played in the Nevada city for decades, and the best players in the world would flock there for the most prestigious games.

When casinos first opened in Atlantic City, owners knew they had to do something different to attract customers and encourage them to play. They opted to freshen up the rules of blackjack and offer their own variant of the game. This helped to give them their own identity as well and set casinos in Atlantic City apart from those found in Vegas.

Casino owners decided to introduce a liberal new rule called the early surrender. It meant that players could cut their losses when they had a bad hand and improve their chances of making returns overall. When blackjack first got its name, casino owners had done something similar. They offered much-improved odds on hands that consisted of blackjack and a black ace. Neither this rule nor the early surrender rule in Atlantic City lasted long, but they both served their purpose of alluring players to the tables.

Now one of the Most Popular Variants

Despite dropping the early surrender feature, casinos in Atlantic City decided to tweak the rule set slightly so that their offering still had a unique identity. Some of the different rules include dealers having to stand on a soft 17, and dealers being able to peek at their hole card and reveal a blackjack if they have it.

These minor rule changes are favored by players because they save money from unsuccessful splits and double downs.1)In many European casinos, the dealer waits to take a hole-card until after the players have played out their hands.  This has the unfortunate effect of players losing on their double downs and splits if the dealer reveals a blackjack. The fact that the Atlantic City version is so prevalent at online casinos shows how it is now nearly as famous as the Las Vegas variant. Players usually have a few Atlantic City options to choose from, with games like Atlantic City Blackjack Gold Series and Atlantic City Multi-Hand being standout offerings. These games were created by Microgaming, a company with a rich history of producing top-quality content for the online casino industry.

VR Blackjack Could Use a New Rule Set

With virtual reality expected to be worth $12.2 billion by 2024, it is reasonable to assume that the technology will permeate the online casino industry. Indeed, Microgaming has already developed a VR Roulette offering, and developers like NetEnt have been working on VR slots. VR will likely become a bigger feature of online casinos when the hardware goes mainstream and is more accessible for the end-user. At this point in time, there is no doubt that blackjack will get a VR makeover. This is because it is one of the most popular casino games ever, and it has always adapted to changes.

When VR blackjack first comes about, it could help if developers and operators offer an exciting new rule set to get players interested in the beginning. This could come in the form of providing improved odds, and it could act to encourage more people to buy into VR.

Judging by how famous Atlantic City blackjack is today, it was a wise move of casino owners in the late 1970s to offer their own rules. Operators in the modern age should learn from this as they release advanced variants. It could help the VR industry to explode if online casinos do something like this.

Photo Credit: Pixels

BLOG MENU

Footnotes

Footnotes
↑1In many European casinos, the dealer waits to take a hole-card until after the players have played out their hands.  This has the unfortunate effect of players losing on their double downs and splits if the dealer reveals a blackjack.