Walk into any casino and the largest crowd you’ll see will be
gathered around the blackjack tables. Casino gamers love blackjack
mostly because of the advantage offered them over the house — when
played to perfection, blackjack is the casino game you are most
likely to win. (And all of this is true of blackjack online as
well as in a traditional casino.) Besides the hard statistical edge
that players have (the house holds a slim 0.5% edge if the game is
played correctly) blackjack is traditionally the “coolest” game in
the casino — yes, James Bond loved his baccarat, and cowboys in
Westerns played variations of poker, but most movie stars and
gangsters are blackjack freaks.
People are drawn to the ease of play, the short game length, and
the ability to be large amounts of cash on single card flips. If you
master the techniques of blackjack, you will find that it is one of
the easier games available for online play. Playing blackjack online
combines the convenience of gaming from home (saving money on plane
tickets to Vegas or Atlantic City) with the exciting and profitable
game players are familiar with.
Choosing Where to Play Blackjack Online
As with any game, before you decide to wager money on blackjack
it is a good idea to research the site at which you’re going to play. Every
reputable online casino offers free versions of their games to test.
The variety available is enough to make you dizzy. Some games
feature flashy animation or graphics to tempt or entertain players
– serious gamers need not worry, however, as there are many other
games offering straight game play. Test a few games out and figure
out what you are looking for, be it a serious game or a fun
experience.
If you’re a serious blackjack player,
casinos like Bodog, Golden
Casino, and other “serious” casino sites are what you’re looking
for. The games at sites like this offer high limit bets, serious
competition from other serious gamers, and no-frills attitudes
towards gaming. For the player looking to have fun, there are sites
which don’t even offer play for money. There are many java and flash
versions of gambling-free blackjack available, and these can be
found through simple web searches.
Differences Between Live Blackjack and Online Blackjack
There are, of course, differences in playing blackjack online and
playing in live blackjack games. When you play blackjack online,
some features of the game are the same — you will still find
quality gaming and quality players online (it is well-known that the
best card players in the world have been coming out of the online
world in recent years) and the game play itself is pretty much the
same. Some players may miss the “player-dealer” interaction, though
those of us who have had bad experiences with dealers or fellow
players at tables in Vegas won’t miss the sometimes surly employees.
Live Dealer Blackjack
There are casinos that offer “live dealer” type games — and
while this is mostly a gimmick involving a chat window attached to a
standard blackjack game, it does provide a new online experience.
The Convenience of Blackjack Online
Do not overlook the convenience of playing from your computer.
Yes, you can play in your underwear, and yes you can play at any
time of day or night, but my favorite discovery has been the
conveniences of wireless tech and online gaming. I’ll admit to
watching live play (as a strategy aid) during a shower — and in my
defense, it was an extended game that had a lot to offer a fledgling
player like myself. The point is that the internet does offer
convenience, and while it is kind of cliche at this point (”shop in
your underwear!”) many players will play online just for this
reason.
Multiplayer Blackjack Online
The social aspect of playing online blackjack is very different
from that of a standard casino. Although limited to conversations
through chat, email, and other forms of typing, it is possible to
meet people from all over the world while playing online. The online
blackjack player will have to get their own drink refills, and any
heckling or yelling that may occur will not be penalized. When
playing in a standard bricks and mortar casino, there is a chance to
meet people, talk about the game, heckle the dealer, drink, etc.
Some of this is lost in translation in cyberspace, but there is
blackjack software that allows interactive chat with the other
players and occasionally even the “dealer”.
Free Blackjack Online
A positive difference, at least for the online gamer, is the
ability to find and play free blackjack (as mentioned above). The
play has the opportunity to try out skills and strategies without
risking their money. The actual blackjack gambling basics are very
similar with the odds, rules of play and variety of blackjack
versions, such as pontoon, available to both mediums. In fact, since
many of the online casinos offer bonuses for joining, the odds can
be made even greater in the player’s favor. Like the casinos in
Vegas, virtual casinos offer blackjack tips, forums for discussion,
and other strategic “classes”.
Counting Cards Online
The biggest difference for casinos between live and online play
is one most players won’t even consider. Counting cards depends on
the casino’s tendency to not shuffle the decks between every hand.
Without going into detail, the simple explanation of why counting
cards online is impossible has to do with the “shuffling” of decks
between each hand.
I say “shuffling” because there is no actual deck at play in
online gaming — there is a series of random numbers decided on by a
random number generator. It is enough to say that card counting
online is impossible, as is any pattern determining system anyone
tries to sell you. For some players this may be a turn-off, but for
gamers like me who can’t count cards, I consider this a more level
playing field.
Internet Blackjack Resources
There are many resources online for users looking for info on
online blackjack games — which online blackjack games to play, which
online blackjack games to
avoid, which casinos might offer a bonus or club that is highly
valuable, etc. Some features of online blackjack to look for are
discussed here.
No Download Blackjack Games Online
Some sites offer blackjack games playable only if you download
and install their software. For myriad reasons, some users don’t
want to download and install software just to play their game. Look
for sites featuring “no-download” or “download-free” games — these
games are usually programmed in Java or Flash (two common
programming formats compatible with just about every computer) and
are therefore less “complex” visually, offering less in the way of
flashy game play. (These types of no download online blackjack games
are of particular interest to Mac blackjack enthusiasts.)
However, for users who want to skip the downloading and
installation steps for whatever reason, these “download-free” games
are the way to go. Casino Tropez, a hugely popular site for online
blackjack, offers a variety of games that don’t need to be
downloaded.
Online Casino Signup Bonuses
Online casinos often offer bonuses for new players on their first
deposit. This basically amounts to free money, though the larger
bonuses are being parceled out in small amounts these days, and
players would be foolish to overlook these opportunities. One
popular site offers two sign-up bonuses, one available upon
completion of the other. At this particular site, new players can
earn up to 400 dollars just for signing up. Successful casino gamers
know better than to pass up money like this.
Online Blackjack Software
There are a number of companies providing the software for online
casinos, and the software used by a particular site can seriously
influence your game play. Users have debated for years which company
is the “best” software provider, and the debate goes so far as to
differentiate between games, as in “Playtech’s video poker machines
are awesome, but avoid their blackjack table”. It is best to test
different companies (Google searches will reveal play opportunities
for different software engines) and decide which you like the best.
Once you know what software you like, it is easy to find online
casinos who offer their games: this information is proudly displayed
on the casino’s website.
Blackjack Tournaments Online
Just like poker, blackjack tournaments are available online. The
frequency is not as great as it is with poker, but the play is
frantic and usually full of good competitive play. These tournaments
are known for their great value. Smart players who use just a little
bit of strategy (easily learned for free online, by the way) can
edge out the average gamer. The learning curve for skilled blackjack
play is nothing compared to games like Texas Hold’em or Omaha. There
are other components of tournament blackjack play that are easily
taken advantage of — where you sit at the tournament table is
important, as is your doubling frequency, etc. There is more wiggle
room for skilled players in blackjack than in other games, and a
player with just a little training can really clean up.
Is Online Blackjack Legal?
Finally, a word on the legalities of online blackjack in the
United States. There are eleven major online casinos accepting US
bets legally at my last count, from Golden Casino to VIP Slots.
There are also a handful of casinos offering so called “restricted”
bets from United States players.
There is a rumor circulating around on the internet that the
recent UIGEA bill signed into law by President Bush makes some kind
of differentiation based on the type of game played — so playing
slots and poker in New York is fine, but play a single hand of
blackjack or roulette in another state, say New Jersey, and you’re
going to the slammer. This is simply not true. United States
residents can play all the casino and poker games available at
legitimate casino sites.
The UIGEA act specifically targets banks who allow fund transfer
mechanisms and other companies to make interstate and international
financial transactions. This really has nothing to do with slots,
blackjack or any kind of casino gaming. The government has come out
and said they are after financial institutions breaking the law, and
not American citizens participating in legal gaming. Having said
that, you should always check your local statutes — some states do
have specific laws on the books prohibiting certain behaviors
related to gaming.
At the end of the day, the United States government is more
interested in revenue than in the private activities of citizens: a
2005 survey commissioned by the American Gaming Association showed
that online gaming is a huge and more importantly a growing
industry. 4% of Americans gamble online according to the study, but
a full 40% of them said they’ve started within the last year, and
70% of them reported that they began betting online in the last two
years. This is a huge trend, and big business wants a piece of it.
It has been said that US players generate half of the revenue of $12
billion gambling market, a market that grows every year.
Online blackjack is a popular game, growing more popular and
profitable all the time. Recent legislation has done little or
nothing to stem the tide of players joining online casinos and
having a great time gaming online. If you do some research, spend a
little time to learn strategy, and above all else try to have a good
time, you can enjoy all that the steadily growing world of online
blackjack has to offer.