Live Blackjack versus the Online Game
Written by Mel Dunkin Friday, 02 July 2010 00:00
Whether you call it vingt-et-un, twenty-one, pontoon or blackjack, this simple, fast and exciting card game has been around for a very long time and is now enjoyed by millions daily. The objective is simple enough. Players must collect cards whose face values sum to as near 21 as possible without actually exceeding that total. The game is played against a dealer with the same goal.Blackjack has been a basic at just about all land-based casinos in existence but, since the development of the internet and the technology to support online gambling, it is now available at hundreds of internet casinos like Blackjack Ballroom as well. The latter, of course, are available in far greater numbers than their bricks and mortar counterparts. So how do the two games compare and is it best to play blackjack on the ground or in cyberspace?
A steady migration of players from the traditional casinos to the new electronic platform seems to suggest that there is a lot to be said in favour of the modern alternative.
Firstly it must be stressed that the fundamental blackjack rules apply equally in both environments with only minor variation and these can occur even between one land-based casino and another. Perhaps the most fundamental difference is that online blackjack tables are always open and never further from your favourite chair than arms-length. It’s this kind of convenience that probably influenced most players to make the initial move to online casinos such as Blackjack Ballroom. There’s no travelling time or expense involved and you will not be paying out for accommodation. Even if you live close by, the internet still remains a cheaper and more convenient option. You can play in your pyjamas and take a break whenever you feel like it.
For those on a budget, the online game carries the big advantage of offering games with very low stakes as compared to the real world. Frequently they also provide opportunities to win additional payouts and prizes that are almost unheard of in land-based casinos.
The online game does have one draw-back, however. If you’re a skilled card-counter your strategy is unlikely to help much in the internet game. The sophisticated blackjack software generates digital cards that are truly random and, furthermore, shuffles the virtual pack after each hand so card-counting becomes futile. If, by contrast, your memory is merely average like mine, this feature will protect you from the sharks.
For those who would be inclined to say that they miss the atmosphere of the live scene, developers have created the perfect compromise. You can now play online and be served by live dealers via streaming video technology.
So, what’s stopping you? Try online blackjack today at Blackjack Ballroom.
