Origins of Online Blackjack
Blackjack has been around since the 18th century, so it’s not surprising that it is one of the most popular table games worldwide. During its long history, it has gone through some changes to become what it is today. That’s why we can now enjoy a couple of different game types, like American blackjack, European blackjack, and more.
And even though it all started with the land-based version, most players choose to go head-to-head with an online dealer these days. So, regardless of whether you want to play real blackjack online or for real money, the choices are abundant.
However, if you haven’t played blackjack before, you might feel a bit overwhelmed with all the information about this game. For that reason, we’ll guide you through the origins of online blackjack, so read on.
Beginning of a New Era
Although blackjack is undoubtedly popular in land-based casinos, keeping the game fair has been challenging due to an increasing number of card counters. That’s why many brick-and-mortar casinos employ strict rules to detect and expose such players. However, these measures haven’t stopped the game from gaining more popularity. What’s more, the internet has helped increase it even more.
Once online casinos appeared and more players discovered the advantages of playing online, operators started to incorporate blackjack next to slots and poker games. The standard blackjack game was the first to be offered in online casinos. However, other forms of the game soon followed suit.
Now, players have access to an abundance of games with different rules and innovative and unusual features. Moreover, players can place numerous bets that are either new or simply interesting, like 21+3, super 7’s, or a perfect pair.
The online blackjack innovations have gone far, and nowadays, players can even change the gameplay. What’s more, high rollers can find blackjack games with jackpots, which makes the game even more engaging.
On the other hand, card counting is nearly impossible with online blackjack. In theory, you can count cards while playing blackjack online, but it is much more difficult than in land-based casinos. Since online casinos use software that can shuffle the cards whenever a new hand is dealt, it makes the whole thing too tricky.
However, if you manage to learn how to count cards, there’s an advantage. Since you’ll be playing from home, the chances of anyone catching you or prosecuting you for doing this are virtually miniscule.
So, if you plan on committing to blackjack more seriously in the future, playing online blackjack for fun might be a good stepping stone.
Evolution of Live Blackjack
Although the arrival of online casinos introduced the option to play blackjack at any time of day and from every location, it lacked one thing — the atmosphere. So, developers had to put their thinking caps on and come up with a solution. Since many players miss the ambiance while playing from home, the developers decided to bring the land-based casino atmosphere to them. That’s how live online casinos came to be.
Since blackjack is one of the most popular online games, it came as no surprise that players wanted to play its live version, among other games. However, the first live casinos were far from perfect. Namely, the games were streamed from real brick-and-mortar casinos using a ceiling-mounted camera that recorded the entire table and the dealer. Unfortunately, the other players at the table obscured the view.
Plus, not being able to communicate with the dealer took away from the whole experience. On top of that, the technology was limited, so many players experienced low-quality streaming and lags. Ultimately, it all led to players feeling unsatisfied and experiencing lackluster gameplay.
The breakthrough in live casino streaming came in 2006 with the introduction of innovative technology. The whole experience became elevated thanks to multiple cameras set up to observe the gameplay without obstructions in the shape of other players. Additionally, players got the chance to interact with the dealer, which kicked the gameplay up a notch.
Over time, live blackjack has improved even more. Namely, it has opened new doors for all kinds of players interested in both enjoying online blackjack for fun and playing it for real money. The streaming is now available in HD, and it allows players to see the dealer shuffle cards. Moreover, participants can place additional bets and side bets, thus creating room at the table for more players.
All in all, the live blackjack versions that you can access today are top-of-the-line when it comes to quality. What’s more, as technology improves, so will live casino games, including blackjack. So, we can only expect the playing experience to become even better and more diverse with time.
