Traditional, online, live, virtual reality? Blackjack has been transformed by technology in recent years – Image via Pexels
Advancements in technology have had a significant impact on the casino industry since the turn of the century, helping the sector become far more accessible than was previously the case.
Before the internet was launched, anyone who wanted to play iconic games such as blackjack had no other option than to visit a land-based casino venue.
Fast forward to the modern era and the landscape looks very different, with online sites opening up popular casino games to the masses.
The convenience of online casino games has undoubtedly been one of the key drivers for growth, allowing the industry to become a 24/7/365 operation.
Players are now spoilt for choice when it comes to playing casino games, with the sector evolving in both traditional venues and on digital platforms.
Blackjack is a great example of a casino game that has benefited massively from technology in recent years, so read on as we assess the different ways you can play.
Traditional casino
For many people around the world, visiting a traditional casino remains the undisputed number one choice when it comes to playing blackjack.
Playing in a brick-and-mortar casino is an extremely thrilling experience, allowing blackjack players to go head-to-head with the dealer.
The human element of land-based blackjack is what gives the game its appeal, as players generally feel they have far greater control over their own destiny.
Systems such as basic strategy and card counting are more effective in this arena, thus providing players with a better chance of winning than online casino sites.
Employing perfect basic strategy in traditional casinos can reduce the house’s edge to just 0.5 percent, a figure that is significantly better than most other games.
On that basis, it is easy to see why many blackjack players favour visiting a traditional casino rather than their online counterparts.
Online casino
The earliest incarnations of online casinos were basic affairs, but improvements in technology and Wi-Fi connectivity have transformed things in recent years.
As we mentioned earlier, one major advantage online casinos have over traditional venues is they offer players a much greater level of convenience.
Providing you have a suitable digital device and stable internet connection, you can play online casino game whenever and wherever you want.
However, one of the biggest downsides of online blackjack is the games are powered by a random number generator rather than a human dealer.
This factor removes some of the skill element from the game, thus tipping the odds more towards the house and making it harder for the player to win.
Despite this, online casinos have unquestionably been good news for the industry, helping to introduce a new demographic of players to the game.
Live casino
While we have established that online casinos have been a positive development, the missing human element from the gameplay is not to everyone’s taste.
The leading casino operators have taken steps to rectify this by expertly leveraging emerging technologies to introduce live online casino games into the mix.
They use the latest video streaming technology and iGaming software to broadcast live blackjack games from specially built casino studios.
The games are hosted by human dealers, thus reintroducing all the skill elements that you would associate with playing blackjack in a traditional casino.
The action is filmed by high-definition video cameras dotted around the studio and streamed directly to a player’s chosen digital device.
Live online blackjack games have already started to outstrip their digital counterparts in terms of revenue and experts have forecast this trend will continue apace over the next few years.
Virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) has been skirting on the fringes of the casino industry for some time now, but finally looks ready to make a major breakthrough.
Some developers have already made significant inroads in creating VR blackjack games, although the majority of these have been tailored towards the social gaming sector.
By using the latest VR headsets such as Oculus Rift or Valve Index, players can handle their chips and cards and interact with other people at the table via audio chat.
The games have received positive reviews from players, creating the possibility that they will become far more prevalent in the iGaming industry in the near future.
The opportunity to stage real money blackjack games in a VR environment is a hugely exciting prospect for casino operators and players alike.
While it is unlikely VR will replace traditional, online and live casino games, they will unquestionably be a welcome evolution for the industry.
The final word
The emergence of different ways to play games such as blackjack has helped the casino industry become a global phenomenon during the 21st century.
Although many people feared that online casinos would kill traditional venues the opposite has been true, with land-based establishments continuing to thrive.
The addition of live online games has powered further growth in the sector, and this is expected to continue as more operators expand their offering in this area.
With VR likely to be the ‘next big thing’ to impact blackjack, the casino industry looks well placed to continue its upward trajectory for the foreseeable future.
