Blackjack – How casinos drew the players away
Blackjack is seen as a special casino game. It’s one for those who are classed as mathematicians and intellectuals. That’s because there’s so much to this game and so many actions that can be taken to increase the chances of beating the house. All that makes this game so special has long had an impact on its popularity. In this article we take a lot at blackjack in casinos.
There was once a time when blackjack was a little obscure. It was seen as only being for those who could be bothered to learn basic blackjack strategy and skill and many couldn’t see how it could ever offer any enjoyment. However, times changed and the same reasons that saw the game fall into obscurity then led to its popularity exploding.
Here we are in 2023 and the popularity of blackjack is going through change again. Players are walking away from the tables and finding other games to enjoy instead. What’s happened this time around and why have players abandoned this game in their droves? Let’s take a look.
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Blackjack in casinos – A brief look at the history of blackjack
Blackjack certainly isn’t a modern game. It’s one where the origins can be found all the way back in the 18th century. Just like other casino games, blackjack seems to have been created in France although it’s the US that has adapted the game into what we know and love today.
The game has always been presented as simple. All that you need to do is hold a hand that’s worth more than the dealers without exceeding 21 and going bust. One of the major attractions of playing was the possible payouts. If you held a natural blackjack (an ace and a card worth 10) the payout would be 3:2. Other ways of winning would pay even money.
Blackjack in casinos – Blackjack’s competition
In the 1950s, it’s fair to say that blackjack wasn’t the game of choice for many casino players. Certainly, when looking at what was happening in Las Vegas, the gambling scene was all about craps. This is a game that’s all about luck but it’s also one that’s seen as being highly sociable. The game brings everyone together. When there are wins it’s good news for everyone and the losses are taken together too. blackjack was different.
Those who loved the social aspect of craps saw blackjack as being a little stuffy. It was a game where each player was on their own and they tried to beat the dealer. It was also a game where luck wasn’t the be-all and end-all: you needed to make an effort to at least learn basic strategy.
The way in which blackjack was perceived meant that it couldn’t compete with the fun offered by craps. So, what changed and how did blackjack become the biggest game in casinos? That’s what we’ll look at next.
Blackjack in casinos – Blackjack’s journey to the fore
Math s something that seems tedious. It’s even something that strikes fear into many but it’s a huge part of blackjack. Players initially avoided the game as they didn’t want to contend with the math but then they realized that getting their heads around this could lead to serious money.
It was back in 1956 that the first version of basic blackjack strategy was published. Coming from a quartet of US Army mathematicians, this strategy guided players through the moves that they should make when presented with any hand at all.
Using basic strategy saw the house edge of blackjack fall to almost zero and this certainly got more people interested in playing. From the 1960s, blackjack exploded in popularity. Casinos panicked as they saw players tap into basic strategy but they soon realised that not all players were quite as switched on as they thought they were.
A slow decline
Blackjack started to fall in popularity some time ago now. It seemed to gain a second wind after the release of the film 21 in 2008. This film told the story of the MIT card counting team and opened the eyes of a whole new audience. However, competition in casinos is stiff and games such as slots and baccarat were stealing players away.
In some ways, casinos were pleased to see this change. Blackjack had always scared the house as they knew just how far skilled players could go and just how big the house losses could be. As they saw the game losing traction, they seemed to take advantage of that fact and tried to put more and more nails in the coffin.
The introduction of house-friendly rules
With the popularity of blackjack winning, casinos stepped in and started to tweak the rules of blackjack. These rules were all about protecting the house and minimising the win potential for players. The first change was what happens when a dealer has a soft 17. Usually, the dealer would stand but the change to hitting meant that the house edge crept up by 0.2%.
This 0.2% may not sound like a big deal, but there were other changes too. multi-deck shoes were introduced and card counting became that much more difficult. Rules around splitting and doubling down saw changes and handed more of an advantage to the house. The more changes that were brought in, the more players were driven away from the game.
The change that caused the biggest harm
The change that turned most players away from Blackjack in casinos was that relating to the payout for a natural blackjack. Players had been used to a 3:2 payout but casinos suddenly changed this to 6:5. For a player that’s using perfect basic strategy, this one change bumped the house edge up to almost 2%.
Final thoughts
Casinos have seriously harmed the popularity of blackjack. The change in rules has impacted the profitability of the game and there are plenty of players who just won’t stand for this. However, there’s no danger of the game ever dying out. While top professional players will wince at the higher house edge, it will always be a game that can be enjoyed and it’ll always be a game where you can influence the outcome.
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