There are more blackjack games than any other game in casinos today. For years blackjack has been the most popular table game in casinos for a variety of reasons. The game has withstood the test of time even as rules and payouts have gotten worse.
Newer, less player-friendly blackjack rules are keeping some experienced players from enjoying blackjack games the way they used to. That’s understandable. Adept blackjack players grew up on a game that was almost beatable with perfect basic strategy and counting cards to swing the advantage to the player.
Finding a beatable game isn’t as easy to find thanks to so many casinos only offering a 6:5 payout when a player receives a natural blackjack. The 3:2 payout really makes a difference when you’re dealing with such small margins.
Having said that, there are still blackjack players enjoying the game. Even the worst blackjack games have a lower house edge than many other table games in casinos today. When a player uses perfect basic strategy, they can extend their time at the table.
Recreational gamblers want to be in the game and have fun. It should be said that a player should always look for a 3:2 blackjack game that fits their budget. Unfortunately, that’s not so easy nowadays in Las Vegas and other large casino markets.
Some blackjack players will seek out the best games. The remaining blackjack players either don’t know or don’t care. That’s their prerogative. Somehow many blackjack players still enjoy playing the game despite the less-than-stellar rules that some casinos offer.
To some players this is strange. Not all blackjack players are in the game to make money. Sure, everyone wants to win but blackjack offers a casino experience that is unlike any other game.
So, why do gamblers still play blackjack? There are actually a few reasons for that. Let’s take a look at some of those answers.
Can still beat the casinos
Recreational blackjack players enjoy the challenge of beating the casino. Playing blackjack games with player-friendly rules, counting cards and playing perfect basic strategy is the way to tilt the edge to the player side over time.
Worst case, a player can lower the house edge
If a player doesn’t find the best blackjack game at the casino they’re visiting, they can still reduce the house edge. In turn, this player should lose their bankroll a little slower. This allows a blackjack player more time at the table to socialize with new and old friends.
Blackjack is a thinking person’s game
There are a lot of games in a casino. Most don’t require any thinking or skill.
One of the reasons so many people enjoy blackjack is because they have to make decisions that will affect the outcome. Not everyone wants mindless entertainment at the tables or machines. There are plenty of gamblers that like to think a little while gambling.
Blackjack is an easy game to understand
Forget playing blackjack using the perfect basic strategy for a second.
Yes, blackjack can be a thinking person’s game. However, at its core, blackjack is an easy game. A player just needs to place a single bet and take enough cards to reach 21 or be close to it without going over. In a world of games with multiple bets and qualifying hands like Three Card Poker, blackjack is simple to understand.
Blackjack is affordable
Many new table games in casinos have sneaky minimum bets. While the minimum bet for a Three Card Poker game might be $10, a player will need to pony up two or three bets for a total of $20 or $30 to be in a game.
Three Card Poker is actually a simple example. There are other games that require multiple bets and are more complicated. Blackjack only requires a single bet for a player to be in the game.
Blackjack is popular
Blackjack has been popular for so long that it’s ingrained in many gamblers’ heads as a game they’re supposed to play in a casino. This can unconsciously result in peer pressure for some gamblers. Not everyone wants to be the only person not playing blackjack when visiting a casino with a group of friends.
New big jackpots
The newest additions to blackjack games are the side bets. These are intended to increase the overall house edge for the casino. However, many players love this option.
Some side bets will pay a fixed amount. The newest progressive jackpots may have prizes that are more than $100,000. While these side bets aren’t the smartest wager in a casino, plenty of players enjoy the chance to win large sums of money for a relatively low bet.
