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Is Blackjack Becoming Harder to Beat in Nevada?
Recent statistics released by Nevada casinos could indicate that blackjack players are having a more difficult time making money at the game. During a 12-month period from May 2016 to April 2017, the 300 casinos in the state which have blackjack tables scored almost $1.2 billion in blackjack revenues. This represents a 9% increase over the previous year.
But what do these figures really mean? Is the game of blackjack getting harder to win in Nevada? Are more beginners taking an interest in the game? A closer look at the stats and comparisons with other games could provide the answer to these questions.
Blackjack Vs. Baccarat
The game of baccarat has increased its popularity in recent years in live casinos. In Nevada, there are still fewer baccarat tables than blackjack tables, but many casinos have stepped up their promotion of the game. Even so, baccarat only produced $79.1 million in revenues during the reporting period. This is a decrease of almost 25% from the previous year.
Based on this observation, it appears that blackjack may have staved off the challenge of baccarat as the most popular table game in the live casino. The initial enthusiasm and appeal of the game may have faded somewhat. Some players still find baccarat to be an exotic game. They have a misconception that it is difficult to play and is also reserved for those with large sums of money. Blackjack, on the other hand, is a game that most people instinctively think they can play successfully.
Popular movies like 21 and short-lived television programs featuring celebrities playing the game have also helped blackjack’s popularity to remain strong. The casinos in Nevada and other states also continue to offer new variations of the game which keep it fresh and new.
Have Blackjack Rules Changed in Nevada?
Aside from new variations of blackjack like In-Between, the rules of the game have not changed in Nevada. It is still played essentially the same way that it was when introduced. Nevada has weathered the challenges of card counters and other experts at the game to increase its profits.
There is little need to alter a game which has a built-in advantage for the house. All casinos games are developed with this house edge. In the case of blackjack, that edge is among the lowest found in table games such as craps, roulette, and baccarat. Still, when played by inexperienced gamblers the house edge is enough to produced the aforementioned revenues.
Online Casinos Impact Blackjack’s Popularity
With online casinos now legal in a few U.S. states, more new players are discovering the game of free blackjack for the first time. It could be that some of these players are then encouraged to play the game when they visit a live casino.
This could be especially true when they visit casinos in Nevada and New Jersey. The reason? Online casinos are legal for those state’s residents. After they have created an account and played blackjack online, some of them could be less intimidated by a live blackjack pit.
In the final analysis, blackjack is not becoming harder to beat in Nevada or other states. The most likely reason for the increased revenues from casinos is that more people are simply playing the game.
Did you know that you don’t have to travel to Nevada to play blackjack? You can play blackjack online at a number of online casinos recommended by Counting Edge. Creating an account takes only a few minutes and most gaming sites offer nice welcome bonuses to new players.