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Editorial: Blackjack on mobiles – how it’s evolving

Needless to say that the basic purpose of mobile gaming is to equip the users with the jolly possibility of playing absolutely wherever and whenever. Alongside the sky-rocketing popularity of online gambling, comes almost month-to-month development of portable technology supporting casino games. But how were mobile gambling providers handling hardware, software and data transfer issues on mobile phones throughout the recent years?

Catering to customers nowadays depends largely on appealing to their need of commodity in a rush or in travel, even on a queue at the post office. This gives online casinos more enhanced usability of their services when it goes down to one of the most popular and entertaining casino card games - the "21".

When we reminisce the good old J2ME (Java Platform) supported Blackjack it becomes clear that it had little to offer as a gadget. You got simple Blackjack table commands operated with keypad, of course. These were downloadable as well but low graphics and little options are two factors that cannot keep a player/mobile user interested for a very long time. Especially because the "21" should engage even a casino beginner in strategic thinking and tactics, that create a sensation of having more from the activity, than from basic pre-installed games (as Nokia's snake game craze in the late 90s). The house edge in Blackjack is also particularly more tempting for players than in any other card game, therefore pampering users just had to happen.

Hence, how far can cutting edge technology take Blackjack? Most certainly innovations in wireless broadband and in the download speed of the mobile devices made all the difference. Features like the ability of choosing particular strategy in each hand, are what brought mobile Blackjack - and online in general - forward. To mention only one game, few years ago appeared a "Blackjack 21 - The Mobile Game" (supported also by Blackberry) that won users over with various gaming strategies available and the possibility of observing the table before joining in.

Naturally constant progress in software capabilities is taking place. Online casino developers (such as Microgaming, Playtech or RealTime Gaming) have been working on it vigorously, putting huge emphasis on R&D. Some say the games should be "photorealistic", which is a clear message. The key today is realism both visual and casino-experience wise. Other crucial factor for mobile Blackjack developers is to ensure maximum range of supported mobile phones and devices and that is why major mobile casino operators aim at complying with as many systems/platforms/models - even up to 100 phone types and most environments.

And here mobiles supporting high fidelity screens, and increasingly the user-loved touch screens, enter the scene. Devices based on Windows Mobile platform, such as smartphones, Pocket PC and other PDA's (ranging mind-bogglingly from A-Z, from Samsungs to HTC Touch HD) can serve as an example of what can a Blackjack experience be here and now. You can get e.g., "Panoramic Blackjack" that gives both, fantastic graphics and sounds and also various features including tutorials, difficulty levels and strategies to choose from.

It is distinctively wise and effective for mobile casino operators to introduce features that can be affiliated in each possible way with the word "instant". Most online casinos offer the "Instant Play" option, or "PlayCheck" technology (from Microgaming), that allows the player to check play activity online at any given time. This particular feature also caters to mobile Blackjack lovers that are serious and consistent with their strategic efforts. And finally as an irritation cure, there are now Blackjack apps that have the option - "Surrender". In one phrase - we are being served a true "player-support".

This brings us to the fabulous world of iPhone applications. Let's take the iBlackJack for instance, which Apple made it's first casino game on iPhone. According to users the most useful commodity of an Blackjack apps is that you can either play the game using the Safari browser, or do the regular download-and-install path. Others say that iBlackJack is, either way, easy to download and this makes it so much more accessible. And there is always the touch screen interface that can make playing Blackjack with these devices so thrilling. Not forgetting about the graphics that are top notch. If you've already got an iPhone and you want to explore its possibilities, visit our new section dedicated to iApps for gamblers.

To sum up, is there really anything else they can come up with? And are there any hazards of over-the-top mobile applications? So far, the most noticeable drawback in expanding the portable gaming technology was the infamous card-counting buzz, that turned attention to Blackjack and iPhone combined. Earlier this year casino operators issued an alert concerning "illegal and unjust" usage of specific mobile tool that helps to count cards to beat the odds at Blackjack tables. Nevada Gaming Commission even stated that using AND also owning a device with such feature, is a violation. And we cannot blame them, their distress has two major grounds - anything with an „i" at the beginning is the latest hit, and since there is so much buzz about it - these features are simply what mobile players wanted and waited for.

What's next then? What degree or "realism" and hi-tech can mobile Blackjack reach? You name it, I'm sure software operators are already on it.

Ale

18-Dec-2009, 05:50

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