When people think of casino gambling, they first think of slots and blackjack. Though, concerning the latter, the common belief that its popularity has grown over the years, establishing itself as the favored gaming table pick, is only partially accurate regarding the land-based sector. The reality is that blackjack’s presence on gambling floors has declined over the past thirty years by 27.85%, per research from the UNLV Centre.
However, that fall does not get owed to people losing interest in this casino classic but more to this game moving to the digital sphere. Since 1996, reel-spinning and table gaming real money action has been available remotely at online casinos. That has spurred more people than ever to get into blackjack strategy, memorizing tactic charts that lower this gambling product’s house edge to 0.5%.
While in the past, wannabe gamblers had to buy books or sign-up for courses to learn how to get good and not continuously lose at gaming tables. Today, they can master casino-style gambling through video games. That is suitable. Multiple renowned games feature mini-missions where in-game avatars participate in blackjack sessions that boast the same rules offered at top-end venues. For the uninformed few, the goal in twenty-one entertainment is to get a card hand that beats the dealer by holding a total closest to twenty-one without going over this figure. Naturally, blackjack has various sub-rules and other nuances that players must grasp to get good at it, and they can soak these in by playing one of the following globally famous video games.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Most modern-day gamers don’t know that the GTA series did not start as a third-person franchise. It began as an open-world title that implemented an overhead god’s view of a metropolitan area, where players would roam, selling cars and causing mayhem. It was not until the third edition of the series that it adopted the look and feel everyone recognizes now. And San Andreas, the fifth GTA entry, released in 2004, was the one that exploded this serial to global mainstream success.
When it hit store shelves for the first time, many reviewers claimed that San Andreas should justifiably rank as one of the greatest video games of all time, as it presented unprecedented gameplay, controls, and graphics. It also incorporated various mini-games, one of which was casino gaming at Las Venturas’ many gambling establishments that offered blackjack, roulette, slots, and video poker.
Red Dead Redemption 2
In 2018, Rockstar Games published the third entry in the Red Dead series, a prequel to the franchise’s original title, released in 2010. The setting here is a fictionalized representation of an 1899 US, and the plot tracks the exploits of the Van Der Linde gang and its outlaw Arthur Morgan.
The development of this software product lasted a stunning eight years, accumulating a reputation as one of the most expensive video games of all time. It lived up to the hype, selling over 46 million copies. Among its vast array of missions, blackjack challenges are the most enjoyed, available at three locations, south of Rhodes, at the Van Horn Trading Post, and in Blackwater.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
As everyone likely knows, when it comes to survival horror games, the name Resident Evil is synonymous with this genre. Capcom’s invention laid the groundwork for this category, and Biohazard was the first RE title to utilize a first-person view, getting inspired sizably by the original Evil Dead film.
The FPS blackjack fun here is on hand through downloadable content that offers a twenty-one-styled mini-game with a sadistic twist, incorporating three phases – fingers, electrocution, and a saw. Each has several wager sizes that increase per round.
Fallout: New Vegas
As the name suggests, the setting of this spin-off Fallout game is a post-apocalyptic Nevada. Though, parts of Arizona and California are also in play. New Vegas won the RPG of the Year honor at the Golden Joystick Awards in 2011 and has attained somewhat of a cult following over the years.
It is particularly famous for its seven casino locations, the Primm Vikki and Vance, the Atomic Wrangler, the Gomorrah, the Tops, the Sierra Madere, the Ultra-Luxe, and the Sunset Sarsaparilla. They supply authentic gaming entertainment with blackjack terms players use in real life.
The Four Kings Casino and Slots
Here is a title entirely dedicated to casino gambling. It is a social MMO that immerses players in a simulated gaming experience by allowing them to create a personalized 3D avatar through which they can enjoy casino classics in a 3D environment.
Though the Four Kings Casino and Slots has not gotten glowing reviews, it can provide hours of engagement and prepare its players for real-world gambling. It is available on Steam, listing an aggregated 68% reviewer ranking on the platform.