Genius Blackjack

Grand Casino Tops Them All in Giving Away A First Place Prize Sum of $100,000, in a Southeastern Regional Blackjack Tournament

Grand Casinos at Tunica, MS, held a $150,000 blackjack tournament last weekend (3-5 Feb.), for which the first prize was set at a whopping $100,000. This sum is far greater than any other prize sum to be given out in any Southeastern regional big money blackjack tournament, the standard sum being $50,000 for a final table win. Schiffer.casinocitytimes.com reports:

We are dedicated to offering the best gambling experience to our guests, " said Darrell Pilant, Vice President of Operations for Grand Casino Resort here. "A blackjack tournament of this caliber is an exciting way for us to show our ongoing commitment to high stakes table game tournaments, following directly on the heels of the World Series of Poker Circuit event held here last week, and the $150,000 blackjack tournament held at our sister property, Sheraton, over the weekend."

Read More: Grand's $100,000 First Place Blackjack Prize Wows 'Em

Driver's Licenses To be Checked At All Illinois Casinos

Casino game enthusiasts who visit Illinois casinos, to play blackjack, poker etc. will now have to show their driver's license, before entering the casino. This plan has been made by the Illinois Gaming Board. It is believed that this carding system will help to screen all those compulsive gamblers who have signed up to ban themselves, from casinos. Several compulsive gamblers sign up for a ban on themselves from casinos, but cannot follow it up. Their craving for gambling, gets the better of them. This new system will effectively take care of such compulsive gamblers. The driver's licenses will be swiped through machines to verify the information, therein. All those people who are on the self-ban list, will be turned away. This system will also catch all underage gamblers. 101-best-online-casinos.com reports:

This way, compulsive gamblers on the self-ban list will be turned away, and underage gamblers wishing to try out their luck at blackjack, roulette, slots, and the like will be caught. The potential carding plans has worried casino owners who predict that lines at casinos will be extra long and slow.

Read More: Blackjack and other Casino Gamers - Show Us Your Licenses!

Blackjack Helps PartyGaming's Revenues to Shoot Up

PartyGaming's revenues have shot up by 65 percent in the last quater, owing to its new offering - blackjack. PartyGaming's chief executive, Richard Segal noted that 44 percent of its active online gamblers at the PartyPoker.com website; also played blackjack.

ParyGaming said its next "major milestone" would be the launch of its fully integrated betting platform during the first half of this year, followed by new games and mutli-lingual and multi-currency offering. Trading has remained strong since the start of the year, "Mr. Segal added later.

Read More: Blackjack Players Boost PartyGaming

"Casino Surrender" - New Option in Blackjack

A new blackjack option that has emerged in Las Vegas, is called "Casino Surrender". It has the potential of becoming a standard feature of the game, if early indications are to be taken seriously. Brokopp.casinocitytimes.com reports:

Casino Surrender is not to be confused with standard surrender, an option that some casinos offer whereby the player can elect to forfeit half of his bet to the house prior to the hand being played out of his two-card dealt hand is in a statistical position of weakness against the dealer's up-card. Casino Surrender is the brain child of Frank Mugnolo, president and CEO of Casino Gaming LLC of Bellwood, Illinois.

Read More: New Blackjack Option Turns Tables on Dealers

AOL and GSN Come Together to Create an Online Blackjack Hub

AOL has teamed up with GSN for creating a new blackjack area on AOL.com. This new blackjack hub will offer free Blakjack gameplay, besides tips from the pros and behind-the-scenes video content. Indiatelevision.com reports:

In addition, Blackjack fans can visit www.aol.com/blackjack beginning January 19 to enter for a chance to win a seat on the GSN television series and compete for the million dollars at stake. As part of the partnership, GSN will direct viewers of World Series of Blackjack and its Casino Night.

Read More: AOL and GSN sign deal for blackjack hub

Video Blackjack - Why it Did Not Rise up to the Popularity of Video Poker!

Around the late 1970s and early 1980s, video blackjack appeared on the scene, as video gaming gained popularity. It was assumed by most casinos that video blackjack would give video poker, tough competition. Blackjack has always been known as the most popular casino game. However, results and statistics, proved otherwise. Video poker became the hot rage of the times, in the industry. Video blackjack was pushed to the periphery. There is a very basic yet vital reason for this. On most video blackjack games, blackjacks pay only even money as against the 3-2 one can get at the tables. This gives the house an extra edge of 2.3 percent.

GSN (Game Show Network, formerly) Ties up With AOL to Provide Blackjack

GSN, formerly called Game Show Network; will now come together with AOL, in order to provide blackjack on the internet portal. This blackjack area will give free access to the game and provide handy tips too.  Leadingthecharge.com reports:

In addition to free gameplay and tips, the area will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes video of GSN's "World Series World Series of Blackjack" series in June. GSN also is bringing back an updated version of the classic game show "I've Got a Secret" on April 17.

Read More: Game Show Network Bets on 'Blackjack' with AOL

Blackjack Pro Bars Sikh Player From Attending Seminar, Sikh Man Sues the Expert!

A card expert barred an Espanola Sikh from his seminar. He did this as he suspected that the Sikh was working for casinos that did not permit people who learnt his strategies and methods, for winning blackjack. Freenewmexican.com reports:

"Mr. Khalsa has invested thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of time becoming proficient to a level where he qualifies for the advanced seminar," says the complaint filed Tuesday in District Court by lawyer John Argon of Santa Fe. "As a result of the bad-faith breach of contract...Khalsa (loses) his investment and time and (loses) profits which are reasonably to be expected."

Read More: Sikh Man files suit against blackjack teacher

Survey of Different Casinos, With Respect to the Individual House Rules

A major element of strategy in a game of blackjack is the individual house rule. A survey was made of 4 different casinos in the Chicago area. They were Argosy's Empress Joliet, Grand Victoria Elgin, Harrah's Joliet and Hollywood Aurora. Only Grand Victoria had $5 minimum tables. These were available until 4 p.m. Hollywood and Empress have a $10 minimum. Harrah's goes up with $15. These statistics show that Northwest Indiana is a much better bet for the average player as the 5 casinos surveyed there earlier, offered $5 minimum games at various times. Brokopp.casinocitytimes.com reports:

All of the casinos deal out of six-deck with the exception of Hollywood, which only offers them in the high limit room while utilizing the less player friendly eight-deck variety everywhere else. The Grand Victoria is the most generous of all with one and one-half decks, a player advantage.

Read More: Blackjack Survey from the Illinois Side

Over $ 2 Million Paid by Online Casino, Inter Casino

InterCasino, the online casino has been giving out gifts in plenty, this festive season. It has paid out over $ 2 million during the month of December. Online-casino-intercasino.com reports:

One of the major wins this month was hit by a player called Richard K., who won the site's multi-hand progressive blackjack game. He took home $163,402 for his blackjack win.

Read More: Progressive Blackjack Win Helps Online Casino InterCasino Give Major Payday