This just in from Atlantic City:  the AC Hilton Casino resort was reportedly fined that exact amount yesterday for letting an underage gambler waltz right in and go to town, the second highest fine for this offense in New Jersey’s history.  In case you’re not from this planet (in which case, you probably shouldn’t be in the business of casino games in the first place), the gambling age in AC is 21.  Not only did the dude play blackjack, poker, roulette, slots and more, he even opened an account in the casino and got his room comped, all at the ripe young age of 19.  (Man, can life get better for this kid?  At 19, I was sitting in my dorm room watching the same episode of “Sportscenter” three consecutive times…..where was I?

Ah yes, so, MOREOVER, the casino was notified in 2008 about Little Joe Blackjack’s past gambling habits but was unable to act on it due to some, for lack of a better term, computer bureaucracy through which certain employees weren’t able to see data entered by others.  Oops.

One of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission officials was quoted as saying, “We have a big concern about it because kids can make themselves look older, and that’s problematic.”  Not exactly an issue in the online casino world.

In an online casino, hey, a credit card’s a credit card.  Once Little Joe Blackjack punches his number in, he may as well be 21 (or 41).  Much less for a casino owner to worry about.  And when you’re rolling in the dollars, who’s got time for worrying?

Have you ever heard about a group of students from the Massachusetts University of Technology who are now considered a legend in Blackjack card-counting? Well, if not, here goes their story in short. In the early 90’s of the twentieth century, a number of students from MIT figured that Blackjack was the only beatable game in casinos. They used their math expertise to hone their skills to predict when the cards being dealt will be favorable to them. The team visited the Sin City regularly, with trips nearly every weekend. They made lots of money and partied like there was no tomorrow.

Eventually, however, investigators employed by casinos realized who the card-counters were and banned them from the gaming venues they had frequented. With many of the top performing players banned, this was the end of the legendary adventures of the MIT Blackjack card counters.

While some gambling industry outsiders believe that casino gambling inevitably leads to bad habits and even an addiction, casino play aficionados would counter such a notion. Indeed, people who happen to enjoy gaming entertainment every once in a while do not automatically become casino addicts. And, unless you have an addictive personality, gambling in casinos might prove as a positive experience of a lifetime!

Today’s casinos, whether online or land-based, sure have a lot to offer their patrons. Apart from an exceptionally rich variety of games, including Roulette, Blackjack and poker, modern gaming establishments also provide incredibly generous promotional offers targeted at new as well as existing casino members. With a little bit of help from Lady Luck people frequently nab highly attractive casino prizes.

Additionally, respected casinos have long since established a highly restrictive policy of conduct when it comes to problem gamblers. For instance, many casinos would deny entrance to people exhibiting addicted behavior at the casino table. Some casinos would also notify organizations, such as Gamblers Anonymous, to let them know that a certain person needs immediate help to control their gambling habits.

All in all, whether you gamble over the Internet or in a nearby B&M casino, you are in for a great adventure! In this day and age of fierce competition for patrons, casinos seek to provide players with highly lucrative perks and incentives. As long as you maintain in control of the funds you spend in a casino, there is nothing to fear!

To “bust” is to hold a hand of cards that has a value that exceeds the total of 21.
To have a “blackjack” hand is to possess a hand of two cards that value 21. These cards had to be the original two cards dealt to you. An Ace and a picture card or a 10 are the only possible combinations for blackjack to occur.
To “push” is to have the same card total as the dealer. In the case of a push or a tie, you’ll get the money back that you bet.

As you play the game of blackjack more frequently and gain experience, you’ll easily understand the terms.

Cards ranging from 2 through 9 inclusive have face value of the card.
Cards with a 10 and all picture cards have a value of 10
An Ace can have a value of either 11 or 1 depending on which value makes the better use of that card in a particular game. An Ace is referred to as being a hard Ace or a soft Ace. A soft Ace is when the Ace is used as a 1 so the player can effectively draw another card without the risk of “busting,” or exceeding 21 on his card total.

Once you understand the concept of card value, online blackjack is the game in which you will have the best odds of winning. In online blackjack, the house advantage can be as low as less than .05%, so if there is a game for starters or players looking to keep their budgets intact, the blackjack table should be your first stop in the online casino.

1.    Surrender—This option can be used when you throw in your cards before the dealer has a chance to check his.  In this case, you would lose only half of your original investment.
2.    Double–This option can be employed if you think the next card you receive will be beneficial enough to win the game.  When you declare “double” you are permitted to double your original bet.  However, you can draw one and only one more card to complete your hand.
3.    Splitting Pairs—This option can be employed when the first two cards you are dealt have the same face value.  In this instance, you can split the hand into two hands, and place a bet on the second hand identical to your initial bet.
4.    Insurance—This option can be employed when a dealer draws an Ace on his face up card.  You may take out insurance on the dealer having a blackjack hand.    If the dealer has blackjack, the insurance bet wipes out the player’s loss on the original bet.  If the dealer does not have blackjack, the player loses both bets.

The more you know about your options and the vernacular used in the game of blackjack, the better you will be in a position to win.

1.    Blackjack—If your first two cards are an Ace and a 10 or picture card, you exclaim “blackjack,” and automatically win one and a half times the amount of your original bet.
2.    Hit me—This strategy is employed when your first two cards have a value that precludes you from “standing,” or retaining your hand without drawing another card.  “Hit me” indicates to the dealer that you wish to have another card drawn and dealt to you.
3.    Stand— If your cards have a face value close enough to the number 21, you may wish to retain that hand and not draw another card.   In this instance, you proclaim “stand” or hit the stand indicator on the computer screen.

These are the basic terms and strategies of the game of blackjack.  An understanding of the terms strategies will enable you to grasp the game more quickly and enjoy it more.