Roulette or Blackjack?

Roulette or blackjack? This is a question I’m often asked. Which is the most popular casino game? Let’s take a look at them both as comparisons are difficult when they are two completely different games.

Roulette

Roulette – or to call it by it’s full name – American Roulette is the game most often seen in fun casinos and ‘real’ casinos. Not be be confused with the slower version of French Roulette and (heaven forbid) certainly not with Russian Roulette!

The wheel in the image is a typical American roulette wheel. Around the wheel are the various colours. Each player is given their own colour betting chips. This ensures that everyone knows whose bet is whose.

How is it played? Roulette is a game of chance. There’s no science to it. There are, on the table layout, 36 numbers and zero. The croupier or casino dealer rotates the wheel spinning the ball in the opposite direction. The object of the game is to predict which number the ball falls in. There are various ways of betting from even money bets to single number bets. Of course, the more numbers or combination of numbers that are covered, the easier it is to win and vice versa.

Here’s the luck – if your luck is ‘in’ you can win lots in a very short time as hitting a ‘straight-up’ on the nose number will bring you 35 chips to every one you placed there!

It’s a fabulous, exciting game, loved by thousands and played all over the world. Whether it’s played with real or fun money, the excitement of guessing the winning number is not diminished. Roulette is one of the most popular casino games there is.

Blackjack

Blackjack, like roulette, has various other names. While in the UK it is mostly known by this name, in other parts of the world it’s known as ’21’ or ‘Beat the Dealer’. It is often likened to a very similar game called ‘Pontoon’.

It’s alternative names give plenty of clues on how to play. The aim of the game is indeed to make a total of 21 with the cards you are dealt. The other aim is to beat the dealer. Bets are placed before cards are dealt. Hands are open as everyone is playing against the dealer and not each other. The dealer, having dealt two cards to each player will then ask each player in turn if they want more cards. It’s a very quick game – simply put, if a player’s hand is closer to 21 than that of the dealer, they win. If not they lose – or if it’s the same then the bet is a ‘stand-off’ or ‘push’.

Once again, along with roulette, blackjack shares the top spot for popularity in main stream and fun casinos. Some players prefer it because they have a semblance of control over what happens. Some because of the brilliant atmosphere around the table. There are no long odds as there are in roulette. Winning hands are paid even money (that’s 1-1). The only other payout is for a blackjack hand and that’s defined as the first two cards totalling 21. The odds on a blackjack hand are 3-2.

So – Roulette or Blackjack?

There really is no difinitive answer. From this author’s experience, spanning over thirty five years in the business I wouldn’t put my money on either!!! Now the irony doesn’t escape me but what I really mean to say is that they are both equally as popular albeit sometimes with different audiences. Both great games, both great fun. If you’re thinking about which – why not just get both? Contact