“Winner, winner, chicken dinner.” Remember this iconic line from the movie “21” starring Jim Sturgess and Kate Bosworth?
It was a 2008 film based on the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team, a group of students who used card counting and covert signalling to beat the casinos at blackjack and win over $6 million. But how would the tricks they use in the movie fare in the online gambling era?
These days, you no longer have to dress up and visit land-based casinos to play. Thanks to live streaming technology, online gambling has become even more realistic and immersive than ever before. Live streaming technology has revolutionized the online gambling industry, which is expected to reach $127 billion by 2027.
It allows you to watch the dealers deal, shuffle, and chat with you in real-time. You can also communicate with other players at the table and enjoy a social and interactive gambling experience.
The Development of Live Online Casino Gaming
Live online casino gaming first emerged in the mid 2000s, just a few years after the first online casino was launched. However, the internet speed was not fast enough to support live video streaming so they were very rare at that time. As the internet speed improved and more people started using smartphones, live online casino gaming became more popular.
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 caused a further increase in the popularity of live online casino gaming. According to research conducted by Statista, this sector is anticipated to generate a revenue of US$38.96 billion by 2024.
Live streaming technology allows online gamblers to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of land-based casinos. Players can watch live dealers deal, shuffle and interact with the cards in real-time, making the experience more engaging and immersive than playing against pre-programmed software.
As a result, this makes the games more interactive and social, as players can chat with each other and the dealers. This way, players can enjoy a more social and immersive gambling experience than conventional online casinos.
Card Counting in Live Online Casinos
Live online casino platforms have made gambling more convenient and accessible. For further convenience and security, many game developers use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as a method of payment.
These digital currencies make payments faster and more secure using pseudonyms, which is excellent for people who want to maintain their privacy. A notable example is Bitcasino, a licensed crypto casino that accepts cryptocurrencies for its games, such as the 777 games that include slots, jackpots, and live casino options.
Online casinos also employ sophisticated software that can detect patterns indicative of card counting or other forms of advantage play. While these technologies can deter card counting, they also contribute to a secure and trustworthy gaming environment for all players. Some of these tools can also analyze player behavior and betting patterns.
Unusual or consistent betting behavior may trigger alerts, leading to further investigation. If suspicious activity is detected, the casino can take appropriate action, such as blocking the player or voiding the game. Online casinos may track players’ IP addresses to detect any irregularities for further measures.
After all, the landscape of casinos has evolved since the events portrayed in “21.” The movie is set in the early 2000s, and casinos have since adapted their methods and technologies to minimize the impact of card counting.
While card counting is a real technique, its effectiveness is limited in modern casinos due to increased security measures and countermeasures. For instance, similar to Continuous Shuffling Machines (CSMs) in physical casinos, online live dealer casinos often use Continuous Shuffling Algorithms. These algorithms shuffle the virtual decks of cards after each round, eliminating any patterns that card counters might exploit.
Online casinos can simulate games with a larger number of decks of cards, making it more challenging for players to keep track of which cards have been dealt. Another method is to periodically change the design or color of the virtual card backs during a session. This practice disrupts any attempts to track specific cards as they are dealt.
Published by HOLR Magazine.