For this week’s critical play, I had the chance to play Blackjack with a few other friends in person. Blackjack is most likely to have originated in 17th century France, and moved to America with the French colonists in the late 17th/early 18th century where it was popularized in Nevada in casinos into the game we know today. Although the game can be played by a wide audience, most people who play are often young adults or older as a leisure game or at a casino with higher stakes. I argue that while games of chance have some risk of addiction, Blackjack’s blend of chance and strategy, simple mechanics, and the constant presence of randomness create a strong addictive environment.
At the core of Blackjack’s addictive potential is its combination of both skill and luck. Unlike games of pure chance, Blackjack requires players to make strategic decisions based on their cards and the dealer’s singular visible card. This aspect can create a strong illusion of control, leading players to believe that their decisions can significantly influence the outcome. This sense of control is a major factor in the development of a gambling addiction as it strengthens a player’s false belief that they can predict or influence random events through skill or strategy. For example, when I was thinking about my response in hindsight, I attributed all of my wins to my own skill (From me when I get 21: “I’m just too good”, Phuc when she hits 20, then 20, then 21: “Lemme hit Vegas”) and all of my losses to luck (From me when I bust: “That’s just unlucky, bro. I’m just unlucky bro. Next time next time.”).
When compared to other games of chance, Blackjack occupies a middle position. For example, on one end, slot machines are almost entirely based on chance, offering no opportunities for players to make a skillful decision. The randomness in slots is “uncontrollable” and leads to a different kind of addiction driven by the sensory and psychological rewards. On the other hand, poker is much more skill and thought-intensive than Blackjack. The addiction in poker is often linked to the competitive aspects and the player’s perceived skill level relative to opponents in their decisions to play a hand or not, and how they could play it. Although the decision-making process is similar in both Blackjack and Poker, the sheer number of ways to play a hand and more complex behavioral mechanics makes Poker a much more complex game of chance to play, resulting in a different kind of addiction.
As such, Blackjack’s especially addictive due to its mechanics being in the middle ground between skill and chance. On one side, the strategic element keeps players engaged, while on the other side, the randomness ensures the outcome is never fully predictable. This combination could often be more enticing than games of pure chance or pure skill, as it challenges the player to refine their strategy for the long-term while keeping players hopeful and always seeking out for a favorable outcome.
The variable reinforcement schedule in Blackjack also contributes to its addictive nature. Players in this reinforcement schedule experience a mostly random mix of wins and losses. This pattern is very effective in maintaining player engagement as this uncertainty of winning creates a hook similar to the mechanisms found in other addictive behaviors. This prolonged engagement increases the risk of addiction as it keeps players playing another round in hopes that they will win the next one.
