Virtual Blackjack Nights: How Charleston Residents are Betting and Bonding Online

People are social animals. While even the most ardent of loners might say they’re fine with their own company they’ll appreciate some interaction with other humans. There are some instances where people of Charleston (and beyond) are using virtual live blackjack nights to bring them closer to their friends and family despite not being physically near one another.

What is a virtual blackjack event?

Firstly, let’s define what we mean when we refer to a virtual live blackjack event. It can be as simple as a web call on Skype or Zoom where participants log on and talk to their friends. One person takes the role of the dealer and plays out the game as if they were in the same room but explains what cards each player has, as they won’t have in front of them. The players then take turns to say if they want to hit or stick just like the in-person game.

As the game of blackjack is very simple and universally known, it means that everyone can play with limited prior knowledge or barriers to understanding, even with the game adapting to this new style of play. Some websites and chat software packages have even added the ability to host a game where each player can control their hand by operating the computer. Some betting sites have even made the ability for users to host private rooms and wager real funds, if people want to recreate their blackjack nights.

COVID-19 brought people together, virtually

The COVID-19 pandemic was a crippling virus and time for everyone. As an incredibly transmissible ailment, people had to isolate and distance themselves from one another. Social events taking place on online venues flourished as a result as people still wanted to communicate and socialise with their friends and family. When they had already discussed the pandemic, Tiger King, etc, the advent of online games and the ability to play live blackjack on these sites using real cash came alive. Charleston and South Carolina were particularly inflicted by the pandemic as the total cases at one point reached around 40% of the total population of the state.

Avoiding the downtown Charleston traffic

One reason why Charleston locals are still turning to online blackjack events for social means is because of the busy roads in the city. Like many metropolitan areas, Charleston is subject to heavy traffic during peak hours – but this city has been known to be pretty bad for those traveling on the roads. The DASH shuttle and pedestrian-friendly city center are great features of the area but don’t help natives get from and to different residential areas. Therefore if it’s especially busy one night when a person has a poker night on the other side of Charleston, they might opt to play online instead to avoid the traffic.

Able to play with others, not in Charleston

Even if you, your family and the majority of friends are based in Charleston, South Carolina – you might have that uncle or old associate who moved away from the city. Before the technological advancements, it would be nearly impossible to share a card game with people who weren’t in the same room as you. Now, let’s say your husband is away on a business trip in New Jersey, rather than go to NJ yourself to play blackjack with him you can simply do it online. Be sure to check the time zones, if you’re planning to play with someone who lives quite far away!

Remember the legal status of online gambling in South Carolina

Just before you start thinking about hosting a virtual blackjack event for you and your friends, be sure to remember that online gambling is almost completely prohibited in South Carolina. There are offshore sites you can access and you get on US sites with enough hard work (VPNs, proxies, etc) but you’ll be skirting the local legislation. If the authorities find out, they might not be best pleased and may pursue legal action.

In a way, the lack of brick-and-mortar casinos could have only exacerbated the needs and desires of those who want to play blackjack. There is no physical venue to play the card game to do so in Charleston or even South Carolina (only the river boats that operate in international waters), leading to a big online blackjack community.

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