Virtual Blackjack Could Be Coming

With Massachusetts considering the addition of slot machines and casino gambling, some in Rhode Island have been getting concerned regarding the future of gambling in their state. Now the Lottery has decided that it might be a good time to up the ante, and is looking into adding “virtual blackjack” to their lineup.

Lottery Director Gerald Aubin confirmed yesterday that he has asked GTECH and IGT (International Game Technology) to give him some information on adding virtual blackjack games to the state. He asked them if they were interested in providing those games, and if so they would bring in an initial investment of 18 machines which could always be expanded upon later.

The machines would simulate blackjack by having several players sitting at the machines signaling their moves to a “dealer” on the screen. Aubin says that this is not subject to voter approval as it is not a new kind of gambling. He says that video lottery terminals are pretty much the same as virtual blackjack, and therefore there is no expansion of gambling going on.

Even Governor Carcieri agrees and does not object to the plan. Skeptics want to know why Carcieri was against the Narragansett Indian tribe bringing in basically the same thing, and his spokespeople said that that was due to the money going out of the state, and that they would not have benefited from the addition of the casino. They do not know yet how much money would be coming in from the machines yet, but they say it could be in excess of $270 million this year alone.

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