To play blackjack or not to play blackjack: that is the question. Actually, the question at hand is: why is playing blackjack better than playing, say, slots or roulette or craps or poker?

In other words, why do people choose blackjack over so many other casino games and why has it remained the most popular gambling game on land and online for almost a century? Why, you may ask, should you play blackjack, too?

The two most important reasons for blackjack's popularity are the fact that it's easy and that it can be won — not necessarily in that order. Other games have complicated bets and rules and are, frankly, intimidating (even though most other casino games are simpler than they look). The rules of blackjack are easy to grasp — you have to beat the dealer by getting a hand closer to 21 without going over. Anyone can understand the basics of blackjack; if you can count to 21, you can play.

But the beauty of blackjack is that despite its simplicity it is really a complex, math-based, statistically related game of numbers and, because it's not just a game of chance, it can be won consistently if you know what you're doing. Blackjack strategies can tip the odds in your favour. Card counting really works. Yes, it takes practice and determination, but card counting can give you the edge in a world where the casino almost always has the upper hand. And the basic blackjack strategy, although plodding and not particularly colourful, can keep you at the table for ages and, with a little luck, can make you come out ahead, as well.

The point is that, unlike the slots or roulette or other games of chance, blackjack requires skill and brains. Blackjack is a challenge; it's not just about feeding coins into a slot or watching a wheel spin. In blackjack, you — the player — can change the outcome of the game. Your participation and know-how is what determines whether you win or lose, particularly if you are playing in an online casino, where there is less distraction and more ability to concentrate. Blackjack is a game that can be studied and mastered; it's a game with depth and complexity.

There's no arguing the fact that luck-based games like slot machines are fun and potentially exciting. One pull of the lever and your life can change in an instant — nothing wrong with that. Blackjack, on the other hand, is a game in which the big win is not the object of the game. Each hand of online blackjack may be quick and short but your winnings accumulate slowly and the game requires patience, concentration, steadfastness, persistence and endurance. For many gamblers, that doesn't sound like entertainment; for others — millions of others, decade after decade — it's what online casino gambling is all about.