Blackjack Unblocked – An Exploration into Controvertible Gambling Sites
Blackjack is a game of the ages. Not the oldest card game in the books by any means, but the fact that mention of its gameplay appears in the epic novel Don Quixote, dating back to 1605, well… it’s an old one indeed, but no worse for wear. Millions of people enjoy the game all over the world. Most of us learn from a parent or grandparent around the dining room table. But it is a much different time today.
The twenty-first century brought with it an era of technology like never before. A burgeoning internet birthed smartphones and tablets, putting the entire world, and everything in it, at our fingertips. Anywhere, at any time, we can access anything on our mobile phones. That includes the timeless game of blackjack. I don’t just mean loading an app and playing a quick practice game. I mean a real game of blackjack, with real money on the line, often with other real people.
Twenty years ago, the online blackjack business was a free-for-all. Hundreds of websites, each one more suspicious than the next. There were a few good guys, a lot of bad guys, and a whole lot of something in-between. The trick was differentiating the reputable from the rogues. Today, regulations stretch far and wide, providing safe, locally licensed websites for blackjack and other gambling amusements. Yet still, some seek out the controversial divergence of unregulated iGaming. So many, in fact, that it’s earned a new title – Unblocked.
What is Blackjack Unblocked?
An unblocked game of blackjack refers to an online game, often hosted from a foreign location, that a person can access, despite it not being expressly legal to do so. In other words, a game that is not legal, but is not so illegal that the person cannot access it. In other words, its access has not been blocked by local authorities.
The term unblocked comes from the simple fact that many people find themselves IP-blocked from unauthorized websites. An IP block occurs when an Internet Service Provider (ISP) initiates an access block against an IP address; in this case, the IP addresses of domain names known to offer illegal online gambling services. If anyone using that ISP attempts to access the domain belonging to that IP address, the page will not open.
In Canada, IP blocks are rare. It is considered censorship and against the moral compass of the federal telecommunications agency, CRTC. Thus, we Canadians have unbridled access to unblocked casinos. So it’s not really a question of can we access them, but rather should we?
Are Unblocked Blackjack Websites Safe?
That is the biggest question of all. Are these websites safe to access? If you register an account, are they going to keep your personal information private? When making a deposit, could your financial details leak out to the rest of the world wide web? How do you know that the games are fair, or that a cashout will be honored?
These are scary questions that can be difficult to answer because, just like the iGaming industry of two decades ago, countless unblocked iGaming websites exist. Yes, there are some good ones out there; impeccably reputable operators with distinguished track records for customer satisfaction. However, they coexist within a tumultuous sea of unvetted competitors. As I said above – the good, the bad, and the something in-between.
It could be that you find a perfectly safe one, and then a few months later something happens. Maybe the website suffers a bad streak of luck, loses a lot of money, and decides to disappear into the dense void of cyberspace. What do you do about it? In most cases, nothing. If it’s not regulated by any local authority, there’s nothing you can do; no one to turn to for help.
The only honest answer to the question is a categorical shrug. Sure, you might find a safe offshore blackjack site. Or, you might not. How much of a gamble are you willing to take?
If They’re so Dangerous, What’s the Appeal?
There are a few notable benefits to playing blackjack at unblocked sites from within Canada. For starters, there will be no prying eyes upon you. No one is going to report your digital activities to the physical world. If you’re betting on a professional level, you may be able to avoid taxation of your winnings. Plus, you may find far more enticing promotions on these websites.
But are these really qualities or quagmires?
If you’re hiding your gambling from the world, maybe it’s time to ask yourself why. If you think you have a problem, there are many paths to freedom from addiction. As far as the law goes, gambling on unregulated websites is not illegal, but tax evasion most certainly is. And if the promotions are so much more appealing, there could be a duplicitous reason for it. Do you really want to risk grabbing that dangling carrot?
What about Unblocked eCheck Casinos?
Ah, this does pose an interesting line of thought. As you may know, eCheck deposits and withdrawals are exclusive to Canadian bank accounts. The Big Five Banks of Canada developed eChecks, Interac, and other payment systems to secure the nation’s domestic and international financial transfers. Electronic Fund Transfers.
It’s a well-known fact that Interac deposits are only supported by the world’s most reputable online casinos. That includes locally authorized websites, as well as international operators with no local license. If Interac is a viable payment option, it is a clear mark of trust. The question is, does that same seal of trustworthiness extend to iGaming sites that accept eChecks?
For the most part, yes it does. It is one of the primary reasons we at eCheckCasinos.ca are committed to the eCheck payment method. So committed that we’ve named our website after it! However, you do have to watch out for unsavory operators that may boast the eCheck logo, without truly accepting this payment option. If you choose to pay with eCheck and are met with some type of error message that directs you to select a different payment method, consider that a huge red flag.
Legal Alternatives – Regulated iGaming in Canada 2024
Most Canadian provinces offer wholly legal alternatives. Instead of playing blackjack unblocked, you may have access to locally regulated websites that offer all manner of casino games, as well as sports betting, poker, lottery, etc. It all depends on where you live, really. Here’s a breakdown of the Canadian provinces that offer legal, locally regulated iGaming websites, and the types of games on offer.
Alberta
iGamers in Alberta, Canada have access to the locally-regulated website PlayAlberta.ca. Launched on October 1, 2020, by AGLC, the website is available to all individuals age 18+ who are psychically located in Alberta.
- Gaming Verticals
- Casino
- Live Casino
- Instant Wins
- Lottery
- Sports Betting
British Columbia
B.C. Canada was the first province to adopt local iGaming regulations. It did so with the launch of PlayNow.com in 2004. Originally offering lottery products, the website soon evolved into all manner of iGaming products. It is open to anyone in British Columbia age 19+.
- Gaming Verticals
- Casino
- Live Casino
- iBingo
- Lottery
- Poker
- Sports Betting
Manitoba
Provincial leaders partnered with British Columbia to launch a Manitoba-facing edition of PlayNow.com/mb in January 2013. Players located in Manitoba can access the same gambling amusements as their neighbours in B.C., provided they are of legal age (18+).
- Gaming Verticals
- Casino
- Live Casino
- iBingo
- Lottery
- Poker
- Sports Betting
New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia
As part of the Atlantic Provinces, all gambling activities in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia are regulated by the ALC. Regulators launched an online casino via ALC.ca on August 6, 2020. It’s open to anyone in these provinces age 19+.
- Gaming Verticals
- Casino
- iBingo
- Instant Win Games
- Lottery
