7 Jul

The Pros and Woes of Unblocked Blackjack in 2023

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 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 age 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, 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 that a person is able to 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.

The term unblocked comes from the simple fact that many people find themselves IP-blocked from unauthorized websites. An IP block occurs is 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 we sign up an account, are they going to keep our personal information private? When making a deposit, could our 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 – the good, the bad, and the something in-between.

It could be that you find a perfectly safe one, 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? 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 one. 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. 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. In some cases, you’ll find far more enticing promotions as well. 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 for 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’s probably a duplicitous reason for it. Do you really want to risk grabbing that dangling carrot?

Legal Alternatives – Regulated iGaming in Canada 2023

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 regulation. 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

As part of the Atlantic Provinces, all gambling activities in New Brunswick are regulated by the ALC. Regulators launched an online casino via ALC.ca on August 6, 2020. Anyone in New Brunswick age 19+.

Gaming Verticals

Casino, iBingo, Instant Win Games, Lottery

Newfoundland
& Labrador

NL is latest Canadian province to jump on the regulated iGaming bandwagon, acquiescing to the implementation of ALC.ca online casino games in mid-2023. Players in Newfoundland & Labrador age 19 and older can participate.

Gaming Verticals

Casino, iBingo, Instant Win Games, Lottery

Nova Scotia

On July 21, 2022, ALC.ca opened its online casino games to the people of Nova Scotia. You must be 19+ and physically located in the province to play.

Gaming Verticals

Casino, iBingo, Instant Win Games, Lottery

Ontario

Ontario began regulating iGaming through the provincially-run website PlayOLG.ca in January 2015 (now OLG.ca). However, Ontario is the most progressive of all Canadian provinces when it comes to online gambling regulation. Plans to branch out into a competitive market with licensed operators began almost immediately, finally coming to fruition in April 2022.

Anyone in Ontario, age 19+, would do well to consider any one of the 70+ iGaming destinations available to them. These websites are locally vetted, licensed, and regulated by the AGCO and iGO. You can learn more about these operations and why they’re invaluable to Ontarians here:

Gaming Verticals

Casino, Live Casino, Lottery, Sports Betting, Instant Win Games

Prince Edward Island

Of all the Atlantic Canadian provinces, Prince Edward Island is the only one that has yet to approve ALC’s online casino for its residents. Limited forms of gambling are available, but unfortunately, unblocked blackjack sites are their only option for online and mobile play. Click here for more information.

Gaming Verticals

iBingo, Lottery

Quebec

On December 1, 2010, Quebec became the second Canadian province to launch an iGaming website. Espacejeux.com provides local players age 18+ with a wide range of safe, regulated gambling options.

Gaming Verticals

Casino + Live Casino, iBingo, Instant Wins, Lottery, Poker, Sports Betting

Author

  • Adalene Lucas

    is our jack of all trades here at DBC. She is a skilled coder, gambler, writer and webmaster. She lives in Manitoba where she enjoys the lush landscapes and camping near Tulabi Falls. Nature gives her inspiration to write. When she's not immersed in nature, her favorite words are "game theory". She lives with her husband and their two Labradors, Kophy and Whisper.

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