Gambling 2.0: MOTO Shows its Hand with Multi-touch BlackJack Table

I’m not much of a gambler. When I’m in Atlantic City the most I play are the slot machines, and the penny ones at that and that’s only so I can score free drinks. However, I’ve always wanted to try my luck at the blackjack tables with the more sophisticated gamblers. 2010 might find me posted up at a table if it looks like this.

MOTO Development Group just released video of the world’s first round multi-touch casino gaming table. More than your average video poker or blackjack game, the prototype automates a lot of the game’s process. For instance, if you were playing blackjack you can bet and choose to hit or stay simply by tapping on the resistive-touch table. When it’s time for the dealer to deal he or she just slides the cards across the table to the waiting player. The process can also be animated.

When all the cards are dealt and its time to check the cards, players place a cupped hand over their cards. The hand gesture creates a virtual curtain over the cards that players raise by slowly moving their hand down the cards to get a small peek at their hand. When it’s time to show and prove, they just remove their hand and their cards are on view for the world to see.

The prototype is set up just like a real blackjack table with multiple spots to accommodate a group of players. Although there are no physical chips, it’s not hard to imagine these tables issuing a voucher of some sort when it’s time to cash out. The table has been setup to run Texas Hold ‘Em poker and blackjack in it’s initial runs, but it’s not a hard stretch of the imagination to picture roulette and other games of chance receiving this treatment.

I’m very curious how casinos would handle logistical problems like blackouts or system crashes if these are introduced onto the gaming floor. Also how would gamers react? Would the game be less thrilling without the tactile touch of the cards and the clatter of chips being won and loss? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Check out the video below to see the MOTO prototype in action.

Multi-Touch Blackjack from MOTO Development Group on Vimeo.

Ready to place your bets digital style? Let us know if you’re going all in or folding on this concept in the comments section.