Blackjack Extreme Might Be Next Big Game

There's a new card game about to invade the gambling world...

There's a new card game about to invade the gaming world, and it's called Blackjack Extreme. The idea features aspects of both blackjack and Texas Hold'em, and gives each player a chance to be the house against the rest of the table.

After placing blinds, the dealer gives each player one up card and one down card, which the player can check. The dealer also gets two cards, but he decides which one to flip. After receiving cards, the players have a round of betting, consisting of either doubling the blind as a raise, checking and keeping the blind in play, or folding and retaining half the blind bet, but losing the other half.

Dealer then has the option to fold and pay off half all remaining blinds, or play. If play is chosen, then each player takes cards as he wishes, a la regular blackjack. Once players have either busted or declined further cards, the dealer may hit his own hand as desired, but must stop on any hand of hard seventeen or higher, though soft hands may always be hit.

The dealer then pays off winners and collects from losers, and the deal rotates to the next player. The house makes its money on a rake system, as in poker.

The game has a powerful ally in its inventor, former Hollywood mogul David C. Thomas. Thomas, a former producer of such major movie hits as "Mask" and "The Howling", is pitching his game to several markets simultaneously, including online and land casinos, tv stations eager to fill demand created by the popularity of Hold'em, and the video poker electronic game crowd.

Thomas is already pushing the National Indian Gaming Commission to approve the game, and is expected to use his Hollywood influence to draw celebrity power to promotions of Blackjack Extreme. Could this be the next "Let It Ride"? It might be a fair bet.