Ladbrokes has found an unusual way to promote its new Speed Blackjack game.
Instead of simply launching another live casino table, the operator took blackjack 13,000 feet into the air. Four professional skydivers managed to play a complete hand while falling toward Earth at around 120 mph.
The stunt was created to promote Ladbrokes Speed Blackjack, which forms part of the operator’s refreshed Live Casino offering.
Blackjack at 13,000 Feet
The stunt took place above Hinton Airfield in Northamptonshire, England.
The four-person team included former members of the Red Devils parachute display team. They used specially designed magnetic cards and chips to stop the equipment disappearing during freefall.
Ally Milne effectively became the blackjack table, while Andy Torbet acted as the dealer. Ray Armstrong and Robbie Powell played the hand.
The group had roughly 45 seconds before reaching parachute deployment height.
Despite the rather unusual playing conditions, they completed the hand in time. Armstrong finished with 20 before the group deployed their parachutes.
The stunt was coordinated by Allan Hewitt, whose previous work includes major film productions such as James Bond and Mission: Impossible.
What Is Ladbrokes Speed Blackjack?
Speed Blackjack is designed to reduce some of the waiting associated with traditional live dealer blackjack.
The basic objective remains familiar: players still try to beat the dealer without exceeding 21. The main difference is the faster pace of play.
Ladbrokes is positioning the game as part of its expanded Live Casino offering, alongside its existing blackjack and roulette tables.
Speed Blackjack itself is not an entirely new casino concept. Faster blackjack variants have existed for several years.
What is new here is Ladbrokes' latest version and the marketing campaign surrounding its launch.
A Marketing Stunt Built Around Speed
The connection between the game and the skydive is fairly obvious.
Speed Blackjack is supposed to make blackjack quicker. Ladbrokes therefore gave its players an extreme deadline: finish the hand before it was time to open their parachutes.
According to the operator, the campaign was designed to demonstrate the game's focus on faster decisions and shorter rounds.
It is certainly one of the more unusual casino launches I have seen recently.
Playing blackjack while travelling at 120 mph probably won't become the next major casino trend. As a way of getting people talking about another blackjack variant, however, the idea has done its job.
Speed Blackjack and other real-money casino games may not be available in every jurisdiction. Players should check local regulations and operator availability before playing.
