A friendly game of blackjack

About this painting

Dogs playing casino games is a proven crowd favorite. This elaboration on the theme was presented on a Dunes promotional postcard. The Dunes was a Las Vegas Strip hotel/casino that stood on the southwest corner of the Las Vegas Strip and Flamingo Road, at the site of the present-day Bellagio. This is actually a very realistic portrayal of a blackjack game, excepting the dogs being allowed to touch their cards, and the fact that there is no shoe visible. Is the dealer pulling cards out of thin air?

As I said before, anthropomorphic animals are inherently amusing. This painting is no exception. I wonder if the Dunes would have allowed dogs on the casino floor? If they had cash to gamble, probably. Is there anything in the gaming code that says only humans can place wagers? Sure, there might be a problem with underage gambling, but I'm sure that most of these animals over over 21 in dog years.

Dig the sad-eyed basset hound who is looking straight into the camera, as it were. There is a canine with some serious self-knowledge. Quite sobering, really. -dgs