AOL Expands Casino Games With Blackjack Site

America Online Inc. on Friday said it had partnered with the Game Show Network LLC to create a blackjack site for AOL.com, the latest addition in AOL's growing number of casino games.

The new "blackjack hub" is expected to launch in April and offer free playing of blackjack, tips from the pros, and, during GSN's World Series of Blackjack TV show in June, exclusive behind-the-scenes video.

In addition to the blackjack TV show, GSN is making its online and interactive TV games, such as Lingo and Ballbreakers, available on AOL Games.

"Casino games such as blackjack and poker have become wildly popular among mainstream audiences and that trend is reflected on AOL Games," Ralph Rivera, vice president and general manager of AOL Games, said in a statement. AOL, a Dulles, Va., subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., recently partnered with Harrah's Entertainment to create an AOL.com World Series of Poker site featuring free poker games. The World Series of Poker is Harrah's premiere poker event.

AOL also recently launched AOL Vegas, a site dedicated to casino games, travel planning and original programming related to the gambling mecca.