After years of enjoying tremendous success, Blackjack seems to have rolled snake eyes.
 
Just two short years ago, Blackjack was enjoying a massive boom and a reputation as ‘recession-proof.’ The boom came from Blackjack’s gamble on the skyrocketing success of its real estate and development. And initially the gamble paid off.  Its housing market enjoyed faster increases in home prices than anywhere else. Wealthy investors began buying houses anywhere that Blackjack controlled – not to live in, but to hold as an asset. Billion-dollar development projects were announced on a regular basis.
 
But the city didn’t seem to understand what any seasoned gambler should know: the winning streak on the housing bubble wouldn’t last forever. When the downturn of the financial markets arrived, many Blackjack citizens didn’t anticipate any change. In other bad financial times, Blackjack maintained itself and wasn’t as poorly affected as the rest of the Galaxy. The majority of its economy had been based on vice and immorality – two things that don’t go out of style when times get bad. Blackjack even financed an ad campaign pushing it’s perception as a fun-loving destination.  After all, the planet had been promoted for decades as a place where you can play, enjoy yourself and – most of all – spend.
 
Yet experts believe that perception has played a part in how badly the local economy was damaged. With consumers everywhere tightening their belts, a trip to Blackjack is seen as a luxury they can’t afford. The decline of tourism is a serious issue. Without tourist dollars coming in, Blackjack has had to cut back on social services. Blackjack keeps the taxes low, both planet-side and station-side, to encourage economic growth. Even in boom times, necessary government services are under funded.  Economic analysts say there is a two billion dollar gap between what money Blackjack’s government has received and the amount that its government services actually need. Affected most are social services for the unemployed, hospitals, and education.
 
But the housing –the very thing that created the boom – might be the worst of all Blackjack’ troubles. Major news outlets have reported Blackjack now ranks as both as the Most Abandoned Planet and Most Abandoned Station. The number of evictions and foreclosures the Blackjack Police issue has risen a startling 10,000 more per month.  Blackjack officials are doing everything they can to either collect or use the abandoned properties. But a large numbers of houses, partially developed land, and half-built hotels still stand abandoned.
 
Abandoned houses create a bad market value for any homes on Blackjack. There have been reports of gangs and dubious businesses taking over abandoned houses. One neighborhood reported that an abandoned house was trashed by church using it as a half-way house, then covered in graffiti by local teens. With houses like these standing empty, Blackjack’s recovery is certain to come slowly.