A letter of introduction

Why one table

The name borrows a feeling rather than a business. “Joins” suggests the moment a guest accepts an invitation and takes a place among others — a chair drawn out, a card set down, a small ceremony. We were never interested in running hotels or taking reservations. What stayed with us was the sense of being expected somewhere, and we wanted a card game that carried the same courtesy.

So rather than filling a lobby with dozens of titles, we kept a single blackjack table and gave it our full attention. The Sealed Hand deals from a properly modelled 52-card deck, shuffled fairly in your browser. The house plays by one written rule and cannot deviate from it. Every total, every payout and every push can be checked against the rules printed beside the cards.

What we are, and what we are not

Hoteljoins is a social gaming website. Its coins are virtual, handed out without charge, and valueless beyond the edge of the table. You cannot buy more, sell them, trade them, or turn them into money or prizes. There is no account to open and no card details to enter, because there is nothing to pay for.

We are equally clear that the site is meant for adults aged 18 and over, and that it is offered for entertainment purposes only. Doing well against our house says nothing about how anyone would fare in real-money gambling, and we would never suggest otherwise.

How we would like it to feel

Our design takes its cues from fine correspondence: cream writing paper, navy fountain-pen ink, a burgundy wax seal pressed onto the envelope. Cards are dealt with a little ceremony, the hidden house card waits under its seal, and results are stamped rather than shouted. We hope it feels calm, a touch formal, and pleasant to return to.

Should you ever have a question, a suggestion, or a note about something that did not behave as expected, our Support page lists the ways to reach us. We read every message.