diff --git a/Project.App/Project.Api/DTOs/BlackjackActionDTO.cs b/Project.App/Project.Api/DTOs/BlackjackActionDTO.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e29b8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Project.App/Project.Api/DTOs/BlackjackActionDTO.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+using System.Text.Json;
+
+namespace Project.Api.DTOs;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// The base class for all blackjack-specific action DTOs.
+/// </summary>
+public abstract record BlackjackActionDTO : GameActionDTO;
+
+public record BetAction(long Amount) : BlackjackActionDTO;
+
+public record HitAction : BlackjackActionDTO;
+
+public record StandAction : BlackjackActionDTO;
+
+public record DoubleAction : BlackjackActionDTO;
+
+public record SplitAction : BlackjackActionDTO;
+
+public record SurrenderAction : BlackjackActionDTO;
+
+public static class JsonElementExtensions
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Extension method to deserialize a <see cref="BlackjackActionDTO"/> from a <see cref="JsonElement"/>.
+    /// Any errors thrown during deserialization will be passed to the caller.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static BlackjackActionDTO ToBlackjackAction(this JsonElement element, string action)
+    {
+        return (
+                action switch
+                {
+                    "bet" => element.Deserialize<BetAction>(),
+                    "hit" => element.Deserialize<HitAction>(),
+                    "stand" => element.Deserialize<StandAction>(),
+                    "double" => element.Deserialize<DoubleAction>(),
+                    "split" => element.Deserialize<SplitAction>(),
+                    "surrender" => (BlackjackActionDTO?)element.Deserialize<SurrenderAction>(),
+                    _ => throw new NotSupportedException(
+                        $"Action '{action}' is not a valid action for Blackjack."
+                    ),
+                }
+            ) ?? throw new InvalidOperationException($"Could not deserialize action {action}.");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Project.App/Project.Api/DTOs/GameActionDTO.cs b/Project.App/Project.Api/DTOs/GameActionDTO.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f1f13f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Project.App/Project.Api/DTOs/GameActionDTO.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+namespace Project.Api.DTOs;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// The base class for all game action DTOs. Does nothing.
+/// </summary>
+public abstract record GameActionDTO;
diff --git a/Project.App/Project.Api/Services/BlackjackService.cs b/Project.App/Project.Api/Services/BlackjackService.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c1861e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Project.App/Project.Api/Services/BlackjackService.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+using System.Text.Json;
+using Project.Api.DTOs;
+using Project.Api.Services.Interface;
+
+namespace Project.Api.Services;
+
+/*
+
+set up deck API connection
+set up game configs
+
+loop
+    shuffle deck(?)
+
+    loop
+        if everyone has bet/left or time is up
+            break
+        end if
+        wait
+    end loop
+    deduct bets
+
+    deal 2 cards to each player
+    deal 2 cards to dealer (one hidden)
+
+    loop (foreach player)
+        loop
+            if hit
+                deal card
+            else if stand
+                break
+            end if
+        end loop
+    end loop
+
+    deal to dealer (hit until 17)
+    calculate scores
+    determine outcomes
+    distribute winnings
+end loop
+
+teardown
+close room
+
+*/
+
+#region Blackjack Game Stages
+
+// initial setup
+// initialize deck, set game configs
+public record BlackjackInitStage : BlackjackStage;
+
+// doing pre-round setup
+public record BlackjackSetupStage : BlackjackStage;
+
+// waiting for players to bet
+public record BlackjackBettingStage : BlackjackStage;
+
+// dealing
+public record BlackjackDealingStage : BlackjackStage;
+
+// player turn
+// TODO: figure out how turn order will work
+public record BlackjackPlayerActionStage(int Index) : BlackjackStage;
+
+// dealer turn and distribute winnings
+public record BlackjackFinishRoundStage : BlackjackStage;
+
+// teardown, close room
+public record BlackjackTeardownStage : BlackjackStage;
+
+#endregion
+
+public class BlackjackService : IBlackjackService
+{
+    public Task<BlackjackState> GetGamestateAsync(string gameId)
+    {
+        throw new NotImplementedException();
+    }
+
+    public Task<bool> PerformActionAsync(
+        string gameId,
+        string playerId,
+        string action,
+        JsonElement data
+    )
+    {
+        BlackjackActionDTO actionDTO = data.ToBlackjackAction(action);
+
+        switch (actionDTO)
+        {
+            case BetAction betAction:
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+            case HitAction hitAction:
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+            case StandAction standAction:
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+            case DoubleAction doubleAction:
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+            case SplitAction splitAction:
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+            case SurrenderAction surrenderAction:
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+            default:
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+        }
+
+        throw new NotImplementedException();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Project.App/Project.Api/Services/Interface/IBlackjackService.cs b/Project.App/Project.Api/Services/Interface/IBlackjackService.cs
index 86e9e6c..c4b4211 100644
--- a/Project.App/Project.Api/Services/Interface/IBlackjackService.cs
+++ b/Project.App/Project.Api/Services/Interface/IBlackjackService.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
 namespace Project.Api.Services.Interface;
 
-public interface IBlackjackService : IGameService { }
+public abstract record BlackjackStage : GameStage;
+
+public record BlackjackState : GameState<BlackjackStage>
+{
+    public required List<object> DealerHand { get; set; } = [];
+}
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Represents a service for handling blackjack logic.
+/// </summary>
+public interface IBlackjackService : IGameService<BlackjackState> { }
diff --git a/Project.App/Project.Api/Services/Interface/IGameService.cs b/Project.App/Project.Api/Services/Interface/IGameService.cs
index 1d47c95..1eeafac 100644
--- a/Project.App/Project.Api/Services/Interface/IGameService.cs
+++ b/Project.App/Project.Api/Services/Interface/IGameService.cs
@@ -1,72 +1,38 @@
-namespace Project.Api.Services.Interface;
-
-//
-// start -> pre-game -> ||: pre-round -> | player turn (foreach player) | -> post-round :|| -> post-game
-//
+using System.Text.Json;
 
-public enum GameStage
-{
-    PreGame,
-    PreRound,
-    PlayerTurn,
-    PostRound,
-    PostGame,
-}
+namespace Project.Api.Services.Interface;
 
-public record GameState
+/// <summary>
+/// Used to represent the current state of a game.
+/// Each game should have their own "parent" abstract class that extends this class to ensure type safety.
+/// </summary>
+public abstract record GameStage;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Represents the current state of a game, including all relevant information.
+/// Can be extended to include more information for a specific game type.
+/// </summary>
+public record GameState<TStage>
+    where TStage : GameStage
 {
-    public GameStage Stage { get; set; }
+    public required TStage CurrentStage { get; set; }
 }
 
-public interface IGameService
+/// <summary>
+/// A service for handling game logic.
+/// Actions are async and stateless, so for each request, the service needs to get the current game state and
+/// act accordingly, either by updating the game state or returning an error.
+/// </summary>
+public interface IGameService<TState>
 {
-    Task<bool> DoPreGameAsync();
-    Task<bool> DoPreRoundAsync();
-    Task<bool> DoPlayerTurnAsync();
-    Task<bool> DoPostRoundAsync();
-    Task<bool> DoPostGameAsync();
-
-    Task<GameState> GetGamestateAsync(string gameId);
-
-    // async Task<GameState> GetGamestateAsync(string gameId)
-    // {
-    //     return _gameRepository.GetGamestateAsync(gameId);
-    // }
-
-    async Task<bool> DoGameActionAsync(string gameId, string playerId, string action)
-    {
-        GameState gamestate = await GetGamestateAsync(gameId);
-        return gamestate.Stage switch
-        {
-            GameStage.PreGame => await DoPreGameAsync(),
-            GameStage.PreRound => await DoPreRoundAsync(),
-            GameStage.PlayerTurn => await DoPlayerTurnAsync(),
-            GameStage.PostRound => await DoPostRoundAsync(),
-            GameStage.PostGame => await DoPostGameAsync(),
-            _ => throw new Exception("Unknown game stage"),
-        };
-    }
-
-    // if this was not distributed, this is how it would work
-    // BUT gamestate is tracked in the database, so it needs to be able to load the gamestate at any point
-    // async Task MainLoopAsync()
-    // {
-    //     await DoPreGameAsync();
-
-    //     // main loop
-    //     bool isRunning = true;
-    //     while (isRunning)
-    //     {
-    //         await DoPreRoundAsync();
-
-    //         // TODO: foreach player
-    //         // {
-    //         //     await DoPlayerTurnAsync();
-    //         // }
-
-    //         await DoPostRoundAsync();
-    //     }
-
-    //     await DoPostGameAsync();
-    // }
+    Task<TState> GetGamestateAsync(string gameId);
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Performs a user action on the game, if valid, then updates the game state.
+    /// Each game implementation provides their own main loop logic implementation, instead of being restricted to a
+    /// specific structure.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="action">The action to perform</param>
+    /// <param name="data">A JSON object containing the action data</param>
+    Task<bool> PerformActionAsync(string gameId, string playerId, string action, JsonElement data);
 }