Menu

The History of Blackjack

The History of BlackjackAmericans have an odd way of naming games with words that have no relation to the game, which is the case with Blackjack. The more accurate name would be 21, which was exactly the name when the game was invented in Europe, though you will read below the reason behind the name of Blackjack. Nevertheless, it’s a very iconic and cult word today, as is the game. It’s probably the most widely played game across casinos due to the simple game play it offers, the lowest house edge of all casino games and on top of that, you have to use a skill, which is always a more fun way to gamble.

In The Beginning

At the very beginning, this game as we know it today was actually called “21”, but in French. It is believed to be inspired by other card games that were played then, called “Fifteen” and “Seven and Half”, but some historians believe that Blackjack was most likely based on a Spanish game called “Thirty One”, which dates 6-7 centuries back, and at least a century before the other games. This was the oldest trace of Blackjack that historians could find. Although some have theories about a similar game played by the Romans that involved bricks with numbers on them.

After World War I, Brits called it Pontoon, which today is also offered in casinos, and is considered as a variation of blackjack with its own similar rules. Nevertheless, all of these games were played following the same concept: players needed to collect cards that form a total value as closest to a specified number, which today is 21. Blackjack’s popularity across Europe was spurred probably because it was one of the rarest games then that involved using skills.

How It Spread

The most popular version of Blackjack that we play today was brought in North America by French colonists in the form of Vingt-et-Un, which means Twenty-one. It became popular across the Wild West in the 19th century when it was widely played by cowboys, but poker and craps still were more popular. It is known that at that time the game allowed for the dealer to double.

When Las Vegas became the capital of gambling in the 1930s, Blackjack began receiving more and more attention, and it was exactly then when the game actually became truly popular. It was still called just “21”. The name that we know today established itself as the official name of the game when some casinos offered a bonus to players that hit blackjack with a black Jack and an Ace of spades, thus becoming known as Blackjack.

Modern Day Blackjack

Today Blackjack has inspired casino game developers to create lots of variations each with different twist making it even more exciting than usual. Some casinos even offer progressive blackjack where you can compete for a big progressive jackpot by placing a side bet next to your standard bet. There is a popular variation in which you can play with two hands at a time and be able to switch the top face-up cards in order to create stronger hand(s). There are plenty of other variations, each more interesting than the other.

Blackjack is one of those games whose low edge can be beaten relatively easy by using proper decisions. You can find plenty of resources online about playing Blackjack in the form of betting tips, betting strategies, allocation of bet sizes, progressive betting strategies and most important lots of opinions by experienced blackjack players. There is really no limit to your blackjack learning.

YOU MIGHT BE ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THESE:

RELATED NEWS

New Jersey Gambling Licence Renewal

New Jersey Gambling License Renewal Deadline Approaching [...]

santas great gifts slot

Get Ready for Christmas With Santas Great Gifts by Pragmatic Play [...]

woodlanders slot betsoft

Explore a Fairy Forest in the Woodlanders Slot by Betsoft [...]

MORE INTERESTING ARTICLES

Texas Hold'em Popular Game

Why Did Texas Hold’em Become the Most Popular Form of Poker? [...]

bingo uk market

The Effect of Bingo on the UK Economy: An Ever-Expanding Market [...]

Las Vegas Tourism Projects

New Projects That Will Restore the Thrill to Tourism in Las Vegas [...]

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THESE POPULAR PAGES

ONLINE CASINO BLACKJACK RESOURCES

Blackjack Strategy
STRATEGY

Use this easy strategy to get started playing.

Blackjack Glossary
GLOSSARY

Terms like "hit", "stand" and more explained.

Blackjack Rules
RULES

The rules of BJ are quite easy to pick up.

Blackjack History
HISTORY

The history of BJ is very interesting. Read more.

Online Blackjack Tips
TIPS

Check out our online blackjack tips.

Game Reviews
GAME REVIEWS

Learn more detailed info about hot casino games.

READY TO PLAY NOW? CHECK OUT OUR #1 ONLINE BLACKJACK CASINO

4.5

Drake Casino

100% up to $5,000 Bonus

BACK TO TOP

Receive Exclusive Bonuses, Promotions & News

Never miss a good casino promotion again! Add your email to our mailing list and receive some exclusive casino bonuses, promotions & updates straight to your inbox.