The Origins & History of Blackjack
The origins of blackjack are more or less shrouded in mystery. No one can pinpoint an exact point of conception, or a specific person that created the game as we know it today. We can safely say that blackjack has evolved over several centuries, and continues to grow and evolve even today. In this article, we will summarise all we know about the history and origins of blackjack, and follow its development from ancient times to present day.
Blackjack Origins – How Did It All Begin?
According to one of the popular theories, the game of blackjack was invented by the people of ancient Rome. They would play a game that is quite similar to what we have today, but instead of cards, they would use little wooden blocks with numbers scrawled over them. All historians agree that the Romans were deeply fond of gambling – but that doesn’t confirm the theory in any way.
A more likely version of the origins of blackjack leads us to 18th century France, where card games were all the jazz. Many people believe that blackjack was derived from two popular games that were played in France back then – Chemin de Fer and French Femme. The result was a game called Vingt-et-Un, which translates to ‘twenty-one’.
Spain also might have something to do with the creation of blackjack. They had a game called One and Thirty, which played really similar to what we have today. The goal of this Spanish game was to get to 31 with a minimum of three cards. Sounds familiar, right?
Blackjack Reaches the New World
Eventually, the game of Vingt-et-Un was brought to the New World by French colonists. Its popularity continued to increase, and soon it was widely played across the entirety of North America. Of course, the rules were quite different back then – for example, there was a betting round after every single card that was dealt. Also, only the dealer was allowed to double down. The game was famous as ‘21’ for a very long time, up until the state of Nevada decided to be the first one to make gambling legal, which they did in 1931.
In order to get more people to play the game, early American casinos offered a promotional bet. If your hand has one of the black jacks (Spades or Clubs) and the Ace of Spades, you win ten times the amount you have wagered. This spectacular offer managed to get many players hooked on 21, and even changed the way people called the game. Even though the promotion was later abolished, people kept on calling the game ‘black jacks’, which eventually led to the name we all know today – blackjack.
Contemporary Developments
Blackjack entered a new Golden Age with the rise of online casinos. Apart from the original game, there are many new versions and variations, that add more to the classic formula. RNG blackjack games are an all-time favourite at all online casinos, and new titles are developed and released all the time. Blackjack has never been more accessible, and people are taking advantage of the advancement in technology.
The most recent incarnation of the game involves playing online with live dealers – probably the best way to experience the game as of yet. You get the full casino experience and dealer interaction, along with the comfort of being in your own home. Due to the fact that live dealer games are played with real decks, you can utilise advanced blackjack strategies – such as card counting.
Blackjack Is One of the Greatest Card Games Ever
Blackjack is not the invention of one single person – it was created, developed, and popularised by gamblers throughout many centuries. We believe that our favourite game is yet to advance even further. The future holds many exciting possibilities, and we can’t wait. For now, we will simply enjoy the game in the best UK blackjack sites – as you should too.
Written by: Alexander Birch