When it comes to the history of any one particular subject there are a lot of theories floating about as to how and why the idea was born. We can dissect books and look back through the ages for answers, however I really do believe that anything’s history is intertwined with another’s, meaning that one needs to consider more than one avenue to find the true roots of the studied.

The history of blackjack has been written about countless times with no real definitive answers. Most sources state that Italian roots obscure the history and Spanish influence but there is no real pinpoint as to how or why the game of blackjack came into being.

The following aims to piece together all the segments in blackjacks history to bring you the untold story and definitive history behind blackjack.

A Quick Look At Modern Blackjack

Modern blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games on the planet. Praised by players for its simplicity and pure card play style, Blackjack is a popular gaming choice both online and offline.

The aim of blackjack is to collect 21 or closest to it without going bust. In online versions players are pitted directly against the house, like in https://onlinenzcasino.co.nz/casino-games/keno/ but in traditional casinos players have multiple opponents at the blackjack table.

Each card can either represent its face value and other cards in the deck are assigned special values. You can use each card at your desire in conjunction with your skill to carefully attempt to attain 21.

The Early Origins Of Blackjack

Blackjack finds its roots in a number of popular European card games that hit the scene from around the fifteenth century. It’s really interesting that card games started to gather momentum from this time, as it was in the same era that Gutenberg invented the printing press. 

This made the production of cards far cheaper and available to more people. Before this cards were hand painted by artists and elite classes only used them.

It’s All About Twenty-One

It really doesn’t matter how you look at it but all card games follow the same formula. A number of cards are handed out and dealt amongst the players. A clear-cut winner is then determined by a ranking formula that either associates values for a total or by suit, match, rank or even sequence.

Blackjack draws on the inspiration of all card games that were popular in the fifteenth century and likewise all other card games draw on the same premise. What’s even more interesting is the undeniable presence of a game called vingt-un that emerged in France in the early to mid seventeenth century.

The name vingt-un means twenty-one and is often referred to as the clear origin of blackjack. Other variants that date back even earlier in the 16th century were known to form the basis of this game but here the game was a prediction type game called fifteen.

Blackjack In Casinos

The name blackjack was not used in common language up until the 20th century. Little was known about blackjack at the time and for the most part players started to popularize the name blackjack through its rapid widespread effect in the illegal casinos of America.

As a legal casino game, blackjack is one of the most popular table games on offer today. However this wasn’t always the case, when the game was introduced into American casinos the house would give away bonus credits on the game to spark interest around it.

The history of blackjack is intertwined with many card game variants and it is precisely the easy going totals game play style that has afforded the game with the title of most loved game on the planet. It’s not just an option in a casino; blackjack is my preferred choice of table game.