From card-based titles to dice games, the casino gambling world has seen several casino titles come and go. But one casino title that has managed to stay and continues to be popular despite several ups and downs is Blackjack.
Just like the game, the history of Blackjack is interesting in its own right and something every Blackjack player must know. In this article, we take a look at the origins of Blackjack and how it evolved to become a highly popular title in the modern gambling world.
The origins of Blackjack
As with many other casino classics, the exact origins of Blackjack are not known. However, there exist a number of theories about the same. A certain group of people tends to believe that the game of Blackjack was invented during the Roman empire. It is thought that the Romans used to play a game that shared several similarities with today’s Blackjack. But again, there’s no convincing evidence to support that claim.
Another theory says that the game of Blackjack actually originated in Spain. This claim holds some truth to it, as there exists a Spanish counterpart of Blackjack named “One and Thirty”. Here, players need to get a value of 31 with a minimum of three cards.
The most widely accepted notion about the game’s origins is that it came from the Knights of the Temple. According to some historians, the first form of Blackjack was invented by these people in the 1400s. Soon after, the game was introduced in several other parts of France with the name Vingt-et-Un.
The boom in the popularity of Blackjack
By the late 17th/early 18th century, the game of Blackjack became a popular recreational activity in France. Also, the captivating nature of the game meant that it soon travelled to numerous other parts of the world.
Interestingly, it were the French colonists that first took the game of Blackjack to America. As you’d guess, the Blackjack dealer rules and other aspects of the older variation differed slightly from modern-day Blackjack. For instance, the early version only allowed the dealer to double the wager. Also, the number of decks used was usually lower than what you can find in Blackjack variations today.
The game eventually made its way to Europe, where the highly popular European Blackjack version was created. Also, during the European colonization period, the Europeans took the game to dozens of countries across the globe.
Blackjack in the 20th century
The game of Blackjack came into the US in the 1700s, but it wasn’t until the start of the 20th century that the game experienced mainstream popularity. In the 1930s, the state of Nevada went on to legalize gambling, resulting in a huge number of players flocking to the state to try their luck at Blackjack games.
Initially, casinos in Nevada offered a 10:1 payout for having a Blackjack. Also, players who had an Ace of spades could enjoy this significant payout. But in an attempt to offer equal Blackjack odds and to make Blackjack more uniform, the state of Nevada came up with a standard set of rules that all gambling venues needed to comply with. Interestingly, many of these rules can still be found in some Blackjack variations even today.
The rise of online Blackjack
The arrival of the internet in the 1990s was a game-changer for Blackjack and casino gambling in general. With online casino platforms, players had the chance to enjoy the game of Blackjack from the comfort of their homes.
Today, online Blackjack games have become the go-to choice for many players. After all, the online version eliminates the need of having to travel to a physical venue or wait for your round at the Blackjack table. Also, the online world has several exciting Blackjack variants to choose from. Furthermore, online Blackjack games make it easy for players to keep a track of their bets and use the Blackjack chart effectively.
For players who long for the social aspect of land-based venues, online casinos have live Blackjack games. Here, all the gameplay action takes place in real-time. Also, live Blackjack offers players the chance to interact with the dealer and other players.
What’s more, players don’t need to confine themselves to their gaming PC or living room with online casinos. Mobile gambling platforms allow you to enjoy your favourite Blackjack games whenever and wherever you want.