The History of Blackjack

Alongside poker, blackjack is probably the most famous gambling card game in the world. It originates from France, where a game called vingt-et-un (French for 21) began being played in casinos at the end of the 17th century. This game quickly spread throughout Europe and then the rest of the world. French Canadians brought the game to North America and it soon became a firm favourite there with card players and gamblers alike.

In the 1930s, the advent of legalised gambling in the state of Nevada elevated the game to another level of popularity. Some casinos began offering players of 21, as it was called then, special odds of 10-1 on their bet if they had the ace of spades and either one of the blackjacks in their hand. This incentive greatly increased the profile of the game and, although it isn’t a feature of the game anymore, the name of blackjack stuck ever since.