Blackjack History
Learn more about the history of blackjack here!
As with so many casino games, Blackjack (or Pontoon) probably originated in France. Originally called Vingt-et-Un (Twenty-one), it’s believed to have emerged around the turn of the 18th Century, and may have evolved from another hugely popular French game of the time, Chemin de Fer – the ancestor of today’s Baccarat.
The origins of Blackjack, however, are a matter of some dispute. As with so many games of this level of simplicity, it’s highly possible that different versions grew up in different parts of the world, entirely independently of each other. Certainly, Spain had it’s own version dating to around the same time, which was called ‘One and Thirty’. The rules were essentially the same, the objective being to reach 31 with a minimum of three cards. And the first written reference of the game is found in a book by Don Quixote author Miguel de Cervantes, an ardent gambler himself. In “Novelas Ejemplares” he describes his central characters as proficient cheaters at “Ventiuna” (Spanish for twenty-one), and specifically describes the rules of the game. Dating from 1602, this certainly gives the Spanish a very good argument for originating the game.
The Romans, naturally, get a look in amongst some Blackjack historians. It’s thought that they played a version of Blackjack using wooden blocks of different values. The evidence is slim, but those Romans did like a punt, so it’s quite possible.
Whatever, it was 18th Century France where the game gathered widespread popularity. It soon reached the United States, courtesy of French colonists, who still had a huge empire in the New World until the Louisiana purchase of 1803. Still called ‘21’ at this stage, the burgeoning gambling scene in Nevada nurtured the growth of the game amongst serious gamblers. It was in America where the game we know today evolved, and earnt it’s name. When Vingt-en-Un was first brought to the US, casinos tried various methods to entice people to play it over other games. Bonuses were offered, including one with a 10:1 payout if the player’s hand consisted of the ace of spades and a jack of spades or clubs – ie a ‘black jack’. This lucrative hand lent the game it’s new name (although the bonus was soon scrapped). These days, a ‘blackjack’ hand is simply an ace and a ten.
As we’ve seen, Blackjack has a complex history, and has evolved over many centuries in many countries. And now, the Age of the Internet. A huge upsurge in online gaming has led to Live Blackjack becoming popular among swathes of people who would never have dreamed of setting foot inside a real casino. This is where we at Castle Casino come in – have a browse round our Blackjack Guide, and sign up to play online Blackjack.
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