Blackjack – The History
Although there is no certain timeline for the history of blackjack, most people agree that blackjack’s roots stem from France in the 1600s or 1700s. The first game that led to the eventual modern version of blackjack was known as Vingt-et-Un, which translating to “21” in English.
Another game that contributed to the creation of blackjack was one that originated in Spain – Veintiuna. Veintiuna also translates to “21;” just like modern blackjack, the object of Veintiuna was to reach as closely as possible to 21 without going over.
The Origination of the Term “Blackjack”
Once these games reached the United States, a handful of casinos attempted to spread its popularity without success. So in order to up its popularity factor, casinos offered a 10-1 ratio for bonus payouts if a player’s initial two cards were a black suit jack and an ace of spades. Thanks to this promotional effort, the term “blackjack” was coined.
The Gambling Prohibition
Although blackjack finally began to spread around the country, the game was played “underground” because of the United States government’s ban on gambling cards in the 1800s. Because of this ban, the popularity of blackjack soared and when Las Vegas legalized gambling in 1931, there was no stopping it.
Card Counting
In the 1960s, card counters began to make their way to the blackjack scene. When other people found out about the huge profit card counters were making, they all wanted a piece of the action. This gave blackjack its reputation as a beatable casino game.
Low House Edge
However, most people do not bother learning the strategies needed to be successful at blackjack. Even so, this card game is chock full of possibilities. Gamblers appreciate the fact that blackjack holds a very low house edge. Even though casinos go all out to stop card counters, millions of modern-day players travel to casinos or get online every year for a chance to “win big.”