The chances are that if you’ve played any games at a casino before – online or in a land-based casino – you’ve at least heard of blackjack. Sometimes called pontoon or 21, this card game has entertained millions of people over the decades. The fact that it is not overly complex has likely helped it to remain one of the most-played games at physical casino tables and online – and the numerous LeoVegas blackjack games available to play are a testament to its popularity.

Of course, all games have origins, and many people wonder where on Earth blackjack got started. It’s more of a fascinating story than you might think! So, we’ve dug out the history books, blown off the cobwebs and put together this brief history of blackjack to help clue you in on what it’s all about.

Blackjack game history

When we look back at the blackjack game history, we must delve deep into our past – possibly as far back as ancient Rome. There is some debate over exactly who created the game and which country can lay claim to the full history of blackjack.

There are a few records of early deviations of the game – such as in a 1613 Spanish short story collection by Miguel de Cervantes, in 18th-century French casinos, and in Napoleon’s army. Players in ancient Rome allegedly used wooden blocks with numbers marked upon them. However, despite being fascinating, these origins are still somewhat up for debate. We can’t credit the Romans with everything, surely?

History of blackjack in Europe

As you can see, the history of blackjack definitely has ties to Europe. The rest of the world certainly comes into play, but first, we must focus on France. The prevailing theory regarding the history of blackjack is that it hails from 16th-century France under a different title, Vingt-Un. If you know a little French, you might understand that it roughly translates to ‘21’, which is, of course, the number that you need to aim for when playing the game.

Some historians believe that blackjack is something of a hybrid between existing French games of the time, such as French Ferme and Chemin de Fer, which are two other face-counting games. French Ferme in particular, was a popular game among many at the time, and it wasn’t long before Spanish players seized upon the idea of blackjack and made it their own.

In fact, the Spanish version of the game, One and Thirty, really ups the ante. Building upon the idea of 21 being the number that you need to aim for in the game, this variation instead added an extra 10 to the total. In this game, players need to get as close to 31 as possible!

Regardless, there’s little doubt that blackjack is a European game, at least in its roots. However, we have American players to thank for popularising it and getting the game to where it is today.

History of blackjack and today’s games

As far as we know, the brief history of blackjack tells us that the games played centuries ago are very similar to those that we play in land casinos and online in the 2020s. In fact, even if you believe the theories about players in ancient Rome, it’s clear that people used numbered cards and basic maths to play the game at its origins.

The principle of blackjack hasn’t changed much – but the name, and the side bets that have evolved over the decades, are largely US creations. To this day, most blackjack games you’ll play in casinos are based on the US adaptation. That said, there are other variations of the game that are based more on the European framework.

Does this necessarily mean that the game has changed much since it was first invented? Well, as far as we know, the game was created by French soldiers as a form of entertainment during the Napoleonic Wars. It was invented as a quick, simple game without overly complex rules.

That’s very much the same nowadays, though as you can see from the different tables and twists on the game out there, many have added a few extra ‘frills’ to make it more modern. We think that the classic forms of the game are comparable to the newer versions, and the type you choose is all a matter of taste!

The history of blackjack in the US and new versions

Blackjack reportedly arrived in the US thanks to colonists from France, who brought the game of Vingt-Un to the New World. The game first started picking up popularity on US shores in New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s here where gaming centres first started challenging people to try their luck at the game. Gambling was progressively legalised in halls, and then eventually in Nevada, leading to the development of some of the first casinos there. Of course, Nevada would eventually host some of the biggest casinos in the world in Las Vegas.

Vingt-Un evolved in the US to the point where Nevada dealers started offering new side bets and twists on the game. The modern name of the game derives from a bet that Nevada casinos launched in the 1930s. It was during this period that the card game 21 began being referred to as blackjack. Gambling halls and casinos were looking for a way to promote the game. These establishments offered various bonus payouts, including one that paid extra if a black jack (a jack of spades or clubs) was dealt along with an ace of spades.

As the game grew in popularity, the bonus payouts became less common, but the name had already stuck. Players who could line up either of the black jacks or an ace of spades in their hands were able to claim more prizes. This type of bet has all but disappeared now, but the name blackjack has remained.

New versions of the game add even more side bets and more rules for dealers and players to follow. Before we cover the brief history of blackjack rules, let’s take a quick look at where the game is today.

The history of blackjack and where we are now

In the late 1990s, blackjack went digital and online casinos started to pop up all over the world. The game became competitive for real money online. In the 2020s, live casino games are popular, with real dealers able to hand cards to players from afar. Live casino blackjack gives a realistic edge to online casino gaming, meaning that players feel as though they’re really at a table, even if they’re playing from home.

From here, the next step is likely to be virtual blackjack. Virtual reality (VR) casinos are still very new, but time will tell if VR games gain enough popularity to sweep across the globe.

How rules have changed across blackjack game history

As mentioned, the arrival of Vingt-Un in America led to a few different changes made with regard to the rules and modes of play. In particular, the ‘Black Jacks’ rule helped to establish the modern name for the game, but US players in the early days also gave the dealer the power to double – something that players couldn’t do for several years down the line.

We can also compare the differences between American blackjack and European blackjack to see how much the game has changed over the years. The US standard is what most people are familiar with – but it carries rules such as the ‘late surrender’, which lets players drop half the bet if they wish. It’s also a game where dealers always stand if they draw a 17, meaning that they can’t hit and take more cards.

US blackjack can use as few as one deck of cards, but in the European version, dealers use at least two. There’s also no ‘late surrender’, and there’s no rule in place regarding standing on 17. This, for modern players, helps to keep things interesting and if you want to know how to play blackjack take a look here.

FAQs

What is the origin of blackjack?

There is no one true origin point for blackjack! Some believe that it dates back to Roman times, while others believe that it was invented by French soldiers in the time of Napoleon. Regardless, it was a game played in Europe for centuries before players in the US modernised it with side bets.

Why is 21 the chosen number for blackjack?

There’s no precise reason why 21 is the number to reach in blackjack. However, some historians believe that this was a number that helped to increase the odds of the game and make it more interesting.

Have side bets always been available in blackjack?

No – blackjack started out as a game with the aim of making 21 from a hand of cards. It was once French colonists transferred the game over to US players that side bets started emerging!