It’s estimated that Blackjack dates back to the 1700s, and since then, has stood the test of time, evolving with modern technology; becoming available at online casinos, where live Blackjack allows you to play an authentic game in real-time, from anywhere you have internet access!
With this in mind, let us take a look at the origins of Blackjack, through to the modern-day, to see just how Blackjack manages to remain on top…
The early days
As previously mentioned, it was in French casinos, back in the 1700s, that Blackjack as we know it first appeared. The game was known as Vingt-et-Un at the time, and was popular within the French Royal Courts. The rules differed slightly, but the concept of the game has remained the same throughout the centuries – to beat the dealer by getting a hand value of 21, without going over (or as close as possible, before the dealer).
Twenty-one in America
In the 18th century, French colonists travelled the seas, taking Twenty-one to North American shores. Here, the game evolved and became extremely popular, and could be found in the newly-legalised gambling halls in New Orleans in 1820.
The game also found itself travelling up and down the Mississippi river – a popular trade route at the time. This helped it to spread even further throughout the country.
Then came along Eleanor Dumont, a rare, skilled dealer, who made a name for herself playing the game whilst travelling throughout America. When she settled down and opened her ironically-named gaming establishment – Vingt-et-Un, people would travel from far and wide to try their hand against her.
Becoming Blackjack
It wasn’t until more recently, in the 20th century that Twenty-one became known as Blackjack. This was due to an offer that was introduced by American casinos in the hopes to further promoting the game. The offer included a bonus payout, available to anyone who won the game with the Ace of Spades and one of the black Jacks from the deck. Despite the offer fading out, the name stuck, proving how impactful this was on the popularity of the game.
What makes Blackjack so great?
In the modern-day, not only is Blackjack available to play in just about every casino ever, but it is constantly evolving to suit the needs of modern-day players. Gaming developers have adapted to fast-growing technology, using this to create state-of-the-art gameplay that’s available online, at any time.
In addition to this, there are themed games, so avid Blackjack players can enjoy a new take on their favourite classics. And, Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of all casino games at around just 2%. This means that the chances of bagging a win is greater than it is in many other games of chance. And whilst Blackjack is a game of chance, there is also an element of decision-making, which helps to keep it on top, remaining one of the most popular games of all time.
