Today Blackjack is also commonly known as ‘Twenty-One’ or ‘Pontoon’. There is a general consensus that Blackjack originated in France from popular games like ‘Chemin de Fer’ and ‘French Ferme’  around 1700 and was called Vingt en Un (French for ‘twenty-one’). Some of the rules of the game in its early years do not resemble the Blackjack offered at contemporary casinos. A couple of the most notable differences are that the earlier versions of game did not offer the 3:2 bonus for a two-card 21 and only the dealer was allowed to double and the betting method was that you would have to bet after each round.

While France was where Blackjack originated, it is not the only country to contribute to the existence of the game as we know it today. In the 1700’s Italians played a game called ‘Seven and a Half’. The goal of this game was to reach a hand totaling seven and a half points using 7, 8 and 9 cards. Regular cards (7's, 8's and 9's) were valued as one point while face cards valued half a point. The King of Diamonds could substitute any card - like a Joker or a designated wild card. When players exceeded seven and a half points they were "busted". Many believe that the term "bust" of Blackjack derived from Seven and a Half.

Twenty-One had only moderate success when it first arrived in the United States. In fact, it was greeting with such a cool reception that gambling houses tried offering various bonus payouts to get the players to the tables. One such bonus was a 10-to-1 payout if the player's hand consisted of the ace of spades and a black Jack - either the Jack of clubs or the Jack of spades. This hand was called a "blackjack" and the name stuck to the game even though the bonus payout was soon abolished. As the game is currently played, a "blackjack" may not necessarily contain a jack or any black cards at all.

By the 1800’s Blackjack was a gambling favorite in the US, but players were forced to take the game underground due to strict government legislation banning all gambling due to a perceived threat to morality and social order. Eventually, Nevada lifted the ban against gambling in 1931 and Las Vegas was born. Over the years many other states followed suit. Today Blackjack is a casino favorite with players in the US and around the world. Many people credit it’s popularity to the fact players have the opportunity to combine skill (like card counting and statistical odds) and luck to get a winning hand.

Learn how to play casino Blackjack.