History of Blackjack: How it Spread and How it Got its Name
Blackjack is one of the most popular gambling games around the world. Every gambler knows what the rules are and many are aware of its different varieties. However, few people know where it originated.
Its Origins Date Sometime in the 18th Century
Historians are at a loss in finding documentation on the creation of blackjack. The best evidence they could uncover is that it is a popular game played in the court of King Louis XV whose reign lasted between 1715 to 1774.
Blackjack used to be called Vingt-et-Un which means 21 in French and it has a widely different set of rules from what you see in Bitcasino and other places. Today, you place a bet before the game begins then keep calling for a hit until you stand or bust. In the 18th century, you had to add a new wager for each hit. Vingt-et-Un was also a game where the dealer can decide to stand even if their hand is below 17.
How the Game Reached Different Countries
The French were active in international trade, colonization, and war during the 18th century. Before the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1763 and before the United States’ Declaration of Independence, the French colonists were frequent visitors of the continent. Vingt-et-Un was introduced where it developed a consumer-friendly rule that persists to modern-day blackjack.
For starters, they set the rules that the dealer cannot make their own decision once the game starts. No matter the total of the player’s hand, they have to hit until they reach 17 or more. The other is how they only accept wagers at the start of the game instead of every hit.
The popularity of the game grew even greater in America because of Eleanor Dumont. She’s a French-born travelling gambler. She eventually built a gambling hall in Nevada City named ‘Vingt-et-Un’ specializing in the game it was named after.
How it Came to Be Known as ‘Blackjack’
In the 20th century, casinos began its rise in America. Games like poker, baccarat, and slot machines expanded Eleanor Dumont’s concept of gambling halls into the casino known today. The game of Vingt-et-Un is still known by its current French name or the English ‘Twenty One’.
The game is still one of the most popular so it is the main focus of every casino when they began competing for customers. They made many promotions and variations to the rules such as having bigger payout or the dealer’s second card is revealed. One that stuck is blackjack.
Blackjack is the term used to describe a combination of Ace and any card worth 10 points. Originally, it had a requirement that the Ace had to be from the suit of Spades. Winning with a ‘blackjack’ rewards the player with an extra payout. Only games named ‘blackjack’ have this rule so casinos begin calling it that from then until today as you can see in sites like Bitcasino. The bonus payout doesn’t apply anymore, though the name remains the same.