Here at NetBet casino online, we present new games on our blog every week. However, we also talk about other topics, including the histories of popular games such as online blackjack. The ultimate card/table casino game, blackjack has a history that stretches back centuries. Learn more about how it came to be in this guide to the history of blackjack at NetBet casino.
The Earliest Record of Blackjack
While historians can’t agree on the exact origins of blackjack, the first mentions of such a game come from the early XVI century. The great Spanish poet Miguel de Cervantes mentions a game named ventiuno (21) in his story Rinconette y Cortadillo, talking about two card cheats in Sevilla who play a game where the goal is to hit a card count of 21 to beat the dealer. That’s the premise of blackjack, making it the earliest record of the game itself.
The first record of the game played in casinos occurs in 1888 in France. Vingt-un was also played a century earlier, being known in Britain and popular in the United States. The original rules of the game were first written and recorded in Britain around 1800, and were later rewritten for the separate American blackjack variant in 1825.
The Origins of the Name
According to one myth, vingt-un was renamed to blackjack in the United States most likely in the early 1800s. Due to the increasing popularity of the game, gambling joints offered bonus payouts to stimulate interest in players. Blackjack was the most popular among them. It offered a 10:1 payout if a player had a hand of a blackjack Jack and an Ace of Spades. Even after interest in the bonus died down, the name stuck around.
Bit by bit, blackjack’s influence at US casinos and illegal gambling houses grew. It became the premier card game, especially after Nevada was granted state legislation for gambling in 1931. It later exploded in popularity and became a staple of casinos, especially in the post-WW2 era.
The Leading Card Game in Las Vegas
For a long period in the 1970s and 1980s, blackjack was the most popular game at Las Vegas joints. It became a subject of many controversies with card counters making it even more popular at the same time. The technique has since been banned, but it let everyone know that counting cards in blackjack can bring millions.
When its popularity dwindled and gave way to poker in the 1990s, blackjack was revitalized with the arrival of online casinos in the early 2000s. Players loved the fact they could now practice online for free and test various strategies in free online blackjack variants.
Today, online blackjack is a stape of many online casinos, including NetBet. It comes in many forms including classic and exotic variants, making it the premier card and table game yet again.
When you choose NetBet Casino, you can enjoy a whole range of top quality games. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information.
