An eternal game. Blackjack can be described as a casino evergreen. Since the moment it was invented it went through various transformations, it evolved, but always remained popular. Its story begins in the 18th century in Europe, when first records of blackjack like games were recorded. The exact origin of the game is not particularly well known. What's known is that it drew inspiration from European card games that were popular at the time.

The most common origin theory is that blackjack was derived directly from the French game Vingt-et-Un (Twenty One), which was a top draw among the French aristocracy. It's interesting that even back in the 18th century the basics for modern blackjack were set in terms of rules of the game. The gameplay was and remains the same and that is to draw cards, play, and not exceed the much coveted 21. An objective that survived four centuries and it's still the only goal even for folks who enjoy modern online blackjack games.

In addition to France, a similar game also emerged in Spain where it was called One & Thirty, which had similar rules to modern blackjack and Vingt-et-Un, with the difference being that players drew at least three cards and were aiming not to go over 31. These two variations of blackjack are seen as the foundation on which the modern game was built and further developed. The moment a broader audience got a hold of Vingt-et-Un, which was the game to set the tone for blackjack birth, and when it got mixed up with Spanish One & Thirty, it was easy to get the game we have today. Soon enough the game started to spread across Europe, with every region adding something, giving the game more variations, eventually leading to the blackjack we have today.

19th Century Blackjack Transformation

During the 19th century, blackjack not only got developed further in Europe but it found its way to the United States. It was in America where the game reached the status it carried to modern day. The frontier of the Wild West was where it was relentlessly played. There wasn't a single person not to try out this card novelty, despite blackjack being an informal game, which varied in rules depending on where you played. With more time, better players, and the game becoming fully mainstream strategies began to emerge, sets of written rules appeared, and the way blackjack was played was defined.

While it was an early age of the game in America, in Europe the game of blackjack was already a couple of centuries old. In Germany, it spread among the upper class citizens and it became a top draw in the clubs and casinos of the time. It was during the 19th century when the game was refined and achieved growth that led to online casino games and blackjack versions we have today. With the game being popular with the leading nations of the day in Germany, France, Spain, and in North America, blackjack entered the sea of popularity in which it never stopped swimming.

In essence, from the moment the game crossed the pond and reached North America there was no stopping its further growth and rise in popularity. While quite informal in 19th century America, back in Europe in countries such as Germany and France, blackjack started to receive exclusivity in local clubs and casinos. With first strategies and playing techniques, more and more blackjack enthusiasts started to emerge, creating an approach to playing the game, making its evolution even more detailed.

20th Century & Blackjack Goes Global

It was during the 20th century that blackjack took its final shape after a string of transformations. The game became modern and its appeal was global in no time. From the start of the 20th century through the entire period of one hundred years, the game saw advancements on all fronts. The gameplay became faster, straightforward, with a clear set of rules. Strategies got developed left and right as players desired to conquer the game. As new technologies emerged, blackjack became more and more popular, and soon enough spread across other continents from its home in Europe.

The nail that was the final cog in the casket of popularity of the game was the moment when Las Vegas started to develop into one of the biggest casino cities in the world. With the famous Las Vegas strip blackjack took the main stage and it never went down since. As we know today, during the 20th century Las Vegas started to be known as the Mecca of gambling. Card, dice, and slot enthusiasts from all over the globe flocked to Nevada to get the best casino experience in the world. The world class casinos of Las Vegas held blackjack in high esteem, and it held a central place in each of the Las Vegas Strip establishments.

Players were captivated by blackjack's unique combo of chance and strategy. The game had allure from the start, which was only expanded by it being provided in shiny establishments of Las Vegas. From the moment it has become a mainstay in Nevada it started to be and remained to this day a casino classic, and its popularity reached levels it managed to retain to modern times and emergence of online casinos.

While the game remains popular as a single player variant, and it is its most popular version, due to its popularity and global widespread popularity, it wasn't long before blackjack tournaments became a concept. At the end of the day, it is a game which is competitive, and it was easy to build events around it that would get multiple players to the table to showcase their skill and compete against their peers. A game which already got high stakes to begin with, got another layer of excitement through the tournament format which held a great appeal to both seasoned blackjack professionals but also for amateurs and rookies of the game.

Just like in many other games, being able to test yourself against other players, to see who's best, elevated the game further. Not only that the competitiveness further aided in the widespread popularity of the game, but it also aided in creating a community of blackjack players. The game community is a major part of its appeal even today, and while blackjack has reached a global audience, we can't shake the feeling that it is still growing, evolving, and finding ways to reach even more people.

The 20th century was the time when it became evident there is no stopping the blackjack rise, as if anyone wanted to do it. Strategy and gameplay were taken to a higher level, never seen before. The moment which is often credited as the one that changed the game forever, and made it what it is today, at least among the casual players is the publication of the book called Beat the Dealer. It was published by Edward O. Thorp in 1962, and it opened the eyes of the wider public to the game of blackjack. The title covered the subject of card counting, which was a novelty for the readers of the day. Knowing that the game could be rigged against the house by simply tracking the cards at the table, was a revolution for casino goers.

Thanks to Thorpe, even after three centuries in existence, the game was revolutionized once again. The players became aware of the fact that they can be constant winners when pitted against the dealer, which led to developing a higher number of strategies, and tactics, all with the goal of having better odds of beating the dealer and game as a whole. Thorpe, and similar authors that came afterward have made blackjack to be a game of skill and precision, and solely of chance as it was seen before. The second part of the 20th century is when a new era of the game began which was defined with players having more focus on strategy and tactics rather than on sheer luck.

The 20th century was when the foundations of blackjack were further cemented and armoured. The world's gambling scene was moved to Las Vegas, and with blackjack taking the centre stage at the LV Strip, the game soon became a Nevada icon. More players led to more tables, and more tables eventually gave birth to blackjack tournaments where the best of the best could test their skills. The gameplay of the game was easy to understand and perfect for some healthy competition, further popularizing an already popular title. Lastly, with the publication of Thorpe's Beat the Dealer, the game received feedback from an even broader pool of soon to be users, and with people getting familiar with card counting and other advanced blackjack strategies, the way the gem was played was changed once again, and blackjack went through yet another of its revolutions.

The 21st Century-Modern Era Blackjack

Centuries have passed by, but blackjack never stopped evolving. Even as we speak the game is changing, looking for its next transformation. The biggest shift blackjack took in the 21st century was the adaptation of the game to modern technologies. With the rise of mobile devices, internet, and consequently online casinos, the experience of playing blackjack changed once again. The entire gambling industry changed its direction when online casinos took dominion of the land based ones.

From the moment all players could enjoy the game of blackjack from the comfort of their homes, nothing was the same ever again. Online gambling platforms took over, and for many players the virtual surroundings of a web based casino proved to be a better option compared to your regular casino, especially when one knows that not all of us have a luxury land based casino nearby. The best part of online casinos is that there are numerous variations of blackjack available, with every player being sure that they will find a game that suits their needs, whether it's blackjack or something else.

Furthermore, thanks to the development of mobile devices, blackjack is now available to everyone from the palms of one's hands. Being able to play your favorite game of 21 anywhere at any time, is a real game changer. One could argue that mobile blackjack is more popular than the standard table game when you take a look at the number of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and apps available. Playing on the go, and the sheer convenience of it, are a major part of blackjack in the 21st century. It further led to a new era of innovations, as online casinos are always on the lookout to make even the classics of old times, more modern, innovative, and in line with what the new users might desire from a game.

From the early days of the internet in the late 90s and early 00s, online casinos took a massive leap forward. Blackjack, as one of the more standard casino games of all times, was in the centre of the entire shift. In no time, players were able to play the game on their smartphones, with the only necessity being a mobile online casinos app, and internet access. It came as no surprise that the game has become even more popular with the technological developments.

Blackjack is a global casino brand, and the game that was around for four centuries is bound to remain the gaming leader in the years to come. The same way Thorpe made revolution back in the day with Beat the Dealer, we today have modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality changing the way the game is viewed and played. When you know that live dealer casinos are a thing, and that you can play the game as it is intended, but still on your smartphone, tablet, or a computer, then you know that blackjack has gone a long way, and that it doesn't intend to stop evolving. It is too early to talk about how it will look in the 22nd century, but it is fine looking to grow during the one we're currently living in.