Online blackjack is among the most popular card games. It has very long history which can be traced back to 900 AD in Egypt, China and India when the playing of card games started.
The dispute amongst the scholars
Some scholars are of the belief that the cards have their origin in India and are chess derivatives. Others believe that they originated from China. Those who believe that the main origin of the cards was from China say that the Chinese originated one type which was a derivative of paper money and another type from dominoes ancient game. As the dispute amongst the scholars goes on, it has significance impact because in the today’s China, paper tickets is the general term used in reference to the playing of cards.
From Middle East, to Europe, then to North America
Over several centuries, the playing of card games and other gambling games were gradually introduced in the Middle East. From Middle East, they were introduced to Europe. From Europe, they were introduced to North America.
The exact blackjack history
Just the way scholars differ on the exact history or origin of the playing of cards, there is no unanimous agreement on the exact origin of blackjack. However, most people seem to agree the most likely origin is around 1700 in the French casinos. By that time, it was known as Vingt-et-Un. The translation of this French term to English means Twenty –One. Most people seem to be in agreement that Vingt-et-Un is most probably a derivative from French Ferme and Chemin de Fer which at that time were the two French card games in fashion.
In the US, blackjack was introduced in the 1800’s. Since then, it has become one of the most popular casino games in North America. During those early days when its popularity was growing, the 52 card deck was referred to. However, later the US and other countries adopted the French Pak which came to be known as blackjack.
The development of blackjack in to globally popular gambling game
The origin of gambling can be traced around 2300 in China before the birth of Jesus Christ. Although at that time it was not legal, gambling was very popular in the Ancient Greece. Ever since, gambling forms very important human experience part. The acceptance of playing cards in games of chance is a natural outgrowth of many different antiquated human pastimes.
From 1850’s to 1910, gambling was considered legal in western U.S. it was in 1910 when a law was passed in Nevada making the operation of gambling game an offense. It was in 1931 when Nevada legalized casino gambling. Because of this legalization, blackjack became one of the most popular games of chance that were offered to the gamblers in the casinos.
The origin of the name blackjack
During those early times in North America, most gamblers preferred craps and poker. Twenty-One, as blackjack was referred to by then was not very highly popular in the western world. So to make this game popular amongst the players, some western clubs started offering 10:1 payout for those players who got their special hand on their very initial two cards –jack of spades or jack of clubs OR black jack plus ace of spades. It is these two cards which made what was popular known as Twenty-One to be known as blackjack. These days, 3:2 or 150% is the standard of online blackjack payout in most casinos. This payout is mostly offered without regard to the face card accompanying the ace.
Casino gambling was made legal in Atlantic City, NJ in 1978. By the year 1989, only two US states had passed legislations legalizing casino gambling. Since this time, many casinos have been created offshore and online. Although recent gambling legislations in the United States have affected the playing of online blackjack and other online casino games, players in the U.S have not stayed away from doing what they love most in the many online casinos. Most US players prefer playing in the casinos which are registered in other countries such as UK and Gibraltar.
Online casino UK, in the UK it is legal to gamble if the online casino has a valid license for gambling from one of the licensing authorities that are recognised by the gamblingcommission of the United Kingdom.