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How has Blackjack evolved?

We at Casino777.be like to dive into the history of the games that make our casino so great, and today we are looking at the famous card game blackjack. The game has a hugely extensive history, so we’re going to tell you the main points in a nutshell. After reading this blog, you’ll be able to impress with your knowledge at your next game of blackjack!

The origins of blackjack

As often with games that have been around for a long time, there is no clear beginning to pinpoint. For instance, there is a story that the Romans were already playing an ancient variant of blackjack, playing instead of cards with wooden blocks on which they had painted numbers. Or did it originate from the British game of pontoon, which was widely played after the First World War?

The earliest mention of blackjack appears in the 1615 book ‘Don Quixote’, by Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes. In it, a scene occurs in which the main character plays a game called Vingt-et-un, which means ‘twenty-one’ in French. This name comes from the rule that you must have a hand as close to 21 as possible to beat the dealer, as long as it does not exceed 21. Thanks to this literary passage, we can conclude that blackjack’s roots most likely lie in France and that it originated in the 17th century or earlier.

The breakthrough of blackjack

But how did the French game Vingt-et-un turn into the global phenomenon of blackjack? For that, the game had to cross the Atlantic. When France colonised parts of the American continent in the sixteenth century, these settlers brought their favourite games with them. In the early nineteenth century, more and more gambling establishments popped up in America, with card games like poker and blackjack quickly catching on.

The ultimate breakthrough of blackjack would take place for several hundred years, in the 1930s. Casinos were then re-legalised in the United States, and it is during this period that the game was given the name blackjack. To attract customers, casino owners offered an extra bonus if the one of the cards you scored a 21 with was a jack with a black card. And as you may know, the jack of spades is called jack in English.

By now, blackjack is a classic game and you can find endless variations online in online casinos. For instance, you can play blackjack with multiple hands at once or with spectacular extra features, such as multipliers. With so many options, every blackjack hand offers a new opportunity for winning and excitement!

Playing blackjack online on mobile devices

Whichever blackjack variant you choose, we have good news: you can play all the blackjack games in our range on any mobile device. Experience the game on your chosen device, such as your smartphone, tablet or computer.

Play blackjack online for free

Want to practice or brush up on your skills first? With a non-live game of blackjack, you can always find a free demo version. In this, you don’t play with real money and you can practise as long as you like!

Whether you play at Casino777.be or any other online sportsbook, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at Casino777.be, player welfare is our top priority. For more information on responsible gambling, visit our tips and resources page.