Blackjack can be traced back to Europe where it most likely originated from the game, Vingt-en-Un which was played in France in the 17th century. The rules of Vingt-en-Un were similar to blackjack as we know it today, with a few exceptions. In Vingt-en-Un, players bet after each round, as opposed to before it as we do in blackjack and the dealer was able to double down, but not the players. Similar to blackjack, players were awarded a special payout for a hand consisting of a Jack and Ace of Spades – literally, a black Jack. The concept of going bust did not come from Vingt-en-Un, but rather from a game called Seven and a Half that was played around the same time. In the game of Seven and a Half, players were required to add their card values together to form a hand value that was as close to seven and a half as possible without going over.
After the French Revolution, blackjack was brought to the US and it became instantly popular. In the beginning of the 19th century when gambling was outlawed in the US, the game of blackjack moved underground where it continued to thrive. From 1931, when gambling was legalised in Nevada and land-based casinos were established, blackjack began to grow even more.
Blackjack moved online when the first online casinos were launched in 1994. This made the game available to a wide audience across the world. Blackjack fans now had access to numerous game variations in one convenient location. As technology continued to improve, more and more online casinos were launched, making the online blackjack games even more accessible. In addition, mobile technology was developed and the first mobile casino software was released allowing online blackjack fans to enjoy the games on the go from the palm of their hand.