Twenty one. That’s the whole story. Ever since Blackjack’s French precursor originated around the year 1700, its main attraction to players has been its simplicity. Although it has experienced varying waves of popularity both in Europe and in the United States, it has always pulled gamblers to its simple and yet brilliant structure. A massage for the intellect, if you will. The game in its earlier form was played quite differently while sticking to the basic principles of every player trying to reach or get as close to 21. The earlier version of the game only permitted the dealer to double down. Players would owe triple the amount to the casino if the dealer received a natural hand.

And the name Blackjack?
During Twenty One’s arrival to the American gambling houses in the early 1900’s, its popularity was still modest. One of the incentives offered to lure players to the blackjack table was a bonus payout of 10:1 if the player’s hand included the Ace of spades and a black Jack (clubs or spades). The incentive offer has long been eliminated, but the catchy name has stuck with the game through its rise to casino popularity.