The History of Blackjack

Blackjack originated from France, where it was and still is called "Vingt-et-Un", meaning "21". It appeared in French casinos around 1700. When it came to the United States, it didn't immediately have the expected appeal, so casinos and gambling houses added a bonus payout. If the first dealt card is a Jack of Spades (hence the name of the game) or an Ace of Spades, the player would get an additional amount of money. The payout scheme later became void, but the name "Blackjack" stayed.