There is a lot of vagueness regarding the exact origins of the game of blackjack. Scholars however agree that the game can be traced to the two games called Chemin de fer and French ferme that were played in France in the 1700s. Out of these games, a game called Vingt En Un developed and it was popular in French casinos of the time. The words Vingt en un mean 21 in French. This is regarded as the origin of the game of blackjack. Obviously the rules of Vingt en un as it was played in French casinos were very different from the game of blackjack as we know it today.

The most prominent difference in the rules of Vingt en un and modern blackjack as we know it, was that only the dealer could double down. Betting also took place after each round in Vingt en un.

Then, the French Revolution took place and the game of Vingt en un migrated to America. Here, it found a fertile ground for development and promotion, because there were no laws yet against the playing of card games. This period of freedom to play the game didn't last long however. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the US government banned all card playing games, claiming that card games contributed to a corrupt society, and also encouraged organized crime. Blackjack and its players had to move underground where its popularity increased. The ban hardly affected the people's enthusiasm for the game. Through the early 1920s, the game grew in popularity.

In 1931, Nevada became the first state in the country to legalize gambling. A gambling paradise in the desert was created - Las Vegas. Blackjack took pride of place in the new casino town, and soon gamblers from all around the country, young and old, professional and amateur were heading to the Vegas.

In the fifties, researchers began to calculate ways to reduce the house edge to make it more profitable and easier for players to play and win. A book was even published outlining statistics that could help you play a better game and it quickly became a bestseller. The game became even more popular as people rushed out to buy the book to figure out how to beat the house odds. The casinos weren't impressed because these new statistics were making it easier for players to win. They promptly changed the rules. It proved to be a hugely unpopular move as players refused to play the new rules of the game. Faced with a drop in gambling revenue, the casino owners had to re introduce the old rules again.

Today, blackjack is easily one of the most frequently played casino games in the world, across North America, Australasia and Europe. Like so many casino games, it has moved online too, and online blackjack today is drawing hordes of a new generation of players, lured by the mystique of this game.