Blackjack is the most popular casino table game. When played properly it has a house edge of less than one percent, which is the lowest house advantage of any table game. The game of blackjack exists in a gray area in between games of skill and games of chance.
Like most games, the blackjack tables were not invented at any one time by any one person. Similar games were played in France in the 1700s. One version was known as Vingt-et-un, which is French for 21. The game traveled to North America with French colonists and spread throughout the continent. It evolved over time, and continues to evolve today.
The game was stilled called 21 when Nevada first made gambling legal in 1931. To attract more attention to the game, some casinos offered a special bet. A hand that featured the Ace of Spades plus either of the black jacks in the deck would pay 10 to 1 odds on the player’s bet. Although casinos have long since stopped offering these extra payouts, the name blackjack stuck and today it is one of the most popular table games at casinos around the world.