The history of blackjack is somewhat mysterious, but it
is rumored that the game probably stemmed from such french
games as chemin de fer and french ferme. Some historians
claim that blackjack originated in French casinos in the
early 1700s where it was called vingt-et-un (twenty-and-one)
and that it has been played within the United States since
the early 1800s.
The game was called Blackjack because any player that
held the Jack of Spades and the Ace of Spades as the
first two cards dealt was paid extra.
Gambling was legal in the Western U.S. from the 1850's
to 1910, at which time Nevada made it a felony to operate
a gambling game. In 1931, Nevada legalized casino poker
gambling where Blackjack became one of the primary games
of chance offered to casino gamblers. Also, 1978 was
the year that casino gambling was legalized within Atlantic
City, New Jersey.
As of the year 1989, only two states had legalized
casino gambling. Since then, about 20 states have had
a number of small time casinos sprout up in places such
as Black Hawk and Cripple Creek, Colorado and in river
boats on the Mississippi. Over 70 Native American Indian
reservations operate casinos.
In addition to the United States, many other countries
operate casinos including: England, France, Monaco,
many Caribbean Islands, etc.. |
