Today, there is no card game more well-known to a gambler than blackjack. Though poker is often touted as the most popular card game, if we look at the amount of people visiting casinos (both online and offline) and compare the number of poker players to the blackjack players, the latter would come out on top.
There is a very good reason for the success of blackjack. The game has impeccable player odds, better than any other casino game. But, the question many might ask is how did blackjack get its start, and where did the numerous blackjack communities form? In this article, we will attempt to answer that very question.
The History of Blackjack
In order to understand blackjack, we must take a look at the similar card games that pre-date the game. If you are a prominent player, whether you play blackjack online, live, or in land-based casinos, you might have heard of a game called vingt un. But, just what is vingt un? Where does the term come from? And what does it have to do with blackjack?
In order to answer these questions, we must go back to England, in the 16th century. A card game of unknown origin became popular among the upper classes, and even spread to the local taverns. This game involved wagering on cards, and drawing them until a player could score 21 points. Though the game’s origins are unknown, we retain the first recorded instance of the game.
It was one of the greatest novelists and satirists of all time, Miguel de Cervantes, who wrote about this game. Cervantes, himself a prolific gambler, wrote a novel in which the protagonist plays a game called veintiuno (Spanish for twenty-one). The rules of the game, as described in the novel, are suspiciously similar to modern day blackjack.
The game’s popularity continued to grow, however, it would not be referred to as blackjack for a very long time. Indeed, it was in the late 19th century that the first recorded instance of blackjack occurred. It was also during this time that some of the first blackjack clubs and meetups became available to the public.
Blackjack Meetups
Our first record of blackjack comes from France, from 1888. The card game’s rules were also established around this time, and this was also the time of private clubs. Upper class residents in Europe and later the USA, would come together to discuss matters of politics, society and culture. They’d also socialize and often play cards. Among them, was blackjack.
Over the years, private clubs began to be seen as elitist. Class consciousness was growing among the lower-classes. So, eventually blackjack meet ups and communities began to form, allowing for everyone to enjoy the game. Once casinos became open to the public, everything changed. Gamblers were free to interact, socialize, and enjoy their favorite game at any time.
Today, there are plenty of noteworthy blackjack communities, some remnants of private clubs long gone, and blackjack meetups that keep the passion for the game alive. Many of them organize private and public functions, hoping to attract new members. A lot of these clubs also organize charity tournaments, in an attempt to give something back to the community.
Many might think of these clubs as the prototype for what has become the online blackjack community. An interesting topic in its own right, and something worth discussing. So, let us then move forward and talk about how gambling forums help to promote the game and keep the love for it strong in the digital age.
Online Blackjack Communities
iGaming is one of the biggest entertainment industries online today. And one of the most popular games in iGaming is blackjack. For good reason, as whether it is online or offline, blackjack has some of the best player odds around, if not the best. For that reason, it has remained a staple of the gambling industry for centuries.
Naturally, when something gets as popular as blackjack, online communities around it will form. And indeed they have. Examples of this would include the many subreddits, on the popular social media app Reddit, where people discuss blackjack, counting cards, the ethics behind it, and other strategies that might come in handy when playing the game.
Not only that, but there are entire websites dedicated to explaining blackjack, how the game works, whether you can strategize in order to win, or whether luck is the only option. These websites also give detailed explanations about the game’s rules, and the different versions of the game that exist online. They’ve certainly contributed to enriching the gambling community.
Finally, online gambling forums in general have played an important role in the propagation of blackjack. As online casinos are deeply tied to sports betting, websites dedicated to both stand a lot to benefit. A blackjack player might find a passion for NFL odds when browsing these sites, or basketball bettors might discover blackjack is more fun than they previously thought. In either case, it is a mutually beneficial relationship.
Card Counting Teams
Finally, we would be remiss if we did not bring the emergence of card-counting teams. For those who don’t know, one of the most well-known strategies in blackjack is counting cards. Professional blackjacks all do it, and are aware of it. However, the average players don’t know much about it, and rarely put it into practice.
For that reason, casinos manage to stay ahead of the players in blackjack. However, some people form teams dedicated to learning and understanding card counting. The most popular and infamous of these would be the MIT Blackjack Team, which absolutely dominated the Las Vegas casinos in their prime. Their story is so legendary, that it was made into a book, written by one of the members.
Of course, the best-selling novel has been adapted to film as well. The movie, titled simply 21, stars Kevin Spacey, as well as other well-known actors. Though it has been criticized for the lack of historicity, the film is a pretty fun romp for fans of blackjack and gambling in general.
