Blackjack vs. Twenty-one – Which is the true name of the game?

If you’re a fan of casino games, you’ve likely heard of both Blackjack and Twenty-one.

00:51 05 July 2023

If you’re a fan of casino games, you’ve likely heard of both Blackjack and Twenty-one. 

Whether you play at an online casino site or a land-based venue, you would’ve found that the two names both refer to the same popular game. But why does one game need two names? And which is the right name to call it?

Read on to find out more. 

Twenty-one

It’s believed that Blackjack first originated in French casinos around 1700, where it was first referred to as Vingt-et-Un – translating to Twenty-one. 

The aim of the game is to beat the dealer by reaching a card value as close to 21 as possible, without going over (going bust). 

The game gained popularity throughout Europe, and was still known as Twenty-one in 1931, when Nevada became the first American State to make gambling legal.

Blackjack

It was at this time that the casinos on what would later become known as the Las Vegas Strip introduced a special bet in the hopes of promoting the game. 

This bet meant that a player who won with a hand featuring either of the black Jacks (Jack of Spades or Clubs) and the Ace of Spades would be paid out 10-to-1 odds. 

Despite this special bet being discontinued, the name ‘Blackjack’ stuck.

The true name of the game

With this newfound knowledge, which do you think is the true name of the game – Blackjack, Twenty-one, or maybe even Vingt-et-Un?

It’s clear the game was not created at one particular time by a single person, and has therefore developed throughout history. Versions of the game known as ‘One and Thirty’ date back to 1700s Spain, so there’s no real way to tell where Blackjack came from. 

With this as the case, it‘s down to your personal preference as to whether you wish to call the game Twenty-one or Blackjack. 

Look to the future

Casino games are always evolving to keep up with advancements in technology. With even the name of Blackjack adapting throughout history, it begs the question – what does the future hold for gameplay?

Well, it’s likely the game will become even more accessible. With online casinos making the game available to play on any device, anywhere you have internet access, Blackjack (or Twenty-one) can be enjoyed digitally and at the live casino. 

That’s right, you can enjoy the iconic game from home, with a real-life, professionally trained dealer hosting the game directly from a specialist studio. State-of-the-art cameras pick up every detail of gameplay, so you’ll see card shuffling in high definition. 

Some live dealer games are even available in Virtual Reality (VR), so do you think you’ll be playing Blackjack in VR anytime soon?

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Thankfully, the name Blackjack has been around for long enough that we doubt there’ll be any more changes in the near – or distant – future. 

Either way, now you know why the iconic game goes by two names, what will you be calling it?