The modern day game of Black Jack finds its roots buried deep within history. The origin of the game cannot be traced to any one source. Many historians have come to the agreement that the earliest version of the game can be found in a few different European card games. Many compare it to the French game of Vingt Et Un and the Italian game Seven and a Half. The history of this game is important to know to help in understanding how to learn Black Jack and its rules.

Vingt Et Un was the most popular card game of the 1600s. It was similar to modern day Black Jack in that the player's goal was to reach a score of 21. It is believed by historians that Vingt Et Un was the primary contributor to Black Jack history.

The name of the game, Black Jack, was thought to have come from the identical term used in Vingt Et Un occurring when a player receives the Ace of Spades and a Jack resulting in a special payout. It is also believed that the name comes from gambling dens in the United States attempting to introduce people to the game. The dens would let a player earn a 10-to-1 bonus if he managed to get the ace of spades along with a jack of spades or clubs to win the game. Whether the name originated on French or American soil, the name has clearly stuck to the present day.

The Italian game Seven and a Half also helped contribute to the development of Black Jack. When a player attempts to learn Black Jack, it is important to learn the key terms. "Bust" is a term that refers to when a player's score exceeds 21, and it is believed this comes from Seven and a Half. The same term was used when a player exceeded a score of 7.5 in Seven and a Half.

While Vingt Et Un and Seven and a Half were becoming more popular , Ventiuna was growing in popularity among the Spanish. Ventiuna, which is Spanish for "21", was first introduced to the public in a popular short story. Additionally, the notable author Miguel de Cervantes, most widely known to have penned Don Quixote, was an avid gambler and in his story, his two main characters were proficient cheaters at ventiuna. The rules to Ventiuna are similar to Seven and a Half, Vingt Et Un, and present day Black Jack.

All three of these games: Ventiuna, Vingt Et Un, and Seven and a Half are all thought to be the earliest ancestors to the current game being played in America and can boast their impact on the rules and forms of play the game today.

The game of Black Jack came to North America after the revolution in France. In the U.S. there were no laws at the time restricting gambling. Gambling soon became a target of state regulation to the point that it was legal in only a few places. Black Jack actually grew in popularity during this repressive time. Once Nevada legalized gambling the current game of Black Jack was officially born and so ends this Black Jack history learning session. Nowadays, players can play Black Jack all over the world. While casinos are the best place to go if you want a physical table and dealer, gamers wishing to improve their skills can find online websites offering games played with real or play money.