While its exact roots are debated, it likely descended from the French game Vingt-et-Un (Twenty-one) around 1700.

The moniker "Black Jack" reportedly emerged in American casinos as a promotional tactic. Gambling halls offered a 10-to-1 bonus if a player's winning hand consisted of an Ace of Spades and a "black jack" (the Jack of Spades or Clubs). Although the bonus was eventually removed, the name became permanent.

Unlike many games of pure chance, blackjack involves significant strategy. In 1963, mathematician Ed Thorp published Beat the Dealer , verifying the "basic strategy" and proving that players could gain a mathematical advantage through card counting.