Many casino games date back centuries. In fact, card decks themselves have roots as far back as AD 1000 China!
With the invention of online casinos, many timeless games are now more accessible than ever, making it clear that some casino classics have continued to evolve throughout the digital age.
- Blackjack
Blackjack is believed to have originated in 17th century France, where it was known as Vingt-et-Un, or Twenty-One. The aim of the game is to hold a hand value of 21 or as close to 21 as possible, without going over, whilst also trying to beat the dealer.
The game is played with more than one deck of cards (the number of decks may vary) and is arguably one of the most popular casino games of all time.
The table game with the lowest house edge, Blackjack can not only be found at brick-and-mortar casinos, but can be played both digitally and live Blackjack online too!
- Roulette
Games of chance resembling Roulette were believed to have been played by ancient Greek and Roman soldiers, but it wasn’t until the 17th century that the primitive form of the Roulette wheel we know today, was created.
It was then in 1842 that two French brothers, Francois and Louis Blanc, developed the single zero variation of the Roulette wheel, later becoming known as European Roulette.
This version of Blackjack went on to take pride of place in the ‘first modern casino’ – the Monte Carlo Casino, which Francois Blanc himself helped to build.
Both the single zero and double zero variations of the wheel became staples in land-based casinos and Roulette, alongside Blackjack, was one of the first games of chance available to play at online casino sites.
- Poker
Many historians believe that Poker’s origins can be traced back to a domino card game played by a 10th-century Chinese emperor. Others believe it derived from a 16th-century Persian card game called As Nas.
In Europe, Poker’s closest predecessors were a game named Poque, which was popular in France in the 17th century, Pochen – a German game, and a 16th-century Spanish game known as Primero.
French colonists brought Poque to their settlements in North America, including New Orleans. In the 1800s, the game evolved further, adopting more features we recognise in modern-day Poker. By 1834, a 52-card deck was used to play.
The Mississippi River played a huge part in spreading the popularity of many games of chance, and Poker made a name for itself in Wild Westers Saloons in the 1870s and 80s and during the Civil War.
World War I saw the game become even more widespread thanks to the soldiers who played it. And, when technology evolved and online casinos opened their virtual doors, Poker had become such a widespread casino staple – both at land-based venues and online.
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These three iconic games of chance have stood the test of time, with multiple, unique variations of each now available to play at your chosen casino site. Not only this, but you can play live versions of the games online, with a real-life dealer being live-streamed directly to your device from a specially designed studio!
