The most popular casino table games are undoubtedly Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and Poker. There is hardly a casino in the world that does not offer these games, taking online and land based establishments into account.
But upon taking a closer look it becomes clear that these games especially online bingo NZ have long and interesting histories, some with legacies stretching back centuries. But where did these casino games start, who invented them, and are they really still true to their original inceptions? Let’s take a closer look.
Blackjack
Of all the games on this list Blackjack is by far the oldest. In fact Blackjack, or 21s, is recognised as the oldest modern casino game. The true origins of the game are disputed, but most scholars agree that it first made its appearance in France in the 17th century. It was referred to as 21s at the time, but still used most of the modern rules we recognise today.
At some point in the early 1800s 21s made its way over to the United States. It was during this time that the game evolved into the Blackjack we know today. Almost the exact same game is offered in modern casino, with only a few small variations and additional rules.
Roulette
Roulette has a similar origin to Blackjack, though there is a bit more meat on the bone of this story. Although it is disputed, the generally accepted legend is that an 1800s Frenchman named Blaise Pascal was interested in creating a perpetual motion machine. His efforts successfully built a spinning wooden wheel, even if he didn’t manage to master perpetual motion.
The spinning wheel was transformed into a Roulette wheel, with numbered pockets added for the purpose of entertainment. As with Blackjack the Roulette wheel made its way over to the United States in the 1800s. As would be expected the Roulette wheel was an instant hit, marking its place in casino industry history.
Baccarat
Of all the games on this list Baccarat is by far the youngest. At least as far as modern casino adoption is concerned. Baccarat is believed to have originated centuries ago in the 1400s, though was not widely accepted or played until much later. When it did finally start to see popularity in the late 1800s and early 1900s it was the favourite game of upper-class aristocrats, again limiting its broader appeal.
Only in the mid-1900s did Baccarat start to see wider acceptance. However, even then it was still mostly played by the upper-class. Today Baccarat is widely accessibly at virtually every online or land based casino.
Poker
Another fairly young game on the list, Poker has only been around since the early 1800s. The game is generally accepted to have originated in China, but only fully caught on after being adopted in the United States. After being widely adopted Poker became so popular as to have even become the basis of numerous legends and stories. Few casino games have had such an impact on global culture.
