As one of the most popular card games in history, Blackjack has become a gambling staple Bovada Casino. Easy to learn and fun to play, online Blackjack is one of the great casino games for beginners and experienced gamblers, alike. Mastering this famous card game can lead to some big money payouts at Bovada Casino, but it helps to learn all you can about the game before taking a seat at the table.
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Bovada Casino has countless articles about Blackjack strategy and how to improve your odds of winning, but this article will walk you through some facts about Blackjack that you probably didn’t know. Not all of these facts will help you win more card games, but at the very least they’ll give you something to talk about the next time you’re sitting at the Blackjack table.
#1 – It’s One Of The World’s Oldest Card Games
Blackjack has been around for a long time, but have you ever wondered how far back the game really goes? Most gambling experts believe that the game dates back to the 1700s, however some historians think it goes back even further than that. The game was reportedly mentioned in a collection of short stories from the early 1600s by Miguel de Cervantes, the author of ‘Don Quixote’.
#2 – Blackjack Got Its Name In Las Vegas
Originating in Europe, Blackjack was initially called “Vingt-et-Un”, which is French for 21. When the game came to America, Las Vegas casinos offered a 10 to 1 bonus for hands with an ace of spades and a black jack (either spades or clubs). As a result of this promotion, players started calling the game Blackjack and the name has stuck ever since.
#3 – There’s A Blackjack Hall Of Fame
Did you know that there’s a Blackjack Hall of Fame? Located at Barona Casino in San Diego, California, the Blackjack Hall of Fame has been around since 2002 and pays tribute to the greatest Blackjack players, authors and personalities of all-time.
#4 – The House Edge Is Less Than 1%
When it comes to casino games with a low house edge, Blackjack is your best bet. By playing the game’s standard version and using the correct strategy at all times, you can lower the house edge in Blackjack to less than 1%. That’s far lower than the house edge in other popular casino games like Roulette and Video Poker.
#5 – Napoleon Loved To Play Blackjack
Many celebrities enjoy playing Blackjack and that list even includes famed French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte. Blackjack may have looked a bit different back in the 18th century and was still being referred to as Vingt-et-Un (21) at the time, but the powerful military commander was allegedly a big fan of the now-famous card game.
#6 – Odds Of A Natural Blackjack Are 4.8%
As you probably already know, the best starting hand in Blackjack is an ace and a ten. Making a 21 with your first two cards is referred to as a ‘natural blackjack’. You may pray for this outcome on each and every hand, but according to the odds this will only happen 4.8% of the time. For reference, that equals out to approximately 1 natural blackjack for every 21 hands played.
#7 – Longest Game of Blackjack Lasted Over Two Days
For anyone who thinks they’ve endured a long stretch at the Blackjack table, meet Stephen De Raffaele. At the Oracle Casino in Malta during August 2001, De Raffaele dealt a game of Blackjack for an unbelievable 51 hours and 33 minutes straight.
#8 – The Origin Of The Shoe
In Blackjack, the term ‘Shoe’ refers to a special device that holds multiple decks. When the device runs out of cards, the shoe is over. If you’ve ever wondered how the shoe got its name, the answer may be simpler than you’d expect; when the device was first invented, it looked similar to a woman’s high-heeled shoe.
#9 – Dealers Bust 1/3 of the Time
Sometimes it can feel like the dealer is unbeatable, but if you take a closer look at the odds you’ll see that the playing field is more even than you’d think. Statistically speaking, the dealer will bust nearly a third of all hands (29.1%). Keep this in mind the next time you’re at the Blackjack table and looking for some extra motivation.
#10 – Record for Largest Blackjack Table Over 2,000 Feet
According to the Guinness World Records, the largest functioning Blackjack table stood at 206.85 m (2,226 ft 6 in) in surface area. Built in 2012 by California’s Viejas Casino, the massive game of Blackjack even had huge casino chips and playing cards on scale with the rest of the gigantic table.
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Did you know any of these obscure Blackjack facts? If not, now you do. So next time you are looking to make conversation at the live Blackjack table, or just impress your friends, pull out one of these facts. Happen to be a big fan of the thrilling card game? Well, you are in luck. Bovada Casino is home to a huge variety of online blackjack games, including classic blackjack, European blackjack and more.
