Centuries have passed since the game of black jack was first developed . The game of black jack originated in Europe, though historians cannot agree as to which card game it most derives itself from. . The French game of Vingt Et Un and the Spanish game Ventiuna are the two main games that black jack is derived from. The history of this game is important to know to help in understanding how to learn black jack and its many subtleties .

The French card game Vingt Et Un was the game of choice in the 17th century . In it the player had to reach a score of 21 in order to win, making it very similar to modern day black jack . It is believed by historians that Vingt Et Un was the primary contributor to black jack history.

The name black jack is believed to have come from an event in Vingt Et Un, where the player wins by receiving the ace and jack of spades . However, arguably, the term itself originated from an advertising push by gambling houses in the United States to increase the popularity of black jack when it was initially introduced to Americans . 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 . The name, regardless of origin, has stuck to the present day .

The Italian game of Seven and a Half is also believed to have contributed to the development of black jack . Each action in black jack has a special term it is called by . The term "going bust" is believed to have originated from Seven and a Half . The same term would be used in Seven and a Half whenever a player's score exceeded that game's maximum .

Almost concurrently as Vingt Et Un was popular in France and Seven and a Half in Italy , the Spanish were eating up their own game, Ventiuna . Ventiuna, which means "21" in Spanish, was introduced to the masses in a short story . The author of this story about two cheaters at Ventiuna was none other than Miguel de Cervantes of Don Quixote fame . The rules to Ventiuna are similar to Seven and a Half, Vingt Et Un, and present day black jack .

The games Vingt Et Un, Seven and a Half, and Ventiuna are all thought to be the original contributors to the present day game of black jack being played in America and may boast their influence on the rules and forms of play the game today .

The game of black jack arrived in America during 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 . During this time, the popularity of black jack among the states soared rather than be repressed as was the original intent . With Nevada's legalization of gambling the present day game was born and so ends the brief black jack history lesson . Black jack is available in many different arenas today . Casinos will always be the place to go to play the physical game; however, people who wish to hone their skills can find online websites that offer games played with real money or "play" money .