Fun Facts About Blackjack

One of the most popular games at both land-based and online casinos, blackjack has French roots and gets its name from the French term "Vingt-et-un" which means the number 21. It's noteworthy that originally, a payout for the blackjack was 10:1. Then the rules were revised in favor of the casino. However, blackjack continues to fascinate many gambling enthusiasts with its simple rules, dynamic gameplay and very high winning odds.

Notably, Napoleon Bonaparte himself preferred to play several hands to relieve stress after a prolonged battle. So, we have gathered some fun facts about blackjack that fans of this terrific game will appreciate.

Blackjack History Facts - Famous Players and Biggest Wins

While there are plenty of professional blackjack players who have made a fortune playing this popular game, including the MIT team we covered earlier, let's talk about celebrities who are literally obsessed with blackjack. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are known not only for their Hollywood movies, but also for their blackjack addiction. While exploring his role in the movie Rounders, Damon spent tens of thousands of dollars playing blackjack. Once playing at the same table in a Florida casino, Ben and Matt won about $1 million in a high-stakes game. The two Hollywood stars also regularly participate in WSOP and other poker tournaments.

50 Cent and Jay-Z, influential faces in the hip-hop world, also enjoy playing blackjack. Judging by the size of the stakes in the game, 50 Cent only feels a sense of excitement when he bets big. The rapper's love for the game is reflected in the fact that he ordered his own blackjack app for mobile devices released under the name "50 Cent's Blackjack".

Don Johnson, one of the famous casino high rollers, is the player who holds the record for the largest blackjack winnings. Between 2010 and April 2011, Johnson was able to make a series of successful games with high stakes, receiving prizes totaling about $ 15 million.

Surprising and Fun Blackjack Facts

We have compiled a list of unusual and little-known facts about blackjack that will help you raise your awareness of the game:

• Blackjack is a game with a house edge of less than 1%. This feature makes this game a promising and potentially profitable gambling option. However, it works when you use a basic strategy that prescribes your actions for each game case. It is also crucial to opt for blackjack versions with 3:2 payouts instead of 6:5.
• Blackjack is not only the name of a popular card game but also the last name of a woman, one of the members of the Arctic exploring team. Although history has almost forgotten this woman, you can read Ada Blackjack facts in a book by Jennifer Niven released in 2004.
• Blackjack is a skill-focused game, unlike roulette and slots. This means that your decisions affect the outcome of the game. So, it is not unreasonable to learn the best blackjack strategies before betting with real money.
• Side Bets in Blackjack provide a casino advantage of 7%. Although these bets look promising at first glance, their frequent use can lead to major financial losses.
• The card-counting technique provides an opportunity to overcome the house edge. Although card counting is legal, many casinos fight the practice by blacklisting some players like Alan Woods. Card counting allows the player to predict what the next card drawn from the deck will be. Since all counting must be done in the mind, putting this technique into practice is not easy. Nevertheless, even if you don't know how to count cards, your winning odds are still high.
• Your goal is to beat the dealer, not to collect a 21-point hand. Some players mistakenly aim for 21 points. However, you'll succeed simply by making a higher value hand than the dealer’s one.
• RNG-based blackjack is less profitable than the live dealer version. This is one of the most important blackjack facts for online casino players, because - given what was said above about the house edge of 1% - the winning chances offered by blackjack machines are quite low. In fact, RNG-based blackjack is even worse than slots in terms of RTP. So, we recommend opting for live dealer blackjack.
• Your blackjack winnings may be taxable income. Familiarize yourself with your state's tax laws so that paying taxes on your blackjack winnings will not come as a surprise to you.

Conclusion

Blackjack is an amazing gambling option that is now available in many online casinos and their mobile apps. Unlike poker, in blackjack the other players at the table have no influence on your winning chances, which is one of the most important features of this game. Furthermore, your decisions affect the gameplay. For example, knowing that 11 is one of the best hands in blackjack will help you make a better decision and beat the dealer.

Well, we've told you some interesting blackjack facts that not many people know about. So, now you know that with its amazing history, dynamic gameplay and high winning odds, blackjack is more than just a recreational game.