Where Did Black Jack Gambling Start?

No one really knows how black jack gambling started. The French and Italians both claim it began with them. But there is mention of black jack gambling in the writings of Ptolemy around 250 B.C. Even Homer wrote of black jack gambling way back around 700 B.C. We know for sure that Drusus, the stepson of the Roman Emperor Augustus, did a lot of black jack gambling. When he took the Roman troops into Germany in 12 B.C. they lost a decisive battle because the men were busy black jack gambling.

Casino Black Jack Gambling

Most people associate black jack gambling with casinos. But casinos, as social gathering places and gambling houses, only started up in Europe in the 19th century. So black jack gambling was way ahead of the casinos. It's very possible that the black jack gambling of Homer, Ptolemy and Drusus was much different than today's black jack gambling in casinos. However, basically it is the same game. The Romans didn't have playing cards, but they did have small, etched squares of wood with different monetary values for each square. It is quite certain that these little slabs of wood were used for black jack gambling. So the next time you decide to go for black jack gambling, just remember that you are taking part in an ancient and respected game.