Worldwide

Card games have been keeping people occupied for centuries. Kings, soldiers, merchants, gamblers, and more have played them. There is a general consensus that cards originated in China, possibly in the 9th century, then moved westward and reached the Middle East before arriving in Europe in the late 14th century.

Cards arrive in Europe

By the 1400s, playing cards were becoming established in European countries including Italy, Spain, Germany and France. They didn't look exactly like the cards we use today. Suits varied between countries and packs could feature different numbers of cards.

They weren't necessarily cheap either. Early European cards were often handmade, and some beautifully decorated packs were produced for wealthy customers.

As printing improved, cards became cheaper and much easier to produce. That helped push them beyond the courts and wealthy households and into taverns, homes and meeting places.

And, naturally, people started putting money on them.

From games to gambling

Card games quickly became part of gambling culture. Some games were mainly about skill, others relied heavily on luck, and plenty sat somewhere in the middle.

Different games developed over time. Baccarat, for example, appeared in Europe several centuries ago and became particularly associated with France. Later versions travelled across the Atlantic and eventually around the world and today, you can discover live baccarat games online are just as engaging as the original.

Other familiar names followed their own paths. Games that eventually developed into modern poker appeared in the United States during the 19th century, while blackjack has roots in older European games such as vingt-et-un.

There was no master plan here. Card games simply kept evolving as people borrowed rules, changed them and came up with new ones.

Casinos change everything

The arrival of the modern casino gave card games a new home with the Ridotto in Venice opening in 1638.

From there, casino culture spread. France became particularly important, while gambling houses also appeared elsewhere in Europe. By the 19th century, the casino was becoming an increasingly familiar part of the entertainment scene.

The cards were still the same basic objects. The surroundings had just become considerably grander.

The American influence

During the 18th and 19th centuries, cards experienced a boom in popularity in the USA. Games such as poker became very popular, especially on the Mississippi River and in frontier saloons and riverboats.

Traveling played an important part in this development. Players brought games with them, adjusted the rules, and also created new game variations.

Later on, Las Vegas made gambling a significant tourist attraction, establishing blackjack, baccarat, poker, and other games firmly in the collective culture.

And then we went online

The internet changed the setting once again. Cards travelled from China to Europe, became popular across the world, moved into gambling houses and casinos, and eventually ended up on the phone in your pocket.

Five hundred years on, the technology is very different. The basic appeal of a deck of cards isn't.

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