Nobody knows exactly when blackjack was invented or by whom, but the earliest written records of the game’s initial versions are from the early 17th century. It may be a game of Spanish origin, but it is now played all over the world. Blackjack is now the most popular card game in the world in which players try to beat the dealer instead of other players. The bonus payouts seen in modern blackjack started when American gambling houses created new rules as incentives for people to play. And it was these bonus features that eventually gave the game its name.