GITNUXREPORT 2026

Black Jack Statistics

Blackjack grew from a simple card game into a globally popular casino staple.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

Global revenue from Blackjack tables: $8.5 billion in 2022.

Statistic 2

U.S. Blackjack revenue 2023: $9.2 billion.

Statistic 3

Online Blackjack market size 2023: $4.1 billion.

Statistic 4

Vegas Strip Blackjack drop 2023: $4.8 billion.

Statistic 5

Average win per player visit: $150.

Statistic 6

House wins 48.6% hands long-term.

Statistic 7

Global online Blackjack players: 50 million.

Statistic 8

Macau Blackjack revenue 2022: $2.3 billion.

Statistic 9

Average table hold: 12.5%.

Statistic 10

U.K. land-based Blackjack GGR: £1.2 billion 2022.

Statistic 11

Mobile Blackjack app revenue: $1.8 billion 2023.

Statistic 12

High-limit Blackjack salons: 5% tables, 30% revenue.

Statistic 13

Player losses U.S. casinos 2023: $66 billion total, Blackjack 14%.

Statistic 14

European online Blackjack: €2.7 billion 2022.

Statistic 15

Atlantic City Blackjack win: $800 million 2023.

Statistic 16

Live dealer Blackjack streams: 25% online market.

Statistic 17

Average session loss: $200 for $25 tables.

Statistic 18

Blackjack table utilization: 75% peak hours.

Statistic 19

Crypto Blackjack sites revenue: $500 million 2023.

Statistic 20

Singapore casino Blackjack: SGD 1.1 billion FY2023.

Statistic 21

VIP Blackjack commissions: 1.35% on winnings.

Statistic 22

Tournament prize pools average $100k.

Statistic 23

Online Blackjack RTP advertised 98-99.5%.

Statistic 24

U.S. tribal casinos Blackjack: $3.5 billion.

Statistic 25

Side bet contribution to hold: 2-3%.

Statistic 26

Pennsylvania Blackjack tax revenue: $400 million.

Statistic 27

Global Blackjack software market: $1.2 billion.

Statistic 28

Blackjack, known as "Twenty-One," originated in France in the late 1700s with the first written reference appearing in 1768.

Statistic 29

The game arrived in the United States around 1820 via French immigrants and riverboat gamblers.

Statistic 30

In 1931, Nevada legalized gambling, leading to Blackjack's introduction in Las Vegas casinos.

Statistic 31

The term "Blackjack" specifically refers to an Ace plus a Jack of spades or clubs, paying 3:2 until the 20th century.

Statistic 32

By 1950, Blackjack accounted for 40% of table games in Las Vegas casinos.

Statistic 33

The first Blackjack strategy book, "Beat the Dealer" by Edward O. Thorp, was published in 1962.

Statistic 34

In 1963, Thorp's book caused casinos to introduce countermeasures like multiple decks.

Statistic 35

Blackjack's popularity surged in the 1990s with the movie "21" based on MIT Blackjack Team.

Statistic 36

The MIT Blackjack Team won an estimated $10 million from 1980 to 2000.

Statistic 37

In 2008, the film "21" grossed over $159 million worldwide, boosting game interest.

Statistic 38

Blackjack was banned in Oklahoma casinos until 2004 due to state laws.

Statistic 39

The first electronic Blackjack machine appeared in 1979.

Statistic 40

In Europe, Vingt-et-Un was popular among nobility in the 17th century.

Statistic 41

Blackjack rules were standardized in U.S. casinos by 1940.

Statistic 42

The house edge dropped from 5% to under 1% post-Thorp due to player strategies.

Statistic 43

Over 60 countries now offer legal Blackjack in casinos.

Statistic 44

The World Series of Blackjack TV show ran from 2004-2008 with $1M prizes.

Statistic 45

Blackjack revenue in Nevada was $1.2 billion in 2019.

Statistic 46

Spanish 21 variant derived from Blackjack in the 1990s.

Statistic 47

Card counting was first mathematically proven viable by Thorp in 1961.

Statistic 48

In 1910, Blackjack was illegal in most U.S. states except Nevada.

Statistic 49

Online Blackjack launched in 1994 with Microgaming software.

Statistic 50

The game "Pontoon" in UK dates to 1800s as Blackjack precursor.

Statistic 51

U.S. military bases popularized Blackjack during WWII.

Statistic 52

First Blackjack tournament in 1977 at Golden Nugget.

Statistic 53

Blackjack apps have over 100 million downloads on Google Play.

Statistic 54

In 2020, Blackjack table count in Vegas dropped 20% due to COVID.

Statistic 55

The Ace's dual value (1 or 11) standardized in 1900s.

Statistic 56

Blackjack named after bonus payout discontinued in 1910s.

Statistic 57

European Blackjack variant first played in Monte Carlo 1920s.

Statistic 58

Probability of Blackjack: 4.83% with 6 decks.

Statistic 59

House edge single deck basic strategy: 0.15%.

Statistic 60

Player bust probability before dealer: 28.4%.

Statistic 61

Expected value insurance bet: -7.39%.

Statistic 62

Chance dealer busts on 16: 61.5%.

Statistic 63

Odds of 21 with 5 cards: 1 in 68,235.

Statistic 64

Return to player splitting 8s vs. hitting: +18% gain.

Statistic 65

Probability suited Blackjack: 0.17%.

Statistic 66

Dealer upcard 6: player win prob 42%.

Statistic 67

Variance per hand: 1.15 units squared.

Statistic 68

Long-term std dev 1000 hands: 36.7 units.

Statistic 69

Probability push: 8.9%.

Statistic 70

Ace/8 split EV: +0.04 vs. stand -0.02.

Statistic 71

6-deck house edge H17 DAS: 0.64%.

Statistic 72

Combinatorial bust rate: 16.2% optimal play.

Statistic 73

Probability natural 21 first hand: 4.8279%.

Statistic 74

Even money offer EV loss: 1.45%.

Statistic 75

Dealer 10-up win prob: 23.1%.

Statistic 76

Soft 18 vs. 6 EV double: +0.21.

Statistic 77

Risk of ruin 100 units bankroll: 13.5%.

Statistic 78

Probability 20 vs. dealer 10: 17.6% win.

Statistic 79

House edge 6:5 payout: 1.39%.

Statistic 80

Split 10s EV loss: -0.15%.

Statistic 81

Ace sidecount importance: 0.5% edge gain.

Statistic 82

True count 4: bet ramp 8x.

Statistic 83

Kelly criterion fraction: 0.5% per +1 TC.

Statistic 84

Probability royal flush 21+3: 1 in 649,740.

Statistic 85

Basic strategy error cost: 2-3% house edge increase.

Statistic 86

Hi-Lo count accuracy 95% at 10k hands.

Statistic 87

Basic strategy stand on 12 vs 2: 40.1% win.

Statistic 88

Double soft 19 vs 6: EV +0.54.

Statistic 89

Standard Blackjack uses 1-8 decks; single-deck rare at 0.15% house edge.

Statistic 90

Dealer stands on soft 17 in 60% of U.S. casinos; hits in others.

Statistic 91

Double down allowed on any two cards in 94% of Vegas Strip tables.

Statistic 92

Insurance bet offered when dealer Ace up; pays 2:1 but house edge 7.4%.

Statistic 93

Split pairs up to 4 hands in most rules; Aces once only.

Statistic 94

Blackjack pays 3:2 traditionally; 6:5 variants in 20% low-stakes tables.

Statistic 95

Surrender option (late) available in 30% casinos, reduces house edge 0.08%.

Statistic 96

Minimum bet on Strip averages $25; downtown $5-$10.

Statistic 97

Re-split Aces allowed in 40% rulesets.

Statistic 98

Dealer peeks for Blackjack on Ace/10 in 70% U.S. tables.

Statistic 99

ENHC (European No Hole Card) rule no peek on Ace/10.

Statistic 100

Side bets like Perfect Pairs pay 25:1 on suited pair.

Statistic 101

Infinite Blackjack allows unlimited players on one table.

Statistic 102

Blackjack hand value exactly 21 with 2 cards beats 3+ card 21.

Statistic 103

Push on player/dealer Blackjack in some tournament rules.

Statistic 104

CSA (Common Standard Set) rules used in UK: 2 decks, DAS.

Statistic 105

Double after split (DAS) standard in 80% U.S. casinos.

Statistic 106

No surrender in online RNG Blackjack 90% cases.

Statistic 107

21+3 side bet uses poker hands from player cards + dealer up.

Statistic 108

Blackjack switch variant: switch cards between hands.

Statistic 109

Dealer wins ties except Blackjack in some Asian rules.

Statistic 110

Minimum age for Blackjack tables: 21 in U.S., 18 in Europe.

Statistic 111

Table limits: $5-$500 common; high roller $100k max.

Statistic 112

RTP for standard Blackjack: 99.5% with perfect play.

Statistic 113

Double on 9-11 only in 10% conservative rules.

Statistic 114

Hit soft 17 dealer rule increases house edge by 0.2%.

Statistic 115

Basic strategy deviates 0.5% optimal EV.

Statistic 116

Hit/stand 16 vs 10: stand EV -0.54, hit -0.48.

Statistic 117

Always split Aces and 8s in all counts.

Statistic 118

Wonging (back-counting) doubles hourly rate.

Statistic 119

Hi-Lo system BC 97%, IC 51%.

Statistic 120

Illustrious 18 plays cover 80% decisions.

Statistic 121

Camouflage bets reduce heat: vary 1-12x.

Statistic 122

Zen count edge gain 0.26% over Hi-Lo.

Statistic 123

Optimal double 11 vs A: yes, EV +0.01.

Statistic 124

Never take insurance except count +3 TC.

Statistic 125

Split 2s/3s vs 2-7 dealer.

Statistic 126

Bankroll 100-400 units for 1-5% RoR.

Statistic 127

Deviation 15 vs 10 at TC +4: hit.

Statistic 128

Uston APC count: betting corr 0.99.

Statistic 129

Ace side bet ramp at RC 2.

Statistic 130

Shuffle tracking recovers 1-2% edge.

Statistic 131

KO system unbalanced, no true count conversion.

Statistic 132

Stand 12 vs 2/3: EV gain 0.02%.

Statistic 133

Hole carding: 10-20% edge if undetected.

Statistic 134

Optimal N0H surrender: 15/17 vs 10.

Statistic 135

Wong halves: precision but divide by 2.

Statistic 136

Team play signal: fist for TC+2.

Statistic 137

Never split 10s or 5s.

Statistic 138

Double 10 vs 9/10/A no in H17.

Statistic 139

Hourly win rate level 1: $25.

Statistic 140

CVData sims for strategy indices.

Statistic 141

Soft 18 hit vs 9/10/A.

Statistic 142

Progression betting loses 5% faster.

Statistic 143

True count ramp: bet 1x base TC0, 12x TC+5.

1/143

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From French aristocrats in the 1700s to a modern global industry worth billions, the story of Blackjack is a rollercoaster of history, high-stakes math, and Hollywood drama.

Key Takeaways

Blackjack, known as "Twenty-One," originated in France in the late 1700s with the first written reference appearing in 1768.
The game arrived in the United States around 1820 via French immigrants and riverboat gamblers.
In 1931, Nevada legalized gambling, leading to Blackjack's introduction in Las Vegas casinos.
Standard Blackjack uses 1-8 decks; single-deck rare at 0.15% house edge.
Dealer stands on soft 17 in 60% of U.S. casinos; hits in others.
Double down allowed on any two cards in 94% of Vegas Strip tables.
Probability of Blackjack: 4.83% with 6 decks.
House edge single deck basic strategy: 0.15%.
Player bust probability before dealer: 28.4%.
Basic strategy deviates 0.5% optimal EV.
Hit/stand 16 vs 10: stand EV -0.54, hit -0.48.
Always split Aces and 8s in all counts.
Global revenue from Blackjack tables: $8.5 billion in 2022.
U.S. Blackjack revenue 2023: $9.2 billion.
Online Blackjack market size 2023: $4.1 billion.

Blackjack grew from a simple card game into a globally popular casino staple.

Economics

Global revenue from Blackjack tables: $8.5 billion in 2022.
U.S. Blackjack revenue 2023: $9.2 billion.
Online Blackjack market size 2023: $4.1 billion.
Vegas Strip Blackjack drop 2023: $4.8 billion.
Average win per player visit: $150.
House wins 48.6% hands long-term.
Global online Blackjack players: 50 million.
Macau Blackjack revenue 2022: $2.3 billion.
Average table hold: 12.5%.
U.K. land-based Blackjack GGR: £1.2 billion 2022.
Mobile Blackjack app revenue: $1.8 billion 2023.
High-limit Blackjack salons: 5% tables, 30% revenue.
Player losses U.S. casinos 2023: $66 billion total, Blackjack 14%.
European online Blackjack: €2.7 billion 2022.
Atlantic City Blackjack win: $800 million 2023.
Live dealer Blackjack streams: 25% online market.
Average session loss: $200 for $25 tables.
Blackjack table utilization: 75% peak hours.
Crypto Blackjack sites revenue: $500 million 2023.
Singapore casino Blackjack: SGD 1.1 billion FY2023.
VIP Blackjack commissions: 1.35% on winnings.
Tournament prize pools average $100k.
Online Blackjack RTP advertised 98-99.5%.
U.S. tribal casinos Blackjack: $3.5 billion.
Side bet contribution to hold: 2-3%.
Pennsylvania Blackjack tax revenue: $400 million.
Global Blackjack software market: $1.2 billion.

Economics Interpretation

Though the house's 48.6% long-term win rate might seem like a fair fight, the collective $66 billion in annual U.S. player losses prove the casino's slight edge is a financial sledgehammer wrapped in a velvet glove of free drinks and hope.

History

Blackjack, known as "Twenty-One," originated in France in the late 1700s with the first written reference appearing in 1768.
The game arrived in the United States around 1820 via French immigrants and riverboat gamblers.
In 1931, Nevada legalized gambling, leading to Blackjack's introduction in Las Vegas casinos.
The term "Blackjack" specifically refers to an Ace plus a Jack of spades or clubs, paying 3:2 until the 20th century.
By 1950, Blackjack accounted for 40% of table games in Las Vegas casinos.
The first Blackjack strategy book, "Beat the Dealer" by Edward O. Thorp, was published in 1962.
In 1963, Thorp's book caused casinos to introduce countermeasures like multiple decks.
Blackjack's popularity surged in the 1990s with the movie "21" based on MIT Blackjack Team.
The MIT Blackjack Team won an estimated $10 million from 1980 to 2000.
In 2008, the film "21" grossed over $159 million worldwide, boosting game interest.
Blackjack was banned in Oklahoma casinos until 2004 due to state laws.
The first electronic Blackjack machine appeared in 1979.
In Europe, Vingt-et-Un was popular among nobility in the 17th century.
Blackjack rules were standardized in U.S. casinos by 1940.
The house edge dropped from 5% to under 1% post-Thorp due to player strategies.
Over 60 countries now offer legal Blackjack in casinos.
The World Series of Blackjack TV show ran from 2004-2008 with $1M prizes.
Blackjack revenue in Nevada was $1.2 billion in 2019.
Spanish 21 variant derived from Blackjack in the 1990s.
Card counting was first mathematically proven viable by Thorp in 1961.
In 1910, Blackjack was illegal in most U.S. states except Nevada.
Online Blackjack launched in 1994 with Microgaming software.
The game "Pontoon" in UK dates to 1800s as Blackjack precursor.
U.S. military bases popularized Blackjack during WWII.
First Blackjack tournament in 1977 at Golden Nugget.
Blackjack apps have over 100 million downloads on Google Play.
In 2020, Blackjack table count in Vegas dropped 20% due to COVID.
The Ace's dual value (1 or 11) standardized in 1900s.
Blackjack named after bonus payout discontinued in 1910s.
European Blackjack variant first played in Monte Carlo 1920s.

History Interpretation

Blackjack began as a sophisticated French parlor game, but after being honed by mathematicians and mythologized by Hollywood, it evolved into a global casino staple that governments tried to ban, mathematicians learned to beat, and movies taught us all to dream of counting.

Probabilities

Probability of Blackjack: 4.83% with 6 decks.
House edge single deck basic strategy: 0.15%.
Player bust probability before dealer: 28.4%.
Expected value insurance bet: -7.39%.
Chance dealer busts on 16: 61.5%.
Odds of 21 with 5 cards: 1 in 68,235.
Return to player splitting 8s vs. hitting: +18% gain.
Probability suited Blackjack: 0.17%.
Dealer upcard 6: player win prob 42%.
Variance per hand: 1.15 units squared.
Long-term std dev 1000 hands: 36.7 units.
Probability push: 8.9%.
Ace/8 split EV: +0.04 vs. stand -0.02.
6-deck house edge H17 DAS: 0.64%.
Combinatorial bust rate: 16.2% optimal play.
Probability natural 21 first hand: 4.8279%.
Even money offer EV loss: 1.45%.
Dealer 10-up win prob: 23.1%.
Soft 18 vs. 6 EV double: +0.21.
Risk of ruin 100 units bankroll: 13.5%.
Probability 20 vs. dealer 10: 17.6% win.
House edge 6:5 payout: 1.39%.
Split 10s EV loss: -0.15%.
Ace sidecount importance: 0.5% edge gain.
True count 4: bet ramp 8x.
Kelly criterion fraction: 0.5% per +1 TC.
Probability royal flush 21+3: 1 in 649,740.
Basic strategy error cost: 2-3% house edge increase.
Hi-Lo count accuracy 95% at 10k hands.
Basic strategy stand on 12 vs 2: 40.1% win.
Double soft 19 vs 6: EV +0.54.

Probabilities Interpretation

The house meticulously stacks the deck with microscopic advantages, so while a basic strategy player’s fate may dance on a knife’s edge of a 0.15% house edge, one statistically lamentable split or the seductive siren call of ‘even money’ can swiftly sink your bankroll into the red.

Rules

Standard Blackjack uses 1-8 decks; single-deck rare at 0.15% house edge.
Dealer stands on soft 17 in 60% of U.S. casinos; hits in others.
Double down allowed on any two cards in 94% of Vegas Strip tables.
Insurance bet offered when dealer Ace up; pays 2:1 but house edge 7.4%.
Split pairs up to 4 hands in most rules; Aces once only.
Blackjack pays 3:2 traditionally; 6:5 variants in 20% low-stakes tables.
Surrender option (late) available in 30% casinos, reduces house edge 0.08%.
Minimum bet on Strip averages $25; downtown $5-$10.
Re-split Aces allowed in 40% rulesets.
Dealer peeks for Blackjack on Ace/10 in 70% U.S. tables.
ENHC (European No Hole Card) rule no peek on Ace/10.
Side bets like Perfect Pairs pay 25:1 on suited pair.
Infinite Blackjack allows unlimited players on one table.
Blackjack hand value exactly 21 with 2 cards beats 3+ card 21.
Push on player/dealer Blackjack in some tournament rules.
CSA (Common Standard Set) rules used in UK: 2 decks, DAS.
Double after split (DAS) standard in 80% U.S. casinos.
No surrender in online RNG Blackjack 90% cases.
21+3 side bet uses poker hands from player cards + dealer up.
Blackjack switch variant: switch cards between hands.
Dealer wins ties except Blackjack in some Asian rules.
Minimum age for Blackjack tables: 21 in U.S., 18 in Europe.
Table limits: $5-$500 common; high roller $100k max.
RTP for standard Blackjack: 99.5% with perfect play.
Double on 9-11 only in 10% conservative rules.
Hit soft 17 dealer rule increases house edge by 0.2%.

Rules Interpretation

For all its glamorous simplicity, Blackjack is a meticulously engineered negotiation where the house's tiny, rule-dependent advantages—from the deck count to the dealer's soft 17—are the entire point of the game.

Strategies

Basic strategy deviates 0.5% optimal EV.
Hit/stand 16 vs 10: stand EV -0.54, hit -0.48.
Always split Aces and 8s in all counts.
Wonging (back-counting) doubles hourly rate.
Hi-Lo system BC 97%, IC 51%.
Illustrious 18 plays cover 80% decisions.
Camouflage bets reduce heat: vary 1-12x.
Zen count edge gain 0.26% over Hi-Lo.
Optimal double 11 vs A: yes, EV +0.01.
Never take insurance except count +3 TC.
Split 2s/3s vs 2-7 dealer.
Bankroll 100-400 units for 1-5% RoR.
Deviation 15 vs 10 at TC +4: hit.
Uston APC count: betting corr 0.99.
Ace side bet ramp at RC 2.
Shuffle tracking recovers 1-2% edge.
KO system unbalanced, no true count conversion.
Stand 12 vs 2/3: EV gain 0.02%.
Hole carding: 10-20% edge if undetected.
Optimal N0H surrender: 15/17 vs 10.
Wong halves: precision but divide by 2.
Team play signal: fist for TC+2.
Never split 10s or 5s.
Double 10 vs 9/10/A no in H17.
Hourly win rate level 1: $25.
CVData sims for strategy indices.
Soft 18 hit vs 9/10/A.
Progression betting loses 5% faster.
True count ramp: bet 1x base TC0, 12x TC+5.

Strategies Interpretation

Basic strategy gets you nearly all the way there, but the remaining profit lives in a symphony of tiny, disciplined deviations, relentless counting, and the quiet art of not getting caught.

Sources & References

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