Did They Play Blackjack in the Old West?

In the old west, gambling was a popular pastime. There is no definitive answer as to whether or not blackjack was played in the old west.

However, there are several theories as to how the game may have made its way to the western United States.

One theory is that blackjack may have been introduced to the west by Spanish missionaries. These missionaries were known to play a game called ventiuna, which is similar to blackjack.

It is possible that they taught this game to the Native Americans, who then passed it on to the settlers.

Another theory is that blackjack may have been brought over by Chinese immigrants. Gambling was very popular in China, and blackjack is thought to have originated in that country.

It is possible that the Chinese immigrants who came to work on the transcontinental railroad brought the game with them.

Whatever the case may be, there is no concrete evidence that blackjack was played in the old west. However, it is certainly possible that the game made its way to America during this time period.