What Are the Oldest Casino Games Still Played Today?

The standard French-suited playing cards are so widely known that it’s most likely everyone has seen them at one point or another in their lives. They are used in countless games, from solitaire to bridge and poker, and they can be found pretty much everywhere in casinos. They have been around for hundreds of years, and so have some of the games we play using them - this applies to casino games as well. Some of them have been around for centuries, and while they changed a bit over the years, they are still mostly played according to their original, ancient rules. And these might be some of the oldest.

Baccarat is a game that’s been obviously developed for gambling. It’s fast, it’s completely luck-driven, and the players don’t have to do anything but bet and wait. Still, thousands play online baccarat in Canada and beyond, and many - especially high-rollers - play the game in real-life casinos, especially in the casinos of Macao.

Baccarat has been around for a couple of centuries - it was first described in 19th century France as a popular game of the nobles. Some historians think that it’s based on the Asian game called Macao, brought to Europe by sailors returning from Asia where the game - or similar games - have been played since the 17th century. Other sources claim that it’s even older - some think it was brought to France in the 15th century by soldiers returning from war.

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games today, played in pretty much every casino, online or otherwise. It is a rare combination of skill, strategy, and luck, which makes it a favorite among younger players. After all, outwitting the house and bending the odds in your favor is the best part of the game.

Blackjack is based on a Spanish game called ventiuna that was played as early as the 16th century. The rules and goals of the game remained mostly the same when it found its way to France and England. Then, it was introduced to the US at the beginning of the 20th century when it got its current name and format.

No list of old casino games would be complete without roulette, the most recognizable casino game of them all. Every real casino has at least one roulette table or a virtual roulette game on the premises.