Card and board games weren’t invented yesterday, far from it. Some of the most popular games today have roots that stretch back hundreds, even thousands of years.
What started as simple ways to pass the time has turned into a global mix of strategy, luck, and friendly rivalry. Turns out, the urge to play is nothing new!
Blackjack
Blackjack’s everywhere! From weekend games at home to casino floors and mobile screens, it’s a card game that doesn’t need much introduction.
These days, it has also become available online. Playing blackjack at US sweepstakes casinos has become a go-to for many, thanks to the easy pace, smooth design, and the kind of interaction that feels personal.
Still, few stop to think about where it all began. The idea behind blackjack (aiming for 21 without tipping over) has been around for centuries.
Early signs point to French gambling rooms in the 1700s, where a game called Vingt-et-Un started drawing attention.
By the time it reached North America, the name had changed, and so had the rewards. From there, the game kept shifting. The game’s never stood still. It adapted to every new format, every new audience. And that’s why, centuries later, blackjack hasn’t faded.
Chess
Chess has been around long enough to watch empires rise and fall. Its earliest form, known as Chaturanga, appeared in India sometime around the 6th century.
As the game moved westward, it was reworked and reshaped. In Persia, it became Shatranj. Once it reached Europe, the board changed, the rules tightened, and eventually, the queen became the powerhouse we know today.
By the late 1400s, the version most people recognise had come together, one where strategy and foresight decide everything.
What keeps chess relevant is the depth. The rules barely fill a single page, yet no two matches are ever the same. From park benches in Brooklyn to elite tournaments in Baku, the game continues to draw people in. It’s been used to teach discipline, outwit opponents, and even push the limits of artificial intelligence. And despite centuries of change, the draw remains the same: one board, two minds, no excuses.
Backgammon
Long before modern board games had a place on coffee tables, people were already tossing dice and moving pieces across marked boards. Backgammon traces its roots to Mesopotamia, where early versions popped up nearly 5,000 years ago!
As the centuries passed, the game spread. The Romans had a version with an intimidating name: Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum, played on long boards with three dice.
Fast forward to medieval Europe, and the pieces began moving in ways that more closely resemble today’s version. The name backgammon is thought to have come from Middle English, combining back and game. This was a reference to one of the game’s signature rules, where pieces can be sent backward after a hit.
Monopoly
Back in 1903, Lizzie Magie designed The Landlord’s Game to show how land monopolies could hurt society.
It wasn’t until the 1930s, though, that the version we know today (with its colourful streets, paper money, and inevitable family arguments) hit store shelves. During the Great Depression, Parker Brothers saw the potential and gave the game a new identity.
Players bought up properties, built houses and hotels, and tried to wipe each other out financially… And all of that was done from the kitchen table. It turned cold economic realities into a game of high-stakes pretend. And somehow, it worked. People couldn’t get enough of it.
Monopoly has since become a pop culture staple. There are themed versions for just about everything, from cities to movies to pizza. Despite being less than a century old, Monopoly has secured its spot in the history of games by offering something simple: a chance to rule the board, at least for one night.