Above: new production methods were discovered and playing cards became affordable for everyone.

A Concise History of Playing-cards

Playing Cards have been around in Europe since the 1370s. It is believed that the earliest packs were hand painted works of art which were expensive and affordable only by wealthy patrons. But as demand increased new, cheaper methods of production were discovered so that playing cards became available for everyone...

The history of playing cards is fascinating. The modern history of playing cards culminates in the online casino. This section is an on-line tutorial covering the early history of playing Cards. You will learn about the following topics:

1. Where did playing cards come from?

2. The Cultural Context

3. Card Games

4. Other uses besides Games

5. What did the earliest European cards look like?

6. How did Suit Systems evolve?

7. Different methods of production

8. Sources of imagery

9. The Renaissance influence

10. Standard National Patterns

11. History of Blackjack

You can either follow the links to or go directly to the page(s) you are interested in by clicking the links above.

At the end there will be a quiz to consolidate your knowledge. If you're looking to play card games online I recommend Ladbrokes, one of the largest UK sportsbooks and online casinos.

Early References | To play online poker click here.