One theory suggests that players were originally saying “monarchy” - a term that resonates with the monarchy-associated face cards (King, Queen, and Jack).

However, there are two popular theories that try to explain its usage. The origin of the term “monkey” in blackjack is a subject of debate, with no clear consensus on where it came from. This is a way of expressing their hope for a face card, which would score them a blackjack and a win for that round. For instance, if a player gets an Ace as their first card, they might shout “monkey” when the dealer is dealing the second card. This term is particularly common in brick-and-mortar casinos.

The term “monkey” is blackjack jargon for a ten or a face card, which includes a King, Queen, or Jack. This might have left you wondering, what on earth do monkeys have to do with blackjack? Well, in the world of blackjack, “monkey” has a distinct meaning. If you’ve ever been around a blackjack table, you might have heard players shouting out the term “monkey”.

King card in blackjack