Celebrity Blackjack tournament

Celebrity Blackjack was a televised tournament launched by GSN in 2004 for charity. Celebrities competed against one another and the prize money was donated to charitable causes.

The first season aired in 2004. Season two followed later that year and continued into 2005.

The basic concept

The show brought together entertainment-industry contestants in preliminary games, later rounds and a final. Expert commentators discussed the play, while an online interface let viewers try blackjack themselves.

The format of the tournament

The event followed the general structure of a blackjack tournament but included television-oriented twists such as a final secret bet and the “Five Card Charlie.” Contestants started with tournament chips and played a fixed number of hands under changing betting limits.

The first-season championship was won by Caroline Rhea. The show continued with a larger second season and additional preliminary and semifinal rounds.