Our Story

Jackpot 16 is the brainchild of John Watts, a visionary and game-changer with a passion for redefining board games. The story begins in Lompoc, California, on a beautiful sunny day during a vacation with his wife in 2003. It was a moment of inspiration, a spark of creativity that would transform the way people play cards. John, always looking for ways to make games more exciting, had been playing Blackjack solo when he had a breakthrough. He removed the face cards, the 9s, and 10s from the deck, leaving only the Ace through 8 cards. The Ace, in Jackpot 16, counts as 1 without the option of being 1 or 11. That’s when the game’s unique character started taking shape. He thought of an exciting objective – players would aim to reach a score as close to 16 as possible without exceeding it, with a maximum of four cards. John introduced rules, including an automatic win when two 8 cards are dealt consecutively and special jackpot wins for players with four 4 cards. The game’s name, Jackpot 16, was born. Originally designed as a casino table game, Jackpot 16 has since evolved into a board game and a mobile app, bringing this gaming sensation to players around the world. It’s not just a game; it’s an experience designed to appeal to players of ages 18+.