The history of poker is long and diverse. While the game’s exact origin is disputed, poker is believed to have emerged as a combination of different card games that Europeans brought to the New World that became America.
Today poker has become a global phenomenon and one of the world’s most popular games. The rise of multiple online casinos and mobile casinos has made the game more accessible than ever. Join us below on a poker journey as we uncover the fascinating history and development of poker.
The origin of poker – China, Persia or France?
Due to its universal appeal, it is perhaps not surprising that the origin of poker is contested among both fans and historians. One proposed theory is that poker’s roots can be traced to the 10th century Chinese domino game xuan liu.
However, another theory links poker to the Persian game as-nas, which is played with 25 cards and 5 suits. A third theory is that poker can be traced to the French game poque, which was reportedly popular in the 17th century. As the name suggests, there could be some linguistic connection between the French poque and the name poker. Poque itself was reportedly influenced by the Spanish game primero and the German variant pochen.
America – the birthplace of modern poker
While poker’s origin is still debated, there is a general agreement that poker in its modern form was brought by Europeans as travel became easier and emerged in its modern form in 19th century multicultural America. The English actor Joseph Crowell is credited for having made the first reference to poker during a visit to a salon in the then French-speaking New Orleans in the early 1800s. Crowell reportedly described that the card game used a deck with 20 cards and focused on the strength of the players’ respective hands. The Spanish game primero, which revolved around three-car hand betting, was reportedly another source of influence on the emerging modern poker game.
One of the most popular poker games – Texas Hold’em, was named for its particular popularity in the State of Texas. This poker version was officially invented in the Texan town Robstown over hundred years ago around 1900. In 1967, the Golden Nugget casino became the first casino establishment in Las Vegas to offer Texas Hold’em. Today, Texas Hold’em has established itself as the most popular real money online poker games at operators around the world.
The universal popularity of modern poker
It is not a coincidence that modern poker enjoys a wide international appeal. It is a game that offers several attractive components:
- Chance to win money
- Entertainment
- Strategy & skills
- Social interaction
It is therefore no wonder that the variety of poker versions reflect the game’s international popularity:
- Omaha
- Texas Hold’em
- Greek hold’em
- Caribbean Stud Poker
- Chinese poker
Internet – the game changer in modern poker history
While poker is still popular at land-based casinos from Las Vegas to Macau, it was the Internet revolution that became the real game changer in the history of modern poker. Online players can potentially win money online from the comfort of their homes.
The emergence of online casinos and dedicated poker sites hanged the game in various ways.
- Accessibility and flexibility – online casinos and especially mobile casinos enable access to poker games 24/7 and from any location with an iOS or Android device.
- Wide selection – online sites offer a wide and diverse selection of poker games for various customer segments
- Demo games – Players can develop their skills with risk-free demo game versions online that does not exist in traditional land-based casinos.
- Many tournaments – there is a large number of online poker tournaments for both beginners and high-stake professional players.
- Poker apps – the development of sophisticated poker apps offer instant and optimized game experience directly from the smartphone.
- Tutorials – Leading online gambling sites offer today unparallelled tutorials for beginners who seek to learn poker from scratch.
- Online support – prominent poker sites offer seamless support 24/7 via live chat
- Safe transactions – online casino sites offer cost-efficient and safe transaction options such as electronic wallets, credit cards, bank transfers of crypto payments.
- Bonuses – Various rewards and bonuses have become popular features in modern online sites
- VR and AR tech – virtual reality and augmented reality technologies have dramatically enhanced the online game experience by gradually erasing the difference between the physical and the digital world
- Poker live streams – offer portable Las Vegas game experience
Conclusion
Various theories trace the origin of poker to ancient China, Persia and France. 19th century America is credited as the birthplace of modern poker with Texas Hold’em becoming the perhaps most popular poker version today. The emergence of online gaming made poker accessible 24/7. Furthermore, modern online poker sites offer wide game selection, safe transaction options, seamless support, tournaments and various bonuses. The combination of entertainment, strategy and social interaction has transformed poker into a global phenomenon.
