The History of Online Poker
Poker has existed for around two hundred years. In the short history of poker, it’s not just the rules that have changed – the reputation of the game has improved tremendously since its inception.
The game as we know it today can be traced back to the days of the riverboat. And now it’s more accessible than ever, as you can play multiple online poker variations at Wazamba: https://wazamba.com/au/live-casino/poker.
American Poker was initially played with a 20-card deck. Mixing it with European card games, the game slowly evolved into the poker we know today.
This article provides a brief overview of the history of poker and how the game has developed over the years.
Origins of Poker
How and where it all started is not exactly known, but the origin can be traced back to the USA.
In addition to their belongings, the numerous immigrants from different countries also brought a few decks of cards with them to the United States of America.
These include Primero (Spain), Brag (England), Poque (France), Poca (Ireland), and Pochen (Germany).
There is evidence that poker was played in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the first half of the 19th century.
Back then the game consisted of four players, 20 cards, and there was no draw. Poker became a popular game on the Mississippi riverboat casinos and spread across the United States.
After the game became more and more popular, the players switched to the English deck with 52 cards. New combinations – including the flush – were added, and before 1950 a draw was added to the game.
In the second half of the 19th century, the straight hand was added, and new games such as Stud Poker were developed.
There were no limits to inventiveness. Soon there were wild card games (games with a joker) and by the turn of the century, split-pot poker was emerging. About 100 years after the emergence of poker, community card poker finally developed.
The World Series of Poker
The emergence of the WSOP is another milestone. Online poker would certainly have never become so popular if it weren’t for Benny Binion.
Binion was a self-made millionaire who not only revolutionized the casino industry in Las Vegas but also came up with the idea of marketing poker for promotional purposes.
In 1951 (some sources say 1949), Binion hosted the legendary heads-up match between Nicholas “Nick the Greek” Dandolos and Johnny Moss, drawing crowds to his casino.
After that, it would be a while before poker became more than just a show or a backroom game.
The Texas Gamblers Convention in 1969 was the first time poker was played on a large scale, but only in cash game format.
The idea of a freeze out tournament goes back to Walter Clyde “Puggy” Pearson, but it wasn’t until 1971 that Benny Binion implemented the idea at the second World Series of Poker.
Poker on TV
The next big thing in poker history is undoubtedly the start of televised broadcasts. Henry Orenstein, inventor, player, and Poker Hall of Famer, filed a patent for the hole card camera in September 1995.
It was used for the first time at Late Night Poker (1999) and ensured that the viewers got to see pro poker players competing.
ESPN started broadcasting the WSOP in 2002 and by 2003 the World Poker Tour was generating huge ratings. That’s also when online poker captured the hearts of many players.
The Moneymaker Effect
Chris Moneymaker was the one who showed just how profitable poker can be. The then 27-year-old qualified for the 2003 WSOP Main Event from a sub-satellite on PokerStars for just $86 and made poker history by winning the $10,000 tournament in Las Vegas and taking home $2.5 million in prize money.
From that point forward, online poker was not just a game played for fun, but rather the opportunity to win a life-changing sum.