Poker has been around for hundreds of years and has become a well-liked pastime game. However, the public may not know its whole history. While this will undoubtedly help you grasp the larger picture, we also prepared a full description of each stage in poker history. If you’re curious about how poker started and became popular now, this one is for you.

The Roots of Poker History

While there have long been theories that poker came from either the British game of brag or the Persian game As-Aas, many still wonder where poker first appeared. Poker is thought to have been inspired by the well-known card game Poque, which originated in France. Around the year 1400, a game called poque was invented in France. It was played with a 52-card deck, precisely like modern poker. Additionally, it shares a name with poker, which is thought to have been “Americanized” when English-speaking immigrants in the area were introduced to Poque by French colonists who had brought the game to North America.

Poker in the 18th Century

Poker gained popularity once it arrived in America in the 1700s. Riverboat gambling on the Mississippi and neighboring places made the game renowned. Many poker games involve betting and bluffing, and the real gameplay is thought to have originated in the Mississippi delta in the 18th century. Around 1872, when Colonel Jacob Schenck created the game’s rules and brought them to England, poker as we know it today began to spread to other nations.

Poker in the 19th Century

Poker was popularized in saloons and spread across America in the 19th century thanks to excursions along the Mississippi River and the California Gold Rush. People were allowed to gamble and compete without using firearms. At least not when the game first started. Since troops played poker while in camp, and nearly everyone picked up the rules then, it is said that even the Civil War contributed to the game’s popularity. In contrast to other games, people always played poker for money.It is also one of the reasons it has continued to gain popularity while providing a lot of excitement for gamblers year after year with events such as the world series of poker.

Poker in the 20th Century

As the general public became more accustomed to the game, other varieties were added. This monumental shift made it possible for women to play poker, which was previously only seen as a man’s game. Without question, the Texas Holdem game’s invention and the methods surrounding it significantly impacted the history of poker and assisted in its expansion. It comes from the state of Texas, namely from a small town called Robstown, spreading quickly throughout Texas and even beyond it.

The first World Series of Poker championship was held in Las Vegas in 1970, one of the critical turning points. Although it had a different format and was by invitation only, it laid the groundwork for the huge series that is currently shown. A few years later, in 1980, Texas Holdem became legal in California, which marked the beginning of the first real poker craze. There was no turning back once new poker rooms began to appear and started providing games to everyone interested in trying them.

The Poker Boom

The poker boom wasn’t caused by one specific factor. Instead, a series of occasions all had a part in the game’s general increase in popularity.

Chris Moneymaker

Chris Moneymaker, an American accountant, started playing poker online and finally won the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event. He was the first to do it at 27 after playing online to earn a spot in the Main Event, a feat that others have since imitated. The “Moneymaker Effect” refers to his impact on poker’s rise in popularity as more players started participating in online tournaments and trying to emulate his success. Today, Moneymaker is still a well-known player in live and online poker, competing all over the Americas and Europe.

Rounders

The poker boom did not begin with Moneymaker alone. The 1998 movie “Rounders” also played a role. The movie, which stars Matt Damon and Edward Norton, centers on Mike McDermott, a New York law student and accomplished poker player. Before traveling to Las Vegas to compete in the World Series of Poker, Mike is ultimately compelled to play illegal games against the gangster Teddy KGB. Despite receiving conflicting reviews from critics, the movie developed a cult following. The movie is widely regarded as the best poker movie ever made, and many professional poker players attribute their interest in the game to it.

Poker on Television

Many sports have found commercial success thanks to television. Fans worldwide may follow their favorite teams and athletes by watching them on TV, from football to Formula One. The same is true with the poker game. In the early 2000s, when poker began to show on TV, more individuals developed a passion for the sport. During the NHL lockout in 2004–2005, the Travel Channel in the US aired the World Poker Tour, while ESPN started airing poker matches in place of hockey matches.

Conclusion

Today, poker is still shown on TV, helping the game flourish and continue. Numerous hours of online and live poker games are available on websites like YouTube and Twitch, where many enthusiasts like to watch the game. Some contend that any future poker boom may be influenced by this easy access to poker content thanks to technology. You can help keep the game alive for many years by joining online poker games. Check GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room, and play poker now. Sign up at GGPoker today!