Poker is one of the world’s oldest games. It was perhaps always inevitable that it would enjoy a life beyond the physical world and evolve into digital form. Just how successful the game would be in that form, however, was anyone’s guess. As it happens, online poker and video poker have thrived beyond anyone’s expectations. According to Statista, global online poker rose from $20.51 in 2009 to $37.91 billion in 2015. The same source predicts that it will reach $59.79 in 2020. Let’s delve into the past and take a look at how the game of poker began and how it’s evolved through the years.
A history of poker
Unlike games such as craps and roulette, where their origins are clear, there’s long been a matter of debate when it comes to the history of poker. One argument says that there’s a close resemblance between poker and a Persian game known as nas. Persian settlers may have taught it to New Orleans-based French settlers, says another. Another school of opinion says that it has shared ancestry with a Renaissance game called Primero and the French brelan. Joseph Crowell, an actor from England, reported that poker was played in 1829 in New Orleans with a 20-card deck and four players betting on who had the most valuable hand. An 1843 book called An Expose of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling purported that poker travelled by Mississippi riverboats to the rest of the U.S., and that it was often played on those very riverboats.
The game, along with its jargon, has grown to become important parts of English and American culture. Phrases such as poker face and up the ante are often used in casual conversation, including by those who don’t know the game and the original meaning of these phrases. Modern tournaments became popular in American casinos after the debut of the World Series of Poker in 1970. Champions from early WSOP tournaments became heroes to poker fans everywhere, including Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, and Johnny Moss.
Poker and mini-games
Poker has undertaken a dramatic evolution throughout the years and includes numerous mini-games that have spawned from the more popular variants. Most poker mini-games are based on Texas hold ’em. They can be played anywhere and at any time. The games combine cash games and tournament-style play in an ensemble of strategy. Typically, players can choose the buy-in, virtual location, and have the ability to customize many of the game’s elements.
Red Dead Redemption (2010) is an example of one of the more popular poker mini-games. The game ranks among the more authentic of niche games. It allows for multiplayer functionality, cheats, and multiple hacks. John Mason is the game’s gun-slinging cowboy and head honcho. If he likes you, you’re in the money, but if he doesn’t, you’ve not long for this world. Extraordinary artistry characterizes these mini-games. The mini game’s evolution parallels the rise in popularity of poker over the years, particularly Texas hold ‘em.
World Series of Poker (WSOP) console and mobile games
WSOP is clearly the authority when it comes to giving anything poker-related the stamp of approval. The official World Series of Poker game, released in 2005, was an attempt to give the user a taste of what it’s like to attend a real-world WSOP event. You start with a bankroll of $10,000 and choose which event you’d like to compete in. The WSOP has more recently turned its attention towards mobile gamers. World Series of Poker – WSOP Free Texas Holdem, available in both the App Store and the Google Play Store, asks you to play your best poker in your bid to win a WSOP bracelet.
Mobile poker has thrived in recent years. Social communities form as players take to the table with their chosen nickname and avatar ready to do battle with players from all over the world. There’s also a wealth of advice online on how to play the game. Some of the sites with a mobile platform, such as 888poker, offer information on the game’s rules and strategies. 888poker provides a resource on playing various versions of the game, including Texas hold ‘em, Omaha hi-lo, and 7-card stud. While there are a number of different games, the basic rules of poker always apply. There are numerous other sites dedicated to offering tips on strategy, such as PokerStrategy, which features hand discussions, quizzes, columns, and articles.
Poker and PlayStation Home
The core of PlayStation Home was a hub that allowed its players to socialize with friends and discover game-related activities. The games were designed to appeal to hardcore fans of the platform and are more casual and lighter than users can expect to find in PS4.
There were a number of locations from where poker could be played in PlayStation Home, each in Texas hold ‘em style. One of these locations was called The Paradise Springs Casino, a room offering a number of classic games such as blackjack and keno, and, course, Texas hold’ em poker. Known simply as The Casino, this room was given the appearance of a Vegas-style casino. There were three different hotel rooms: the Complimentary Room, VIP Suite, and Penthouse Suite. There was also the VIP Room, which players were invited into after they either won $100,000 or purchased a 40,000 chip bundle or the golden VIP hat. The Casino offered a variety of rewards for when certain criteria were met. Players were given a Paradise Springs T-shirt simply for entering the location. Some of the prizes weren’t so appealing, however. After losing three consecutive games, a Paradise Springs potted plant was awarded. Sadly, PlayStation Home ceased publishing content in 2015.
Whether it’s inviting your friends over for a poker night with a good old traditional deck of cards, playing online at your favorite online casino, or entering a poker room on your video console, it seems that poker will always exist in some shape for form. However you choose to play it, just remember to bring your poker face to the table.