Poker originated hundreds of years ago and over time, has become one of the most popular casino games around. In this day and age, it is almost impossible to think of a casino without thinking of poker.

We all know that it is a game of strategy and involves psychology, but how did it grow to become as popular as it is now? Where did the game come from and how has it evolved to the table game we all know and love today?

The roots of poker

There is plenty of talk about where exactly poker could have come from. Some argue that the game originated as a variation of the Persian game of As-Nas, or perhaps from Brag, the British game. However, both of these theories have recently been dismissed in favour of the claim that poker actually originated from a French game called Poque. It is believed that the latter game dates back to the 1400s and was taken over to the United States by French colonists.

Poker expansion throughout America

Once the game had settled in America, it gained increasing traction as it was frequently played on riverboats in Mississippi in the 1700s. In fact, a lot of the plays associated with poker, such as betting and bluffing, are believed to have originated in the Mississippi Delta during this time. It is believed that in 1872, Colonel Jacob Schenck then wrote about the game and sent the rules over to someone in England.

Poker continued to spread throughout America thanks to the Gold Rush in the 19th Century, when it became increasingly popular in saloons. Unlike many other games, poker was played for money right from the very beginning, so players were always up against fairly exciting stakes.

The turning point for poker

As the 20th Century grew nearer, poker became more and more familiar and new variations of it were introduced into the mix. Slowly but surely, poker moved away from being considered as an outlaw game to a more mainstream pastime, as it remains today.

The introduction of variations of the game, such as Texas Hold’em, had a vast impact on the overall history of poker, as it helped the game spread even further and become more accessible in different parts of the world.

Fast forward a few decades to the 1970s, and the first World Series of Poker championship took place in Las Vegas. Thereafter, poker rooms started to pop up all over the show, which brought about a new sense of interest amongst the public, and in turn having ripple effects on poker’s popularity.

Poker’s milestones

The game has had several milestones during the course of over 600 years of its history. However, two milestones that certainly shaped it into what it is today include the 1973 World Series of Poker, which was the first ever televised poker event.

Following that, in 1998, the first online poker room was launched, forming the base of what we now know to be online casinos like onlinecasino.com.pk and other top sites.