The History Of Poker

PREDECESSORS OF POKER

The name is thought to have descended from Phochen,

Poca or Poque.

Although the rules (at least the concept of bluffing) is likely

down to Brag, which comes from Brelen. The concept was in

other games as well, but these were the most popular.

Some modern theories (notably A World of Chance: Betting on Religion, Games,

Wall Street, Cambridge University Press) would suggest this is not the case

and it was simply made based on basic card play principles.

THE BIRTH OF POKER

There are two schools of thought, one which suggests it developed over time from

the games made on the previous slide, and the version of events which suggests it

was invented on its own.

The later suggests poker was invented in the mid 18th century and spread around

the Mississippi river region.

It was played in a variety of forms including straight, stud and even 20 card poker.

The development of poker is linked to the historical movement that also saw the

invention of commercial gambling. (David G. Schwartz, Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling,

Gotham)

English actor Joseph Crowell reported that the game was played in New Orleans in

1829, with a deck of 20 cards

RULES THAT CAME LATER

During the American Civil War, many additions

were made including 5 card stud and the straight.

The Flush wasn’t introduced till the 1850s and full

52 card decks were being used.

Community card games like Texas Hold’em weren’t

invented till 1925

COMMERCIAL GAMBLING IN THE USA: T IMELINE

1931 Nevada legalizes casino gaming

1947 The Flamingo, operated by mobster Bugsy Siegel, opens in Las Vegas

1950 The Senate Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce.

1955 Nevada passes legislation creating the Gaming Control Division

1959 Nevada passes legislation creating a State Gaming Commission

1961 Wire Act forbids interstate betting

1966-1970 Howard Hughes purchases numerous casino properties in Nevada. This symbolises gambling being a

legitimate business.

1973 Harrah’s Entertainment becomes the first “pure casino” company to be traded on the New York Stock

Exchange

1976 New Jersey becomes the second state to legalize casino gaming

1989 The Mirage Hotel & Casino Resort opens in Las Vegas, ushering in the era of the destination casino resort

1989 South Dakota and Iowa legalize gaming

1995 The commercial casino industry creates the American Gaming Association (AGA)

2006 UIGEA launched making online gaming illegal

2011 Black Friday, the state takes legal action against online gambling brands in the states

2011 The Wire act applies only to sports betting

2013 Online gambling made legal Nevada

2013 More states follow suit

ONLINE POKER

Planet Poker was the 1st real money online

poker room and launched in 1998

Chris Moneymaker won a 2003 tournament on

Pokerstars allowing him into the WSOP which he

won) which legitimised online poker.

Pokerstars bought Full Tilt after Black Friday,

making them by far the largest poker network in

the world. (source: Pokerscout)

CHRIS MONEYMAKER

Chris’s 2003 win is said to have "revolutionized

poker" because he was the "first person to become a

world champion by qualifying" at an online

poker site since then the popularity of poker surged.

This has been referred to as the “moneymaker

effect”.

WSOP

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a series of poker

tournaments held annually in Las Vegas. Launching officially in

2005.

It has it’s origins in 1970 where the best poker players in the world

would gather in the Horseshoe Casino for a single tournament.

Over the years, the tournament has grown in both the number of

events and in the number of participants.

The victor receives a multi-million dollar cash prize and a bracelet.

The winner is considered to be the world champion