Nowadays, when someone talks about games, our thoughts automatically go to a computer game, or even further, online games. But it was not always the same situation and online poker was not an easy option to find. The main method, before the advent of the Internet, was to participate in poker tables in casinos or private games.
Poker has gone through different phases, from its acceptance in society, to its legalization in most parts of the planet, to the organization of extraordinary tournaments that give players a chance to win some fabulous prizes. It's all possible thanks to the playability of online poker. But it wasn't always like that. Well, let's see how we got to the point where we can enjoy a wide range of poker games at any time of the day. Take advantage of maxbet casino online, enjoy poker and see the transition from classic games to modern versions.
How the game of poker came about
There is a site that studies the history of poker and has published an article entitled "Where did poker come from?" and it presents the premise that poker has two possible ancestors. The oldest appears around the XNUMXth century, somewhere in China. It appears under the name "As Nas" and was a combination of dominoes and cards.
The second ancestor would be a game called "poque" which is mentioned as being played around the XNUMXth century in France. With a striking resemblance to poker, it seems to have been influenced by a game played in Spain around the XNUMXth century called primero. French settlers they then played it in North America, where it kept its anglicized name of Poker. Over time, the number of cards used by each player also changed, increasing from three to five.
The game enjoyed popularity, although it did not always have a great reputation, which changed in the late XNUMXth century. Although many variations of the game have emerged, Texas Hold-em seems to be the dominant version these days, but people also enjoy other versions such as Seven Card Stud, Omaha, and Five Card Draw. And yet how did poker become so popular?
The transition of poker online
The World Series of Poker started in 1970 had a major impact in popularizing Texas Hold'em, but a big factor that brought poker to the big stage is the Internet. As I said above, before the internet, players had to go to casinos or private venues to play poker.
The actual change began in the early 1990s. Although it appeared in 1960, the Internet did not become publicly accessible until 1993. Another online article mentions "On this date, 25 years ago, the web became public domain," posted as a reaction to the decision of the CERN to make the internet accessible to everyone. They created server software, a simple browser, and an additional library of code so that any computer owner could access addresses on the Internet.
Entrepreneurs understood the potential of this technology and worked to develop a method for gamblers to enjoy casino games online. There is some debate as to which was the first online casino, with the dispute being between The Gaming Club and Intercasino. One thing is certain, none offered poker, leaving the online market open for the game.
Poker planet launched an online poker variant in 1998 where players could play for real money. Things really took off in 2003 when an unknown player named Chris Moneymaker secured a seat at the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) event and went on to win. Many tried to replicate Chris's success and contributed to a massive promotion of online poker.
Online poker goes mobile
With the release of the first iPhone in 2007, people's relationship with their phones was revolutionized by the use of the touch screen. A mobile phone was no longer just a device for calls and short text messages, it was on its way to becoming a multi-functional device. Many companies saw the potential of these devices and released versions of poker for mobile devices, including gaming giant Zynga.
The end of the online poker industry?
In 2011, the US Department of Justice began prosecuting PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker and Ultimate Poker for various crimes such as accepting payments from people in regions where internet gambling was illegal. This event became known as Black Friday. Only PokerStars remained unscathed after paying a huge fine and cooperating with the authorities, while the other sites stopped being available in the US or went out of business altogether.
The online poker industry has been reborn
Apparently the online poker industry had taken a heavy hit, but Pokerstar held on and, taking advantage of its market dominance, slowly but surely established itself in other states as poker services were legalized. Today, American poker players can enjoy playing online in Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Many competitors in the industry have launched services to compete with PokerStars and now many different types of poker are available online, including Omaha, Seven Card Stud or Texas Hold'em. Also, these games are not only available in digital format but also in live dealer format where players can interact with a real poker dealer instead of playing a virtual version of the game.
Where is the industry headed?
Virtual reality is in the forefront right now and online poker will not be an exception to this trend. The use of cryptocurrencies will probably also play an important role in the evolution of online gaming, but with their collapse in 2022, their widespread implementation may be delayed.
Conclusion
Online poker allows you to enjoy the game experience anytime and anywhere, and you also have the opportunity to win fabulous prizes. Good luck!