There are three main variants of poker today – the community card, draw, and stud poker. Some variants died during their evolution process, while others continued to evolve. It’s unclear when and where poker started, but there are a few theories about its origins. Read more about the history and development of poker below.
Gambling regulation in the US
The gambling sector in the US has gone through a lot of changes to get to where it is today. Under federal law, betting is legal but with restrictions at the state level. The law gives states the freedom to either legalize or prohibit gambling within their borders. Most states have so far legalized gambling. It is possible to play video poker in Michigan today and in many other states in the US.
The earliest poker ever played
Historians have established three main theories about the origin of poker. The earliest poker ever played was in the 10th century AD in the Chinese empire. Another group of historians who have studied the history of gambling says poker originated in the Persian empire in the 16th century AD. The third theory traces poker back to the French kingdom in the middle of the 18th century. These three theories could be tied to the three main variants of poker today.
The earliest poker in the US
Poker in the US was introduced by the early sailors who were looking for trade routes and new places to conquer. The game’s popularity increased in the 19th century as more people began to travel around the world. It was introduced in the US by a group of French men who settled in New Orleans in 1829.
Four players would bet on the strongest hand to win a draw that was known as Poque. This is where the idea of betting as it is known today originated. Today, people are involved in many forms of betting, such as NBA betting and soccer betting. At that time, only 20 cards were used during a game.
Modern poker games
Since 1829, when poker was first played in the US, the game evolved slowly until the 1970s. Poker events started to be televised, which suddenly gave the game unprecedented popularity. The game remained common in land-based casinos that were located in just a few states. The game underwent another immense development in 1998 when poker rooms went online.
Modern poker is entirely different from the original poker in the 10th, 16th, and 18th centuries. More casinos were established after 2000, and there was an explosion of online casinos after 2018. US casinos offer both physical and online poker rooms.
Technology has made poker available to millions of players in the US. Today, players participate in poker tournaments that attract huge prizes worth several millions of dollars. Online poker leverages AI technology to offer the best player experience.
The current poker trends in the US
Poker is still undergoing another evolution in the US, thanks to technology. The main trend in poker today is mobile poker, which is accessed through mobile devices. Live dealer poker is another online trend where players play against a dealer in real-time.
Streaming platforms such as Twitch introduced poker streams which are gaining popularity. Another new trend is cryptocurrency in poker, where players use crypto coins to play. Players have access to free poker games online and VR to enhance the gaming experience.
