Until today, card games have been an excellent way to spend time for thousands of years. These games were invented in China at the end of the 10th century and then made their way to Europe in 1360. One of the oldest card games used to be called the ‘leaf game’.

Since the inception of the 52-card deck, a number of different casino table games have emerged: 

For centuries, people have played poker, and they still do to this day, when its popularity is higher than ever. Today, professional and amateur players play poker at both land-based casinos and online casinos with bonuses.

Let’s find out more about this popular casino card game people love to wager on.

It is widely believed that poker was created in America in the 1800s, based on the game Poque, which was brought to New Orleans by French traders and sailors. Also, there was the British game called Brag, a derivative of a German popular bluffing game that was imported to America by merchants and colonists. Brag influenced the earliest personalization of poker, which used to be played with a 20-card deck.

Later, in the mid-1800s, five-card poker evolved into a drawing game. A deck that consisted of 20 cards was expanded to 52 cards. Adding to the excitement, an additional round of betting was added. For the first time, the hand rankings included five cards of the same suit, which was called ‘flush’. In the 1870s, the ‘straight’ was also added to the hand rankings, which included five sequential cards.

Poker has not changed in the last 100 years. Decks and rules have become standard. However, the level of popularity of the games has changed over the years. But in the end, the goal stayed the same: make the best possible five-card poker hand, or if not, then try to bluff your way to winning the bet.

One of the most significant milestones was when Texas Hold’em Poker was introduced. It gave revolution to the game and allowed up to 10 players to play in a single hand with only two hole cards and five community cards. So, from the originally five-card draw which everyone played, it shifted away to two cards in hand and five more on the table. 

The advances in computer technology in the late 20th century made poker explode on the international scene with the introduction of online poker sites. Players can engage in virtual gambling for the first time without leaving their homes. As technology improves, players are allowed to play from anywhere with their mobile devices, laptops, or tablets.

The World Series of Poker estimates that 100 million people play poker online, and over 60 million of that is in the USA. That makes poker one of the most popular games today, whether played online or at brick-and-mortar venues. When it comes to playing poker online, one must understand the rules and concept of the game. It is quite different from playing pokies online or from playing other games at online casino sites. Even though playing best online pokies is among the top wagering choice among the players, it is definitely not as traditional as poker. Players tend to play pokies online as a form of entertainment and to pass the time, while poker players tend to wager professionally and even compete in tournaments.  

The number of poker players has risen dramatically over the last few decades due to the emergence of online casinos with freespins, as well as live poker rooms. As they appeared, many casino enthusiasts had the chance to play this game online, from the comfort of their homes, and still feel the thrill they would in a land-based venue. A large part of the popularity of online casinos can be attributed to live casino games.

The first online poker game was played on January 1st, 1998, and as advanced as it is, still, it is relatively young. Before the introduction of legitimate poker websites, there were numerous land-based venues where one could play, but that January 1st called in a new era. It is reported that the first online poker hands were up from 3 to 6 dollars. As far as the biggest hand ever won is concerned, the name Antanas Guoga aka Tony G stands out. The man won the biggest online poker hand ever while playing the $5k/$10k and won $7,750,652.

Due to its popularity over the centuries, poker has a rich history of play. Some rules changed over time as the game started developing, but there can be no doubt today that the rules are better than they have ever been. With online and offline versions of the game, you can choose between the two and have fun playing this thrilling casino game.