Poker's Journey: From Wild West Saloons to Online Living Rooms

Poker's journey from the Wild West to the living rooms of millions is a fascinating tale of evolution and adaptation. It is estimated that around a quarter of the world’s population gamble online, making the online gambling industry worth billions of dollars. This industry is expected to nearly double by 2023, reaching a total revenue of more than $90 billion a year. Some estimates put poker players around the world at about 100 million, but the number could be far higher.

The Origins of Poker

The most widely held belief of where poker originated from is that it came from the French game poque. French sailors brought the game into New Orleans in the 1800s as they arrived with their cargos and the game spread along the Mississippi. By the mid-1800s, a standard 52 card deck was being used instead of the original 20 that poque demanded, and the rules were altered and the name anglicized to poker.

Poker in the Wild West

Famous players such as Doc Holliday, Wild Bill Hickok, and Pat Garrett are forever linked with poker and the wild west saloons. Poker Alice had a 40-year stint playing poker in the west, and Kitty Le Roy was well known for poker and for shooting husbands after she tired of them. The game became linked with cheating, hustling, gamblers, and violence, but it wasn't just the men involved.

The Rise of Las Vegas

In 1906, the first casino in the states had opened. Hotel Nevada opened on Fremont Street and is now known as the Golden Gate Casino. In 1910, nearly all gambling was banned in the United States, and by 1920, alcohol was prohibited too. However, many of the back rooms in Nevada continued to allow patrons to play casino games such as poker and they could drink whisky with no problems. In 1941 the El Rancho Vegas opened and the Strip would never look back.

The Digital Age

Today more than 60 percent of the world’s population has access to the internet, which means that nearly 5 billion people could potentially play poker online. Florida still outlaws groups of friends playing poker if they are gambling more than $10 a hand. Other states outlaw gambling completely, so of course, if a website allows someone to play poker online, they will do it. Live casinos feature real dealers for online betting to make the poker game more authentic. Virtual reality could have home players sitting at a 3D rendered table, playing with individuals around the world.