History Of Video Poker

An article about the history of video poker.

The concept of poker being played electronically (popularly called as "video poker") started as early as the 70's. From then on, the game spreads like wildfire - consuming everything on it's way. Casinos all over the world now feature this exciting variation of the traditional gambling game. Video poker displayed a commercial viability after it turned out to be an economical creation through the combination of a strong central processing unit and a television-like monitor.

Video poker seamlessly combines slot machine thrill and poker's strategical requisites, thus, making it a hell of a fusion — the exciting merge of skill and luck.

When the “gold rush” ended in the mid 1800s, a gambling rush transpired and California became America's gambling Mecca. Almost all throughout, pubs or saloons featured many variations of slot machines. In the late 1800s, the original coin-operated poker machine was created in New York. Sittman and Pitt Company manufactured the contraptions. The machines reached the West Coast and were in every store that offers liquor during the last part of the 19th century. The combination of spirits and poker-machines proved to be a bankable combination and became extremely popular.

In 1896, Charles Leonhardt, Jr., founded the Monarch Card Machine Company and produced machines that were clear wonders of innovation. The Monarch “Brownie” was touted to be the first transparent machine where coins inside are seen through a window.

In 1899, Charles August Fey built the Liberty Bell slot machine, which kicked-off the manufacturing of over a million slots over the next 50 years. In 1896, the man started the operation of a slot machine factory that included the poker slot machine that casino enthusiasts go crazy about. He also made two poker slots named the “6 Way Paying Teller” and “The Duke". These machines failed to pay cash to the winners independently but Fey managed to come up with the Card Bell (in 1898) which did the trick.

Fey did another wonder in 1901 when he introduced the concept of “draw” to his machines. The type proved out to be a goldmine for Fey and the manufacturers. It is believed that Skill-Draw, a spin-off of the said machine, was such a big commercial success from 1935 to 1941, which prompted Fey to reward his top salesman with a new car.

When technology ushered in new advancements - merely 40 years later, video poker reached a new era. The first video poker machines employed merely 50 cards which excluded the Jack of hearts and 10 of spades. These video poker machines were known as the “drop card” (due to the two missing cards).

One of the most famous electronic poker machines ever made was Dale Electronics' Poker-Matic, found in majority of Nevada casinos. In 1990, colored and animated video poker machines were a hot commodity among casino establishments. A decade past, video poker still has it's popularity among online casinos.

Furthermore, video poker became more established with the introduction of Si Redd's Coin Machines (SIRCOMA). SIRCOMA introduced the Draw Poker in 1979. During the '80s, video poker increased popularity in casinos because many saw the machines as a lesser intimidating experience than the actual poker games.

Now, video poker holds prominence among numerous casinos and is particularly a hit with Las Vegas people who flock the casinos in the Vegas strip. Online video poker sites feature rules, tips, strategies, and concepts that provide players, novices or professionals, with the requisite knowledge to fully enjoy the game.

Today, poker tournaments like the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and the World Poker Tour (WPT) are broadcast worldwide. Major poker tournament fields now enjoy a huge popularity, thanks of course, to that clever invention called video poker

Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 )

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