Online Poker History

The history of Poker is thought to have evolved over more than ten centuries from various games, all involving the basic principals of ranked card or domino combinations and the use of ‘bluffing’ to deceive opponents.

The name itself, 'Poker', probably comes from an 18th-century French game called Poque. Some historians believe, however, that the name is also derived from a German betting game, Pochspiel, which contains an element of bluffing. In pochspiel, players would indicate whether they wanted to pass or open by rapping on the table and saying, "Ich Poche!" In addition, and further proof of the disputed nature of the game's history, some people also believe a possible source for Poker's name is the Hindu word, pukka.

Another possible explanation for the word Poker is that it came from a version of an underworld slang word, "poke," a term used by pickpockets. Cardsharps who organized card games to relieve a sucker from his poke (cash and valuables) may have used that word among themselves, adding an r to make it "poker." There are those who also believe that "poke" probably came from "hocus-pocus," a term widely used by magicians.

One of the likely ancestors of the game of Poker was the Persian game ofAs Nas', which was a 5-player betting game using a deck of 25 cards with 5 suits. The 16th-century gambling card game called Primero was popular in Europe and has many similarities to modern day Poker. The French game of Brelan and its derivative, the English game Brag (earlier spelled Bragg), both incorporated the element of bluffing, but this concept was known in other games as well.

The earliest references to a game called Poker were by English actor Joseph Cromwell, who described a card game being played in New Orleans in 1829, and Jonathan H. Green, who made a written reference to Poker in his book, An Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling (1843). In his work, Green mentions rules to what he called the "cheating game," which was then being played on Mississippi riverboats. Some historians say Green was the first to refer to this "cheating game" by the name of 'Poker'.

Figuring out who started online gaming is not as difficult as trying to figure out who invented the internet. Everyone is fairly certain that Al Gore was responsible for neither. Working forwards from the available information though, the picture of the pioneers of internet gambling does become a bit clearer.

  The story of online casinos started in 1994, in a rather unlikely place. The Government of Antigua, Bermuda passed the free trade and Processing Zone Act. This opened the door for many online casinos and sports books to operate under licenses granted to this legislation. Antigua Bermuda remains the online gambling industries most popular licensing jurisdiction to this very day. It was also during this time that Microgaming was found.

  Microgaming, as the online-casino industry’s largest software developers, became the Microsoft of the online gaming world. The software was soon followed by other necessary applications. In 1995 the Rivkin brothers, Mark and Andrew, started CryptoLogic. Their primary aim was to develop a communication protocol that would enable transactions to be settled safely and securely. In 1996 Boss Specialtidningar AB, developed a system for casino operations on the internet. At this same time Microgaming sold off its existing casino operations and concentrated on developing more advanced online casino technologies.

  Cryptologic were the originators of the very first ECash and gaming application. Later that same year they completed their first gaming software. The stage was now set for real gaming over the internet. In October of 1996 InterCasino goes online and claims to be the first online casino to accept a real money wager over the internet. Like ants lured by the scent of a picnic lunch, others jumped on the bandwagon of online gaming. By 1999 there were approximately 700 online casinos. A March 2001 survey reported that around 8 million people had gambled with real money online. It was just about a year later, on 30 May 2002, an online casino produced it’s first millionaire. The lucky player won a massive $1,594,649.

  Poker is a staple of the casino industry, and the online version was no exception. Online poker exploded in popularity along with the entire industry. Chris Moneymaker solidified the legitimacy of internet poker when this peoples champion took home a WSOP gold bracelet.