How Video Poker Became a Casino Staple
Video poker is one of the classic casino games you’ll see online, but how has it evolved to become so widely popular? Its history goes back further than you might think and recent versions suggest that it will remain a key casino game.
What Is Video Poker?
This is a game of chance where the aim is to get the strongest possible poker hand from five cards. It plays more like a slot machine than a traditional game of poker, as you’re given five virtual cards and might be able to replace some of them. There’s no dealer or other players to beat, so whether you win or not is simply based on the strength of your hand.
The video poker casino games listed here include variants like Deuces Wild Multi-Hand, Caribbean Stud Poker, and Jacks or Better Multihand. Each version has a paytable showing the prizes for different hands, as well as specific rules. In the case of Deuces Wild Multi-Hand, 800x is the prize for a natural royal flush, followed by 200x for four deuces. The 2 cards act as wilds in this version, meaning that they can stand in for any other card.
The Early Days
The history of video poker can be traced back to the end of the 19th century, when the first slot machines were created. Charles Fey created the first slot – called Liberty Bell – and he also made a five-card draw poker machine that looks a lot like the current games. Players could even hold some cards and spin again to try and get a better hand. Poker was already hugely popular across America and these automated machines soon popped up in many parts of the country, giving a simpler and faster way to play at any time.
Their popularity dipped over time but it was revived in the early 1970s, when electronic video poker machines emerged. The first one was called Poker-Matic and it soon reached many Las Vegas casinos before SIRCOMA’s video poker machine then arrived to introduce a new type of game. A new rule that made two jacks a winning hand increased their popularity, as players saw this as an easy, uncomplicated game with a decent chance of winning.
Source: Pexels
How Technology Has Evolved
As with other casino games, video poker received a new lease of life at the turn of the century when online versions began to appear. The simplicity of the gameplay made it ideal as one of the earliest online games. However, as technology has improved, we’ve seen how developers are creating new video poker games with interesting themes and features. Despite this, it remains one of the easiest games to play, with a paytable at the side of the screen showing what combinations are needed for a win.
Video poker has stood the test of time, as it’s evolved from one of the earliest automated gambling machines to become a well-established classic. As online casinos grow, the huge range of diverse games on offer has increased competition. Yet, it seems likely that there will always be room for video poker to flourish.
