History of Video Poker

 Video Poker History

Poker is one the most beloved gambling games today. It became popular on the Mississippi riverboats during the early 1900s. The 52 card deck, which was initially played with only 20 cards, quickly became the standard in poker. Over the years, there have been many variations. Video Poker is also known as Five Card Draw.

The first time the draw innovation was used in the game was around 1850. A standardised ranking of hands was developed around this time, with the additions straight and flush. The combination of skill, luck, and the ability to play against other players is one of the main attractions of poker. The mechanics of poker are entertaining enough to be made into a game that could be played against the house. Given the popularity of the slot machines, it was obvious to combine the gamblers love for poker with their love of machine gaming.

Machines and Poker

1891 was the year that the first ever poker gambling machine was invented. This machine was mechanical rather than the screen-based ones we have today. The game featured five spinning drums that had 10 cards on them. The drums were designed to spin in a way similar to an old-fashioned fruit machine lock and display five cards. These five cards represent the poker hand of the player, and he would receive his winnings accordingly.

Seven years later, a new machine was released. The original machine was improved by adding a draw feature. If a player is unhappy with their initial result, he can choose to hold one or two reels and respin the rest. While it was quite similar to video poker machines today, it was limited by the complications involved in trying to replicate a poker deal using a reels-based device.

These machines were initially popular in bars and clubs but did not really take off in the mainstream. The advent of computer processors in the 1970's meant that poker on machines wouldn't really take off until then.

The Computer Age: Innovation

The mid 1970's saw the first personal computers appear. Although the computers were quite basic by modern standards, they had enough processing power for all possible card combinations. It was due to the fact that these machines were both reliable and cheap enough to be made in large quantities, as well as the possibility of linking them up to a monitor with video, that it was clear that video pokie was on the horizon. It didn't take long before someone noticed the potential gambling applications.

Si Redd was the one responsible for the creation of video poker. He was an experienced casino game distributor who had already seen success in introducing new slot games to the casinos. His new video poker project was not easy to sell. Bally Casino, his employer was reluctant to sacrifice the floor space that had been allocated to more traditional slot games. These were also very popular. Redd refused to be discouraged and purchased the patent for the game. Fortune Coin Company believed in Redd and offered to mass produce a machine capable. The company was in a good position because they had already made a video-based version of a slot game in 1975. They were able successfully to adapt their existing machine technology in order to create an effective but basic video poker terminal.

Video Draw Poker first appeared in 1979. Although it wasn't immediately a hit, Video Draw Poker was the most popular new game. A few minor tweaks helped to boost the popularity of this game. One of the most popular changes was the alteration to the minimum hand requirement. In its early days, two pairs was all that a player needed to win a payout. Owners of the game soon changed this to one pair or better, which was the lowest qualifying hand. This game is commonly known today as "Jacks or Better". This increase in payouts was a huge impact. This game has seen tremendous growth and there are now very few casinos that do not offer video poker.

Technology has played an important role in the evolution and development of the game. The original game screens were similar to a 1970s computer's screen, which had limited sound and blocked graphics. This contrasts with the full-colour high definition screens today to see how much the aesthetics have improved. The game's popularity has grown as it has become more attractive and welcoming.

Multi-hand features became possible with the development of gaming software. This feature allows gamblers up to 100 different variations of the same hand instantly, which greatly increases the excitement and action in the game.

Video poker machines also offer something casino poker players won't find at a live poker table. Video poker terminals allow players to play anonymously and are free from the concern of having their decisions and play scrutinised. Machine play allows for privacy, which is why slot gaming is so popular. New video poker machines provide the perfect combination of card-based excitement and more private gaming experiences like slots.

Going online

Video poker is a screen-based video game. It was already easier to move it online than other casino games. Roulette was one example of a game that required new software to allow it to be played in the virtual world. The software used for video poker has improved over the years. Gamblers all over the globe can now enjoy almost any version of the game from the comforts of their homes, or even on their mobile devices. You will see video poker featured in any online casino.

Future Developments

The future of video poker will follow the same pattern as the past. The classic versions will continue to be popular and are constantly updated and enhanced with new variations. Only the designers have the ability to imagine new variations of the game. A progressive jackpot feature that is similar to Caribbean Stud has been added to some recent games.

One of these newer variations takes us back in time to the original slot poker game that was invented in the late 1800's. Modern technology allows spin poker to be played on reels. It is more similar to the 1891 five drum machine. Developers of the game have created a new version of the multi-hand feature due to the widespread popularity. Multi Strike Poker is a new version of poker that allows players to play multiple hands and has escalating pay table. Video poker's simplicity, player involvement and adaptability make it a promising game. It offers one of the most lucrative returns to players, with an average return of around 99%. The Evolution of Video Poker