Contrary to popular belief, the history of Video Poker did not start with the invention of personal computers or the integrated circuit. In fact, this popular game began at about the same time as the first slot machines made their way into gambling halls. Although the machines did not reflect the contemporary versions we’ve come to know and love, they did employ many of the same methods used in today’s modern games.

In a way, the start of Video Poker history dates back to before the “video” part was invented. In the late 1800s, a New York company created a poker machine similar to a slot machine. Instead of fruits and bars, the reels displayed cards. After the reels stopped, the five cards revealed in the window made up the player’s five-card poker hand. This form of gambling grew at the turn of the century.

A few years later, Charles Fey, the inventor credited with the creation of the slot machine, adapted the poker machine so that it would “hold” selected cards and redraw the rest of the hand. The ability to “hold” cards became the biggest innovation in the history of Video Poker and led to a much more strategic approach to the game. The need for strategy whilst playing further expanded the popularity of Video Poker gambling.

The first true casino Video Poker machines were introduced in the 1970s. Dale Electronics invented “Poker-Matic”, a computerized form of Video Poker gambling similar to that of the first mechanical poker machines.

The next step in Video Poker history came when SIRCOMA created Draw Poker, which allowed players to hold and redraw cards in order to make a better hand. As machines were linked into networks, these became the first versions of the games as we know them.

But unlike several other fashionable games of the time, casino Video Poker games were not limited to casino play. Even before the advent of online Video Poker games, many players enjoyed Video Poker in bars, restaurants, arcades and other entertainment venues. It’s this extensive availability and prevalence that contributed to the game’s quick acceptance.

The introductions of the personal computer and the home video game took Video Poker history one giant leap further. Instead of trekking to a casino or visiting an arcade, the online Video Poker game allowed players to gamble from the comfort of their own homes.

Online Video Poker games also allow players to use the same software that controls the casino, providing them a unique means of practice in the form of “play money” mode.

The advent of the internet in the 1990s was the launching point for online Video Poker history, as well as for other forms of online casino gaming. Online casino software giant, Microgaming, developed the first games in online Video Poker history for major internet gaming sites. Their growth and widespread popularity were the sparks that ignited the biggest boom in the history of Video Poker.

As technology expands and more players are drawn to this fun and exciting game, online Video Poker history continues to evolve. New forms of the game are introduced, both in online casino sites and in stylish casinos throughout the world, and new books, web sites and strategy guides are published for novice and veteran players.