Poker’s rise, from riverboats to online tables

Long before poker became the global phenomenon we know today, with its billion-dollar tournaments and online platforms, it first emerged in the humid streets of Louisiana in the early 1800s. It wasn’t an overnight success, but a game shaped by the cultural melting pot that was New Orleans at the time.

Born in Louisiana

In the early 19th century, Louisiana had just been sold by France to the United States. New Orleans became the newfound home for a mix of German, Italian, French, and Spanish immigrants who had flocked there. These settlers brought with them a variety of card games from their homelands, all different and none yet standardised.

In the midst of this mix of cultures and traditions, a new game began to take shape. These migrants played their card games together, blending rules and strategies until poker emerged—a game combining chance, skill, and bluffing.

Initially, poker was played by four players using only a subset of twenty cards: the aces, kings, queens, jacks, and tens. The objective was to form the best possible hand, whether it be a straight, a pair, or three of a kind.

European roots

Poker’s DNA is scattered across Europe. Italy had a game called “la primiera,” which became popular in the 14th century and would later influence a whole range of European card games. In France, people played a game called poque, and in England, there was brag—both of which featured bluffing, a key part of poker.

Some even say poker could be connected to As Nas, a Persian card game that also used a twenty-card deck, or to a Chinese game from around 900 AD that involved domino-like cards.

The American dream

However, poker’s transformation into what it is today happened in the United States. New Orleans was the launching point, and the city’s many saloons were its first stage. By 1827, America’s first casino had opened, and poker was played by anyone willing to test their luck and skills. But the game’s rise wasn’t without controversy. Just a few years after, a dispute at the table led to a law banning poker in the city’s casinos.

That did not stop the players. Instead, they took the game to the river—literally. Steam boats travelling up and down the Mississippi became floating casinos. The river was a busy highway, with long journeys and plenty of time to kill. In the back rooms of these boats, poker found its way into the hands of travellers, businessmen, and gamblers alike.

It didn’t take long for poker to spread. As America expanded westward, so did the game. Saloons across the frontier became hotbeds for poker, where cowboys, bounty hunters, and even sheriffs would sit down at the table.

But poker wasn’t just about the money. Lionel Esparza, a poker historian, believes the game reflected something deeper about the American spirit. “It’s about luck, but also merit,” he says. “To win, you need both, just like in life.” Louisiana-born poker captured the ethos of a country where hard work and risk could lead to success, or ruin.

An evolving game

The poker of today is a far cry from its early days on the Mississippi, in Louisiana. The game evolved, adapting to new rules and formats as it spread across the country. By the 1960s, poker had outgrown its reputation as a game for smoky saloons and backroom hustlers. Players like Benny Binion, a Las Vegas legend, helped push poker into the mainstream by showing how the game could change lives.

With the advent of the internet and televised tournaments, poker exploded onto the world stage. Suddenly, anyone with an internet connection could play, and poker became a global phenomenon. What was once a niche American pastime is now a game played by millions worldwide.

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