The History of Texas Hold’em Poker

Before becoming one of the most well-known and popular games in the world, poker had rather modest beginnings. What is the origin of Texas Hold’em poker? How did it spread to the United States? Since when have the World Series of Poker been created? How did online poker become mainstream? We'll tell you everything about the origins of this exciting game before you dive into our video poker games!

The Uncertain Origins of Poker

Today, we have little certainty about the origin of Texas Hold’em poker, and there are several versions. The very first ancestors of poker may have come from China, the Middle East, and Europe, but the earliest versions of poker, as we know it today, took shape in the United States in the early 1800s.

At that time, Louisiana was sold by France to the United States, and many migrants from all corners of Europe settled in this new nation, where all hopes were allowed. They played mixes of various card games, including one of the earliest variants of poker that we know today, called "poque." This game was certainly introduced by the French and was played in gambling dens in New Orleans. Some say that the word "poker" comes from the German verb "pochen," which means "to knock." The city had many saloons where people spent time playing cards. Games of this old variant of poker were generally played with two to four players, with fewer cards than today.

The continuation of the poker story takes place in the city of Robstown, Texas, officially recognized as the birthplace of poker today, which emerged in the early 1900s. The game then spread throughout Texas, and Texas Hold’em was introduced to the casinos of Las Vegas in 1963 by several professional Texas players, including Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, and Crandell Addington, who are still considered true legends of poker today. Since then, nothing has stopped the meteoric rise of the game and its flagship variant, Texas Hold’em.

During World War II, poker returned to Europe, courtesy of American and Canadian soldiers.

Since the 2000s, thanks to the media broadcasting the finals of the biggest poker tournaments on television, poker has become an increasingly popular game worldwide. Some professional players have become true stars by winning millions of dollars.

In 2005 and 2006, this wave reached France and developed increasingly, amplified since February 2005 when the World Poker Tour was aired on Canal+ with Patrick Bruel. Since 2006, poker magazines have been published in French, and since 2008, French language books have multiplied. Today, there are hundreds of thousands of poker players in France who play more or less regularly.

In 2007, poker was integrated into French casinos in the form of No Limit Texas Hold’em games.

The Spread of Poker in the United States

As previously mentioned, poker really emerged in the United States at the beginning of the 19th century:

1822: The first American casino opened in New Orleans, but following an incident among several players, eight years later, poker would be prohibited in casinos.
1829: To circumvent this ban, many paddle boats traveling up the Mississippi hosted poker games, where several professional players, along with many tourists, played. At that time, the river was heavily trafficked and the journeys were long. On most of these boats, real gaming rooms were set up, and players gradually turned them into kinds of floating casinos.
1830s: About 1,500 professional poker players play aboard these boats, between New Orleans and Louisville. These many voyages greatly contributed to the spread of poker in the United States.
1837: Introduction of the 52-card deck that we know, and games could now include more than four players.
1849: Poker spreads more in the Far West, through gold hunters, and regulars in saloons accelerate its popularity. Indeed, this game is entirely in line with the mentality of the time, which viewed the United States as a sort of promised land, where freedom, equality, and fortune were sought.
1861: During the Civil War, many soldiers play poker together.
1865: At the end of the war, soldiers return home, across the country, with a deck of cards in their luggage, further accelerating the spread of poker in the United States. That year, draws were also introduced.
Circa 1870: Soldiers invent the 5-Card Stud poker variant, still present in modern poker, the first version of poker that contains both community cards and private cards.
After 1870: Poker continues to spread increasingly from East to West across the United States, driven by westward expansion. From that moment, many variants will emerge, and the rules of the game will become clearer.
Between 1917 and 1933: During Prohibition in the United States, poker is banned in saloons.
1931: Following the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression, the U.S. government decides to loosen restrictions on betting, and poker is once again allowed in Nevada, but only closed poker variants.
1941: In Las Vegas, the first casino, "El Rancho," is built at the entrance of the city.
1946: Another casino, "The Flamingo," is built by Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel.
1949: Johnny Moss becomes the first World Poker Champion.
1969: The first Texas Hold’em poker tournament takes place at the "The Dune" casino.

The Creation of the World Series of Poker

One of the most significant dates in poker history is undoubtedly the creation of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 1970 in Las Vegas. Benny and Jack Binion, a father and son, bought the rights to the Gambling Fraternity Convention, then named it the World Series of Poker. The very first edition of the famous tournament took place in their casino, Binion’s Horseshoe, with around thirty participants. The tournament was organized as a series of cash games in several variants: Texas Hold’em, razz, 5-Card Stud, seven-card stud, deuce to seven, and low-ball draw. These first WSOPs were won by player Johnny "The Grand Old Man of Poker" Moss. The following year’s edition was then held in a Main Event format with Texas Hold’em in a freeze-out.

The Explosion of Online Poker

In 1998, the very first real money online poker website, the now-defunct Planet Poker, appeared, followed in 2001 by sites like Partypoker, Paradise Poker, and PokerStars. In 2003, Chris Moneymaker, a professional accountant, qualified for the World Series of Poker on PokerStars after a bet of only $40, then clinched the world champion title. This victory and media coverage were triggers for the global success of poker, particularly Texas Hold’em. Indeed, in just a few hours, Chris Moneymaker inspired millions of people, making them eager to try their luck as well, giving the impression that almost anyone could learn to become a professional poker player by learning to bet with the right hand. A true craze for online poker emerged at that moment. In the next two years, the number of registrations skyrocketed: 839 in 2003 versus 5,619 in 2005.