The game of poker has been around for countless generations, and its popularity has continued to grow throughout its long history. The game originated through the natural evolution of other similar games, like the French poque, the English brag, and Persian As-Nas. Each of these games had certain elements similar to poker, but the true brilliance of the modern game didn’t sprout until the game was making its way through the American southeast in the mid 1700s. During that time, the game became exceptionally popular on casino riverboats traveling the Mississippi, and the game spread west during the Gold Rush as people took playing card decks with them to pass the time on the frontier. It was around this time that the movement for commercial gambling began to take hold in America, and such revolution skyrocketed the popularity of the game. The betting rules for poker are what make it unique against its predecessors, and those rules gave the game an extra sense of risk that hadn’t been seen in previous versions.
Once the game created a name for itself as a traditional gambling activity in major casinos, the popularity began to spread to less serious players. In 1970, the World Series of Poker was established, which brought a whole new level of recognition to the game and those playing it. The game has enje has since evolved into a behemoth of a professional sport, and there are just as many opportunities for the average player to test his luck as there are for professional players trying to win big. oyed an unprecedented level of spiking popularity in the recent years mainly due to organizations like the WSP. As the game has grown, so has the audience watching it, and the technology that allows for spectatorship in the first place. Before the game reached television, there were few options for watching a game effectively. But with the advent of modern technology like HD cameras, hole-card cameras, and eventually online poker, viewers have more options than ever before to witness high level card playing.
Poker continues to grow in scope as more people tune in through their respective media outlets, whether it be television, smartphones, or PCs. When the game first appeared on television, it was only broadcast late at night when nothing else was already playing. Ratings for those time slots started to explode, so poker was brought before a wider audience. Now people watch to see the struggle between great players battling over huge piles of raw cash. Some poker organizations have even taken to hiring celebrity endorsers or even celebrity players, which only draws more attention from the public. On the other hand, online websites promoted a large number of poker players at amateur level, even some players become professionals.
Gambling is a deeply rooted part of human psychology, so it should come as no surprise that one of the most popular games on the planet got its start strictly as a way to win money and pass time. The game has since evolved into a behemoth of a professional sport, and there are just as many opportunities for the average player to test his luck as there are for professional players trying to win big.
