The game of poker as we know it has not always been so straightforward; it has changed and developed over nearly 1000 years across various cultures and civilizations. Never would our ancestors have imagined that we would play this game of ‘bluffing’ from the comfort of our own home online. Whether it is playing online for fun to practice your technique or testing your skills against other online competitors, there is something to suit everyone’s taste and style at most traditional and online casinos.

Popular poker variants include: draw poker, stud poker and games such as ‘Texas Holdem’ or ‘Kansas City’. However, the history of poker was put on the map with the ‘World Series of Poker’, the annual tournament which attracts professional players to compete against other world class professionals in order to gain the title of poker world champion. Where else would a tournament be held other than the heart of gambling, Las Vegas? Only recently in 2007 was the tournament held in Europe, the first time it has been hosted outside of Las Vegas.

Where the game originated from has been debated for many years, but the true fact is in the name of many famous poker games, The USA. The formation of poker started in New Orleans, the game then started to spread across the different states of America and then overseas. One way in which the game expanded was up and down Mississippi River on riverboats, which also transported people and cargo leading to the game becoming established very quickly.

Las Vegas isn’t referred to as the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ for no reason, with its first casino being licensed in 1931 a mass amount of 1701 licensed gambling outlets are now in operation. Many of the most famous casinos in Las Vegas are entwined with luxurious hotels and exhibit the epitome of luxury. One of the most famous being Caesar’s Palace.

Poker is not only known as a game but it is a signifier of ‘risk’, ‘bluffing’ and ‘holding your cool’. It is a way of socialising with friends, predominantly with friends coming together to expose their skills and show their ‘Poker Face’. Your ‘Poker Face’ refers to not showing any emotion or giving anything away to other opponents, which could lead to people winning the game through ‘bluffing’.

Poker is at an all time high in popularity as the game is so frequently played across various cultures. The truth about poker is disappearing as the facts about the game vary widely and the game can be played very differently. Within this development, poker has become a part of popular culture widely recognised worldwide. References to the game are frequently used in films, novels and lyrics often to heighten the excitement or set a scene.