Learn about the history of video poker

The video poker games that we enjoy today especially online are generally an advancement of the card game, just that they have been manifested into different models to suit the needs of different users. Video poker has actually been in use from as early as the 1800s, when poker cards were used on coin operated machines. These machines were manufactured by the Sittman & Pitt Company based in Brooklyn. Most of the time the machines would be found in liquor stores and cigar shops before they eventually spread all over the country.

To work the machine, the player had to insert a coin in the machine and pull the handle, which would in turn spin 5 drums which had different poker cards. The player would then have to wait for the machine to stop spinning, in the hope that they would get a winning hand, which at the time would be paid out either in drinks or in cigars.

Incredibly, and unfortunately unknown to a lot of those who used the video poker machines at the time, the design of the machines cunningly left out the Jack of Hearts and the Ten of Spades to lower the chances of the players winning.

It was not until 1901 when Charles Fey would come up with what would be considered one of the biggest improvements on the machine so far, the “draw” feature. With this new feature, it was possible for players to apply their skills in the game, an upgrade from having to rely on blind luck as had been the case earlier on.

With this in mind, the player would then be able to hold some drums after making the first spin, and pull the handle to spin the rest of the other drums, which effectively gave birth to the hold and draw combination. Since then a lot of advancements and upgrades have been experienced in the industry, including the use of the internet for online video poker gaming.