History

From Persia to France to the mighty Mississippi, poker has a long and much-argued history. Let the World Poker Tour take you through the evolution of the most exciting card game in the world.

There are as many opinions on the origins of poker as there are combinations of hands. Card games from Persia (As Nas), India (Ganjifa), France (Poque), and Germany (Pochen) are all believed to be forerunners of the modern game. Decks of cards with face cards are believed to have been developed in France, and then later brought to America. Modern poker was born on the Mississippi and carried up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers by steamboat, quickly spreading into the interior by wagon and train, then heading west with the California gold rush. By the late 1850s, the game was fast evolving into its modern day form.

Prefer to learn about poker's rich history in video form? The lovely Shana Hiatt is happy to oblige.

In 2003, the World Poker Tour revolutionized televised poker and brought Texas Hold'em, the Cadillac of Poker to the forefront of international excitement. WPT introduced the world to the "WPT Cam", a new, lipstick-sized camera that enables the TV audience to see the players' hole cards. This tiny camera plays a crucial role in revealing the drama of the poker players' high-stake bets and bluffs. WPT's expert commentary and educational content enables viewers to improve their own poker playing. When hosts Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten use poker lingo, pop-up boxes appear on the screen with more information about the terminology. Such phrases, including the "flop," "turn," and "river," help familiarize new enthusiasts with the game.

The World Poker Tour has turned poker into a sporting event that draws the young and old, men and women and people of all nationalities into the game; it has reshaped the face of poker and has raised the competitive bar to a new level. The World Poker Tour established the WPT Walk of Fame at Commerce Casino to honor top poker players: starting with Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson, Gus Hansen, and James Garner. With over 100 episodes filmed and over 90 Poker-Made Millionaires(TM) to date, the World Poker Tour continues to popularize and evolve the sport. You can even play poker online with the WPT.

And the rest, as they say, is history.