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Video Poker
Not long after the game of poker was first played
in America, attempts were being made to mechanise
the game. Poker originated from the early 1880’s
with the name poker being used first by Jonathan Green
in 1834. In the late 1800’s, the first coin
operated machines were developed. These machines were
the ancestors of modern video poker consoles used
today.
These first prototypes were used mostly in bars and
cigar shops and the game was purely a game of chance.
After inserting a coin and pulling a lever, five drums
holding poker cards would spin and stop to reveal
the hand dealt. The player had no chance to use any
poker skills or knowledge to better their chances
and often key cards were left out unbeknown to the
player to reduce their expected winnings. Any winnings
the player enjoyed from the poker game were paid out
in drinks and cigars. It was only in 1901 that the
machines were modified to allow poker skills to be
used. This modification was the introduction of a
‘draw’ feature to allow the player to
hold certain drums after the first spin, while spinning
the other drums. This elevated the machine poker game
to more than just a game of luck and boosted its popularity
in the process.
The late 1970’s saw the launch of the first
video poker machines and help bring interest back
to this form of poker that had suffered dwindling
interest in the meantime. This was the first time
video poker became commercially viable as it was financially
feasible to combine a television monitor with a solid
state central processor. These machines appeared roughly
the same time as the first personal computers. The
popularity of video poker increased throughout the
1980’s as people found them less intimidating
than playing poker at the table with a dealer handing
out the cards. These poker machines maintain a strong
position in casinos today.
Video poker machines tend to payout for hands better
than a pair of jacks, although the prizes can be customized
to the vendors own preferences. The regulation over
the operation and licensing of video poker machines
in the US is conducted at a state level. The Nevada
state regulation requires all processes of the game,
including the dealing of cards and rolling of dice
to be programmed as random to mimic the real life
poker game. The native Indian gaming establishments
are subject to the regulations determined by the tribe
which holds the gaming license. It is not clear whether
these are the same generally as the Nevada regulations.
This is just a brief guide to video poker. The internet
presents lots of information and advice on the subject
if you need to know more. |
