The online video poker game has its roots based in Brooklyn when, in 1891, a manufacturing company by the name of Sittman and Penn invented the first poker slot machine. It's incredible how online video poker evolved from a slot machine that consisted of 50 cards, instead of 52. Even more incredible, the winnings at that time were generally doled out in the form of drinks, since most of those machines were found in bars located on the Brooklyn waterfront.
In 1901, Charlie Fey, whom many consider the "Father of the Slot Machine", improved the invention of Sittman and Penn by creating a poker machine that had a "hold" feature. He called this game "Skill Draw" Poker which, in effect, became the first five draw poker machine.
The big advancement toward producing an industry-defining video poker machine came in 1970 when Dale Electronics invented the first electronic video poker machine. The game, known as "Poker-Matic", took the Vegas Strip by storm, and it initiated the modern era of video poker machines.
When online casino websites started to develop in the mid-1990's, software manufacturer, Microgaming, developed the first online video poker machines. These online video poker sites provided much more than just video poker games. These sites provided players with video poker downloads with video poker rules and instructions on how to play game. The video poker game grew exponentially in popularity, so much so that variations of the original Jacks or Better Draw Poker sprang up everywhere almost overnight.
Today, you can find a score of variations to the video poker game on Vegas Red: Jacks or Better and 50 Line Jacks or Better Video Poker; Deuces Wild and 4 Line deuces Wild; Aces and Faces; Mega Jack; and Joker poker, among many others. There are video poker downloads for each game, as well as how to play video poker instructions and video poker rules for each variation.
Video Poker has come a long way in 118 years, and it has now firmly established itself as the most popular video game of our lifetime. It is a game that you can play in both flash and download formats. You should take advantage of free video poker play to get used to the rules and timing of the game. Once you are comfortable with playing casino video poker at your own pace, then you can delve into the play-for-pay arena. The game is fun, entertaining, challenging and dependent upon your poker skill. If such a game piques your interest, then enter through the virtual front doors of the casino and start playing now!
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