The Draw of Video Poker

For years poker buffs have flocked to casinos worldwide to enjoy the thrill and excitement of real life poker action. To get a chance to brush elbows with the who’s who of the poker world and tell their friends back home all the stories of the massive pots they won. However, the pressure and skill playing poker at a table with six other people takes is not for everyone, that’s why video poker has become so popular in the last few years.

Video poker relieves the stress and pressure situations of playing against six other people and allows players to simply concentrate on the game at hand and not other people’s hands. Video poker is a casino game based on five-card draw poker, the most common and simple form of poker. It is played on a computerized console similar in size to a slot machine.

Video poker machines date back to the 1970’s, around the time when the first home computers were introduced but weren’t popularized until 1979 when International Game Technology introduced Draw Poker. Throughout the 1980’s video poker became more and more prominent as poker players found it far less intimidating then playing at tables.

Today, video poker is a staple in casinos found around the world, as players enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Most video poker machines offer progressive jackpots for certain hands, such as a royal flush or 4-of-a-kind, resulting in massive payouts players may not see at table games.