Poker, possibly the most popular card game in the West and prominent in casinos around the world, has evolved from uncertain origins.  Its believed that poker has evolved over the past ten centuries from various games all using bluffs and card rankings across several continents.  Some suggest it had its beginnings in China, where the Emperor Mutsung recorded having played ‘domino cards’ with his wife on new years eve.  Playing cards were known to have existed in Ancient Egypt in the 12th and 13th centuries; and 16th century Persia was known to have Ganjilfa, or “Treasure Cards” a twenty card deck of which were used to play As Nas.  A French game known as Poque and a German game known as Pochspiel were popular during the 17th and 18th centuries and are both believed to have descended from the 16th century Spanish game of Primeron which involved three cards being dealt to each player and bets being placed on who held the best hand.  Bluffing, or betting with high stakes while holding a low hand to deceive other players, was known to be an integral part of the game.  Primeron is often referred to as “Poker’s Mother” since it is the earliest known card game that has had direct influence on modern poker.

The French imported the game to the New World when they populated New Orleans and Canada.  Soon the Mississippi riverboats of the 1800′s carried the game up and down the Western frontier, as most boats had a room for gaming and poker was popularly played.   In the American Wild West, nearly every town from north to south had a saloon with a poker table; and the game became even more wildly popular during the American Civil War in the 1860s when soldiers from both sides indulged in gambling.  Many variations were introduced during the American Civil War, including stud poker and the straight.  After its spread of popularity in the Americas, the English 52 card deck was used, and the flush was introduced.  Other American additions include the wild card, lowball, and split-pot poker.  The American military is often attributed with the spread of poker internationally, particularly in Asia.

The modern poker scene is dominated by three versions:
- 5 card draw, which arose during the American Civil War, and continued in popularity for almost a century.
- 7 Card Stud took over the poker scene shortly before WWII and remained on top for early 40 years aided by the rise of the Las Vegas casino scene.
- Texas Hold’em won the throne in the 1970′s when it was the title game of the World Series of Poker and its high stakes and fast pace has made it indisputably the most popular modern poker game, played in casinos and at home tables across the world.

With the rise of online poker and professional poker tournaments, pokers international popularity only continues to grow.