Have you ever thought about how online poker has grown from its humble beginnings to the worldwide phenomenon it is today? What seismic changes in technology have helped shape its direction? A game for seasoned mercenaries in smoky, dimly lit rooms has turned into a pastime accessible to all. But this rebirth didn't just come out of nowhere.
The Internet - the spark that lit the flame of online poker
Today, there's nothing easier than sitting down in the comfort of your own home and getting online to play games from around the world. In essence, gambling finds you, not you gambling. Modern technology is changing everything. Our everyday lives in their utter mundanities, and gambling is no exception.
Poker has been at the peak of popularity since the 17th century. The internet has only cemented its position. In 1998, the first real-money online poker game was Planet Poker, an online poker platform that started a revolution. The bold excursion into the digital unknown marked the beginning of a new era in the poker world, but the poker boom was still in its infancy, plagued by slow internet speeds and basic graphics. Nevertheless, it managed to open up an exciting new world that brought with it opportunities and unprecedented competition.
The early varieties of online poker were defined by their almost primitive graphics and unreliable, inconsistent connections. As mentioned above, the tipping point for online poker didn't come until the 1990s. High-speed internet connections became more common, and people began to spend more time online. Additionally, the stories of some players in tournaments around the world led to more interest and an increase in the number of users of online platforms. These attributes have created an environment for poker to reach a new audience. This era is commonly referred to as the Poker Boom. There were many innovations in poker and celebrity tournaments captivated the masses.
The Planet Poker platform became a pioneer in online poker, marking the beginning of a new era within the whole revolution. With its innovative approach to online gaming, modern technology and advanced features, it created the foundation for the transformation of the poker world, which is still experiencing constant development today. With growing popularity and accessibility for players of all levels, Planet Poker has changed the rules of the game and shown how online poker can be even more fun, dynamic and accessible to the general public. Initially, Planet Poker enjoyed exclusivity in the online waters, but its success gradually attracted more and more poker rooms. The most prominent rival was Paradise Poker, which quickly acclimatised, and the competition between these giants forced both sides to innovate and improve.
The end of this era came in 2006, when U.S. legislation under the UIGEA banned Planet Poker from continuing to offer real-money games. At the time, there were more than three-quarters of a million active players on the site. The poker room itself continued to operate as a free-to-play application for another 10 years, and wrote its last chapter in 2017 when it finally shut down its operations.
Source - Wiki, Reprophoto, BeastOfPoker