Images of dusty speakeasies and unscrupulous gambler with 6-shooters certainly come to mind when one thinks of the roots of poker. But it wasn’t always like this. This popular play holdem poker variant did not begin as the crowd-pleaser that we know and love today. Many people are unaware that this card game has a long, convoluted history that has brought it from obscurity to modern casinos (and even living rooms) all over the world.

The History of Texas Hold’em

The exact roots of Hold’em are unknown. Most agree, however, that the game was invented in its namesake state (Texas) in the town of Robstown sometime in the early 1900s. It went largely ignored in the magnificent Lone Star state for decades until this poker genre was eventually established in 1967. Texas Hold’em was created by whom? While there is some debate about who invented Texas Hold’em, a Texas road gambler called T. “Blondie” Forbes is widely credited with developing the game in its current form somewhere in the 1920s. The state of Texas officially acknowledges Robstown, TX as the birthplace of Texas Hold’em.

The Origins of the Modern Game

The Dune casino announced a Texas Hold’em event in 1969. This proved to be the game changer of all time. The Dune owned excellent land estate on the legendary Vegas strip, drawing high stakes gamers from around the world to engage and experience the game for them. This one event is frequently cited as the beginning of Hold’em’s meteoric climb in popularity. The following year, Hold’em solidified its position in top poker circles. Benny and Jack Binion, a father and son partnership, renamed the previous Gambling Fraternity Convention the World Series of Poker in 1970. In 1971, the duo made Texas Hold’em the tournament’s premier event. Yes, the number of first-year students was tiny. However, each year helped the game acquire momentum, popularity, and status, resulting in thousands of participants competing in the annual World Series of Poker tournament today.