National Poker Day, celebrated annually on April 19th, is a day dedicated to honoring one of the world’s most popular card games. This day not only celebrates the thrill and strategy involved in poker but also offers an opportunity to reflect on the game’s rich history. Did you know that poker dates back to at least the early 19th century in the United States? The game’s evolution from a simple pastime to a global sensation is nothing short of fascinating.
National Poker Day is the perfect excuse to engage with this timeless and thrilling game. So, deal those cards and enjoy the fun!
A Brief History of Poker
Poker’s journey is a tale of twists, turns, and a few well-played bluffs. From its humble beginnings in smoky saloons to becoming a global phenomenon, the game’s history is as colorful as the players who’ve made it famous. Let’s take a walk down poker’s memory lane, where every card played has shaped the game into the powerhouse it is today.
- 1829: Poker was first recorded being played in New Orleans, using a 20-card deck. The game quickly spread along the Mississippi River, where it became a favorite among riverboat gamblers.
- 1834: Jonathan H. Green, in his book “An Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling,” described the game of “poker” played with a full 52-card deck. This version introduced the hand rankings and flushes we know today.
- 1870s: Poker saw its first international exposure as American soldiers introduced the game to Europeans during and after the Civil War. This was also the era when stud poker became popular.
- 1900s: The wild card and lowball variations of poker emerged, adding new dimensions to the game.
- 1949: The legendary heads-up match between Johnny Moss and Nick “The Greek” Dandolos in Las Vegas, overseen by Benny Binion, is one of the most famous poker games in history. The game reportedly lasted five months, and Moss won an estimated $2 million.
- 1970: The World Series of Poker (WSOP) was established by Benny Binion in Las Vegas, quickly becoming the most prestigious poker tournament in the world. Johnny Moss was crowned the first WSOP champion by a vote among his peers.
- 1973: The WSOP was televised for the first time, bringing poker into living rooms across America and sparking interest in the game.
- 1987: California legalized hold’em and Omaha poker, which led to a surge in poker’s popularity on the West Coast.
- 1998: The movie Rounders was released, starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton. This film is credited with introducing a new generation to poker, highlighting the strategy and excitement of the game.
- 2003: Chris Moneymaker, an amateur player who qualified online, won the WSOP Main Event. His victory sparked the “poker boom,” leading to a massive increase in online poker participation worldwide.
- 2006: The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in the United States, making it illegal for banks to process transactions related to online gambling. This significantly impacted online poker in the U.S.
- 2011: Known as “Black Friday,” the U.S. government shut down major online poker sites, including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker, due to allegations of bank fraud and money laundering.
- 2013: Nevada became the first U.S. state to regulate and legalize online poker, marking a significant step in the game’s digital evolution.
- 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a resurgence in online poker as people sought entertainment during lockdowns, and live poker tournaments were postponed or canceled.
When Is National Poker Day?
National Poker Day is celebrated on the same date every year: April 19th. This day is a consistent reminder to shuffle up and deal, no matter what day of the week it falls on. We hope our table below, which shows the dates and weekdays for National Poker Day, will help you plan your poker festivities well in advance!
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | April 19, Saturday |
| 2026 | April 19, Sunday |
| 2027 | April 19, Monday |
| 2028 | April 19, Wednesday |
| 2029 | April 19, Thursday |
| 2030 | April 19, Friday |
Fun Facts About Poker
Who said poker was all serious? Here are some fun and interesting facts about poker that might surprise you:
- The name “poker” is believed to come from the French word “poque”, a card game popular in France in the 17th century. Poque was a game of bluffing and betting, played with a deck of cards, and it shared many similarities with the modern game of poker. As French colonists brought the game to New Orleans, it evolved into “poker,” adapting and incorporating elements from other card games, eventually becoming the game we know today.
- The longest poker game ever played reportedly lasted eight years, five months, and three days at the Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona. This marathon session began in 1881 and was open to anyone who could afford the $1,000 buy-in—a staggering sum at the time. The game was held in a special back room of the theater, with players coming and going, but the game never stopped. Legend has it that more than $10 million changed hands over the course of this epic poker game.
- Poker chips weren’t always the colorful tokens we know today. In the early days, players would use anything from gold nuggets to pieces of bone, and even teeth, as betting tokens! During the 19th century, when poker was played in saloons and on riverboats, standard currency was not always available. Instead, players would wager whatever valuable items they had on hand. This led to the use of a wide range of items as betting tokens, which varied greatly in value.
- The first World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 1970 didn’t have a traditional tournament winner. Instead, the champion, Johnny Moss, was voted the best player by his peers. The inaugural WSOP was more of a gathering of top poker players rather than a structured tournament. After days of playing, the participants decided to crown the “best all-around player” by a vote, rather than through competition. Moss’s reputation and skill earned him the honor, making him the first-ever WSOP champion—a title he would go on to win two more times.
- In 2007, the largest poker tournament ever took place online, with over 35,000 players competing in a single event. Hosted by PokerStars, the tournament set a Guinness World Record for the largest online poker tournament at the time. The buy-in was just $1, making it accessible to a vast number of players from around the world. The total prize pool was over $150,000, and the event showcased the massive popularity of online poker during the poker boom era.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
