An adrenaline-fuelled night at the casino remains a favourite pastime amongst the rich and famous and offers the chance to place extravagant bets and have a whole lot of fun while doing it. Add to that the glitz and glamour that’s typically associated with traditional land-based casinos, and it’s easy to see why the wealthy can’t get enough of them – particularly when it comes to the much-loved game of Texas Hold’Em Poker.
Texas Hold ‘Em is a variation of the card game of poker, often referred to simply as Hold ‘Em Poker or Holdem. A thrilling card game that can be played with anywhere from two to 10 players, the object of the game is to make the best five-card hand using any combination of your two hole (private) cards and the five community cards.
The popularity of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker has exploded in recent years, thanks in part to its exposure on high-profile television series, in big-screen movies, and across the Internet, with more and more affluent individuals learning how to play and splashing eye-watering sums of cash while they do it. The concept of a game is a relatively easy one to grasp, which means even those who are completely new to the casino scene can pick it up without much difficulty, so it’s easy to see why this sociable game has become such a firm favourite.
But it’s not the only reason that Texas Hold ‘Em has become so popular. Here’s why this fast-paced and thrilling game has become one of the most beloved amongst casino enthusiasts of all levels – including the high-roller.
Chris Moneymaker
Chris Moneymaker‘s success at the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event was undoubtedly a catalyst for Hold’Em’s rise to prominence, with his impressive $2.5 million win serving an inspiration for many casino lovers with designs on walking away with pockets full of cash.
Following Moneymaker’s headline-making victory, the popularity of Texas Hold ‘Em exploded, and around the same time, a rise in the number of online casino sites offering easy access to the game meant that it became more accessible than ever.
Before becoming a professional poker player, Moneymaker, from Tennessee, was an unknown stay-at-home accountant. He qualified for the WSOP by winning a $40 satellite tournament, having also been a runner-up in the NBC National Heads-Up Championship. However, Moneymaker admits that his Main Event run was fortunate, and his zero-to-hero story is one that many players seek to emulate.
Moneymaker has won over $6 million playing poker in total, with one of his other most notable matches a heads-up game of Texas Hold ‘Em against a professional named Sam Farha. Moneymaker had a pair of deuces, and Farha held two nines. The flop was J-9-2, giving Moneymaker a full house and thus winning both the hand and the match.
The 2003 WSOP also saw the rise of another young player, Greg Raymer, who was a former patent attorney and won the main event after defeating David Williams heads-up, taking home $5 million for his win.
Since then, a number of other amateur players have gone on to win the WSOP main event.
Exposure in media and sport
The rise of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker can be attributed in part to the rise of online gaming. By 2024, the online gambling industry is expected to reach $94 billion – but media exposure has also played an integral role in propelling it to its current status.
Texas Hold ‘Em has also become a huge part of the sports world, including a wide variety of major events. For example, the World Series of Poker has featured Texas Hold ‘Em for decades, including its prestigious main event, while a book written by a former U.S. government code-breaker, Herbert Yardley, named The Education of a Poker Player, was also published in 1957.
Although the game’s origin is shrouded in mystery, many people attribute it to the Texas road gambler T. ‘Blondie’ Forbes. He is considered to be the inventor of the game, and in 1980 was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. However, the game wasn’t really popular until the mid-1960s when the Golden Nugget casino hosted its first tournament.
Movies and television
There’s no denying that Texas Hold ‘Em has also been popularised by big-screen movies and TV shows. The game was perhaps most notably featured in the James Bond film Casino Royale, in which 007 plays against villain Le Chiffre – but it has also prominently featured in the 2005 film Lucky You, starring Eric Bana and Drew Barrymore, along with a host of other blockbuster films over the years.
And it’s not just the silver screen that has showcased Texas Hold’Em, with popular TV series including Friends, The Simpsons, and How I Met Your Mother all featuring the game in casino-themed episodes. A number of reality TV shows have been created that revolve around the game, too, including Poker After Dark, High Stakes Poker, and Celebrity Poker Showdown, which have no doubt appealed to poker fans from all walks of life.
While poker is best-loved by players for its edge-of-your-seat, adrenaline-fuelled action, it is also a popular spectator sport. The World Poker Tour broadcasts tournaments around the world, and players can watch live coverage on ESPN and the Travel Channel.
In 2022, the popularity of Texas Hold ‘Em shows no signs of slowing down, and this easy to learn but difficult to master game is set to continue its reign as we head into 2023 and beyond.
Please gamble responsibly (18+ UK) – check age restrictions before participating
