Gambling is not the term that it used to be. Today it has an entirely different meaning, as the introduction of social gaming apps has redefined it. Even though social gaming apps can often be confused with gambling, they don’t involve betting any money or money awards.

They are built like video games which players enjoy for their gameplay, mechanics, visuals, and the overall experience they provide. Some social gaming apps might allow players to purchase tokens so that they can advance faster in the game, but this is all, and it’s in no way close to gambling.

However, gambling games have evolved a lot. Today we are going to talk about how this happened and follow the timeline of their development.

The Traditional Card Game

Card games were invented in Asia, and they’ve been around for a long time. As the world became more connected, and different regions started trading with each other, cards reached the western world as well. During the 1400s, card decks were solidified at 52 cards in the deck, with 4 different suits including diamonds, hearts, clubs, and spades, which are all still used today.

Some of the most popular card games throughout history were Blackjack, Cribbage, Solitaire, Poker, Hearts, and Gin Rummy. These games are played even today all over the world, and they have many different variations.

Popular Poker Variations

Poker is one of the most, if not the most popular card game in the world, and this is why it comes with a lot of different variations. Each of them has different rules and ways in which it can be played, but these are all poker games at their core. Some of the variations include Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha, High/Low Chicago, 5 Card Draw, Chinese Poker, and 7 Card Stud.

These fun poker games are popular in different parts of the world, with Texas Hold ‘Em leading the pack, as the most popular variation. Many of the largest poker tournaments worldwide use Texas Hold ‘Em, and it is considered to be a standard.

The Rise of Video Machines

Video poker is one of the first digital gambling games that were ever available. It combined a monitor similar to a TV and a CPU. They first appeared during the 1970s, about the same time when the first PCs came out. Video poker games exploded in casinos during the late 70s and throughout the whole 80s, and many people still prefer playing poker digitality.

One of the most significant issues for many players when it comes to poker is that they are intimidated by other players. Many players don’t want to deal with all the bluffing and mind games, so many of them stick to video poker. They still have to know how to play poker, but there is less pressure without the psychological warfare.

Social Gaming Apps

Social gaming apps first appeared on Facebook, and fast became the most popular games on that platform. They include games that can be accessed easily through a social network. At the same time, they have a lot of “social elements”, as players can invite each other to play a game, play co-op, share results, challenge each other to duels, etc.

A lot of the social gaming apps incorporate traditional gambling games but without the gambling part. They don’t require any money, and they don’t reward players with any money. In fact, these apps have changed the meaning of the word “gambling game” forever by proving that such games can be popular even without monetary rewards.

Social Gaming Going Mass Market

As you might have guessed, poker games are the most frequent and most popular former gambling games that are now available on social media. However, there are a lot of variations of all traditional gambling games on social media as well.

Additionally, there are new social gambling apps that you can play online with various improvements, changes, and adjustments. There are even Bingo games like “Bingo Blitz”, which a lot of people enjoy playing online even without the rewards.

Conclusion

Gambling games have come a long way, and they are no longer even considered to be actual gambling. Today, the social digital versions are grabbing a lot of players and are slowly beating traditional casinos. We can only expect this industry to grow even further in the future.