Poker is a game that never goes out of style. It’s one that constantly evolves too. As technology progressed, so did poker. It was played in shady bars and casinos later in the past, with online poker rooms redefining it.
The game has evolved significantly in the 1970s and 1980s, shedding its analog skin for a new, digital one. Video poker cabinets now ruled the market, with plenty of fun variants to enjoy. If you’re feeling a bit nostalgic, try the following retro-styled video poker games and enjoy. If you are from Pennsylvania we recommend checking out the best poker sites on this page — only legal online poker sites are selected here. You won’t claim a poker rakeback deal by playing them, but you’ll surely enjoy the vintage vibes.
Draw 80 Poker (1978)
Arcade games were huge in the 1970s and 80s. Electronic poker at that time was not that much of a social experience. IGT, one of the leading casino game providers, created the legendary Draw 80 Poker arcade game in 1978. It became a hit among the company’s many arcade gambling machines. Draw 80 Poker gave players a chance to hold or change cards and was one of the first slot machines where you had some kind of control over the outcome.
To this date, poker players hold it in great regard and play a few rounds occasionally on emulators.
Vegas Stakes (1993)
Vegas Stakes is a major SNES hit that hit the market in 1993. At that point, games were moving to the virtual space faster than ever, and this one started somewhat of a revolution. Players had $1,000 dollars to spend on various casino games, including poker, blackjack, and roulette.
Many of these games supported multiplayer which was impressive at the time. Vegas Stakes remains the top poker variant of the 1990s that gave studios inspiration for the games we have on offer today.
Hollywood Poker (1987)
Released on the Amiga in 1987, Hollywood Poker had all the pizzazz of the movie industry’s seat. At the time, the hardware used in Commodore’s Amiga was nothing short of cutting-edge. Hollywood Poker was released by Diamond Software and was the best poker solo game adults could play from home.
The retro video poker game may not be up to today’s standards, but it was a huge hit at the time. You can try it today via emulators or if you’re lucky to own a working Amiga still. Those go by thousands sold online at the moment.
Hard Rock Casino (2006)
It’s fair to say that Sony changed the video game landscape forever with the release of PS1. It was a huge hit that gave birth to numerous new franchises. Its successor, PS2, was even more popular, taking a generational leap in terms of hardware and performance. It was simple bigger, better, and bolder than the original Playstation and so were the games.
Poker fans could enjoy the legendary Hard Rock Casino game which offered a great Hold’em variant. The game was released at just the right time in 2006, when Hold’em enjoyed a massive worldwide boom. It remains one of the very best retro video poker games, even if it’s now nearly 20 years old.
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