Poker in Asia has been gaining tremendous popularity across the region. This is characterized by its presence in prominent Asian destinations that are known for their lavish casinos and hotels. Places like Macau, Hong Kong, Philippines have been known worldwide as ideal sites where poker in Asia is spreading like the proverbial wildfire.

The origins of poker in Asia as a game have been a matter of constant discussion and persistent debate. The historical origins of the game have been subject to a lot of interpretations and narratives all claiming to be factual and truth. The common ground about the history of this game is where the name originates from. The term poker is derived from a double etymology of sorts. It roots from the French word poque which happens to draw its roots from the German word pochen which when directly translated to the English language means to knock or to brag which is an act that characterizes the game today. However, the name in itself doesn’t really say much about the origin of the game or poker in Asia for that matter.

There are a lot of circulating poker stories that seek to unravel the origins of the game and how it got a hold of the Asian region. Some say it was organic. That poker was first introduced as a foreign game brought by colonizers together with their goods which then went through phases of evolution until it became what it is today. Others say it was already introduced as it is: developed as a game in western states and was then introduced to Asians after the time of the colonizers.

The remnants of poker’s organic origin draw from a lot of its resemblance to other games that were practiced in history in Asia. Some say that Poker is closely similar to Nas, a Persian game taught by Persian travellers that visited New Orleans long ago. The game was passed on to French settlers that lived in the area and then was spread till it was renown in other states as well. This is also how others describe the history of poker in Asia. As Persian sailors crossed the seas and visited foreign lands, they brought the game called Nas with them. It is said that the same way it was taught to New Orleans settlers; it was taught to Asians while trading took place. Poker in Asia then slowly grew, first in native towns but carrying a different name. It eventually grew as trade progressed and interaction amongst foreigners heightened.

It is also said that poker originated from the Renaissance game of primero. Primero is a game of deception and bluff which is why it was believed to have birthed the modern day poker which then made its way to Asia. Primero is a game played using a deck of 40 cards. Usually, there are special decks that are made for this game. It requires a number of players in order for the game to take place. Oftentimes, the game consists of four to six players. The winner of the game is dictated by whoever lands possession on the prime, which is characterized by a series of the best cards in the deck. There are many versions as to how the game was claimed to be played. Since it was widespread during the renaissance, there were three versions of the game primero: an English version, Spanish version, and a French version. It is likely that the Spanish version of primero is what made its way to Asia to be eventually known as poker. Since the Spaniards had it rendezvous in the Asian region during the colonial period. In this account poker in Asia might have been of Spanish origin carried during the colonial past.   

Origins of poker in Asia have never been clearly pinpointed in terms of one being the most accurate over the other. However, the current scene suggests that poker in Asia will continue to flourish in the years to come. With the advent, nay invasion of online poker, the Asian market is hotting up, and the future promises to be tremendously exciting.

Read more from Angelina Wang by visiting her Blog here. 

This is the first article in a series of three articles about poker in Asia.