Editing Video poker (section)

==History== 
Video poker first became commercially viable when it became economical to combine a [[television]]-like monitor with a [[Solid state (electronics)|solid state]] [[central processing unit]]. The earliest models appeared at the same time as the first [[personal computer]]s were produced, in the mid-1970s, although they were primitive by today's standards.

Video poker became more firmly established when SIRCOMA, which stood for [[Si Redd]]'s Coin Machines (and which evolved over time to become [[International Game Technology (1975)|International Game Technology]]), introduced Draw Poker in 1979. Throughout the 1980s video poker became increasingly popular in [[casino]]s, as people found the devices less intimidating than playing table games. Today, video poker enjoys a prominent place on the gaming floors of many casinos. The game is especially popular with [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]] locals, who tend to patronize [[locals casino]]s off the [[Las Vegas Strip]]. These local casinos often offer lower-denomination machines or better [[odds]].

A few people who are skilled in calculating odds have become professional video poker players.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-vegas-shooting-gambler-20171009-story.html|title=In the solitary world of video poker, Stephen Paddock knew how to win. Until he didn't|last1=Montero|first1=David|date=2017-10-09|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=2017-10-11|last2=Winton|first2=Richard|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|last3=Vives|first3=Ruben}}</ref>