This YouTube video narrates how poker began in NW USA and invigorated
the economy of the whole region by the use of IOUs for poker wins and
losses. It became a currency! Part of a MIT poker course, link below.
Fascinating account.
MIT 15.S50 Poker Theory and Analysis, IAP 2015
or
http://tinyurl.com/julersg
View the complete course: http://ocw.mit.edu/15-S50IAP15
Instructor: Aaron Brown