Why are there jokers in a deck of playing cards?

What's the history behind them?

Why are there jokers in a deck of playing cards?
The joker is an American innovation. Created for the Alsatian game of Euchre, it spread to Europe from America along with the spread of Poker. The joker was ideated around 1865 by Samuel Hart. The initial denomination of the card was Best or Imperial Bower (Bauer or Boer in German language is the name of the jack of trump in the game of Euchre). From the Alsatian name of the game, Juker, derived the actual appellative of the card. Although the joker card often bears the image of a fool (possibly derived from the stereotypical village idiot), which is one of the images of the Tarot deck, it is not believed that there is any relation. In contemporary decks, one of the two jokers is often more colorful or more intricately detailed than the other, though this feature is not used in most card games. The two jokers are often differentiated as "Big" and "Little," or more commonly, "Red" and "Black." In many card games the jokers are not used. Unlike face cards, the design of jokers varies widely. Many manufacturers use them to carry trademark designs.
Reply:In some games, the JOKERS are considered "wild". Sometimes the JOKERS are used for replacement cards (incase you accidentally loose one). Other wise, they're useless.
Reply:In the 1860's Euchre became popular in Great Britain. They played the game with an additional trump card that out trumped any other suit. It was called the Imperial Bower. Throughout time it has morphed into what we know as a Joker. In some poker and other games the "Joker" is wild.

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