We recommend the best online poker sites, and our experts have reviewed top-quality games at real money poker room sites to compile our list. However, there are many factors to choosing an online poker site, and our guide will provide you with the best poker sites reviews and ranking to help you get the most out of your betting experience.
Playing poker online gives you have access to a greater variety of poker-based games and can extend your range and skills. In addition, you will have access to playing hundreds of game versions online that you might not encounter elsewhere. It is fun and can also be beneficial and help you improve in the main game.
In 1994, the first free poker online game was available in the form of text-based IRC poker. The first real money poker game was a card room game in 1998, and the game has soared in popularity ever since that day. Poker sites like Paradise Poker, PartyPoker, PokerStars and UltimateBet were some of the first poker sites launched.
Between 2002 and 2006, Party Poker dominated the market. It amounted to new online poker rooms exploding on online platforms, but it was eventually shut down in 2006 by the UIGEA in the US.
The biggest cash game pot in online poker history (up that point) was in 2009 and was played on Full Tilt Poker by Viktor Blom and Patrik Antonius. In 2011, a Black Friday event occurred, where the FBI seized domains of Absolute Poker, Full Tilt Poker, and PokerStars.
The first state-regulated online poker game emerged in 2012. It was available in Nevada and Delaware in the US, and PokerStars became the largest publicly traded company in the online poker industry in 2014 with a takeover bid of $4.9 billion.
From 2017 to 2021, mobile poker betting became popular, and today you will find some of the world's best betting platforms online.
Online poker is exactly like the traditional card game poker but played over the Internet. Many online poker sites offer different poker variations with a wide range of games and stakes available and many free online poker games to practice. You will find everything from Texas Hold 'em and stud poker to the ever-popular five-card draw. In addition, there are virtual and live dealer options, which allow you to take a chance against the computer or compete with professional dealers in authentic, high-stakes tournaments.
If you are a beginner, there are plenty of simple variations of poker you can play for real money. Practice on Texas Hold 'em games or low-stakes tournaments to find your feet. Playing free game variants is also a great way to learn the rules and give you a good feel of what the game is all about.
Find poker sites that offer a wide range of low-stakes tournaments and a good range of beginner-friendly bonuses and promotions with clear policies. Always read and understand the T&Cs to ensure you can fulfill the wagering requirements.
If you are a pro poker player, you will understand how to play poker and won't be put off by tournaments with higher buy-ins. You will likely be looking for a betting site that offers advanced features and an extensive range of poker variants.
Many suitable sites offer high volumes of traffic and good competition. Games, contests, and tournaments are on offer, with huge prizes up for grabs.
What's great about online poker is that you can play with friends online, which adds a social element and makes it more exciting to play poker online. In addition, many online poker sites offer games that you can play with friends, and you can choose between cash games and tournaments.
A freeroll poker game is a free tournament with no buy-in, and there is a pre-determined prize pool to be won. Most good poker sites offer free-to-play games where you can try out various games before making a real money deposit.
It is vital to understand the importance of Table Position, and the most experienced players will play the majority of their hands in position. There are three prominent positions in poker, and the location of the button and blinds determine each:
Looking at starting poker hand selection, experienced players tend to fold more hands when forced to play from out of position but will play their hand more frequently when they can have a position seat. There are many advantages to having a position on an opponent, especially after a flop.
Mastering the art of poker may take a lifetime, but there are some excellent strategies you can apply to improve your game considerably.
Let's call this your "edge strategy"; knowing the different terminology, how the game works, and poker positions will undoubtedly give you the edge. However, your edge over another player will be determined by how much more knowledge you have 'in your hand', so to speak.
Playing poker online is different from playing in a land-based poker room when counting cards. Online poker is played with several decks, so counting cards will be much more complicated but not impossible. Counting cards helps you determine which cards are likely to be left that may or may not be in play.
Learn multi-table poker for a higher return if you are ready to play serious poker. This strategy means you load up on as many real money poker tables as you can manage, all at once. Doing this will ensure a faster play-through of any real money bonuses you may want to activate.
Playing poker online is not that different from playing in a brick-and-mortar poker room; there are just many other game variants for you to choose from when online. Here's how you can get started:
The most crucial step is registering with a secure, certified, and regulated site. Our list of sites is an excellent place to start and provides safe options for you to enjoy.
Betting sites for poker online make it quick and easy, and the sign-up process usually only takes a few minutes.
Use the banking method that best suits your needs and make a deposit that will reflect instantly.
Most betting sites offer welcome bonuses, and you need to claim them. Shop around and weigh up your options before you settle on the promotional offer that is right for you.
Consider a new variant or stick to what you know; the variety is endless. But, of course, it's always a good idea to play a few free game versions before you wager real money on online poker.
Before each hand is dealt, you will have the opportunity to decide what amount you want to wager. Never bet more than what you are not prepared to lose, and keep a cool head to stay within your pre-determined budget.
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There are infinite ways, tricks, and strategies to help you play your best poker game online. However, you should know certain specifics, improve your knowledge, and keep the following in mind:
Our experts know what's best when determining which poker sites to recommend. We look at specific criteria when deciding which sites are fit to make our list:
Trust & Reputation Poker online is exciting and fun, and we ensure our recommended sites are fair to play, reputable, licensed, and regulated by industry standards.
Promotions & Freerolls Adding value to your money is a good way of enlarging your bankroll. With added promotional offers, free bets, and bonuses, it will help you stay in action and play for longer.
Games & Tournaments Most poker sites feature Texas Hold 'em, but there are many game variants on the market. Our recommended sites offer tournaments with a range of buy-ins and blinds so that everyone can participate in the fun.
Compatibility Playing on the go is possible using mobile apps and accessing the online site from your preferred mobile browser. Poker sites should have a mobile app compatible with all Android and iOS devices.
Banking & Payouts Poker sites offer various banking methods to ensure a fast and secure deposit to fund your betting account. We will always recommend sites that provide a fast payout after you have had a significant win.
Popularity & Community The more people there are taking part in a poker game, the easier it will be to play poker online. We recommend popular sites with many participants to ensure a site has many players for you to challenge.
Customer Service It would help if you had a good support team available at the push of a button. Unfortunately, not all poker sites offer a 24/7 contact number but have a handy help page that answers your most frequently asked queries. We prefer recommending sites that have an online chat function so you can get the help you need when you need it most.
There are many variants of online poker available today. Here we will go over the most popular ones, you should know:
Stud Games Players are typically dealt between five and seven cards and can only use them to make up their best hand.
Draw Games Players can decide to trade in some of their cards (usually only up to three) to improve their playing hand.
Community Card Games Players receive "hole cards" dealt face down and then play off the community cards to make up their best hand. Other players around the table also have the chance to do the same and play off them.
Texas Hold 'em This is the most popular poker game, and players are dealt two "pocket" cards (or "hole cards") and then wait for five community cards to be revealed. The betting takes place in four rounds, where the community cards are shown one by one. After the last (or fifth) card is revealed, players must make their best hands with any combination of five cards.
Omaha This is a Texas Hold 'Em variant and can be played by two to ten players at a time. Like Texas Hold 'em, there are four rounds of betting, but instead, each player is dealt four hole cards, and the five community cards are immediately revealed. At this point, players must make their best 5-card hands from two of their hole cards and three of the common.
7-Card Stud Players are dealt with seven cards, of which three are down, and four are faced upward. You make your best possible five-card hand from the seven dealt cards.
5-Card Draw Players are dealt five cards but may also choose to trade up to three of them on the initial go around.
High / Low Chicago High Chicago and Low Chicago differ because the player with the highest or lowest face-down card wins half of the pot. Depending on the variant, the player with the best hand wins the other half of the pool.
Follow The Queen Players are dealt with seven cards, and the wild card is designated to be the next exposed card after a queen is flipped. However, if no queens are flipped, there are no wild cards in that hand.
A Royal deck is a poker variant that only uses a deck made up of 48 cards. Two decks of cards are in play, but only the cards from 9 to Ace are in play.
It would be best to consider several factors, including safety, trustworthiness, freerolls, bonuses, client service, and reputation. OnlineCasinoReports will only recommend the best options so that you can choose from any of our selected trusted sites.
Besides general knowledge of the game, some betting tips, and an understanding what a winning hand looks like, all you need is a PC or smartphone or tablet, and internet connection.
Most good poker sites offer free-to-play games with the best opportunity to try out various game variations. Try free games before making a real money deposit, and some even offer promotions where you can win real cash!
Mobile betting is the new way to be, and most popular sites have a dedicated betting app for iOS and Android platforms. Download a poker app for free from the betting site or play on your preferred mobile browser for a similar betting experience.
Most online sites are licensed and safe to play poker online fairly. In addition, the best sites are independently audited and regulated to safeguard your funds and personal information, providing a risk-free playing environment.
Luck plays a big part in online poker, but there's an incredible skill in making money at the game. Poker is a game of 70% luck and 30% skill, and factors like strategy, psychology, bluffing, and aggression can determine your "luck" with online poker.
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