Our team of erudite experts has compiled a list of the best online poker sites based on the quality of games and real-money poker rooms. These listings contain reviews and rankings, and the process comprises many key points that you ought to factor into your choice of online casino. Are you curious as to what they are? Well, our guide to the best poker sites will unveil them to you, along with everything else that you need to know about online poker.
Online poker gives you unique access to a vast array of games that help enhance your skill and range. This array includes hundreds of exclusive online games that are fun and can help you enhance your skills.
Online Poker came into being in 1994 when the very first online poker game in the form of a text-based IRC game appeared. This then evolved into a real money poker game in the form of a card room in 1998. These baby steps then lead to a boom in popularity that shows no signs of slowing down. Poker sites like Paradise Poker, PartyPoker, PokerStars and UltimateBet saw the writing on the wall and were among the first online poker sites ever.
The king of the hill, or should we say table, between 2002 and 2006 was PartyPoker. Its success came from a streak of online poker rooms that kept popping up, but this euphoria ended abruptly when UIGEA in the US decided to shut it down in 2006.
Another resounding milestone was the then-biggest cash game pot in online poker history that Viktor Blom and Patrik Antonius played in 2009 on Full Tilt Poker. This shining star of the industry was then dimmed by FBI seizures of Absolute Poker, Full Tilt Poker, and PokerStars. But this was not the end of government meddling. Nevada and Delaware introduced the first state-regulated online poker games in 2012. This was then followed by PokerStars becoming the largest publicly traded online poker company in 2014. Its takeover bid was a whopping $4.9 billion.
Recent online poker history is a bit less bombastic but no less exciting. The period between 2017 and 2021 saw a rise in mobile poker that has given birth to some of the best online platforms of today.
You might presume that the online version differs drastically from the offline one, but that is not the case. Although it is true that there is a plethora of poker variants with different games and stakes, even the occasional free game is meant for practice, the rules remain largely traditional. The mentioned variants will introduce you to everything from the famous Texas Hold 'em and Stud Poker to the commonplace five-card-draw, virtual and even live dealer games that allow you to play against either a machine or a dealer. The cherry on top of all of this are the infamous high-stakes tournaments.
The sea of choice you are presented with as a beginner might seem daunting, but fret not, there are loads of simplistic poker variants that allow you to play for real money. Familiarize yourself with free game variants, Texas Hold ‘em games and even low-stakes tournaments. These are ideal for learning the rules and becoming familiar with the game.
A prime candidate for your business are poker sites with various low-stakes tournaments and loads of welcoming bonuses and promotions with clear-cut terms and conditions. The latter should always be thoroughly read and well understood so that no surprises arise when wagering requirements rear their heads.
Players familiar with online poker games are not fazed by higher buy-ins, but a tournament usually has to tick a list of requirements before it is considered by this old guard. The most obvious requirements are advanced features and a plethora of poker variants. Less obvious yet vital points are the traffic and competition of a potential site. These have to be jampacked and offer excellent competition. The latter can be exacerbated by games, contests, events, and tournaments that offer huge prizes.
An online environment removes many physical obstacles that might otherwise bog you down. You no longer have to meet your friends at a land-based casino with special attire. You can now play with your friends online in whatever wardrobe you desire. This social aspect makes online poker far more riveting. If you want to spice things up even further, you can opt for cash games and even tournaments.
The basis of this are freeroll poker games that are essentially free tournaments. They are free because there is no buy-in, and you can even win a pre-determined prize pool. Another option are free-to-play games that allow you to mess around before depositing real money.
Table positions are a vital part of poker, and poker veterans tend to play their hands in them. You will encounter three main poker positions, and each has its own button and blinds location:
Playing outside of a position is disliked by experienced players, and they tend to fold hands more often when starting from such circumstances. Conversely, a position seat is more likely to retain a hand. The real advantages of a position vis-à-vis your opponent show themselves when a flop occurs.
Poker is a game of chance, and there is no roadmap to winning, but there are strategies that can alter the way you play and possibly improve your gameplay.
This is more of an edge than a strategy, really. Being familiar with how the game works, which positions are favourable and what the different terms mean can be beneficial. Knowledge is, in this regard, power.
You have definitely entertained the idea of counting cards since this is not that uncommon in land-based poker rooms. But online poker rooms are different when it comes to decks. They make use of several decks, which complicates counting cards. While counting cards does help you determine which cards are probably left in the deck, you might find this near impossible in an online setting.
Serious poker entails multi-table poker and potentially higher returns. This is also a common way to blast through real money bonuses that you might want to activate. However, the downside is the management of several real money poker tables, which can be a hassle.
Online poker is very similar to regular brick-and-mortar poker. The main difference is the flood of game variants that you can choose online. The following is a short list of key points that you ought to remember about online poker:
Lay firm foundations with a respectable, regulated, certified, secure poker site. Our list of sites is a great jumping-off point that offers several safe and enjoyable options.
This process tends to be simplified as much as possible, seldom taking more than a few minutes to complete.
This step should see you using your preferred banking method and a mindful amount of money.
You will most likely be eligible for several bonuses, including a welcome bonus that you need to claim. Sit down, take it all in, and choose the ones that fit you best.
You can either discover something new or opt for an oldie but goodie. The choice is entirely up to you, but playing a few free games is always a good idea before you wager real money.
Each hand is preceded by an option to choose the amount that you intend to wager. Only bet what you are prepared to lose and do not exceed your chosen budget.
Our experts review and rank hundreds of online casinos and gambling sites, taking each site through our extensive review process covering over 12 key factors.
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How Our Experts Rate Online Casinos and Gambling Sites: Reviewing casinos is what we do best, and we always make sure that we cover the vital information and essential factors. When considering which online casino to choose, we’ll provide you with the most up to date information on a casino’s security measures, payouts, player feedback about the casino, and much more. Take a look at the graph below for more info.
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The internet is jampacked with tricks, tips, and strategies intended for online poker games. We believe that the following ones are the most important ones that you should keep in mind:
OCR is in a special position when it comes to recommending poker sites. Our team of experts is passionate about their work and also very strict, so only the crème of the crop makes it to our lists of recommendations. Some of the criteria they take into account include:
Trust and Reputation You trust your local butcher to provide you with quality meat because of his reputation. The same goes for a poker site providing online poker. We make sure that it is trustworthy, reputable, licensed and regulated according to leading industry standards.
Promotions and Freerolls The least painful way to increase your bankroll is through promotions. These promotional offers, free bets and bonuses will help you stay in the thick of it and play longer.
Games and Tourneys You will often run into Texas Hold 'em, but this is not the only game variant available online. There is a wide array of tournaments with a plethora of buy-ins and blinds that make our recommended sites fun for everyone.
Device Compatibility Poker sites should cater to all Android and iOS devices. You should have the freedom to play whenever, wherever and on whichever device you want. This demand is met by mobile apps and mobile browsers.
Banking and Payouts A plethora of banking methods should guarantee fast and secure deposits that fund your betting account. Our recommendations always include sites with abundant banking options and fast payouts.
Popularity and Community You should never find yourself completely alone and without sound competition. Our recommended sites are rather popular and have an abundance of potential opponents to choose from.
Customer Service This lifeline might prove critical when you least expect it. The sad truth of the matter is that some poker sites do not offer 24/7 support. Luckily you will likely find a helpful page with frequently asked questions that should take care of your inquiry. Our personal preference are sites with online chats that expedite help.
You will definitely encounter a long list of poker variants. The most popular ones include:
Stud Games These see the players receive five to seven cards with the goal of forming the best hand possible.
Draw Games Players are allowed to trade up to three of their cards and thus improve their playing hand.
Community Card Games This community-driven game sees players receive "hole cards" placed face down. The goal is to form the best hand possible with the community cards whilst other players try to do the same.
Texas Hold 'em The king of poker variants has players receive two “pocket” cards (or “hole cards”) with a whopping five community cards that lay in wait. There are four betting rounds, and each sees one community card revealed. Players are forced to form their best hands with any given combination of five cards once the last one is revealed.
Omaha This version hosts two to ten players and is an offshoot of Texas Hold 'Em. It has kept the four betting rounds, but every player is dealt four, not two-hole cards, and the five community ones are revealed immediately. Players are then prompted to form their best 5-card hands with two-hole cards and three common ones.
7-Card Stud Players are given three face-down and four face-up cards. These seven are the basis for the best five-card hand.
5-Card Draw Players are initially given five cards and allowed to trade up to three of them.
High / Low Chicago High and Low Chicago do not differ in altitude but in the winning conditions. The player with the highest or lowest face-down card wins half the pot. The player with the best hand wins the other half, depending on the variant.
Follow the Queen Seven cards are dealt, and a wild card follows a flipped queen. If no queen flip occurs, then there is no wild card in hand in question.
This is a poker variant with a single deck of 48 cards. This deck is comprised of two, but the catch is that only cards from 9 to Ace are used.
When discussing what makes the best poker site, we have to include several factors, such as safety, trustworthiness, freerolls, bonuses, client service, and overall reputation. OnlineCasinoReports will never recommend sites that do not comply and excel at these requirements. You should therefore feel free to choose any of our recommended sites.
A PC, smartphone, tablet, and internet connection are your essentials. These should naturally be compounded by game knowledge, betting tips and familiarity with winning hands.
This is largely the case with the majority of poker sites. Free-to-play games offer a chance to test game variants without a real money deposit. Certain promotions even entail the possibility of winning real cash!
This is the question on everyone’s lips nowadays, and rightfully so! Our mobile devices running on the iOS and Android platforms support dedicated apps provided by betting sites. These allow you to play locally. Another option is to opt for a mobile browser that will probably provide a similar betting experience.
As long as you are playing on a licensed, audited and regularly regulated site, then no. Your funds and personal information are carefully guarded by these reputable sites and thus provide you with a safe gaming environment.
While it is true that luck plays a major role in online poker, as it does in any casino game, there is a bit of skill involved. Some say that the game is 70% luck and 30% skill. Strategy, psychology, bluffing, and aggression all play into the skill sector and can sort of determining your luck.
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