Online poker meshes strategy with a chance to create a unique gaming experience that is both exciting and rewarding. In the past, recreational players could only play poker in card rooms, casinos, and kitchen tables. But nowadays, you can play real money online poker anywhere you have a solid internet connection.
If you would like to find out more about playing poker online, read on. We have created a game guide that covers all you need to know about this classic casino game. We have also listed the premier online casinos with the best online poker games for real money, so you can start playing!
Play Online Poker Real Money Here
Poker Links
- Play Online Poker for Real Money Here
- Top 5 Online Poker Sites USA
- Why Play Poker Online?
- How We Choose the Best Online Poker Sites
- How to Play Poker – Step-by-Step
- Poker Games Online: Variations
- Play Poker Online for Money: Tips and Tricks
- Best Online Poker Free Games
- Is Online Poker Legal?
- Online Poker – FAQs
Top 5 Online Poker Sites USA
1. Bovada
We usually recommend Bovada for sports betting, but the site has a thriving casino too. It also has a dedicated online poker room filled with games. The sportsbook and casino host poker tournaments regularly with massive prizes.
2. Lucky Red Casino
Lucky Red Casino is one of our favorite online poker sites. The casino is powered by Realtime Gaming and has many variations on offer, including Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, Caribbean Draw, and Pai Gow Poker.
3. BoVegas Casino
BoVegas is also powered by Realtime Gaming and offers players access to all the most popular online poker variations. Also, some of their bonus offers can be used on table games, including some forms of poker.
4. All-Star Slots
All-Star Slots offers players hours of fun with interesting online poker games. Expect swift deposits and withdrawals and so much more at this wonderful gambling site!
5. Exclusive Casino
Exclusive Casino has bonuses, games, and everything else you could ever want from a poker site. You can even play the game with live dealers and players if you like!
Why Play Poker Online?
Although online poker is mostly based on luck, there is an element of strategy involved. By keeping a cool head and working on your bluffing skills, you can pull off the impossible. Online casinos allow you to test your skills in online poker tournaments at any time you fancy.
Virtual casinos also provide you with access to variations that aren’t readily available at all brick-and-mortar casinos, including:
- Texas Hold’em
- Omaha
- Five Card Draw
- Caribbean Stud
- Three Card Poker
How We Choose the Best Online Poker Sites
Nobody wants to get duped by a fake online poker site. So, we put every online casino we come across through a strict review process to ensure it is safe. Here are some of the key areas we focus on:
- Safety – is the poker site regulated by online gambling governing authorities? Are the games regularly tested for fairness?
- Bonuses – nowadays, every online poker site offers you a bonus for signing up. However, only some are worth taking. Is this offer worth it?
- Payout Speed – nobody wants to wait forever to get their winnings. If an online poker site makes you wait several months for your money, avoid using it.
- Games – not everybody is keen on playing the same variations. So, online casinos need to offer a variety of poker tables with high- and low-stakes betting options.
- Mobile Poker – more than 38% of all casino gaming is done on mobile, so a site needs to be compatible with the platform.
How to Play Poker – Step-by-Step
Playing a real online poker game is very easy. We have created a short how-to-play guide focusing on the basics to get you up to speed.
Step 1: Choose your variation
Pick the game you would like to play. There are two types of games:
- Ring games
- Tournaments with prize pools
You can join ring games whenever you like, but online poker tournaments are only available for a limited time. Both of these games also feature pot limit (games have a fixed limit on how much you can bet) and limitless options.
Step 2: Place a Bet
All online poker games start with you placing an ante bet before the game starts. Once every player’s bet has been recorded, the round will start.
Step 3: Get your cards
Depending on the variation, you will be dealt with between two to five cards. Your next move is based on the score of your hand. You can either bet, raise, call, or fold.
Step 4: Showdown
Showdown rules vary across variations. The gist of it is that cards are revealed, and you find out whether you have won.
Poker Hands Explained
Poker Games Online: Variations
There are loads of poker variations available. Here are some of the most popular:
Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is a community card game often played in tournaments. It is easy to learn but quite volatile too. The average house edge is usually around 2% in Texas Hold’em games, which is usually enough to get most players to look over the volatility.
In this online poker game, players receive two cards with which they need to combine with the five community cards to build the best possible hand. With so many community cards, strategy is kind of limited in this version of the game.
Three Card Poker
Also known as 3 Card Poker, three card poker is played with three cards. Thus, hand combinations are adapted to fit the gameplay. Although it is loved for its fast-paced nature, the game does not offer great payouts.
The lowered payouts come as a result that it is easier to win. The average house edge of this online poker game is around 2.32%.
Seven-Card Stud
Although this variation is not as popular as it once was, loads of players still enjoy it. The game features no community cards, and all betting limits are fixed. In turn, this means lower volatility for players to work with.
Seven-Card Stud is one of the online poker variations that require the most from players with regard to strategy. You need to be disciplined to about the hands you play. Also, you need to be mindful of what cards other players have.
Omaha Hold’em
Omaha Hold’em is popular with European players due to its fast nature and high betting limits. Players get four cards, and while the rest are community cards. Although similar to Texas Hold’em, Omaha has a slightly higher house edge.
It also requires more from players with regard to strategy. You get four cards instead of two. So, some of your decisions regarding which hands to play will definitely determine your success at the game.
Five Card Draw
Five Card Draw is the most traditional variation of poker. If you have ever played poker at home or in a video game, chance are you played five-card draw. Players get five cards to make the best hand possible. The game is heavily reliant on bluffing over rules and gameplay.
In our opinion, this is probably one of the most satisfying online poker variations out there. However, we don’t recommend you try it until you are comfortable with the basics of poker.
Razz
Razz takes the original hand rankings of poker and flips them around. Your aim is to make the lowest possible hand. When we say this, we don’t mean that a high card beats a Royal Flush. Rather we mean that a straight consisting of A-2-3-4-5 beats your standard Royal Flush.
Razz isn’t really as popular as the other games included on this page, but it’s still fun to play. You can expect house edge to remain around the same figures you would experience in Five Card Draw.
HORSE
H.O.R.S.E. is an acronym that stands for Hold’em, Omaha, Razz, Stud, and Eights or Better. It is a game that combines five variations of poker to create a unique game that really puts your poker skills to the test.
H.O.R.S.E. is popular with players who get easily bored with playing the same online poker game over and over again. However, it is not a very easy find at online casinos.
We also suggest you stay away from this variant until you have mastered each variation included in it. It really isn’t a game to try your luck on.
Play Poker Online for Money: Tips and Tricks
Lots of poker players are interested in becoming pros. So, here are some tips to help you reach that goal:
Fold If You Are Unsure
If you are unsure about the quality of a hand, rather fold than risk it for the biscuit. You don’t want to go into a showdown with a pair of twos, especially if there is a chance your opponent could have a straight flush or better.
Take Poker Seriously
Gambling is a serious business. If you want to make money, you need to understand how hands work and constantly refine your strategy.
Be Realistic
You will not win every game of poker you play for real money. Be prepared to face some losses as it is a natural part of gambling.
Best Online Poker Free Games
Free online poker is a standard at casino sites. There are many reasons to play free games instead of real money games, including:
- Free games allow you to practice new variations with no risk.
- You get to practice strategies at no risk.
- You get to keep playing even when your bankroll is bust.
Is Online Poker Legal?
Many players would like to try poker online but are held back by whether it is legal. The answer to this question is dependent on the gambling regulations in the state you live in.
It is legal to play online in some states, whereas, in others, it is not. So, you need to check with your state legislator before playing online. Here are some states that have legalized online poker for real money:
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Nevada
Check out our other games pages:
Online Poker – FAQs
Yes, you can. It is one of the games most commonly available at online casinos. All of the best sites offer multiple variations, including Texas Hold’em. Pai Gow, Omaha Hold’em, Five Card Draw, and Three Card Poker.
If you play at any of our recommended online casinos, we can assure you that poker games are not rigged. That stated, if you choose to play at a blacklisted casino, we cannot guarantee you stand a fair chance of winning.
The best online poker sites are:
1. BoVegas Casino
2. Lucky Red Casino
3. Irish Luck Casino
4. Supernova Casino
5. Golden Lion Casino
It is suggested that No-Limit Texas Hold’em is the best poker variation to play for profitability. It is also helpful that Texas Hold’em is probably the easiest poker variation to learn how to play.
Yes and no. Online players tend to be more frugal, so they don’t place big bets as often. They are also likely to play more hands if they use tracking software. So, there are more opportunities to win.
Some players would argue that it is easier to play live poker. You can use player tells to get a read on their cards and make better decisions. However, this doesn’t always go your way.
There is no definitive answer to this. Some responsible gaming experts believe online poker is 100% luck-based, whereas others believe it is about 38% skill and 62% luck. How people got to these numbers is based on their personal methodologies.
All we can say is that there is an element of skill involved in poker, but it does not wholly impact the outcome.
There is no way to win every poker round you play. There are some strategies to ensure to lessen the odds, but that’s about it.
It is estimated that less than 10% of players are profitable. So, you shouldn’t go into games, thinking you are going to win every round.
Yes and no. If you like playing poker, then yes, it is worth playing. However, if you are looking to make money, you’ve got to come to terms with the fact you will probably lose a lot of money before you win anything.