Online poker sites are taking the US by storm. Whether you’re a semi-pro looking to play for huge winnings or looking for novice rooms to play for free, you’ll find what you want. Online poker is fun, and it gives a great opportunity to practice live games.
What are The Best Online Poker Casinos in 2024?
Online poker is a very popular card game that is easily found in many online poker casinos in the U.S. Texas Hold’em is by far the most popular variant but there are others you can try. For those who prefer to see a face while playing, there’s also live dealer poker available at some casinos.
| Rank | Casino |
|---|---|
| #1 | 888 |
| #2 | Golden Nugget |
| #3 | BetMGM |
| #4 | PokerStars Casino |
| #5 | Borgata Online |
Is Playing Poker Online Legal in the US?
Online poker is legal in some states in the U.S. but not across the country. Some states have very strict laws against poker, including online poker. On the other hand, states such as New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia, have legalized online poker.
All of the casinos on our site are licensed by their respective states:
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- West Virginia Lottery
- Delaware Gaming Enforcement
- Michigan Gaming Control Board
Is Poker Online Rigged?
No. Online poker sites go to great lengths to be sure that games are fair. They use Random Number Generators (RNG) which is an algorithm that produces random numbers to keep the game fresh and unpredictable. The RNGs are regulated and tested by agencies like eCogra.
Why Play Poker Online?
There are a number of great reasons to play online poker. Playing from the commodity of your home is absolutely a big one. Another good reason is playing with bonus money. Online casinos offer welcome bonuses to new players and promotions throughout the year.
But another thing to keep in mind is that playing poker online gives you access to more variations, game styles, features, and side bets. Some table limits are lower than in land-based casinos and you can also learn how to play poker online poker free.
Online Poker With Friends: The Best Online Poker Sites List
Poker is all about having fun and having fun with your friends. That’s why there are online casinos that let you create your own tournament. You can choose the poker variant and the buy-in amount and, decide who to let in.
Send your friends an invite to your poker tournament online from:
- 888 Casino
- PokerStars
- partycasino
- WSOP
- ClubGG
Are Online Poker And Live Poker Different?
No matter what online poker variant you decide to play, the essence of the card game will remain the same. The main difference is that live poker is streamed from a studio. There’s a real person dealing the cards, you play with other real players, but you can’t see them. You can see the dealer and interact through chatting in the text box.
In online poker rooms, you don’t see any faces or have interactions other than betting. You’ll only see the community cards and your own. Other players will only appear as their (sometimes very creative) usernames. Online poker rooms use computer software instead of an actual person to deal the hand, poker chips, and so on.
| Did You Know? |
|---|
| In the past, poker was played with only 20 cards and four players. Players would receive five cards each, and the betting would be based on who among them had the best hand. Playing the game with 52 cards started in 1834. |
3 Important Tips To Know Before Playing Online Poker Real Money
To play like a pro and survive in the world of poker, you have to learn the ropes and develop a solid strategy. Leave that to us and let us guide you on your journey!
1. Master the rules, positions, and poker hands
Poker is an exciting game to play. It can be fun and competitive.
To step foot in the game, you must know the general rules. For instance, you have to know which hands give you the better chance to win the pot.
Understanding table positions is another concept you must grasp. Knowing them lets you maximize the strength of your position and accept when the odds are stacked against you.
2. Understand the key concepts of a Poker Strategy
Poker systems and strategies are easy to find, but they’re not all equal. The “win every time” claims are false, but you can still learn a strategy that will make you more likely to win.
| ♠ Bluff – With bluffing, you are acting as if your hand is stronger than it really is. When you bluff, you’re trying to get players with stronger hands to fold. |
| ♠ Fold – This is when you put your cards down and say you are out of the game. Only fold if you think there’s no chance of winning. |
| ♠ Check – It’s when you make no bet at all and pass the turn onto the next player. This can only be done if no other bet has been made by the previous players in the round. |
| ♠ Call – It’s a way to stay in the game by keeping up with standards. You match up the bet set by the previous player or the blind. |
| ♠ Raise – This is when you bet higher than what the Call was. It’s a way to increase the amount of money in the pot, plus everyone else must “call” on the bet. |
| ♠ Limp – To limp in poker is to bet the absolute minimum needed to stay in a hand. For example, entering the pot by calling rather than raising. |
| ♠ Flop – The first three cards revealed by the dealer are known as The Flop. |
| ♠ The Pre-Flop – It’s a betting round when players take a turn each deciding whether to call, fold, raise or go all-in. It will determine how much money is in and how far the game goes. |
| ♠ Figuring out the odds – Pot odds are the ratio between the size of the pot and the size of the bet. It gives you a hint of what you can expect to win or lose. |
3. Choose the best Online Poker Variants for you
There are over a dozen variations of poker. Poker variants are great because they challenge you to think differently about the game. Below are some of the most popular.
- Texas Hold’em – Is the most popular poker variation. You get 2 cards to start out with, and there will be a max of 3 community cards.
Order of winning hands: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four-of-a-Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three-of-a-Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, High Card. - Omaha – With Omaha, you’re dealt 4 cards and there are 5 community cards. You have to make your best hand using 2 of your cards and three of the five community cards. While it sounds good in that you 4 instead of 2 cards to make your winning hand with, that’s also true for the other players.
- 7- Card Stud – This poker variation is played with two downcards and one upcard dealt before the first betting round. Three more upcards follow (with a betting round after each card) plus a downcard. There’s a final round of betting when the last downcard is dealt. The best five-card poker hand wins the pot.
- Five Card Draw – It’s a simple variation of draw poker. Players are dealt five cards at the start. There are no community cards and the gameplay is quite different.
| Did You Know? |
|---|
| Omaha has become increasingly popular in the past 10 years. Some go as far as to say that Omaha poker (PLO, specifically) it’s on a trajectory to surpass Texas hold’em and become the most-played game in the world. |
How To Improve Your Game
Poker is both a game of luck and skill. And while you have no control over the lucky side of it, there are things you can do to increase your chances. Here are some basic strategies to boost your game:
| 1. Play when you feel like it – Playing online poker demands your full focus. There are many factors along the game that you should keep tabs on if you want to succeed long-run. Playing when the moment is not right will only end in frustration. |
| 2. Learn and understand the concept of Game Theory Optimal (GTO) – GTO is a strategy that aims to achieve complete balance in the game, making your plays 100% unexploitable by your opponents. This style of poker is the exact opposite of the exploitative poker strategy. |
| 3. Play less hands and play them aggressively – Playing fewer starting hands can give you a huge advantage against loose, aggressive players. You’ll also make your post-flop decisions much easier and cut reduce the times you’re putting money into the pot with the worst hand. |
| 4. Be patient! – It takes time to master a game, and poker is no different. But the more you play, the better you become. Until then, keep it simple, and always head to the flop with the best of it. |
| 5. Analyse your opponents – Putting your opponent on a range of hands is an essential part of being a true poker player. Having a hint of what hands your opponents might have, help you understand pot odds better to make the most optimal play. |
| 6. Practice for free – If you’re not ready to gamble, or still feel you need more practice before hitting the real money tables, you can play poker online free at several online casinos. |
| 7. Watch streamers to discover new tips – Watching professionals play is another option to get better at poker. Follow streamers on Twitch, they often discuss their best strategy and tactics, which you can implement into your game. |
| Did You Know? |
|---|
| Some poker sites allow you to use software that offers data on your opponents. But if you can’t use the software, then you’ll definitely need to watch your opponents’ tendencies. |
Playing Online Poker On Your Mobile
Online poker allows you to play poker from your computer or on a mobile poker app any time you like. You can play against other real players. There’s always a table, and you can pick different rooms on different online poker sites depending on your level.
Final Thoughts
Nothing is stopping online poker from growing. Online casinos understand the popularity of the game and the profit they can make.
One great thing about playing poker games online is that you can practice for very low stakes. You can also play for free, whether it’s in demo mode or by taking advantage of a casino bonus. Players can also sit at multiple tables and have a go at the many variants this card game offers all of this from the commodity of your home.
We can see why players can’t seem to get enough of online poker. But whatever modality you choose to play, always be sure to play within your limits.