As one of the most popular forms of online gambling, online poker offers players a wide variety of games to choose from. Unlike most online casinos and sportsbooks, however, online poker sites require players to download a desktop software client in order to play. This allows players to enjoy all the game types and multi-table comfortably without worrying about the poker site crashing when they get dealt pocket aces. In addition to the client, all good poker sites will also offer a mobile app for players on the go.
When deciding where to play poker online, we looked for the best selection of games, bonuses, banking options and support. We found that the best poker sites offer players a range of deposit and withdrawal methods, including e-wallets, cards and Bitcoin. It is also a big plus when poker sites are licensed by a reputable gambling jurisdiction, as this adds another layer of trust to the site.
We also looked for poker rooms that offer rakeback to their loyal players. This is a percentage of the pot that the poker room takes, and it can be redeemed for cash through the poker site’s loyalty program. While rakeback is not something that every player will want or need, it is a nice incentive to join a new poker site.
The biggest poker sites are based in the US, but there are still plenty of options for players located outside the country. 888poker, for example, is one of the largest poker sites in terms of players and traffic. They offer Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Seven Card Stud games, as well as tournaments and sit-and-gos 24/7. Players can find action at all stakes levels, from micro-stakes to NL200.
Another top-rated poker site is Ignition, which took over the Bovada Poker room in early 2016 and is a great choice for players looking to play low stakes games online. It is available to players in the USA, and features a large selection of ring games and tournaments with guaranteed prize pools. In addition to a full poker offering, Ignition also offers casino games and sports betting.
Another great option for players outside the US is PokerStars, which has a huge player base and offers games at all stakes levels, from micro-stakes right up to the high rollers. It has a huge tournament schedule, and its games are fair thanks to random number generators that are independently tested for accuracy.