Nowadays, few pose the question of why playing poker online is better. Members of the gambling fraternity and gurus alike recognise the more logical question: why not play online poker?
The emergence of new online poker rooms on a nearly daily basis has given a chance to rogue operators to penetrate the market, tainting the image of the iGaming industry and questioning its credibility status.
A vast majority widely plays the game both online and in land-based casinos, because it’s easy to understand, and players can earn handsome amounts of prizes from its cash games. Online poker offers cheaper options, giving players bigger payouts than its other forms.
Poker – especially the online version, has been getting a bad reputation from time to time, but in the midst of all the cheating, fraud, begging and borrowing, Poker remains a top-ranked game and has persisted to stand the test of times.
The following are 10 advantages and reasons people should play poker online:
1. Convenience and ease of access
Online poker is by far and large the most convenient, as players can play from any place they are, provided that they have a computer and an active internet connection. A player doesn’t have to dress in a certain way, travel to the nearest casino or waste time until they can play. With just a few simple clicks, players can start gambling.
The online version of poker also minimizes the chances of players getting distracted when playing, as compared to the land-based casinos where the levels of distraction are high, due to the numerous activities going on around in the casinos.
What’s more, online poker gives players enough concentration that helps them win and avoid making unintended moves that might cost them games.
2. High Security
Online poker sites have invested in state-of-the-art security mechanisms that ensure players taking part in their games are well-secured, and the gameplay is fair. The security tools provide protection to players’ data, transactions and combats fraudulent activities.
3. A wide variety of game selection
Online poker rooms have availed all kinds of variations of poker; from the simple five-card draw to more complex versions. Below is a list of some variations offered by the majority of poker sites:
- Texas Hold, em – currently the most popular poker game
- Omaha – a great game for players who love action
- 7-card stud – a favourite in the early 21st century
- Razz – for those who enjoy an “old school” poker game
- 5-card Draw – the simplest version of poker – great for beginners
4. Sumptuous Bonuses and promotions
Online poker rooms offer very enticing bonuses to players, as an incentive to join them or play more. These bonuses come in many forms, including free spins, cash bonuses, and tournament tickets. Below is a list of some types of bonuses offered by common poker rooms:
Welcome bonuses – for new members who join the site
No-deposit bonuses – provided to players who verify their payment information without necessarily having to deposit with the poker room
Deposit bonuses – comes after a player makes a deposit with the poker room and is often dependent on the amount of deposit or the number of times the player has deposited.
VIP bonus – for those who are loyal and committed for a long time to the poker room.
5. Lower Rake
Rakes in online poker rooms are usually lower compared to land-based casinos. The average poker rakes in the land-based casinos are around 10%, with a $4 of the pot and could be even higher to $5 for every hand.
Online poker rooms range approximately 5%, with a maximum of $3. Some poker rooms have even lower rakes. Players can even find micro-stakes rooms offering betting limits as little as $0.10 for each bet and if lucky, one can find a game with no rake at all.
6. Saves on money
Online poker players don’t spend as much as live poker players. They don’t have to pay for dealers, purchase tables, and chairs – or even rent a space! This allows online games to charge less than their live or physical competition.
Even with fewer expenses, however, it doesn’t necessarily mean the games automatically make good money. Lower rakes and faster transactions make online poker platforms good money-making machines. Online poker platforms manage extra hands per rake
7. Privacy
Players can choose to remain anonymous and protect their identity while playing. It’s easy to create an account and participate in an online poker room without disclosing your real identity. Players transactions and overall data are also concealed such that it’s not available to other members for any reason.
8. Easy to take notes on opponents
Brilliant poker players learn how their opponent’s mind or play works, and notes them to their advantage. Online poker rooms give the player a great chance to take notes on how opponents play their hands, unlike in live poker where one isn’t allowed to record player moves quickly.
Online poker lets players open a writing pad and note down all plays just as they’re happening, giving the amateurs an advantage of learning from the advanced players.
9. A chance to Improve skills
Online poker rooms have games available to players of all skill levels, from beginner to legendary levels. Open games are running around the clock in the poker rooms, giving all players an opportunity to practise and improve on their skills, as the saying goes “Practice makes perfect!”
10. Loads of tournaments
Tournaments offer the best chances for poker players to win big money. Online poker rooms give away tons of money in tournaments on a close to daily basis. It’s only in online poker where a player can make a possible $1000 from a $1 buy-in. Seriously, where else can that happen?