Top Online Poker Sites: Best Sites to Play At
In this poker sites guide, we cover all important details and information players must understand and learn to get started with playing online the right way. Poker is definitely one of the most widely played card games around that combine many different factors, including skills, strategy, and a bit of luck. All poker games involve gambling as an intrinsic part of gaming sessions.
It should be noted that the game of poker, no matter which variant you choose, is extremely difficult to master. What can make a huge difference is choosing the right room, and fortunately, here were examine many top-rated online poker sites so you do not make a mistake. Even though online games had several bad years, mainly between 2011 and 2015, the game’s popularity is once again on the rise.
Top Online Poker Sites
Nowadays, online games attract millions of players from different parts of the globe, and top poker websites are growing. Since there are many virtual destinations where players can enjoy online sessions, it is extremely important that players do their research, choose only regulated and licensed sites, and stick to those rooms that cover other important gaming aspects as well.
How We Pick the Best Poker Sites
As previously mentioned, choosing the right room can make a huge difference in your gaming sessions. There are a large number of active online poker websites that you should avoid and a great number of those that are definitely worth checking out. Naturally, these are top-rated online poker sites you can find here. Now you probably wonder how our team picks the best poker sites and what the main criteria in doing so are.
When choosing the best sites to list here, we consider several major factors, including their licensing and regulatory measures. We check their variety of games offered, their bonuses and promotions, and of course, their tournament schedule. Hence, you can only find fully regulated and licensed websites here, which we have tried ourselves. Other criteria we have while reviewing them are their software quality, customer care offered, and overall reputation.
Who Are They Licensed By?
One of the most important things that make a difference between the best online poker sites and the sites you should avoid is their licensing. Players should keep in mind that online games are prohibited in every country. In fact, many countries in the world ban any kind of online poker games. At the same time, there are many countries where the games are readily available across multiple channels and top-rated online poker sites.
Basically, regulated games are those games that are fully licensed by government authorities within a specific country or within a specific region. To be fully protected, players should only register at poker websites that have a license issued by an authority that allows it to offer its service in that country or region. The process of licensing of online poker websites usually involves regulatory tax structures, where certain profit or revenue percentages are paid to countries.
Some of the biggest online markets include the United Kingdom market, where online play is fully allowed, and the Canadian market, which is ruled by the country’s provincial laws. In the United States, online games are allowed in several states, including Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey. For an American player to play online poker, they must be physically located in one of the states where the game is regulated by law.
When choosing an online poker website, it is extremely important that you play from a country where it is allowed, or you will expose yourself to all sorts of issues. Keep in mind that playing at regulated sites means being fully protected in every way, which is not the case when playing at unregulated, unlicensed rooms, many of which are currently flourishing in the industry.
Staying Safe and Protected While Playing
Besides checking your chosen poker website’s licensing and regulatory measures, you should always check its safety and security measures. This is one of the most important criteria we consider when reviewing top-rated online poker sites. This means that leading operators, in addition to holding a valid license provided by a government authority, should also use the most modern, most reliable SSL encryption.
Remember that online poker websites that use this kind of safety and security measures can fully protect their customers. This technology is aimed at keeping customers’ private and financial data safe while helping and maintaining responsible gaming. Besides using SSL encryption technologies, top online poker sites are generally audited by prominent third-party organizations that have the main goal of ensuring fair play.
Some of the most prominent third-party organizations in the industry are eCOGRA, iTechLabs, EGBA, GamStop, GamCare, GLI, ESSA, IBAS, and Thawte. Established in 2003, the United Kingdom–based eCOGRA is definitely the most renowned independent regulatory and audit body in the online gaming industry. This international regulatory body focuses on both player protection and fair gaming, and majority of top online poker sites are audited by them.
Another highly trusted and reputable independent regulatory body is iTechLabs. This Australia-based certification and testing company also specializes in all sorts of online gaming systems, and it tests a massive number of RNGs every single year. Some of the best rooms are also regularly audited by other regulatory bodies of this kind such as Thawte, which provides the most modern SSL encryption certificates. Other mentioned companies also ensure fair play at all times.
Variety of Games and If There Is Enough Traffic
Before you choose your poker website and register, the best idea is to check that site’s gaming offering. This is exactly what we do while reviewing poker websites. In other words, we check the variety of games they offer and whether the websites have enough traffic so that players have tables ready at all times. Keep in mind that all top-rated websites feature a rich variety of choices packed with all sorts of variants to suit everyone’s preferences.
Fortunately, you do not have to look at other places as you will find a number of top online poker sites right here offering loads of games, including Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo, 5-Card Draw, 2-7 Triple, and Single Draw. Some of these websites also feature popular speed variations such as Rush and Zoom, while some also offer more unique variants, including Badugi, HORSE mixed games, and Razz.
As previously mentioned, top online poker sites feature a number of tournaments, which generally boast impressive guaranteed prize pools. Depending on your chosen website, you can play daily, weekly, or monthly tournaments. Furthermore, since these websites feature massive player bases, there are always enough players in the pool.
In conclusion, you should pay attention to your chosen site’s traffic in general and, of course, the variety of games on offer. Depending on your preferences and on your budget, find a website that offers a variety of games that you want to play, featuring enough players in the pool so that you do not have to wait to start your gaming sessions, and finally, find a website that offers enough exciting scheduled tournaments that can help you boost your bankroll.
Quality of the Poker Client and User Experience
When reviewing poker websites and rooms, we always check what kind of player experience customers can expect. In fact, it is one of the most crucial aspects you should consider when choosing your room. You definitely want your chosen site to offer a top-notch, high-quality client in addition to a reliable and trustworthy customer support service, which make the two most important factors in overall player experience.
Keep in mind that top online poker rooms always offer the best player experience. Moreover, all of them feature neatly rendered, beautifully designed poker platforms that are super easy to navigate. The poker platforms that are user-friendly usually feature all the most important information displayed so that players can easily find what they are looking for.
In the majority of cases, players see bonuses and promotions on offer displayed on the main screen, alongside info on the current and upcoming tournaments. Top poker rooms also feature neatly displayed contact forms so that players can get in touch with the websites’ representatives easily in case of any issue, question, or concern.
Therefore, before you register, make sure that you check the website’s navigation and ease of use. Do your homework, check some reviews left by present or past players, and note what other users are saying. Another important thing to check is the registration process as well as deposit and withdrawal methods as you do not want to register somewhere where your preferred banking options are not supported.
