Tips for Choosing Sites
Online poker offers an excitement all its own in addition to having the potential to be very lucrative if you are good at the game. You may find it difficult knowing which poker room to choose from the dozens of available sites online. Not all poker sites are the same when it comes to service, game playing, prize money, etc. A few factors you can take into consideration when choosing a poker room include how much traffic a room receives, variety of games offered, bonuses and promotions given, software features, loyalty program and support. Poker rooms that have a high rate of traffic reflect their overall popularity with players. This is a good sign as you will be able to find a wide range of games, tables and types of competition. This could also be a good indication that the site is reputable and reliable, which is important when you are playing for real money.
One of the all-time favorite poker games is Texas Holdem online and most every poker room will feature its presence. However, good sites will offer a spread of computer software that include other games at all levels to increase interest and encourage competition. Additional games could include a variation of Stud and Omaha games, blackjack and more. Having variation in your game playing adds to the excitement and keeps the pace flowing. Yet another aspect of a quality poker room are the bonuses and promotions offered to attract new players to the game. When you are playing for profit, these aspects are very important as they help increase your winnings. Many customers look for sites offering good loyalty programs as an added incentive to joining their locations. These sites have a better chance of keeping their customers longer by offering rewards for their extended patronage. These rewards may be available in different forms, such as accruing extra points to enable you to compete in special tournaments or to purchase special merchandise.
Other aspects of superior online poker sites include reliable software for glitch-free playing, low rakes and quality support systems in the event you need assistance during your game. Superior software is essential for playing any type of online games and poker is no exception. When stakes are high and you are in the middle of a game is no time to experience “technical difficulties.” Therefore, when choosing your site ensure their software is top notch with a high-quality reputation for excellent performance. Another important aspect for an online game site that cannot be overlooked is proper support. Again, this feature will come in handy when you need fast and dependable on the spot service. Most sites offer very good support to include 24/7 instant help, email service and phone service for their customers upon request.
Top Five Online Poker Sites
When deciding which online poker site to use, there are several ways you can distinguish mediocre sites from top sites. Checking into a site's poker rating and perusing customer reviews of their services can help you determine whether the site you want to use is worth joining. Poker ratings give a good indication of the quality of the site - the higher the ratings, the more the site has to offer you. The following are the names of some of the top online poker sites around the world which have received excellent ratings and reviews which you can take into consideration when choosing a site to join, download the software program and install it on your own computer. Also these reviews will prevent you downloading spywares and viruses, created by rogue companies, which can take over your pc and network.
1. PokerStars - Considered the largest online site in the world, PokerStars came in first place with an over-all poker rating of 8.92. It offers an incredible volume of games daily, to include a high quantity of lucrative tournaments you can enter at diverse levels of play. Their excellent software assures you of consistent, quality service throughout to include customized audio and visual features for optimum performance. In addition to Texas Hold’em, their game spread is one of the best including such favorites as H.O.R.S.E., Five-Card Draw, Seven-Card Stud, 8-Game and more. In addition, they have a popular loyalty program which can lead up to your acquiring Supernova status - a great motivator for players to remain devoted to their location.
Because PokerStars is open to players worldwide, it experiences a massively mixed player pool ranging from beginners to highly skilled players. It is also home to many world renown champions to include Daniel Negreanu, Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer, just to name a few. This site has much to offer both beginners and advanced players alike and may be an excellent starting point for those new to the online experience. Growth statistics for 2011 indicate the site is continuing to expand as more individuals discover its superior service.
2. 888poker - received a rating of 8.75 on the scale of poker ratings, ranking second. It is affiliated with 888.com, the biggest online casino in the world. One of its main attractions is its action packed Texas Hold’em online games which draw players from all parts of the world. It offers a steady line of promotions and bonuses which helps attract players to the site. Their recently upgraded software presents a number of improved features and functions that greatly enhance the playing field and facilitate customer participation. Whether you are a beginner or advanced player, there are games geared just for you. Security on the 888poker site has been rated as very good with a high level of transparency. 888poker is also well known for its numerous well structured tournaments for all levels of competitive play.
Other pluses in favor of the 888poker site include advanced software that offers playing in eight languages to include: English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian and more. If you enjoy making new friends while you play, you can also join 888pokers highly developed social space where you can chat, join active talk forums or "mingle" to your heart's delight. Many people even share videos and photos via this network. This interaction increases the social aspect of the game that people have been used to for years before online playing came to being. Those who partake of this added feature are happy for the opportunity to socialize in this manner and consider it a worthwhile feature to the site.
3. William Hill Poker - is based out of the U.K. and received a rating of 8.48. It sports the reputation for being amongst the oldest bookmakers within the country and is currently a member of iPoker network. Traffic to this site consists mostly of British and European players with a good number of loose players joining in. The hefty monthly network prize of $16 million draws considerable traffic from all over Europe. Recent upgrades have boosted the attraction of this site with a cleaner, more organized view. In addition to the traditional poker games, i.e. Texas Hold’Em and variations of Omaha and Stud, William Hill also offers blackjack, sports betting and a variety of other interesting casino games.
William Hill software, in comparison to more advanced designs, could probably be best described as "average" with passable graphics. However, it offers a stable function which players have found to be quite adequate for their taste. Game playing features a high influx of new players at all levels, creating a competitive gambling ambiance during peak hours and throughout the day.
4. Poker770 - with a rating of 8.35 is based out of France. It is very French oriented as indicated by French being the default language on the site. However, the site is open to players from other countries around the world and it receives much traffic from the European sector. It maintains a presence on iPoker network which enables it to offer customers live satellite coverage of major tournament events. This site offers lively playing action at all hours to match your level of competition. In addition, you can get an array of appealing bonuses and promotions for new clientele. It sports an assortment of games to include variations of Omaha, Stud and Texas Hold’em. A special attraction to many players is the site’s substantial jackpots for winning sit and go games which regularly tops $50,000 or more. Reviews of Poker770 software seem to indicate it is functional with fast, accurate service; however, graphics are simplistic and nothing to rave about. Game listings are easy to find and viewing quite organized.
5. Bwin Poker - one of Europe's key poker networks ranked fifth with a rating of 8.22. One of its greatest strengths is its superior software featuring high quality graphics and modern design. The site is Win, Max and Linux compatible and some of the perks you can find within include game statistical analysis, greater promotions, active tournament competition, satellite access to live tournaments and expanded player base. The site remains an action packed volley of play for all game levels during the day, offering variety and juicy competition to all involved. Another interesting tidbit about this site is its interest in welcoming novice players and making them feel "important." Comments made on some of their reviews indicate small time players appreciate the attention received by Bwin in their initiation stages and were pleased with the opening bonus offers Bwin had to offer newbies to the game. Expectation for future growth and expansion make Bwin a top rate site worth visiting.
In summary
Computer poker games are played for both fun and profit, or a combination of the two. If you are a beginner at this game, you can glean many good pointers on how to begin this venture by visiting internet sites on the subject. It never hurts to do a little research into the game before beginning to play as the more information you know about the subject, the more enjoyable the game will be. Online card playing offers its share of challenges, especially in the beginning when you are just learning the ropes. However, it can be an entertaining adventure for avid card players and worth exploring at least for fun in the very beginning stages.
Once you have mastered some skill in this area, you may opt to try your hand at making money from poker online. That is where the excitement really begins. However, like any other form of gambling, you do need to take great care that this activity does not become an obsession. Poker sites were created to be competitive, challenging, lucrative and fun. Yet is is up to each individual poker player to hold the reins on their play and keep it within the confines of their lifestyle. In this way your poker experience will remain a positive and enlightening one both for the present and future.