On this page we have answered a selection of the most frequently asked questions about playing poker online. If you’re new to online poker, then you’ll almost certainly find the information we provide here interesting and worth taking the time to read through all of them.
The following questions are all answered, with links to additional information if necessary.
Can I really win money playing online poker?
This is without a doubt one of the questions we hear being asked the most. The answer, you’ll surely be pleased to here, is a resounding yes. There are loads of people all over the world who win money playing poker on the internet and many of them commit to it full time and make a substantial amount of money from it.
That’s not to say it’s easy though. You win through good fortune from time to time or even quite regularly if you’re lucky, but ultimately whether you win or not comes down to you.
| Read our Top Tips for Winning at Online Poker for advice on improving your chances. |
How does online poker compare to live poker?
Although playing poker over the internet is a very different experience to playing live, the basic concepts are still the same, along with the rules. The differences that do exist don’t fundamentally change the way the game is played.
Most of the differences actually provide benefits to playing online. For example, online poker is played at a much quicker pace than live poker. This means you can play a lot more hands per hour. It’s also much more convenient, as you can play whenever you want from the comfort of your home. There are several other benefits too, all of which make online poker a very attractive proposition.
| Click here for more on the advantages of playing poker online. |
Which poker site should I use?
The simple answer to this is whichever one is right for you. It is, however, not all that easy to determine which site is appropriate. There are plenty to choose from and most of them are of at least a fairly decent standard, but they’re all different in their own way. To get the optimal experience, you really want to choose the one that’s the best fit.
There are several things you need to think about when choosing where to play, even though it can be tempting to simply sign up at the first place you come across. It would definitely be beneficial to put the extra time and effort into picking the right place though, as you’ll reap all of the rewards.
| We suggest reading our advice on Choosing a Poker Room. |
Is online poker legal?
There’s no simple answer to this question, as it depends on a few different things. Primarily, it depends on where you live and how old you are. The laws relating to the various forms of online gambling, including poker, vary from one part of the world to the next. As such, what may be legal for the resident of one country may not be legal for the resident of another country. The legal age for gambling varies between countries too.
The best advice that we can give is to check your local laws for yourself. We would point out, though, that the vast majority of laws relating to online gambling of any kind target the operators of gambling sites rather than those using them. If there are laws anywhere that explicitly make it illegal for an individual to play poker online, then we aren’t aware of them.
Is my money safe at poker sites?
Your money will be perfectly safe at most sites. The majority of them can be trusted in this respect, but it’s a good idea to use the most reputable ones to be absolutely sure. The sites that we recommend at Top10CasinoOnline.COM are among the most reputable around, so if you stick to any of these then you really should have nothing to worry about.
Do poker sites provide fair games?
Our answer to the previous question applies here too, as most of them do. In the entire history of online poker there have been only a very few examples of sites providing anything other than completely fair games. It’s a legitimate concern, but one that you really don’t need to worry about if you are playing at reputable sites.
Technically you don’t need any money at all to play online poker. If you want to play solely for the fun of the game, then you can use the option to use “play money” chips that is available at most sites. You can’t win any money with this option, but you can’t lose any either.
Many sites also offer a selection of freeroll tournaments too. These are free to enter but there’s real prize money available. The prize pools tend to be very small, just a few dollars usually, but you can actually win money without risking any of your own. A lot of successful players have started playing these and have used their winnings to move up through the stakes over time.
However most players do choose to start with a bankroll in place, but the amounts people choose vary greatly. As long as you practice good bankroll management and play at the appropriate stakes, then you can make even a small amount of money last a decent length of time. Hopefully, of course, you’ll start earning money quickly and manage to turn whatever you begin with into a much larger bankroll.
Will I have to download any software?
Not necessarily. A lot of poker sites do require you to download software, but there are some where you can play directly through your web browser. If for any reason you aren’t keen on downloading software, then just make sure you sign up at a site that offers browser based games too.
Why do poker sites offer sign up bonuses?
The answer to this is really quite simple; they want you as a customer. With so many different sites for players to choose from, sites use sign up bonuses as an incentive for new players to join. A decent sign up bonus will often be enough to encourage a player to try out a new site, so they definitely work. They are great for players too as bonuses essentially can be free money, providing players meet the required terms and conditions.
It’s simple enough to get started. First you must choose your poker site, then sign up for an account by providing the necessary details. You’ll have to download any software if it’s required and then it’s just a matter of depositing your funds and getting straight into the action.
Can I play poker on my mobile device?
After a slow start, mobile poker has really taken off. There are now several sites where you can play in real money games from a mobile device such as a smartphone or a tablet. The games are slightly limited compared to playing from a desktop or laptop computer, but everything is perfectly functional.
Can I play poker from my Mac computer?
You absolutely can. You just need to sign up at a Mac compatible poker room. It actually used to be somewhat of a challenge to find one of these, but that’s no longer the case at all. Not all sites are Mac compatible but many of them are.
Do I have to play Texas Hold’em?
No, you aren’t limited to Texas Hold’em. Pretty much all poker sites offer a wide selection of different games including omaha, razz, and seven card stud.
Should I play tournaments or cash games?
This is entirely your decision. Some players are better at tournaments while some are better at cash. The best thing to do, in our opinion, is to play both and see how you do. You can then play whichever you enjoy the most or whichever tends to give you the best results.
I keep losing, what am I doing wrong?
It could be a plethora of things, including but not limited to a run of bad luck. Most people that lose consistently, though, lose simply because they don’t know how to play properly. If you’re going to win consistently, then you’ll either need to be incredibly lucky or put in the necessary effort into learning how to play.
Knowing the rules isn’t enough; you really need to understand at least some basic strategy too. The more strategy you learn and the more practice you get, the better a player you’ll become. The more skilled you are, the better chance you’ll have to beat your opponents and make some money.
Multi-tabling is playing more than one table at a time. It’s a difficult skill to master and we don’t recommend that beginners try it, but if done successfully it can help you vastly increase your profits. Some of the best multi-tablers can play winning poker across a dozen or more tables at the same time.
This depends on the tax laws where you live, so you’ll need to check this out for yourself. Please make sure you do, as tax avoidance is a serious crime and you cannot claim ignorance when it comes to these laws.
How do loyalty schemes work at poker sites?
Loyalty schemes are used by poker sites to reward their customers for playing with them. They can work in a number of different ways, but the basic principle is that you earn rewards, usually cash, based on how much you play and at what stakes.
| You can read more about loyalty schemes here. |
