Poker has been increasing in popularity for the last few years. This popularity was aided by some of the most memorable movies from the 90s and 00s.
Poker and other casino games became of interest to millions, and since it’s been available online, it’s exploded.
Here are some quick facts about the growth in the online poker player base:
- By 2023 the online gambling market is predicted to be valued at more than 92.9 billion USD
- Currently, that value stands at around 59 billion USD
- The revenue from online casinos, including poker, was $402 million in just the second quarter of 2020
- WPT estimates that more than 100 million people are playing online poker worldwide
Those are some pretty big numbers.
How many poker sites are there?
According to Global Newswire, there are around 2,800 online gambling sites. These sites offer a mix of lottery, bingo, blackjack, and poker that is available as mac poker or windows poker (perfect for everyone).
Although that number is subject to some minor fluctuation, we can expect there to be an increase in online poker availability.
How to choose the best poker site for you:
With so many different poker websites on the internet, it can feel a little overwhelming. However, here is your foolproof list of how you can make sure you are playing on the best poker sites.
Big Bonuses
Every gambling website will have a massive range of welcome bonuses, and it’s up to you to find the best ones.
Picking the right bonus for you might be a little bit trickier than you think. You might need to do some quick math to get what you want.
If you are a casual player, you will likely be better off finding smaller bonuses and guaranteed ones like deposit matching.
For the high-rollers, then the most significant bonuses will work for you because you will likely deposit enough to cash out and maximize your bonus.
Easy software
If the website is cluttered, and you can’t see the button to join a game under all of the adverts.
Or perhaps the website loads incorrectly, and you can’t find the right buttons to make a bet.
Either way, it’s time to go.
Most websites will have a massive range of graphics, animations, and more. These are part of the fun of gambling online.
However, if they get in the way of trying to play, then you should look elsewhere.
Reviews
When was the last time you purchased something without doing some research first? The internet is a hub of information, so it is essential we use it.
If you have found a poker website that you like the look of, then you should head to google—type in the name of the brand + reviews.
Search through the reviews that aren’t on their own Facebook.
Reviews of poker websites will usually give you information on the sign-up process, the available games, how the lobbies are, and the drawbacks to each option.
Options
If you play poker for 80% of your gaming time but bingo or blackjack for the other 20% – you need options.
Once you have found a gambling website that you might like, start going through all of the gaming options.
One of the critical things here is filtering the games by type, speed, theme, and/other.
These filters will present you with all the options you have; you can then make an informed decision.
Free Games
Consider free games a litmus test. You will immediately know if you like how the website works.
Each poker website will offer a range of different Freeplay or freeroll options. Select the one you like, read the T&Cs carefully, and enjoy a completely free game.
You will also get a good idea of the player base on the website, and if there is a chat screen, you’ll get a feel for the type of players too.
Guidance
If you are a new poker player, you will need guides, customer service, and some walkthroughs.
A poker website that is focused on its customers will give incredible support.
Guidance and support set apart the poker websites focused on their members having the best time possible, over pure profit.
Poker training tools can help you understand the game in the best way possible and increase your chances of winning.
TIP: Look for beginner tables. These tables are usually reserved for those with new accounts who haven’t played any games yet. Beginner tables can make a big difference to your grasp of the game.
Secure
Ensuring that you are only using websites that have the maximum security offered is essential.
Here is how you can see if a website is secure:
- Ensure that you can see HTTPS instead of HTTP. The SSL protects sensitive information from being accessible.
- Look at the bottom of the website from something that says Privacy Policy. The policy will tell you how your data is collected, stored, and used. (storing and data protection is a serious issue, as TikTok has found).
- Easy to find contact information. Contact information is usually a sign that there is a person that you can reach should you have an issue.
Before you sign up, you should also carefully check which deposit options you have. MasterCard, Visa, PayPal, BACS.
Think about what you need so that you can ensure you have that option available to you.
Want to know more about what and SSL does? Check out the HubSpot Guide to SSL.
Multi-device
If you want to play on the go, then a mobile-compatible website is a must. More prominent brands usually have an app too. From the app, you can access your account and play whenever and wherever you like.
To test this quickly, after finding a poker website that you like, head to the same address on your mobile phone.
You can also check the app store to see if they have an app that you can use to play.
And that’s it!
If a website meets all of the criteria above and any requirements you have set out, then you have cracked the secret to finding the best poker site for you.
