Best Countries To Play Online Poker
Use our list of the best online poker sites to browse through all the bonuses available in 2020 and read the in-depth reviews of all the top poker rooms in the world to find the right room for you. The United Arab Emirates. Nearly 100% of Islamic countries have an outright ban on gambling in all. Unbiased Online Poker Site Reviews March 05, 2021 Find reviews of the best online poker sites today. Play with Real Money & Get exclusive bonuses! How To Play Online Poker With Friends - A guide covering the best platforms, how to set up an online poker game with friends, plus tips for a fun night. The World’s online gaming authority since. Play The Best Online Casino Games of 2021 - Learn about and play slots, roulette blackjack & more. Play for free or real money with bonuses up to $£:€1600!
| Mobile Office – Photo: Kristin Wilson |
| Sydney Harbour Bridge – Photo: Kristin Wilson |
- 6 month+ travel visas
- Amazing weather
- Diverse selection of cities/climates to choose from
- Casinos and live poker events
- Close proximity to other APPT events in Asia
- Open banking infrastrucure
- Pretty good internet (not the best but certainly manageable)
- Amenities galore
- World class restaurants
- International flight hub
- Surfing and water sports
- Lovely Aussie people
- English-speaking country
- Cons: It’s pretty expensive to live here, but that’s because everyone wants to live here. Another bummer, it’s kind of far from everywhere except New Zealand and a few South Pacific islands. The shortest direct flight to LAX is 15 hours or so.
| Just another sunset in Australia – Photo: Kristin Wilson |
| Hello, Vancouver |
4) Vancouver, Canada: Overall, Canada is marked with somewhat of a scarlet letter these days, which is: no Neteller or Skrill access (wah! ^insert crying emoticon face). Bummer, we know. There is also the issue of online gambling being a grey area and rumors of Amaya pulling Stars/FTP out of dear ‘oh Canada land. So far, that hasn’t happened, but it would surely be devastating if it did. In the meantime, we can’t deny the wonders of living in Vancouver overall as a global destination:
- Extremely high standard of living
- High internet speeds/reliable infrastructure
- Amazing food options
- Easy public transportation
- Good international flight schedules
- Casinos
- Stanley Park, nature, hiking, boating
- Whistler (enough said)
- Close proximity to the US
- Stay up to 180 days per year (most Western passport holders)
- English speaking
- Diverse population – you won’t be the only expat around
- It’s just awesome
- Cons: High cost of living, limited deposit/withdrawal methods for non Canadians, forex fees and gloomy weather (most of the time)
| Vancouver is ridiculously picturesque |
- Low cost of living compared to most of Western Europe
- Wide selection of affordable rental properties
- Decent infrastructure and internet speeds
- Small city with a town-like feel
- Great food
- Beautiful women
- Small but strong poker community
- Part of the EU Schengen area
- Central location to the rest of Europe (for when you win those EPT packages)
- Relatively foreigner-friendly banking options
- Cons: Regulation has been on the table in recent years and there have been some changes and questions on legality. So far, nothing much has changed from the players’ perspective but that can change at any time. Get it while it lasts. PS: Hungarian is a super difficult language to learn.
Best Poker Games To Play
- Tyler Phillips: http://blog.pokerrefugees.com/2013/10/player-interview-tyler-phillips.html
- Gambling of all types is expressly legal, yay
- Airports: London is within striking distance of quite a few international airports which means cheap flights and plenty of options to fit your schedule. Heathrow is one of the busiest hubs in the world. Get in or out whenever you want.
- 1st world living: Great Britain has long been one of the world’s superpowers. Whatever you want, you can find it here.
- Internet: Not the best in the world but certainly good enough for online poker. Reasonably priced.
- Tourist Visas are available for up to 6 months for most western nations’ citizens, and it’s not part of the Schengen area (90-day limits).
- Restaurants that give NYC a run for their money
- Culture: Never get bored
- It’s relatively safe around these parts
- EPT London, casinos
- Multi-currency bank accounts
- You can get a PokerStars debit card! <3
Love at first sight - Isle of Man/PokerStars HQ are just up the road (hang a left at the Irish Sea)
- EU Citizens can stay as long as they want (aka permanently)
- Cons: (1) It’s so expensive to live here that it could actually cancel out a significant amount of those tax savings (2) The weather is not known to be the best
Next up, our winner!
| Where is Malta again? |
- Online poker is legal
- Internet is fast and cheap
- Access to all forms of payment processing, e-wallets, depositing and withdrawing
- Generally low cost of living compared to the rest of Europe
- Mild climate
- They also speak English here (thank you British Empire?)
- No car needed if you live in St Julians or Sliema
- Sea views and beaches
- Pubs on every corner
- Good food and restaurant options
- Portomaso Casino & EPT Malta
- PokerStars has an office here (as do 200 other gambling companies)
- Cons: It’s super small, there’s not too much to do outside of poker and partying (compared other EU countries), there are less international flights compared to the bigger airports in Europe, 90-day max Schengen visa for Americans, and despite open regulation, it’s ironically a huge pain to open a bank account
- Alextoon1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJNAO_8o8NM
- Blog Interview with Dan Smallidge, Malta: http://blog.pokerrefugees.com/2013/07/poker-refugees-player-interview-dan.html
| St. Julians skyline – Kristin Wilson photo |
| City of Lights & Dreams – Photo: Kristin Wilson |
| Welcome to the pit. Macau/o – Photo: Kristin Wilson |
When online poker first boomed in the early 2000s, it was big. Games were soft, tournaments were massive, and cash games were always full. While Black Friday put the brakes on that boom, the industry is poised to boom again. As states in the US and the federal government continue to overturn anti-poker legislations, the way is paved for online poker action as we’ve never seen before.
The best news is that the early stages of the boom are already here, and you can play online poker for real money right now! Included in this guide, you’ll find the best online poker sites for every need, breakdowns of the strategies needed to win, and full explanations of everything else you need to know. The time is now to get the cards in the air, and you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your chair.
Poker Site | Bonus | Get Started |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100% up to $400 | Go to Site |
Best Online Poker Sites for US Players
The overall quality of your online poker experience is heavily driven by the poker site you choose to play at. The best online poker sites for US players offer fast payouts, extensive gaming action, great bonuses, and a trustworthy experience. While options are somewhat limited compared with the rest of the world, there are still high-quality poker rooms offering action.
Below you’ll find an up-to-date (and regularly updated) list of the top poker sites in the United States. All of these sites are regularly vetted by our team of experts and compared against other industry options. If you’re looking for the top online poker rooms in the states, these are your industry leaders.
- Bovada Poker
- BetOnline Poker
- SB Poker
Best Online Poker Sites for Non-US Players
Best Countries To Play Online Poker Real Money
Black Friday may not have shut down poker sites for the rest of the world, but it did cut out a large percentage of the player pool. As legislation changes and some players move to new parts of the world, the poker economy in places like Europe, Asia, South America, Canada, and South Africa continue to recover and get better. The best poker sites for Non-US players are safe, secure, payout fast, and have extensive action on real money poker.
- Betway
- Guts
- 888poker
Play Texas Hold’em Online for Real Money
Undoubtedly the hottest poker variation in existence is Texas Hold’em. The game is action-packed and gives players the opportunity to win (or lose) big on every single hand. Invented in the early 1900s in Texas (of course), the game has exploded in popularity over the last century.
Because of the many nuances and skillsets needed to be a winning Texas Hold’em player, it’s no surprise that the World Championship of Poker is decided by playing Texas Hold’em.
Best Texas Holdem Poker Sites
The best Texas Hold’em poker sites deliver massive tournaments, full cash game tables, great bonuses, and plenty of fish for you sharks to chomp on. As the United States moves toward full-on regulation of the game, the action and site options continue to grow. The best way to ensure the most success and the biggest pots is by sticking to the top-rated online Texas Hold’em poker sites.
Other Popular Online Poker Variations
Texas Hold’em may be the granddaddy of them all, but it’s not the only poker variation available. Many different versions of poker exist, and each of them offers unique opportunities to win and make money.
Pot Limit Omaha (PLO)
If playing a game with two cards is fun, playing a game with four cards must be twice as fun, right? Well, if you ask the players who love PLO this question, you’ll get a resounding yes. PLO has been around for years, but over the last decade has exploded in popularity, mainly due to the excitement and heightened action the poker variation brings to the table.
Stud Poker
Hands down the most classic form of poker is a tie between Stud Poker and Draw Poker. While many seasoned players love the game, Stud Poker is not just for older folks. The younger generation is finding the value and excitement that can come from this heavily analytical form of poker.
Draw Poker
Prior to Texas Hold’em coming onto the scene, the poker variation you probably played growing up was a form of Draw Poker. The several different variations of draw poker allow players to dump hands and cards that aren’t profitable for the chance at picking up a winner.
Best Real Money Poker Sites for Beginners
Many of you reading this guide may be new to the game of poker. Maybe you’re new to the game altogether? Maybe you’ve played before but never online? Maybe you’ve played for fun but never for real money? Whatever the case, you’re in the right spot.
When you’re first starting out playing poker online, you don’t want to be overwhelmed or swallowed up by sharks. The best US real money poker sites for beginners are user-friendly, offer low stakes, provide play money tables, and are not infested with good players.
Safest Poker Sites Anywhere Online
You won’t find us recommending any online poker rooms that are not the safest and most protected experiences. That being said, there are some options that go above and beyond when it comes to safety, security, and user protections. If this is of the utmost importance to you, we’ve included a thorough and regularly updated list of the safest online poker sites below.
The Legality of Online Poker Sites for Real Money
Over the years, real money online poker has had some major ups and some major downs. As governments around the world jockey to figure out how to deal with online poker, the climate continues to change rapidly. If you’re worried about the legality of online poker, we’ve pulled in some experts to help break down the current situation for you.
Laws and regulations will depend heavily on where you live. Additionally, things change rapidly, so it’s always important to stay up to speed. Our experts will look at the legality of online poker in all major jurisdictions. Be sure to keep an eye on our news section to stay as up to date as possible when things change.
Playing Online Poker Tournaments for Money
Real Money poker tournaments are heavily responsible for the industry boom over the past two decades. There is just something exciting about knowing you can turn a smaller buy-in into a massive win just by beating out some competition. Online poker tournaments come in all shapes and sizes.
You can play tournaments for buy-ins as little as a penny or as much as $100,000. Prize pools at top poker sites have been known to be millions and millions of dollars.
In the guide linked below, we break down every detail you need to know about online poker tournaments where you can win real money. We’ll discuss the types of tournaments available, live vs. online, how to get started, and where to find the best action.
Sit and Go Poker Online
If you’re looking for a little real money poker tournament action, but you want it on demand, you’re looking for sit and gos (SNGs). These smaller entrant pool tournaments don’t have scheduled start times like multi-table online poker tournaments. Instead, you sit, and when all the seats are filled, you go. But don’t let the simplicity fool you into thinking there isn’t a ton of money to be made in SNGs.
Whether you want to play heads-up SNGs, single-table SNGs, multi-table SNGs, satellite SNGs, or shootout SNGs, we’ve got you covered. Our dedicated guide covers everything you need to know about these tournaments, including where the best action is, the strategies needed to win, and how you can get started right now.
Playing Real Money Cash Games Online
Online poker tournaments are great, but you’re required to sit until the tournament is over. Cash games, on the other hand, give you the flexibility to come and go as you please. If you want to play just a couple of hands, great. If you want to play for 20 hours straight, you’re nuts, but go for it! Some of the most profitable poker players in the world make their living from playing cash games.
If you’re ready to get started with online poker cash games or you want to take your game up a notch, stay tuned. Our dedicated cash game poker guides get into how and where to find the best action, the strategies needed to crush all stakes, and resources that can help you to grow as a player.
Online Poker Bonuses
Did someone say free? We did! The best poker sites for money know that, to stay relevant, they need to incentivize new players and reward loyal customers. The way the companies do this is through poker bonuses. Some of the most popular poker bonus types include:
- Deposit bonuses
- Welcome bonuses
- Freerolls
- Tournament tickets
- VIP rewards
- Frequent player points (FPPs)
- Added casino or sports betting bonuses
If you love the words “free” and “bonus,” be sure to check out the poker sites listed at the top of this page. They all have a long standing history of taking care of their customers with generous real money online poker bonuses.
Answering Questions About Online Poker
