Where can you Play Poker Online for Real Money?
Since the early 2000s online poker has taken the world by storm and this has led to a huge increase in the number of players worldwide. Today, the online poker scene is massive and always moving forward, with it now being possible to sign up and play on live TV against some of the world’s top players. This is the beauty of online poker, that there are no barriers to real money success apart from that of your own skill. With the increase in popularity came the increase in operators to choose from. Each of them offers a different selection of bonuses, tournaments and games for real money players – which is where we come in!
What Should You Consider When Choosing an Operator?
Choosing an operator can be difficult, but, when it comes to playing style, payment options and security, it is important to choose the right one for you. So, before you decide on an operator, you should first consider evaluating them on some important aspects.
Games, Tournaments & Variants
First and foremost, it is important to find an operator with a good and wide range of games and tournaments on offer. If you love to play an intense format of poker like fast fold, then you should make sure the operator you have chosen has it. On top of that, all operators offer a different selection of tournaments for players to take part in. These can be anything from weekend tournaments to sit & go tournaments. The same thing can be said for game variants, whether you are looking for Texas Hold’em or Omaha High, check to see if your chosen operator has what you are looking for.
Licenses, Awards & Regulations
Next you should take a look at the trustworthiness and authenticity of your chosen operator, so that you can make sure you are protected when you play real money poker. The best indicators of this are valid licenses and partnerships with important gambling associations. You will often find these at the bottom of the main page, so you can click on the links and do your own research! Also, check out the Rational Group here for a better overview of the licences for Pokerstars and Full Tilt Poker. It is good to know that, on the whole, the most reliable regulators are usually located in Malta, Gibraltar, the UK, the Isle of Man, Cyprus, Antigua and Barbuda. Also, make sure that your operator is partnered with organisations such as GambleAware, the Responsible Gambling Trust and lastly the UK Gambling Commission, which is the most relevant authority for UK users. As a rule, Realmoney.co.uk only lists regulated operators.
| Operator |
888 Poker |
Pokerstars |
Sky Poker |
| Games |
Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo or 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo |
Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 5 Card or 5 Card Omaha Hi/Lo |
Texas Holdem Poker, Omaha Poker or Ohama Hi-Lo Poker |
| Cash games stakes |
£0.01 /£0.02 – £250/£500 |
£0.02/£0.04 – £1000/£2000 |
£0.10/£0.20 – £20 |
| Highlights: |
Web Cams, Mobile Poker and a No Deposit Bonus |
Sunday tournaments, WCOOP, SCOOP and Mobile Poker |
Free play for newcommers, First Deposit Bonus and Mobile Poker |
| Fast Fold Variant: |
SNAP Poker |
Zoom Poker |
Speed Poker |
| Available on |
Windows
Mac
Android |
Windows
.MacS
Android |
Windows
Mac
iOS
Android |
| Awards |
EGR Best Poker Operator 2011, 2012 and 2013 |
EGR Awards 2014 Poker & Mobile Poker Operator of the Year |
N/A |
| Licences |
Gambling Commission |
Gambling Commission |
Gambling Commission |
| Customer support |
24/7 Phone, Email and Live Online Chat |
24/7 Contact Support Form |
24/7 Phone, Email, Live Chat or Fax |
Technical Security & Privacy
Technical security on gambling sites has increased a lot in recent years, due partly to the many scandals in the past and also because of the advancing technology. Some operators, such as PokerStars, have a seal of approval and a page on their site dedicated to privacy and data. The quality of data privacy and data handling should always be something to consider when choosing an operator. The best thing for you to do is to take a look at the operator’s privacy policy to double check that they are not sharing your data with any third parties.
Customer Support
It is always important that the customer support of your chosen operator is both substantial enough and rated highly for customer satisfaction. For the top operators you will most likely find that they offer various ways for you to contact them including by phone, email or instant chat. Also, they will usually offer these services on a 24/7 basis. However, for many smaller operators, the customer support is not as strong. It’s a good idea to make sure that your chosen operator supports the contact method you are most likely to use, and also that their assistance is smooth and fast.
888 Poker: An Excellent Provider
888 Poker is a fast growing online poker site with millions of users across the world. They are characterized by transparency and freedom, which makes them a safe and secure choice as an operator. Also, they have a huge amount of choice when it comes to game types, variations and tournaments. 888 are also currently offering a brilliant welcome package worth up to £400! All you need to do is register and then make your first deposit, the deposit will then be matched by them pound for pound.
888 poker
Test the best poker room and get a $400 bonus!*
*Exclusive bonus for the readers of realmoney.co.uk
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Full T&Cs below. New players only • No Deposit Offer: Claim in 48 hrs • 14 day expiry • FP wins are credited as bonus and capped at £10, exc. JP win • 50x wagering • Deposit Bonus Offer: £20 min deposit with code • Valid for selected games only • Bonus wins capped at £500 • 30x wagering – req. vary by game - in 90 days • UK only - deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time • Withdrawal terms, No Deposit Offer terms & Deposit Bonus Offer terms apply.
Overview of the Most Popular Game Variations
Most top operators offer a wide selection of games, from the most popular online variations to the lesser known options. The games differ in speed, as well is in the rules, and often operators will host a game specific tournament or a one-time only game tournament. This means that it is hard to keep track of all of them, however, as I mentioned, there are a number of major variations that are most popular online that we can cover. These include No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha and Fast Fold Poker. These games are most popular due to their coverage, odds and intensity.
Webcam Poker – Only Playable with Real Money
Have you ever wanted to play online poker with the ability to see the other player’s faces and reactions? Now you can with Webcam Poker, a feature that is exclusive to 888poker. In short, it means that each player has a webcam and can see every other player around the table. If you are able to see the other player’s faces, then you can see their reactions and potenitally outplay them. This feature can be used with a number of game modes including live tournaments.
What Deposit and Withdrawal Methods are Available?
When it comes to the choice of payment methods for customers, there is not much to talk about. Operators support numerous payment methods, which, for the customer, can be very different, especially in terms of deposit or withdrawal limits and transaction speeds. The main methods that are supported are Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa and Mastercard , which we have covered in the section below. Most importantly for customers is that the chosen operator supports your payment method, and that there are no unwanted fees when you use it.
The Main Methods
A quick look at the most important deposit and withdrawal methods:
Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted online, and are therefore usually the top choice when it comes to processing times and limits. However, you should always check that your bank does not charge excessive fees for transfers to gambling companies.