If you’re reading this, you’ve probably heard about online poker. Maybe from your friends and family, or just stumbled across an article about it. Because of this, you may be wondering whether you should try it out. Well, you’re in luck. In this article we go in-depth and give 10 reasons you should play online poker over physical poker. By this article’s end, you will hopefully be ready to try some of these free poker games.
- Play anywhere
If you’re a regular poker player, you will have undoubtedly been affected by the pandemic. Casinos were closed and it became much harder to meet and play with others in person. Thankfully, online poker serves as a solution to this problem. You don’t have to go to a physical location, reducing travel expenses and the risk of getting sick. All you need is a device with an internet connection to enjoy poker with the press of a button.
- Play any time
Online poker is not only accessible everywhere, it is also accessible whenever you want. Poker sites run 24/7, never closing like a physical casino. You also save on travel time to and from the casino. The overall pace of online poker is also much faster, with less total game time and reduced wait in between games. Finally, poker sites also host frequent tournaments, so you don’t have to worry about waiting if you prefer them to cash games.
- Ease of learning
One of the biggest things that can scare potential poker players off is the barrier to entry. Playing at a casino table in front of many other strangers can be daunting. However, online poker almost completely removes that barrier. The anonymity can help newbies ease into the game and learn the rules at their pace without getting intimidated by more experienced players. Even for intermediate players, playing more games in less time allows you to develop experience faster.
- Variety for days
Poker comes with various variants, from the classic Texas hold’em to Omaha to Short Deck. From beginners wanting to try a different game to intermediate players looking to spice things up, there’s a poker variant for everyone. You can try some of them in person, but there is no better way to play than online since it is the quickest and simplest way to swap between modes. Many great poker sites, such as GGPoker, the world’s largest online poker room, have many forms of poker for you to try. They even come with helpful explanations and tips to help you get started on each mode.
- Online poker, real money
As with land poker, players can bet real money and play their way to a skilled victory. Many poker sites offer incentives and bonuses for choosing them over their competitors. Some sites will give players back a portion of what they pay to participate. Others also give players free credit, daily rewards, and even time-limited events.
- Multi-tabling
Despite being impossible in physical poker, multi-tabling is a common practice online. As the name implies, it means playing at multiple tables simultaneously. This allows the player to see and play many more hands than they would normally. Playing more hands means more experience and profit once you get good at it!
- Poker Tracking Software
Being able to play poker digitally means you get access to special poker tracking software. These programs record every hand you play and your actions with them. As a result, they provide a thorough analysis of your mistakes and weaknesses that may be hard to spot on your own. They greatly help new players and remain relevant at higher levels of play.
- Lack of Physical Tells
One of the hallmarks of an experienced poker player playing against a new one is their uncanny ability to read their physical tells. This means interpreting bodily or verbal cues that can reveal the strength of the other players’ hands. Newer players are prone to giving off these tells, which experienced players prey on. Online poker removes this feature, giving newer players many more chances to play and learn.
- Online Atmosphere
Casinos may not exactly have the most pleasant atmosphere for some people. The casino has many possible distractions from gambling games skewed towards the house to people smoking around you. Thankfully, online poker removes all these and simply shows you the game. You can interact with others through a chat room, but problematic players can always get muted.
- Money Management
By nature, casinos are designed to make you spend money. Many gambling games look flashy and are designed to lure you in while waiting in between your poker games. It is not uncommon to see people recklessly spend money, especially because they traveled all the way to a casino and believe they must play until they win. The actual price to enter land poker games is also often really high. Online poker, on the other hand, has much cheaper starting stakes and none of those other games.
These are ten reasons to choose online poker over physical poker. We hope this helped you choose between the two and maybe even start playing poker in general. Remember to play responsibly which is best done on free poker sites like GGPoker. Sign up today!