Top Tips for Choosing the Right Online Poker Site

Poker is an extremely popular casino game, enjoyed by people from all around the world. In terms of online casino games, it is one of the most popular. Part of the reason that poker’s such a popular online game is that it is as much a game of skill as it is a game of chance, meaning people can increase their likelihood of winning by studying the game and practicing. The same cannot be said for games like roulette, video slots, and blackjack, which are pure chance and nothing more.

If you are interested in playing online poker, then you need to find the right site. This post will tell you how you can do that.

Real Winnings

Poker isn’t just a game that’s played for money. In fact, the majority of poker sites are actually free-to-play, meaning that you don’t win anything (and aren’t required to make a deposit to play). If you are good at poker though, then what’s the point in playing for free? You should be looking for the best poker sites for real money, rather than free ones. Before you select a site, make sure that you read its reviews. A site’s reviews will give you a clear idea of what playing on it is going to be like because other customers will have shared their experiences in the reviews that they have left. Another way of finding out whether or not a site’s worth using is to ask for advice on forums.

Welcome Bonuses

A welcome bonus is a financial gift given to people who have just signed up for an online casino. This is usually to encourage players to spend more money or make further deposits. More often than not, welcome bonuses are given as free plays (meaning you get a fixed amount of free plays or hands in poker). You usually can’t withdraw the winnings that you have made as a consequence of using bonuses until you have exceeded the amount that was initially given to you by the casino. This is to stop people from making accounts, getting bonuses, and then withdrawing everything and leaving.

Player Traffic

A lot of people seem to think that because most free-to-play poker games are automated, that online casino poker games always are too. This is not the case. In fact, most online casinos give players the opportunity to compete against each other. Playing against other people will allow you to increase your chances of winning exponentially since you will be able to leverage your skills and use them to outplay your opponents. It’s nearly impossible to use skills to beat automated games since they are essentially just games of chance. However, if you don’t select a site with a lot of player traffic, you won’t have anyone to play with.

Withdrawal Fees

Unfortunately, a lot of online casinos charge players to make online withdrawals. If you are planning on using one, then you need to find a casino that offers the best withdrawal rates. The amount that people are charged to make withdrawals can vary from 1-10%. The more money you are withdrawing, the more you are going to lose if the withdrawal fees are high. You can find out what a site’s withdrawal fees are by reading their FAQs. On another note, you also need to find a casino that offers speedy withdrawals, so you don’t have to wait around for your money.

Image Source: Unsplash

Tournament Participation

Tournaments can be a highly effective way of making money. Usually, every player participating chips in a fixed amount of money, and this is added to the tournament’s ‘pot.’ The amount in the pot is then paid to the winner of the tournament. Sometimes, the amount in the pot can be tens of thousands of dollars, depending on how many people are playing in the tournament. If you do want to get involved in tournaments, however, you will need to be a skilled player. If tournaments interest you, then find a casino that offers them.

Studying the Game

Moving away from selecting a site, it is very important that you study poker and understand how the game works. You won’t be able to become a pro at poker if you don’t do this. And, if you aren’t a pro, then there is no way that you are going to be able to beat other players who have more experience than you. The best way to study the game is to watch online tutorials, read books, and even look for a poker coach.

If you want to try out online poker, then you need to find the perfect site. There are many different things that make a site good, from the amount of money that it charges players to make withdrawals to its site traffic. Consider everything listed here before making a decision to play on a site.

Narciso Baldo is the Director and Head Coach of Texas Hold'em Questions. He has been playing poker for over 16 years. After spending many years as a professional, he now runs UK poker training site Texas Hold'em Questions. Narciso regularly writes poker articles sharing tips, strategy, news and experience with gambling enthusiasts. Narciso also writes for reputable gambling portal Casino City Times, (bio here). Contact: info@texasholdemquestions.com