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Our guide to online poker sites is a go-to reference for players from all over the world. It lists the majority of leading poker sites, provides important information about each, and gives an overview of what to expect when playing there so you can select the best poker site for your style of play.

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If you were asked to name as many online poker sites as you could, how many would you come up with? Ten? Twenty? Fifty? There are actually more than a thousand online poker sites worldwide and, although some are “jurisdiction-specific” inasmuch as they only serve a certain area, players often have more opportunities available to them than they think.

With there being so many poker sites to choose from, there is plenty of competition between operators. In order to attract and retain players, operators offer first deposit bonuses, periodic promotions, and ongoing loyalty schemes. However, these offers alone should not be the basis on which you select the best online poker site (or sites) for you to play at.

Other factors such as the volume of traffic (the number of players online when you want to play), the standard of the opposition, and the site´s reputation should be taken into account in order to ensure you enjoy the best possible experience – with the best chance of your experience being profitable. This is the vital information we intend to provide in our guide.

As it is impractical to include every element of every poker site in one article, we have compiled individual poker site reviews for selected sites. Our reviews go into greater depth about the pros and cons of each site and are frequently updated to reflect notable changes. We hope you enjoy reading our guide to online poker sites and it provides you with options you may not have otherwise considered.

Best Poker Sites in 2020

PokerStars.com

• Year Established: 2001
• Network: PokerStars (Worldwide)
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $600

PokerStars is the largest online poker room in the world and you will always find a game to play at any time of the day or night. The site holds the records for the most players in an online poker tournament and the biggest cash prize in an online tournament, and offers a wider variety of cash game and tournament poker formats than any other online poker site.

In its favor, PokerStars has multiple promotions running at any one time and an impeccable reputation for fairness. What you may want to consider before playing at the site is that the standard of opposition is pretty tough, tournaments attract big fields (and therefore go on for longer), and the Stars Rewards program can be bettered elsewhere. The Worldwide Network does not accept players from the U.S.

PokerStars.fr/.es/.pt

• Year Established: 2018
• Network: PokerStars Europe
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to €500

PokerStars Europe was born out of PokerStars´ ring-fenced markets in France and Spain, and later grew with the addition of players from the ring-fenced market in Portugal. Italy´s ring-fenced market is alsoeligible to join the PokerStars Europe Network, but – at the time of writing this guide to online poker sites – domestic opposition to shared liquidity is holding things up.

You don´t necessarily have to live in France, Spain or Portugal to play in this network because PokerStars.es accepts players from jurisdictions not regulated by another governing body (i.e. Russia, Germany, Ukraine, etc.). However, although the level of opposition is softer and tournaments conclude quicker, there is not the same range of games as you will find on PokerStars´ Worldwide Network.

Other PokerStars Sites

• Year Established: Varies
• Network: Varies
• First Deposit Bonus: Varies

There are dozens of PokerStars domains. Some – for example the .eu, .uk, and .dk domains – form part of PokerStars´ Worldwide Network. Others – for example the .it, and .in domains, and the pokerstarsnj.com domain – operate in segregated markets with smaller numbers of players, significant peaks and troughs in traffic, and less valuable tournaments.

The reason for there being so many PokerStars domains is regulatory compliance. This is good inasmuch as it demonstrates PokerStars is a trustworthy site. It also enables PokerStars to offer jurisdiction-specific deposit options. However, regulatory compliance prevents some players (i.e. from Australia) from accessing the site, and others (i.e. from India) from playing in the worldwide pool.

Full Tilt

• Year Established: 2004
• Network: PokerStars Worldwide
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $600

From 2007 until 2011, Full Tilt (formerly Full Tilt Poker) was PokerStars´ main competitor. The site was closed down in the United States by the Department of Justice in April 2011 and had its worldwide license revoked by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission later that year. The site was subsequently acquired by PokerStars as part of the Black Friday Settlement.

Full Tilt got relicensed by its new owners in 2012 and continued to operate as a separate entity until 2016 – when its player base was merged with that of PokerStars. Consequently, if you create an account today with Full Tilt, you enjoy access to the same games, promotions, and other opportunities as PokerStars´ players, but you also have to cope with large fields in tournaments and limited rewards.

Party Poker

• Year Established: 2001
• Network: Party Poker Worldwide
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $500

Traditionally, Party Poker was the best poker site for players new to the game. Prior to the company’s withdrawal from the U.S. market in 2006, everybody had an account with Party Poker due to its soft competition and valuable promotions. Party Poker was also the first site to give players the opportunity to qualify for live poker events via online satellites.

The soft competition (at lower buy-in levels) and valuable promotions still exist, and Party Poker still gives players the opportunity to qualify for live poker events via online satellites. However, there is no longer a long-term player loyalty program – the site now offering a volume-based weekly “Cashback” promotion that is of little benefit to small stakes players.

Party Poker Europe

• Year Established: 2018
• Network: Party Poker Europe
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to €500

Like PokerStars, Party Poker also has a presence in the European shared-liquidity market. However, Party Poker was never a big player in the segregated French or Spanish markets (and never had a presence in Portugal), so the company´s impact has been minimal in the shared-liquidity market. Unlike PokerStars.es, PartyPoker.es does not allow non-Spanish residents to create accounts on its platform.

This means that the Party Poker Europe Network is comparatively quiet when compared to other operators serving the same area; although – like its worldwide cousin – it does offer soft competition and valuable promotions. If you are eligible to play at this network, and can cope with the low levels of traffic during off-peak times, Party Poker Europe is definitely worth checking out.

888 Poker

• Year Established: 2002
• Network: 888 Poker
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $600

The success of 888 Poker is mostly attributable to the site´s policy of offering a no-deposit bonus to players who download the 888 Poker software and create a free account. Although terms and conditions apply for how you can use the free poker money and withdraw your winnings, the company claims the software has been downloaded more than 40 million times.

Once players experience the innovative software and good range of low buy-in games, the logic behind the no-deposit bonus promotion is that players will stay with the site and benefit from other promotions offered by 888 Poker. Some do, others are tempted away by the larger volumes of traffic, more valuable tournaments and better loyalty schemes that can be found elsewhere.

Ignition

• Year Established: 2016
• Network: Pai Wang Luo
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

Ignition is the latest addition to the Pai Wang Luo Poker Network (formerly the Bodog Poker Network) – one of the biggest networks in the world in terms of player numbers. This means there is always plenty of action at the tables whatever time of the day or night you visit the site. However, there are a few quirks about this top poker site you should be aware of before registering an account.

For example, action at the tables is anonymous to protect recreational players from those using sophisticated poker tracking software. Although all the games are played in US dollars, fees apply whenever you deposit or withdraw using fiat currencies (Bitcoin is the preferred option), and Ignition only allows US poker players and Australian poker players to register for an account.

Americas Cardroom

• Year Established: 2001
• Network: Winning Poker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

Americas Cardroom is the flagship site on the Winning Poker Network – one of the few networks to accept players from practically anywhere in the world (there are a few exceptions). Offering a good first deposit bonus, frequent reload bonuses, and the best player loyalty program in the industry, Americas Cardroom is the best poker site for players with limited options available to them.

Consequently, the site attracts many of the world´s top players – and retains them through exceptionally valuable tournaments and a very lucrative cash race. This is good if you want to test your skills against the world´s top players, but probably not a good idea if you area starting out on your online poker journey. We recommend Americas Cardroom only if you are an experienced player.

BetOnline Poker

• Year Established: 2004
• Network: Chico Poker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

In the world of online poker, there are two categories of poker sites – those that started out offering a poker product and then diversified into other online activities, and those that were a sportsbook first and then added poker due to popular demand. BetOnline Poker falls into the latter category, having developed a database of sportsbook clients before adding poker and a rather good online casino.

Although poker may not be BetOnline´s core product, it´s not bad. As the site accepts players from all over the world, there is plenty of action at the tables – much of it being very soft due to many of the site´s players being sportsbook clients first and poker players second. However, the lack of a player loyalty program and high value tournaments can put some players off this site.

Intertops

• Year Established: 2003
• Network: Horizon Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,000

Intertops was the first company to launch an online sportsbook, the first company to offer a mobile betting site, and the first company to make sports betting, casino games and online poker accessible from the same log-in. However, despite its first-to-market advantage, Intertops Poker is one of the quietest US-friendly online poker sites – especially above cash game stakes of $0.25/$0.50.

Despite the relative lack of high level action, there are several good reasons for checking this site out. It is one of the last online poker sites to reward players under the “dealt rake” system (which is good for passive players), and the site hosts frequently under-subscribed qualifiers for live poker events. The site is generally recommended for low stakes recreational players who only want to play during peak hours.

Ladbrokes Poker

• Year Established: 2000
• Network: iPoker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,500

Ladbrokes is one of the best-known names in the gambling industry, having accepted its first bet in 1886 and since developed into one of the leading brands in the world. Ladbrokes´ poker platform is powered by the iPoker Network which is one of the leading European networks, so consequently the bulk of action at the tables occurs during the European evening and at weekends.

Despite being an example of a poker site that developed from a sports betting operation, the standard of play at Ladbrokes Poker is not necessarily soft due to its affiliation with the iPoker Network (which supports several poker-exclusive sites). Nonetheless, the Rewards Program is good, as is the first deposit bonus, the ongoing promotions, and – of course – the site´s reputation.

Unibet

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: Unibet Network
• First Deposit Bonus: Play-through up to €500

Unibet was originally a London-based telephone betting service that was quick to see the potential of going online. Unibet Poker was in the right place at the right time to benefit from the online poker boom and has retained hundreds of loyal customers through a fair approach and plenty of fantastic promotions – including a unique first deposit bonus for new players.

Unibet Poker is particularly suitable for new players because of its recreational model. In order to encourage casual players, the site bans HUDs and other software, allows players to change their screen names up to three times a day, and hosts dozens of low value freeroll tournaments that players can take advantage of to boost their bankrolls.

Winamax

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: Winamax
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to €500

Winamax is an online poker site predominantly catering for French and Spanish players located in the ring-fenced southern European market. It does allow players from other European countries to create an account, provided online gambling is not regulated in the player´s country of residence, and may soon extend its operations into Italy and Portugal.

For a ring-fenced operation, Winamax Poker attracts an incredible volume of traffic. Most of the site´s success is attributable to a strong schedule of promotions. However, Winamax has a relatively limited-value rewards program. So, although it may be worth registering an account to take advantage of the first deposit bonus, better long-term benefits are available elsewhere.

Bodog

• Year Established: 2000
• Network: Pai Wang Luo
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

The Bodog brand is one of the best-known online gambling brands in the world due to its high profile in many different sports-related fields. Since 2011, Bodog´s poker operations have been mostly licensed out to different operations serving specific areas – although the site still accepts players from Canada and many South American countries.

The Bodog Network (or the Pai Wang Luo Network since 2017) was the first to introduce measures to make its platform recreational-player friendly. Features such as anonymous tables and automatic seating have been copied by many online poker sites keen to appeal to casual players, but the Network still retains its reputation for being one of the softest in the world.

Black Chip Poker

• Year Established: 2008
• Network: Winning Poker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

Since joining the Winning Poker Network in 2012, Black Chip Poker has developed into one of the most successful US-friendly poker sites while still accepting players from the rest of the world. Part of the reason for the site´s success is its valuable rewards program and its high-season “Venom” tournaments that guarantee a prize pool of a million dollars.

Black Chip Poker suits players with all levels of bankrolls and with all levels of ambition. The site hosts around-the-clock freeroll tournaments, daily and weekly rake races, and qualifiers to live events in the Caribbean with tens of thousands of dollars on the tables. It is also worth keeping an eye out for periodic reload bonuses that usually accompany big tournament series.

SportsBetting Poker

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: Chico Poker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

SportsBetting.ag is primarily a US-friendly sports betting site owned by BetOnline. As well as a top range of sports betting and horserace betting opportunities, the site offers a good range of poker promotions that attracts players to its platform, and consequently there is a good flow of traffic at the virtual tables throughout most of the day.

For some players, SportsBetting.ag is a better location for online poker tournaments than other US-friendly sites. This is because, although the site does not have the same scale of poker tournaments in terms of prize pools, most events don´t have extended late registration periods – which means they are over far quicker than tournaments at competing online poker sites.

Carbon Poker

• Year Established: 2004
• Network: Merge Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

Carbon Poker was once a major force in the online poker world; but, as the site´s owners have focused their attentions on its sports betting and casino operations in recent years, the number of players at the site has declined – affecting the ability to clear the site´s first deposit bonus and the value of guaranteed prize pools in the site´s poker tournaments.

Nonetheless, players looking at expanding their options will find the site has good quality software and a mobile-friendly platform. Carbon Poker is also good at offering players reload bonuses, although it doesn´t have a poker-based player reward program or rakeback program. Cash game rake tends to be a little higher than industry standard, and fees apply for all types of withdrawals.

Juicy Stakes

• Year Established: 2009
• Network: Horizon Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,000

Juicy Stakes is an interesting entry in this list of the top 100 poker sites because it is one of the few sites still distributing points for player bonuses and rewards using the “dealt rake” method – a method in which every player dealt into a hand receives a credit for the amount of rake collected by the site, regardless of whether they contributed to the pot or not.

The advantage of the dealt rake method is that you can clear bonuses and earn rewards without being under pressure to get involved in too many hands – a common downfall of novice players. Once you have collected sufficient points, you can exchange them for no deposit bonuses, which are also easier to clear because of the dealt rake method.

Betfair

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: iPoker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to €1,000

Betfair started life in 2000 as a betting exchange, and over the years has added more and more products to its platform. These days there is a fully-maintained sportsbook, choice of online casinos, betting on virtual sports, and the opportunity to join syndicates to play in football pools chasing huge jackpots. There is also a very good mobile-friendly online poker platform.

Visitors to Betfair Poker will likely be surprised at the volume of promotions available and wonder why the site doesn´t attract more players. On closer inspection, the value of the promotions is relatively low, plus the Network only really gets a decent volume of traffic during the European evening and at weekends – making it difficult to take full advantage of some of the promotions.

William Hill

• Year Established: 2004
• Network: iPoker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to £100

Despite being part of the iPoker Network, William Hill Poker is not entirely joined at the hip with other sites sharing the same platform and often hosts unique tournament series and poker promotions. That being said, the volume of traffic on the iPoker Network is relatively low, so the site-exclusive tournaments aren´t that well supported.

Nonetheless, the William Hill Poker has a much better player rewards program than many of the sites on the Network and, if your intention is to put in some hours on a long-term basis against some fairly soft opposition, this could be the site for you. Furthermore, William Hill offers a superb range of other opportunities for fans of sports betting, horse racing, and online casinos.

RedKings Poker

• Year Established: 2007
• Closed: 28th April 2019
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: Play-through up to €1,500

RedKings Poker used to be one of the leading sites on the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) – a Network that is growing fast in popularity due to its user-friendly approach and fantastic software. This site in particular was worth investigating because of its rich selection of achievable promotions and schedule of frequent freeroll tournaments to which only new players were welcome.

The site was one of a handful on the Network offering a “play-through” first deposit bonus. This differs from traditional bonuses inasmuch as the amount of the bonus was not determined by the amount you deposited, but by how much you raked over the first 30-60 days after you started playing.

Unfortunately RedKings Poker closed it’s doors since the 28th of April 2019.

PokerLoco

• Year Established: 2005 – Closed 31st October 2018
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: Play-through up to €1,000

PokerLoco was a Latin American facing skin on the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) until its closure in October 2018.

Sky Poker

• Year Established: 2007
• Network: Sky
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to £500

Sky Poker is a UK-centric online poker site that currently only accepts players from Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland, Gibraltar and the Channel Islands. The site hosts dozens of live poker events each year and is known for its community spirit and excellent promotions. It also has an excellent poker academy to help new players develop their skills at the tables.

In October 2018, Sky Poker was acquired by the Stars Group. Consequently, the platform will likely be retired in 2019 and players migrated to PokerStars. Eligible players who do not yet have a Sky Poker account should take advantage of the first deposit bonus while it is still available as, when the two platforms are amalgamated, balances will be combined into one Stars wallet.

Bovada

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: Pai Wang Luo
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $500

Bovada has an interesting history. The site was first launched as a U.S.-facing replacement for Bodog Poker in 2011 in the aftermath of Black Friday offering a poker platform, sportsbook, and online casino. The site closed its poker platform in 2016 – when players were migrated to Ignition Poker – but continued to operate its sportsbook and online casino.

Then, in 2017, Bovada announced it was relaunching its poker platform – albeit with a smaller first deposit bonus than before – but only for players from the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil. Although offering a smaller first deposit bonus than its Network competitors, Bovada has proven popular because players can maintain their poker, sports betting and casino bankrolls in one wallet.

Tiger Gaming

• Year Established: 2004
• Network: Chico Poker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

Tiger Gaming is an interesting site inasmuch as its poker platform runs on the U.S.-friendly Chico Poker network, but the site itself does not accept players from the United States, several European and African countries, or Australia. For eligible players, this site offers an all-round entertainment package consisting of online poker, an online casino, and a comprehensive sports book.

Players only interested in the online poker platform should note the site is populated mostly by cash game players because of the Bad Beat Jackpot and weekly Cash Race promotions. Consequently, Tiger Gaming´s tournament schedule is modest in value compared to some other online poker sites. Furthermore, the site´s VIP Program for poker players is disappointing.

Breakout

• Year Established: 2017
• Network: GG Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,000

Breakout Poker is an exciting new site on the Asian-facing GG Network. The site runs on the latest software, and includes an “in-house” HUD so that players can monitors their play against other players on the network. There is also a number of interesting features players can use to mitigate their losses such as All-In Insurance, Run It Three Times, and Tournament Staking.

Despite being on an Asian-facing network, Breakout Poker accepts players from most European countries and Southern America. This guarantees action around-the-clock – particularly at the cash games tables, where the site has a range of popular All In or Fold games. The tournament schedule is pretty good – although modest in prize pool guarantees – but there are no Sit & Go games available.

Titan Poker

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: iPoker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to €1,500

Titan Poker (or Titanbet Poker in the UK) was once one of the giants of the online poker world, but in recent years the site has tended to focus on its more profitable sports betting and online casino operations. That´s not to say Titan Poker is not worth playing at – indeed, if you like playing poker tournaments, the site offers plenty of opportunities to qualify for its feature events for free.

Elsewhere on the site, there is a fairly steady cash game community, the chance to win a progressive jackpot by stringing together a sequence of Sit & Go victories, and a token bundle for new players that provides entries into exclusive freeroll tournaments. In addition to a fairly strong line up of promotions, the site also pays 20% rakeback each week to eligible players.

CoolBet Poker

• Year Established: 2016
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: Play-through up to €2,000

CoolBet Poker is a site that may be unfamiliar to you, but is well worth checking out. The site operates on the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) and hosts dozens of promotions for new and existing players that can make a substantial difference to your bankroll. We particularly like the “pick your own” first deposit bonus and the new player “Level Up” freerolls with €10,000 in prize money.

Once you have taken advantage of the offers for opening an account, CoolBet Poker has an excellent player rewards program, ongoing free-to-enter promotions, and an excellent tournament schedule that includes qualifiers to live poker events. The site also operates a sports book and online casino – each with their own promotions and special offers.

Redstar Poker

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to €2,000

Redstar Poker is another MPN poker skin that offers a substantial first deposit bonus; but, unlike many other sites on the Network, the first deposit bonus at Redstar Poker is the more “traditional” clear-in-increments style of bonus you redeem by earning Loyalty Points, which then contribute to your status in the site´s rewards program.

The site provides access to some – but not all – of the Network´s promotions, and also hosts promotions of its own. Therefore, if you are interested in playing on a site on the Microgaming Poker network, it can be worth comparing Redstars´ promotions against those on other skins to determine which suits your style of play better.

Bet365 Poker

• Year Established: 2000
• Network: iPoker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to €100

Bet365 is known the world over for its fantastic sportsbook and unrivalled in-play sports betting service, but what of its online poker operations? Well, although Bet365 Poker is part of the iPoker Network, it also hosts its own “Premium Tables” which are exclusive to customers of Bet365 and generally softer than the standard of play you might find on the “Network-open” cash game tables.

However, before joining the site to benefit from playing against weaker opposition, players should note that the poker promotions are modest in nature and in value. This is designed to dis-encourage predatory players from playing at the site and give new players an opportunity to develop their skills before tackling harder opposition. So, a good site if you are still learning how to play online poker.

SportsBook Poker

• Year Established: 2004
• Network: Merge Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,000

As the name suggests, Sportsbook Poker is predominantly a sports betting site that has an online casino and poker platform attached to it. The poker platform runs on the Merge Network, which is no longer the force it was in online poker, and now rarely attracts more than a couple of hundred players to its tables during peak times.

However, it can be worthwhile checking out this site if you want to play poker and casino games while having access to a comprehensive sportsbook – especially if you live in a jurisdiction with a limited number of options and you are familiar with transacting in Bitcoin. However, the site´s appeal is limited due to there being a high rake percentage and no rewards program.

Players Only

• Year Established 2004:
• Network: Merge Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $500

Players Only was once quite a big name in online poker, but sadly – like so many other online poker sites – it´s primary focus is now on sports betting and online casino games. Nonetheless, although the initial deposit bonus is not spectacular, Players Only does offer players a monthly reload bonus – so, in that respect, it is not necessary to deposit more than you can afford when first playing at the site.

However, one of the consequences of channeling players to other gambling activities is that traffic at the poker tables declines. As a result, there may not always be enough players around to clear a bonus – or, as regulars of the site, it may be the case they are familiar with each other’s style of play and fewer hands go to flop (a necessity for points being awarded towards clearing a bonus).

Betsson

• Year Established 2004
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: Play-through up to €2,000

Betsson Poker is a long-established and well-regarded skin on the Microgaming Poker Network that provides an excellent product for small stakes recreational players. Typically the site does attract more than a couple of hundred players during peak hours, which makes it difficult to redeem the maximum first deposit bonus, and there are few opportunities for high stakes players.

Nonetheless, Betsson Poker is an exceptionally user-friendly site to play at, with a good selection of low stakes games, a generous VIP program, and plenty of freeroll tournaments that enable new players to develop their skills before investing their own money. Unfortunately, the site does not accept players from the United States.

RUPoker

• Year Established: 2013
• Network: Pokerdom
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,500

RUPoker is a Russian facing skin on the Pokerdom Network with a good range of promotions, excellent software, and quite a good level of traffic considering the limited number of countries the site accepts players from (The Ukraine, Russia and its immediate neighbors to the south). The site supports Russian, Ukrainian and English languages, and multiple currencies – although not Bitcoin.

Free Online Texas Hold'em Poker Sites

Among the unique features at RUPoker is an Omaha Bad Beat Jackpot, a weekly cashback program paying up to 50% cashback, and a raffle scheme in which cash prizes can be won for collecting more than a certain number of player points (in addition to the cashback). If you are eligible to play at RUPoker, it could be a very lucrative option.

Bodog88

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: Pai Wang Luo
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

Bodog88 is the Asian-facing skin of the Pai Wang Luo Network specifically aimed at players from China, Thailand, and Malaysia. As such, players at Bodog88 experience the same anonymous tables and player-friendly options as those playing at Bodog Poker, Ignition Poker, and Bovada Poker; but, because the other three sites target players in North and Central America, the action “happens in reverse”.

For example, if you were located in Kuala Lumpur, and wanted to play in the biggest tournaments on the Network, you would have to log into your account around breakfast time. This is because Kuala Lumpur is fifteen hours ahead of New York and the peak action on the Network takes place in the early evening Eastern Standard Time.

True Poker

• Year Established: 2001
• Network: Winning Poker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

True Poker is often considered to be the poor relation on the Winning Poker Network, for although players at the site still get access to the major tournaments and regular promotions, when new features are rolled out (such as Sit & Go 2.0 and the Network´s mobile platform), players at True Poker get to experience them last.

Nonetheless, there is one good reason for checking out this site. If you have already taken advantage of the first deposit bonus at Americas Cardroom and Black Chip Poker, and want to continue playing on the Network, you can create an account with True Poker and take advantage of a third first deposit bonus – provided you do not log into more than one WPN site at the same time.

Coral Poker

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: iPoker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to £200

The Coral brand has a fascinating history, having been started by an on-course bookmaker on 1926. These days it is part of the GVC Group – who also owns Party Poker, Bwin Poker, and Ladbrokes Poker – but retained as a separate skin on the iPoker Network. GVC has not announced plans to integrate separate skins into the Party Poker Network as yet.

Players at Coral Poker may only be eligible for a relatively small first deposit bonus, but there are plenty of site-exclusive promotions to attract players to the site. The site also runs a cashback promotion and a daily Challenges promotion, and – once a month – gives players the opportunity to exchange excess Player Points for an entry in a freeroll tournament with a £5,000 prize pool.

Redbet Poker

• Year Established: 2002
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to €2,000

Redbet Poker is an interesting skin on the Microgaming Poker Network inasmuch as it offers three different first deposit bonuses which are redeemed at lower clearance rates the higher the bonus claimed. Therefore, it can be in your best interests to limit the amount of your first deposit to less than €200 in order to be eligible for the maximum bonus clearing rate (equivalent to 50% rakeback).

Unfortunately, once you have cleared the first deposit bonus, there is not a huge range of promotions to take advantage of. Many of Redbet´s promotions relate to the site´s sports betting activities and online casino – which are pretty good if you like that kind of thing. Alternatively, play online poker until you have cleared the first deposit bonus and then move onto another site.

Grosvenor Poker

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to £700

Grosvenor Poker is very much like Sky Poker inasmuch as it only accepts players from the UK and Ireland, and is very focused on channeling players into its live poker events such as the record-breaking Goliath and popular 25/25 regional tournaments. However, the advantage Grosvenor Poker has over Sky Poker is its affiliation with the Microgaming Poker Network.

Although it is likely that Sky Poker will be absorbed into PokerStars (its new owners) in the near future, players at Grosvenor Poker currently have a much larger pool of players to compete against. Furthermore, Grosvenor Poker offers a far more extensive range of online poker promotions, including several site-exclusive events.

Everest Poker

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: iPoker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,500

Up until 2012, Everest Poker was one of the best independent poker sites for casual players. It then joined the iPoker Network – which although being good for increasing liquidity, resulted in the site joining the masses of “nothing special, but okay for [insert reason here]”. These days it is becoming harder to find a good reason why you should choose Everest over any other online poker site.

Admittedly the Shasta Steps program (which is free for new players to enter for 90 days) can result in winning a €10 tournament ticket, which could lead to far bigger things. However, you will need to possess a certain level of skill before being able to negotiate the six levels of the program, so although having potential, the Shasta Steps program is not ideal for poker novices.

Pokerdom

• Year Established: 2013
• Network: Pokerdom
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,500

Pokerdom was one of a number of Russian-facing sites that soared to prominence when some of the world´s leading online poker sites withdrew their services from Russia´s “grey market”. By 2015, it was one of the top six sites in the world for cash game traffic, but has since declined in popularity due to other opportunities opening up elsewhere.

For Russian players, Ukrainian players, and players from other countries eligible to play at the site, Pokerdom still offers some potentially lucrative opportunities. Although lacking a viable high-stakes tournament schedule, the site has an excellent cashback program, and a decent range of promotions aimed at cash game players – such as two Bad beat Jackpots.

Ya Poker

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: Winning Poker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

32 Red

• Year Established: 2002
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,000

Betway Poker

• Year Established: 2006
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,000

PokerKing

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: Winning Poker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $777

BetFred

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: iPoker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to £1,200

Paddy Power

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: iPoker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to €200

FullDiezPoker

• Year Established: 2015
• Network: Winning Poker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $500

BetVictor

• Year Established: 2002
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,000

Mansion Poker

• Year Established: 2004
• Network: iPoker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $2,000

Betcoin Poker

• Year Established: 2013
• Network: Winning Poker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to 1BTC

Pokerihuone

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: Unibet Network
• First Deposit Bonus: Play-through up to €200

Tower Torneos

• Year Established: 2006
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: None

TonyBet Poker

• Year Established: 2010
• Network: TonyBet
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to £1,500

Shen Poker

• Year Established: 2016
• Network: IDN Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

Natural8

• Year Established: 2016
• Network: GG Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,688

Nitrogen Sports Poker

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: Nitrogen
• First Deposit Bonus: None

Olybet

• Year Established: 2010
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: None

Siam Poker

• Year Established: 2015
• Network: IDN Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

Boylesports Poker

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: iPoker
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to €200

Bwin Poker

• Year Established: 2004
• Network: Party Poker Worldwide
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to €100

Lotos Poker

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: GG Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $500

BetonUSA

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: Merge
• First Deposit Bonus: None

Nordic Bet

• Year Established: 2002
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to €2,000

NetBet

• Year Established: 2006
• Network: iPoker
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to €1,500

Best Poker

• Year Established: 2016
• Network: GG Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $2,000

Poker Lion

• Year Established: 2018
• Network: IPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to 200 Rs

Adjarabet

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: Adjarabet
• First Deposit Bonus: None

Big Ugly Poker

• Year Established: 2018
• Network: Big Ugly Poker
• First Deposit Bonus: None

SportsInterAction

• Year Established: 2004
• Network: iPoker
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $200

Svenska Spel

• Year Established: 1997
• Network: Svenska Spel
• First Deposit Bonus: None

PokerMatch

• Year Established: 2013
• Network: PokerDom
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $2,000

MobilePokerClub

• Year Established: 2012
• Network: MPC
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $500

Poker4You

• Year Established: 2010
• Network: Winning Poker Network
• First Deposit Bonus: None

DakaPoker

• Year Established: 2016
• Network: GG Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

Adda52

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: Gaussian
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to 10,000 Rs

Poker Yaar

• Year Established: 2017
• Network: IPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to 500%

Global Poker

• Year Established: 2016
• Network: Global Poker
• First Deposit Bonus: None

Seals with Clubs (SWC 2.0)

• Year Established: 2015
• Network: Seals with Clubs
• First Deposit Bonus: None

Khelo365

• Year Established: 2016
• Network: K365
• First Deposit Bonus: 10% up to 100 Rs

PlanetWin365

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: PlanetWin
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to €500

188 Bet

• Year Established: 2006
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: None

Winner

• Year Established: 2006
• Network: iPoker
• First Deposit Bonus: 250% up to €1,500

GG Poker

• Year Established: 2016
• Network: GG Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,000

Bets10 Poker

• Year Established: 2011
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to €1,000

TiltKing

• Year Established: 2016
• Network: GG Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

Aconcagua Poker

• Year Established: 2015
• Network: Aconcagua
• First Deposit Bonus: None

Silver Sands Poker

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: Ice Gaming
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $100

Hippo52

• Year Established: 2015
• Network: Hippo52
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to 10,000 Rs

Expekt

• Year Established: 2003
• Network: iPoker
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to €1,500

Guts Poker

• Year Established: 2006
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to £1,000

Coin Poker

• Year Established: 2017
• Network: Coin Poker
• First Deposit Bonus: None

BetClic

• Year Established: 2005
• Network: iPoker
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to €1,500

BetSafe

• Year Established: 2006
• Network: MPN
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to £1,000

InkPoker

• Year Established: 2016
• Network: GG Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

Poker Mira

• Year Established: 2009
• Network: PokerDom
• First Deposit Bonus: 200% up to $1,000

PokerKlas

• Year Established: 2006
• Network: PokerKlas
• First Deposit Bonus: 88% up to 888 TL

Poker Baazi

• Year Established: 2014
• Network: Baazi Network
• First Deposit Bonus: 100% up to 700 Rs

PokerHigh

• Year Established: 2015
• Network: PokerHigh
• First Deposit Bonus: 150% up to 15,000 Rs

It’s known as the Cadillac of the poker world and a game that has given millions of people a lot of pleasure (and money), but how do you play Texas Hold’em poker? Moreover, why is it such a popular game and one that’s so easy to find at our top US poker sites?

In a nutshell, Texas Hold’em is the perfect blend of mathematics, strategy, psychology and luck. On top of that, because anyone, no matter how experienced they are, can win a hand, it’s extremely attractive proposition for novice players. Because there is an element of luck in the game, it means an amateur can, theoretically, beat the likes of Phil Ivey or Daniel Negreanu or any of the top pros in the USA given the right conditions.

To counteract this, the skill elements of the game are such that an experienced player will always win over an amateur in the long-run. Indeed, regardless of whether you’re playing Texas Hold’em in a limit, pot limit or no limit format, there are a certain amount of skills you can learn in order to improve your chances of success. However, before we delve into some top Texas Hold’em tips for playing at online poker sites in America, it’s important to breakdown the basics of the game.

“Hold’em is to stud what chess is to checkers.” – Johnny Moss

The Basics of Texas Hold’em

Thankfully, the rules of Texas Hold’em are relatively simple and in this article we’ve outlined the basic mechanics of the game so that you can begin exploring its wonderful complexities.

Before we look at the specific details of a hand of Texas Hold’em we first need to establish some general rules.

• In essence the aim of the game is simple: win the pot by any means possible.
• In practical terms there are two main ways you can win the pot: by having the best hand or by bluffing.

Having the superior hand means that your cards are better than your opponent’s at a showdown and bluffing is where you force your opponent to fold before a showdown.

A hand of Texas Hold’em uses five cards which can be any combination of a player’s two hole cards (the cards they are dealt) and the five community cards. This means that a player can use one, two or none of their cards in conjunction with the five cards in the middle to make a hand ranging from a pair up to a Royal Flush.

With this in mind a player must measure the value of their two starting cards before any of the community cards are revealed and decide whether or not the hand is worth playing. If they feel the cards are too weak then they can simply fold. However, if they like their hand then they must either call or raise (the size of each will be determined by the table stakes and the previous action).

This process is repeated by each player at the table until everyone has either folded or met the minimum bet. (A point to note here is the each new hand starts with a player in the small blind and one in the big blind. These forced bets kick off the action and it’s the player to the left of the big blind who starts the action).

After all the pre-flop action has been completed the first three community cards (the flop) are revealed. At this point another round of betting ensues with players having the option to check (take a free card if no previous betting has occurred), bet or fold based on the current strength of their hand. This process is repeated on the turn (the fourth card) and then again on the river (the fifth and final card).

Texas Holdem Poker Sites

If at least two players are still in the hand by the river then a showdown takes place and the best five-card hand wins. However, if at any point during the hand only one player remains then they are declared the winner by default and thus scoop the pot.

This, in a nutshell, is the basic outline of Texas Hold’em poker and should be enough for you to begin grinding at the tables.

Five Things You Need to Know about Texas Hold’em

1. Texas Hold’em involves two hole cards and five community cards.
2. A player can use one, two or none of their hole cards in order to make the best five-card hand.
3. Texas Hold’em can be played in a limit, pot limit or no limit format.
4. Texas Hold’em at US poker sites can be played as multi-table tournaments, cash games or single table tournaments.
5. One of the best ways to win at Texas Hold’em is to be as aggressive as possible.

Top Texas Hold’em Tips

Texas Hold’em is a relatively simple game to learn, but if you want to become one of the best players in the world it takes a lot of work. Indeed, players such as Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth and Phil Ivey have all played countless hours of poker and refined their skills over a number of years.

While it would be impossible to outline every strategic concept you need to consider at the poker table in this article, we can give you some bite sized tips that will help you become a more profitable player.

In the US, Texas Hold’em is still the dominant poker game used to define ultimate champions and big money winners.

Biggest Winners in Hold’em History

Because Texas Hold’em has been the basis for the biggest poker tournaments in the world for a number of years and although players can earn $100,000+ in a single hand, these winnings pale in comparison to the $15,306,668 Daniel Colman won at the 2014 WSOP. After battling his way past the likes of Phil Ivey, Scott Seiver and Daniel Negreanu in the $1 million Big One for ONE DROP, Colman was able bank of the largest tournament hauls in history.

Topping Colman’s 2014 effort, Antonio Esfandiari banked $18,346,673 in the 2012 version of the Big One for ONE DROP. The Texas Hold’em MTT welcomed 48 players, but when the betting was done it was Esfandiari who clinched the title and more money than any other US online poker player in history.

Texas Hold'em Poker Sites

Online Texas Hold'em Poker Sites For Us Players

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