How to Choose an Online Poker Site?
Play Poker » How to Choose an Online Poker Site?
When Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of poker in 2003, he revolutionized the online gambling industry. He was the first winner of the event to have had come via online poker rooms. This led to an unprecedented rise in traffic for online poker rooms. Now there are a lot of people who would want to test their skills on the internet. In response to that demand, over the years, many poker rooms have mushroomed up, and it is very difficult to choose the right one. Here are some tips that will help you in choosing an appropriate poker room.
Software used
When you join a poker room, you will either play the game through downloadable software or through the Flash based version that can be played in the browser itself. More often than not, you will be using the software. When you play online poker for real money you would want certain features. You would want to have statistics about your previous plays, multiple windows to play on multiple tables, and a chat feature. You should make sure that the site you choose provides all these features through its software. Most importantly, the software should run smoothly and should not have glitches.
Player traffic and competition
The player traffic is a very important factor that determines how good a poker room is. You do not want to login to a site and find that you cannot play because there are not enough players on it. The best sites always have the most player traffic. Also, you should find out about the level of competition you will face at the site. If your goal is to improve your game then you can go for sites that have the top players and professionals. However, if you are looking to increase your bankroll, it is best to go for a poker room that has soft competition.
Games available
Poker is not just limited to Texas Hold’em, there are various other games that belong to the poker family. In fact, the World Series of Poker has over 50 games in which players compete. That is why you should choose a site that provides you other options than just Omaha or Texas Hold’em. Games like 5 card draw and Razz are two of the lesser known games.
Bonuses
Almost every poker room out there is offering some kind of a bonus. You should go with the one that is the most easily redeemable. Most of the poker rooms have some sort of conditions attached to the bonuses they offer. For instance, a player has to wager a certain amount before the bonus can be withdrawn. Make sure that the poker room you choose has reasonable wagering requirements. Also, the poker room should have a decent VIP program to reward players that use the site frequently.
Customer support and banking options
You may face problems with the software, while making transactions or playing real money poker. That is why the site should have 24/7 customer support that can help you with any issues that you face. Any good site will provide you a chat service that links you to the customer care staff, and it will be present in various languages as well. The poker room should also have a number of banking options for the players. They should provide you with all the popular credit cards, e-wallets and other payment services to choose from.