There are literally thousands of online poker sites on the web, and hundreds of new ones are going live every year. From huge big-budget sites like PartyCasino to small indie poker sites that are just getting into the business, there’s a wealth of choice for the poker player seeking a new home for every evening spent at the virtual tables.
Let sites buy into you, not you into them
This is an important rule, because it really is a consumer’s market in terms of the crazy bonuses and special offers sites are using to tempt in potential new players. This means that you could see anything from recharge bonuses – a match or a percentage of whatever amount you top up your account with – to sign-up offers that mean that you could dump a thousand in the account, only to have them match that amount. Getting a free thousand from a site is a fantastic start, and although some of them do have limits, and these limits tend to be lower than four figures, even an extra few hundred could act as a good buffer for the newer player.
They will also offer countless tournaments and a lot of opportunities to win large amounts with small buy-ins, and if you know what you’re doing, this can prove to be a really profitable endeavour. A lot of players do tend to engage in “site-hopping”, in which they move from site to site, constantly benefiting from and using the sign-up offers to keep their funds healthy and never allowing regular players to suss their strategies and tactics. It’s up to you if you want to do this, but bear in mind this is a lot of work and requires extensive planning, so think before you start jumping ship repeatedly.
The site and software
The site’s look is all very good and well, but it’s the actual interface you’ll be using for the games you’re playing that really matters, because no matter how slick the site is, if their on-site or software-accessed games are a mess, you’re going to suffer. Bigger sites are sadly the only really viable option, as they’re the only companies with the capital big enough to invest in high-quality software. But there’s a benefit to this, as things like keyboard shortcuts, clear user interfaces and a great, fun look can really improve your experience.
Software is also a smart play for the poker player without a lot of time. Simply booting up a program rather than having to log in, log out, click through pages and wait for them to load is a lot faster, and if you’ve only got the evenings after work, even a few minutes is enough time to get a hand or two in, and practise makes perfect. Software also tends to be more reliable, as of course the site’s functionality is limited by your browser, and if that goes on you halfway through a tournament, of course while the rest of them are still playing. A software bug however tends to be recorded by the software itself, so there’s less chance of being penalised.
Like we said though, there are countless options, so go site-shopping and aim for good offers and bonuses, combined with great software.