Online Poker Sites

Playing poker online includes many options regarding location, although United States players are limited in their selection thanks to legality issues. But even with some sites refusing United States players, there are many more that do accept players from the US. Selecting an online poker site isn’t especially complex, but it does require a bit of consideration. Often you make a decision based on one of the following:
  • Bonus offers. Virtually every online poker site offers a bonus of some kind. The better bonus might determine where you decide to play.
  • Graphics. The graphics and software of the game can make a world of difference in play. Some poker rooms allow easier handling of multiple tables and views while others include clearer images and avatars to make play more realistic.
  • Popularity. There is something to be said for the popularity of a website. The more popular and online poker site is, the better protected you feel. The largest sites have independent auditors and more players involved to help catch any fraud originating from the system or other players.

Online Poker Sites

Among the most common online poker sites you’ll find:

Full Tilt Poker

Among the most famous poker sites in the world, Full Tilt has an impressive roster of professional players. The software is updated frequently and has excellent playability and multiple-table views. With a hefty sign-up bonus and many other special offers, Full Tilt continues to grow at a tremendous rate.

Benefits:

  • $8 million in guaranteed prize money each week
  • Accepts U.S. players
  • Full Tilt Poker merchandise available in the points store
  • Opportunity to play with Full Tilt pros
  • Mini-view functions for multi-tabling

Titan Poker

With lower rakes, Titan poker is attractive for low stakes players, and the Texas Hold’em games without a limit bring in the most traffic as skilled players can turn a nice profit. Backed by one of the largest iPoker network, Titan Poker is growing in popularity. Titan poker does not allow US players, however.

Benefits:

  • $16 million in guaranteed monthly prize money
  • Huge sit-and-go jackpots and excellent live event satellites
  • Highly-rated customer support
  • Software available in 12 languages

Ultimate Bet

Recently merged with Absolute Poker, Ultimate Bet is now a large poker room with plenty of traffic. Sponsoring known poker professionals and with a sizable bonus for signing up, Ultimate Bet is very attractive to new players.

Benefits:

  • Accepts U.S. players
  • Mobile poker available with both play and real money
  • Poker lessons from the Ultimate Bet pros
  • Sponsor of many big live and online tournaments

Everest Poker

A truly international site, Everest Poker has grown by leaps and bounds to become a stable and reputable online poker site. Everest Poker offers only Omaha and Hold’Em, but has a Limit and No-Limit system that is easy to beat. Everest Poker does not accept US players, however.

Benefits:

  • Loose games even at medium-to-high stakes
  • Features the Everest Poker European Championship among many country-specific challenges
  • Diverse team of professionals including players from Italy, Portugal, Japan, Finland, Spain and more
  • Excellent Summit Points program
  • Training room for learning the basics of poker

William Hill Poker Club

One of the oldest and largest bookmakers in the UK, William Hill has been offering gambling services since 1934. Today it is part of the iPoker network which lends even more credibility to its network, traffic and promotions. Multi-currency deposits and play are allowed, but U.S. players are not.

Benefits:

  • Solid interface for finding bigger buy-in tournament satellites
  • Exciting and lucrative games
  • Huge amount of guaranteed tournaments

Absolute Poker

With action going around the clock every day of the year, Absolute Poker gained even more popularity by merging with Ultimate Bet in late 2008. Shorthanded Texas Hold‘Em is most popular, but all games are nicely populated and the software allows for unlimited tables in play.

Benefits:

  • Accepts U.S. players
  • Supports cash transfers between players as well as with UltimateBet accounts
  • Offers mixed heads-up and sit-and-go tournaments
  • Good blind structures for tournaments

Sportsbook Poker

Loose games and easy deposit options make Sportsbook Poker popular with players. Good graphics and game play have only helped to increase its popularity although most games are at the lower limits of play. For skilled players, these games are a nice perk as well as the perks offered by the site itself.

Benefits:

  • Accepts U.S. players
  • Fast software and play
  • Offer $100,000 freerolls monthly
  • Great statistics and hand histories

Poker Stars

The largest poke site in the world, Poker Stars offers a terrific variety of games including games with very high limits and mixed games which are hard to find elsewhere. The players on Poker Stars are diverse and come from all over the globe. The site also sponsors many of the most famous names in poker.

Benefits:

  • $1.5 million weekly payout guaranteed - the largest in the world
  • Tremendous satellite, ring game and tournament spread
  • Large and well-known pro team involved in discussion and games
  • Quality software
  • Very responsive to player feedback