Online poker: What you’ll need from your website

Poker, the quintessential gambling card game, has undergone an explosion in the last 25 years or so, fuelled by a growth in online poker sites. If you want to play poker online, you’ll firstThere are occasions when we here at ReadyBetGo want to bring you interesting facts about the gambling industry  When something catches our eye, we will publish it for your enjoyment. 
Photo by Michał Parzuchowski - Unsplash  have to find a site where you can do it, so we have come up with a useful list of features that you’ll need your poker site to have.

Welcome bonuses

Everyone wants a warm welcome, and online poker players are no different. When you are looking for a poker site, the chances are you want it to have some kind of edge over its competitors. This is where welcome offers and bonuses come in, giving new players the opportunity to get something extra. This might come in the form of a matched bonus, where the site matches your first stake up to a certain level, or a no-deposit bonus, where you get free chips just for signing up. Alternatively, new players could find themselves getting the chance to take part in tournaments without having to pay, using promotions such as GG poker bonus codes which unlock the more you play for real money, or even cashback on entry fees. There are plenty of sites with plenty of offers. 

Payment methods

You might like to play poker just for fun. On the other hand, you might be keen on putting your money where your mouth is. If playing poker online for money is what you’re all about, make sure that your site lets you deposit your cash quickly and easily. There are plenty of payment options out there, so make sure your site lets you pay how you want to pay, whether it's via debit or credit card, e-wallets, or bank transfer. It’s also worth mentioning that there are some sites that specialize in cryptocurrency poker, so if you are interested in using blockchain technology to bet on poker, you could give them a try. 

Keeping your funds safe

Since you’ll probably be playing for money, you should make sure that your funds will be safe. Check that the site is secure and that it is registered to a reputable oversight body. If something does go wrong, you’ll need to contact customer services, so make sure that it is easy to do so and there are a range of options, including 24/7 chat support, emails, and even a number for a phone helpline. Meanwhile, you will want to check how straightforward and easy the site is to use, too.

A variety of games

Unless you are particularly focused on one game, it’s a good idea to see that a site has as many different playing options as possible. It could even be that you are curious about trying out a different type of poker that you have never played before, or you could have a few games that you like to cycle between. Whichever applies to you, a variety of types of poker, whether it’s Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha, Draw Poker, Hi-Lo, or more, can keep players interested and let you gravitate towards the game that best suits your play style, personal expertise, and overall gambling strategy. 

Mobile optimization

It used to be that you would use a computer if you wanted to play poker online. For the last 10 to 15 years, though, mobile devices like smartphones and tablets have ruled the roost. If you like to play poker as you go, you will want to make sure that your poker site is optimized for the best mobile phone play experience possible. Ideally, you will want a site that has its own Android or iPhone app, depending on the operating system you use, and you want to make sure it suffers as little lag as possible, so playing is a smooth and comfortable experience.  

Levels of rake

Something that makes poker different from other casino card games, such as baccarat or blackjack, is that, rather than it being a case of the player, in effect, competing against the house, you are taking on other players. This means that the casino, or casino website, can’t have an overall edge, so it needs another way to make money. It does so by setting a small charge, called a rake, for each game. When you’re looking for the best online poker website for you, see how much the rake is and whether there are any conditions attached. For instance, a lot of sites won’t take a rake if your hand ends before the flop, while there are different rates attached to different poker competitions. The larger the rake is, the less your profits will be, so make sure you find a rake level that you are comfortable with. 

Rakeback programs

If you have found a game you like, there might be times when the rake might not, precisely, apply to you. This is because a lot of sites offer a rakeback program. This is where you can get a certain amount of your rake paid back to you, whether in bonuses, points, or just plain cash, which, in turn, can help you maximize your profits. Rakeback comes in many forms. Some places offer a fixed rakeback percentage, some give you the chance to take part in a tiered loyalty system, while others can give you rakeback based on how many hands you play, not just the rake you pay. There are plenty of different options, so make sure you shop around to see what works for you.