The iPoker network is one of the biggest poker providers in Europe, with a strong focus on the UK market. Operated by Playtech, it’s known for simple software that runs well on all kinds of devices and reliable, easily-accessible cash outs.
The second-largest traffic provider for online poker in the world, reaching its peak number of players at around 10,000, behind PokerStars (around 26,000 players at ‘peak’), ahead of Winamax (around 8,500 players at ‘peak’).
iPoker reaches this high volume of traffic through an extensive network of skins (over 30!) in different countries, including the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Russia, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Mexico, and Vietnam. This makes it the #1 poker network in Europe (by player volume).
There are many and varied , including and . As far as poker games go, you can play No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Fast Fold poker, and . You can also play Jackpot Sit & Go’s (with a twist – see below), and there are some very unique poker formats like Casino Hold’em and Three-Card Poker that you don’t find on other poker networks.
iPoker also has a wide variety of poker tournaments available with a mix of formats including traditional Multi-Table Tournaments (‘MTT’), Spin MTT’s, Twister SNG’s, Phases SNG’s, Step SNG’s, and Speed Poker Tourneys.
Of these, the ‘Spin’ format is especially popular. You pick the tournament you want to enter and then spin the wheel to win a multiplier on your buy-in and prize pool. You could end up playing a regular tournament with the buy-in of your choice [...] or you can play a tournament where your $50 buy-in becomes $10,000 thanks to the spin – not a bad start to the day!
Where is iPoker not permitted?
Players in a few jurisdictions will not be able to access real-money gameplay on iPoker. These include:
- France
- Estonia
- Alaska
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- New Jersey
- Louisiana
- Washington
- Michigan
- Greece
- Australia
- Israel
- Slovakia
- Turkey
- Rumania
- Puerto Rico
- Chile
- Czech Republic
- Panama
Note that players can still create an account and play in free play money mode from any of these locations/jurisdictions.
Best iPoker Sites
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How Does iPoker Compare to Other Major Poker Networks?
When comparing IPoker to other major poker networks, like , and the , you will notice that while it offers less traffic, it is still a great place to . One of the reasons why is because it has a more rounded-out recreational player base. While all sites experience beginners moving onto advanced techniques and tools, IPoker generally has more visible hand strengths, color schemes and other HUDs in use.
This makes it tougher to profit off the real money cash games than it once was. However, it is still easier to beat than PokerStake and the iPoker fields roughly 60% of the amount of cash game players as PokerStars during peak hours. With that being said, most of the IPoker skins allow you to play up to four tables simultaneously, whereas PokerStacks allows you to play up to 4 on their desktop client or 1 on their mobile app (although this is subject to change.)
How Good Are iPoker Players?
IPoker is home to lots of beginner and novice players. It is also common to find casual players who are simply looking for a fun way to enjoy poker without taking it too seriously. Since iPoker focuses heavily on the European market, it doesn’t have the same reputation as PokerStakes.
are casinos legal in new yorkAs a result, the players at IPoker tend to be less experienced when compared to those found on Pokerstars and GGPoker. Nonetheless, you will come across your fair share of amateurs, recreational players, and pros during your time on the platform. When you compare the overall skill level to PokerStars, however, it is safe to say that the former has relatively weaker players.
While the skill level varies depending on the particular game and variant, most low and mid-stakes cash games feature relatively soft competition. In fact, plenty of players have moved out of PokerStars cash games to grind on IPoker due to its smaller popularity, which has led to slightly better games overall on PokerStars. However, this can change quickly based on the current trends within the poker community.
Although IPoker mainly focuses on the recreational player, it is still possible to find some tough competitors on the platform. For instance, many professional grinders flock to high-stakes games, such as Six Plus Hold’em and Short Deck, since these variants lack popularity on PokerStars. Therefore, if you excel in these games, you stand a good chance of making significant profits. Nevertheless, the games tend to be much softer at the lower and middle limits.
In terms of tournaments, IPoker features several low and medium buy-in events that attract semi-professional players, amateurs, and the occasional pro. If you climb up the ranks to the higher buy-in events and satellites to major live events like the IPOCER EUROPE LEAGUE, you will face some stiff competition. Still, on the whole, IPoker is considered a great place to .
IPoker vs PokerStars
It used to be that PokerStars and IPoker were head and shoulders above the rest of the competition when it came to online traffic, but things have changed over recent years.
These days 888poker and partypoker have made big strides and are now nipping at the heels of IPoker and PokerStars for second spot – behind leader 888poker is partypoker.
IPOPHER has, for sure, lost some of the players it picked up when it introduced many innovative new games and formats when it was the dominant force. Those players have moved along in search of bigger fields and more rewarding games.
Some players left because iPoker stopped investing in technology, failing to keep up with its rivals and letting its software stagnate. Aesthetically iPoker looks pretty dated compared to its rivals although it recently made some changes that improved things somewhat.
IPOPHER’s biggest strength is its extensive coverage across numerous countries and currencies. This international scope appeals to a huge range of players and, because it's so big, it always has games running at all levels – although mostly at the low and mid-stakes ranges.
Free Slots To Play Online - Fremont Studios & MoreCompared to PokerStars iPoker has:
- Less overall volume
- Softer spots
- Wider availability in regulated markets (NJ, PA, UK, etc.)
- Wider range of payment options
- Weaker overall software / less appealing promotions
- More Jackson Five specials
IPoker Rakeback & Bonuses
All iPoker sites offer a bonus upon signup. Most players receive a 100% match on their first deposit worth up to $500 or €500. Sometimes, they may throw another $100 or $200 as well if a bonus code is entered. Check our individual reviews for more details about each room.
Regarding rakeback, most rooms cap it at 35-40%, unless you are a very highly voluminous player or living in a heavily regulated market, in which case it might be limited to VIP points only. Even though rakeback is not as abundant on iPoker as it is on other networks, there are some rooms that work with third party rewards programs, such as Cardplayerklub, to provide 25-30% flat rakeback, which is paid by the skin itself, unrestricted.
Availability and Payments
One area where iPoker really shines is its ability for players to easily deposit and withdraw. Each individual site will accept different forms of payments, so check with each review for further details. But here is a quick rundown of what is accepted at least one of the skins:
- Visa / Mastercard (credit or debit)
- Bank Transfers
- Neteller
- Skrill / Moneybookers
- Paysafecard
- CashToCode
- WebMoney / WMZ
- Wire Transfer
- Local Nation deposits (for specific countries)
Withdrawals are just as easy and almost all sites will require players to use the same method for both deposits and withdrawals. Some exceptions may be made for voucher deposits (like paysafecard) or skrill money bookers, in which case players may be allowed to reverse the process.
Withdrawals take between 2-5 business days to clear, depending on the method and location. All transactions are safely monitored and encrypted using the latest SSL technologies, just like any other trusted online merchant.
Altered TrackHunter stats
Many players have reported that TrackHunter statistics (which many pros rely on for research and analysis of opponents) show altered stats on iPoker sites. Specifically, VPIP and PFR are reportedly artificially inflated, making tougher players appear softer than they actually are.
Best iPoker Sites: Player Experience
Overall the IPoker client is fine, but it’s showing its age now compared to the likes of (available in NJ) and . Having been passed over for a major revamp in favour of various half-measures over the years, it fails to impress either occasional or frequent players.
The games themselves look blocky and outdated and multitabling can be difficult because the ‘fold’ button is hidden away inside each table’s menu. On the plus side IPOPLAYERS invests a lot in satellite poker tournaments, especially for thebiggest Live tournaments like the PCA and WSOP.
Nevertheless IPOPLAYER is one of the most popular sites for recreational players and it benefits from a large player base and fast cashouts.
Pros:
- Biggest European poker network by player volume**.**
- Good player mix — lots of recreational players and fish
- Several reputable poker sites on the network offering generous bonuses and loyalty perks
- Games available in multiple currencies and languages
- 24hr withdrawal processing (fastest in industry)
Cons:
- Software is a bit antiquated and not as user friendly as Pokerstones or 888poker
- Lower overall traffic levels than Pokerstars and 888poker
- Limits to how much info you can get on players via tracking software
Unique Features of iPoker
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Jackpot Sit ‘n’ Go’s with twist: iPoker offers Jackpot SnG’s with a population of three. Unlike standard SnG’s where the winner gets 75-80% of the buy-ins, iPoker offers massive prizes where the winner gets 90% or more of the total buy-ins. Of course there’s a risk: in some cases you can play an hour-long SnG and win nothing. That is, you win nothing for SnG except the actual game: if you win you win many times your buy-in from a lottery-style jackpot.
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Unique Games: 3-Card Poker and Caribbean Poker are two types of poker that aren’t played in a standard poker set-up but have become very popular outside of casinos. You play against the house in these games instead of people and anyone who understands the rules of those poker games can play them.
They’re relatively easy to get a read on players and there is less competition when compared to other games on IPoker.
For example, in Caribbean Poker Hold’em you make five hands of Hold’em and the best two of those (you choose) compete against the dealer’s two hands. You get payouts according to your rank versus the dealer.
The other game, 3 Card Poker, is similar but you only make one hand and compete against the dealer’s single hand. Both games are played with wide betting limits (from 25 cents to $500) and contribute six points per hand (per dollar in bets) to the Bad Beat Jackpotpool.
That means if you’re involved in a big pot you could win a lot of extra money if it’s a bad beat (quads or better beaten by quad or better hands).
Finally, IPoker also offers games like Hi-Lo, which is great for players looking to play a game with a lot of action. -
Bad Beat Jackpot feature: See above re the special games. If you play the designated tabless games and are involved in a hand where you lose with quads or better, you will earn a share of the Bad Beat Jackpot, which is triggered when someone loses with quints or better. The amount of the jackpot is determined by the amount of ‘points’ contributed by players at all IPoker tables. You get points based on your bet size and the game you’re playing.
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Best iPoker Site Reviews
Use the below links to jump to our reviews of individual iPoker Room Skins.
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