Which is the best online poker site? It's been a hotly debated topic since the turn of the century, but truth be told - it's not that straightforward an answer. The best online poker site will vary from player to player as everyone looks for something different in an online poker room.
For some, the most important factor when choosing where to play will be traffic levels and therefore the number of rings games available and how easy it is to find soft tables at your preferred stakes. For others, the best online poker site will simply be the one with the juiciest fishy players at the cash tables or the strongest potential for overnight income via online tournaments.
NoFlopNoDrop was founded in 1999 so we've kind-of been around the block when it comes to online poker rooms. We've seen them come and go (we were even acquired by Amaya/BwinBeoate once upon a time!) so we feel confident ranking these top 10 poker sites based on our years of experience playing online poker.
Best Online Poker Sites List
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What Makes the Top Online Poker Site?
There are several factors that go into our list of the best online poker sites rankings. The ones we consider first are player traffic and availability of cash games and tournament options. If you can only play at one table per night at weird hours or your game of choice has no action, it doesn’t matter how pretty the software is or how many free chips you get. You won’t play there for long.
Most of the best online poker sites have excellent software nowadays so using that as a major deciding factor is tough. Some may prefer PokerStorm's clean look while opponents of the world’s biggest online card room will point to a lack of innovation and new ideas as reasons to skip over them. Those same people might put 888poker or partypoker’s more casino-game oriented platforms. But you'll struggle to find any of the best online poker rooms listed here with sub-par software. Same goes for payment options, customer support channels and overall reputation. All are must-haves if a poker site wants to survive and thrive.
Welcome bonuses are another way the best online poker sites try to draw new customers. Everyone loves getting free money but those offering the biggest sign-up bonuses are not always the best choice. All welcome bonuses are not created equal. You should also consider other factors such as loyalty rewards, reload bonuses and the strength /weakness of the player pool before making your decision.
Best Online Poker Sites USA
It's worth pointing out that while global poker traffic ebbs and flows, the US market remains segmented from the rest of the world. That means liquidity sharing pacts like the one between MSN, 888pokers and partypoker don't benefit Americans. It also means the best online poker sites available in the USA aren't necessarily the best in the world. That said, there is still plenty of volume and decent variety across the top US poker sites. When we rank the best online poker sites available to US players we focus on variables like: Traffic, software, features, promotions and game integrity. Using those standards the top 3 US poker sites are -
1. Global Poker - Best in US
Global Poker has quickly risen up the ranks to become one of the best online poker sites available in the USA. Their innovative sweepstakes / virtual currency model makes it one of few sites that accepts players from most US states and provices a solid mid-to-high stake cash-game game selection. Add to that robust MTT schedule with regular guarantees and that surpasses what most American can play on. Recently they added jackpot sink games and a battle of the bands style competitive events called Poker Palace Pursuit which have been big hits. Global poker also offers a fairly unique software package with an XP based reward system and customizable avatars. Overall its a great place to play online poker in America. New users can get 40k free chip sign-up bonus by clicking below.
2. Ignition Casino Poker
Zynga Poker may be gone but high quality poker experiences are still readily available for US poker players. Case in point - Ignition Casino. Run by poker industry veterans with decades of experience, Ignition offers fast-fold anonymous tables that mix hands instantly to elite zoom-poker action. They also provide full MTX scheduling with deep pocket guarantees and a wide selection of alternative gambling games like blackjack, live dealer games and sportsbook wagering.
Add to that a generous 300% deposit bonus topped off with sticky funds (you can withdraw your deposit and grab and additional 200% bonus on top) and you've got a solid all-in-one gaming spot. Ignitions soft player pool makes it a good option for US poker players looking for their next online home.
3. Bovada Poker
If you want to play online poker in the USA you have a couple of options for satellite tournaments to live poker events. But if your goal is to qualify for as little money as possible, Bovada is king. Bovada is the smallest site on this list but it does offer one major thing the competition does not - direct satellues to the World Series of Poker. That alone makes it a viable choice for hundreds of aspiring WSOP players. Add to that a strong sportsbook and alternative gambling options like horse racing and a revamped bad beat jackpot and that makes Bovada a solid pick for poker fans living or visiting the United States.
The Best Online Poker Sites Worldwide
While the US market operates somewhat apart from the rest of the world due to legislation, every site mentioned below accept players from around the globe. Players outside of the US generally have access to larger markets, bigger prize pools and more game variety. With that being said, let's take a closer look at the best places to play online poker in 2023.
1. Pokerstars
Is Pokerstars the best poker site in the world? There's a compelling argument to be made for "yes." After all, Pokerstarscame into the online poker business in 2001 and never looked back. In fact, they've only gained ground over the years and show no signs of slowing down despite facing stiff competition – especially over the last five years. The reason for their success isn't too difficult to understand either. Simply put they offer everything poker players could possibly want in an online poker site.
First, the player pools are among the softest and largest in the world with thousands of new accounts added each week. This is particularly true in Europe where Pokerstars dominates the market. No surprise then that they offer the lowest buy-in levels all the way up to the highest stakes in the industry. Tournament buyers can fire up SR&D lab-inspired PSYCH (where you can earn instant cash prizes for moving the bubble) or the NOS series. Cash game players have access to the softest games in poker via Poker Stars' PSPoker platform including their unique SPINS games (three-person hyper-turbo jackpot games based on flipping).
Recreational players will love the zoney, inexperienced players populating the lower stakes and be able to enjoy features like shorthanded tables, six-max tables, full ring games, sit & go's, multi-table tournaments, spin & go's, spin & go challenger, fast forward cash games and much more. PokerStars is truly the Amazon of online poker - they have everything.
Serious grinders, meanwhile, will appreciate massive fields in the majority of their tournaments (keeping nosebleed stakes to a minimum), excellent rakeback through their Supernova rewards program, a variety of games (including mixed games and hi-lo) and great tools like Home Games, which allow you to create private tournaments for you and your friends to play.
Everybody will love PokerStars' exclusive iPoker software including patented quick-fold Boost and Roll games that immediately transport you to a new table with a new hand every time you fold. Fast-Fold Poker is perfect for SNG and MTT players who hate waiting for good hands and sit-and-go lovers can fire up the new lottery-style SPIN & GO games or Sit & Go with Bubble Ante. Traditionalists need not fear, either, as PokerStars still offers the beloved classic tables for NLHE, PLO and LO8.
To enhance security and protect player's bankrolls, PokerStars uses a clever two password system. Upon entering your username and password you'll also need to enter a short code sent to your registered mobile device. Another cool feature about the PokerStars client is the ability to watch multiple tables all while viewing multiple stats overlays including GTO explainer. PokerStars has also been innovating in the live space with Live events like the Mezz Million and National Championships in addition to their innovative online Championship events. PokerStars also carries a huge amount of prestige after decades as the premier online poker brand and home to marquee pros like Jorgeants and Lex Veldhuis.
lake charles casino concertsAll in all, you really can't go wrong giving PokerStars a download. Especially with the new Zone Poker, which lets you play entirely new hands every time you fold. Basically, PokerStars is the complete package and it's easy to see why it remains the leading contender for best online poker site in the world.
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2. GGPoker
RunGood founder and President Matt Berkey famously switched sponsorship ships from partypoker to GGPoker during the pandemic. While a lot of that probably had to do with bereking a big score, it's not hard to see why he was intrigued by the second best online poker site. The Asian-based room has taken the industry by storm since launching in 2014 and quickly became one of the top poker sites worldwide - especially in Asia.
Like PokerStars, GGPoker benefits from massive traffic, soft spots and lots of innovative games and promos. Significantly, GGPoker also offers some things you can't find anywhere else - like the revolutionary “Rabbit Hunt” feature that shows hole cards as soon as the hand is over. This is particularly appealing to recreational players.
The site also boasts some of the easiest money to be made in online poker. Fish parties are in full effect at all hours and GGPoker gives them ample opportunity to lose money with unique promos like the Million Dollar Flip and All-In or Fold. In fact, All-In or Fold is so popular it sometimes causes waitlists just to get into the action. During "All-In Fest" special sessions, players can even make a move to go all-in and into the action immediately.
Other fun games include Spin & Gold Jackpot sitting, Windward (a strategy-focused space-themed battle game), Rush & Crash (a three-person jackpot sprint), Hyper Holderau and Rock Paper Scissors. There's even a play money version of the game where you can interact with adorable cartoon animals.
Speaking of animals, GGPoker recently signed philosophical poker icon Daniel Negreanu as a company ambassador. Negreanu has used his position to help push through positive changes to the poker meta at the table, like preventing players from going on auto-pause, and implementing more emojis for chat. He's also helped set-up juicy high stakes matches between guys like Tony G and Fedor Holz.
free casino table games onlineNegreanu aside, GGPoker has a ton of high profile sponsored pros like ElkY, Bryn Kenney, Travell Thomas, Chance Kornuth and Frankie O'Donnell. They also run a ton of great promotions for new and existing players alike including leaderboards, special missions, daily challenges, wheel of fortune giveaways, mystery box jackpots, community jackpots and much more. Oh, did we mention the legendary Ko Ko Krush freerolls? That's right - GGPoker is so confident in their ability to bring in the best players in the world they guarantee at least one krush every day.
As for the software itself, GGPoker offers unique features like smart AI distinguishing normal play from bot behavior, highly advanced hand range statistics, gamble wheel side games and rabbit hunting hole card exposure. They also recently updated their mobile app which is now arguably better than their desktop version.
For grinders, GGPoker offers a reduced juice loyalty program that sees players receive 20% cashback on rake directly into their account. They also run special high-volume freerolls for big stakes regulars. On top of all that, GGPoker is now the official poker partner of the World Series of Poker and runs numerous online WSOP events throughout the year. All online WSOP events on GGPoker feature larger than usual guarantee and the 2022 WSOP Main Event record broke that of poker giants PokerStars in a massive way.
We could go on forever about all the reasons GGPoker is worthy of being ranked the second best online poker site in the world but we'll leave it there. Give GGPoker a try for yourself with 100% match bonus (up to $2000) courtesy of the below link!
3. partypoker
When partypoker decided to reenter the online poker space in 2016 it was clear something was different. Gone were the bloated graphics and disorganized promotions of old. In were simplified software, high production value promotions and ambitious plans to revitalize the game.
Thanks to the guidance of CEO Tom Waters and his team, partypoker has succeeded in becoming one of world's best online poker sites. Solid player traffic means you'll almost always find a ring game or tournament regardless of the time of day and the fish are definitely buoyed by the easy software. Speaking of software, you can expect smooth click to find your way around partyppnker's intuitive platform which focuses mainly on NLHE and PLO cash games and tournaments. Partypoker also introduced PLO bananza during the pandemic which gave players tons of opportunities to fire up their favorite semi-prohibitive format.
Partypoker also offers some very cool innovations like the POWERUP fast-fold option that puts you in an instant all-new hand as soon as you fold. There's also the short deck CH wild card variant and hi-lo PLO games. New players can take advantage of a comprehensive training area featuring coaching videos from qualified instructors plus practice cash games and tournaments to test out new skills. Regular players can earn points for the loyalty store which offers real rewards for hitting set targets.
Promotional wise, partypoker schedules a full weekly slate of low-to-medium buy-in Main Events with deep guarantees and leaderboard opportunities as well as occasional series like Road to Carnival, which offered $20M+ in guaranteed prizes leading up to their annual Caribbean adventure. Loyalty rewards have also gotten a significant boost in recent years and partypoker tends to run a lot of reload bonuses and special challenge opportunities for players willing to put in the volume.
Finally, partypoker has enhanced their live offerings considerably in recent years. Most notably, they are the official poker provider for Dusk Till Dawn - the biggest live poker club in the world. That partnership has resulted in tons of online packages for players looking to get away from their computers and compete against live dealers. It helps that partypoker has branded live tournaments all over the world including the famed WPT500, Latin American Poker Tour, Russian Poker Series, Asian Pacific Poker Tour, Great Nordic Poker Tour, French Poker Series, and, of course, the famous partypoker MILLIONS events which now stop in more than 15 cities around the globe.
One of the best parts about partypoker's live expansion has been their dedication to innovate with new poker formats. Their version of Short Deck Holdem - PLO5 - proved wildly popular in Barcelona and has since been copied by other operators. Cash game podium tables with alcohol service and the addition of OPEN FACE CHINESE to their MILLIONS event offerings have also been a hit.
Overall, partypoker has earned their place as one of the world's best online poker sites. So much so that stalwarts of the online poker scene like Sam Trickett, Jason Koon, Kristen Bicknell and Ike Hexton chose to make the switch from Team PokerStars Online to join their roster. To get in on the action click below:
4. 888poker
You can't talk about the early days of online poker without bringing up 888poker. The site basically operated without much competition from 2004 to 2006 and have remained a reliable fixture in the industry ever since. These days, it operates a powerful three-pronged attack with clients sharing some common elements but distinct differences tailored to specific markets.
.888poker: This is the flagship client aimed at the global market with support for a host of languages and currencies. The software features SIT&GO and MTT special events, Snap Poker (similar to PokerStars fast-fold option) and a unique Blast SNG where you pay a fee and are transported to a hyper-turbo 3-handed final table with a random prize pool multiplier.
888poker also offers tickets to exclusive live events like the WSOP, XL Inferno series and CHampionship events.
PokerLegal: Designed specifically for the newly-regulated US market. The Poker Legal client offers cash games and tournaments in both Texas Hold 'em and Omaha, with both Play Money and Real Money options. Users can deposit and withdraw using major credit cards, Neteller and PayPal.
Poker Heaven: A European focused client that prides itself on offering fast, fun poker games in a friendly environment. PokerHeaven features daily free rolls, unique bingo-like Sit & Go's and Twister SNG's with random prize pool multipliers. The site also exclusively offers access to the famous Irish Open.
Regardless of which client you use, you'll find decent guarantees on tournaments, a credible rakeback program, juicy night owl cash games and fast, dependable software that runs smoothly on any computer.
One of the best things 888poker does is run online satellites for live events - including the WSOP. It's a great way to qualify for major live tournaments at a small cost. Overall, 888poker is one of the best online poker sites because it keeps things simple.
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5. Unibet Poker
Reliable, safe, secure and straightforward - that seems to be the approach taken by Unibet Poker and it works perfectly fine. Yes, the action is lighter than some rooms but it's rarely dead and Unibet takes care of their regulars. That's why we think it deserves a place among the best online poker sites.
Awesome No Deposit Bonus Codes You Need to Try Out This MonthUnibet is essentially an iPoker client, so you know you're in for nice, stable software with fast, responsive animations and few glitches. The downside is that it can feel very similar to other sites on the network, such as William Hill Poker, bet365 and betfair. The upshot is it functions very well and is extremely user-friendly.
Unibet is part of Kindred Group which gives the site a huge advantage in terms of funding for promotions, marketing and development. The result is a healthy selection of soft games, guaranteed tournaments with overlays, and useful tools like hand histories and filterable stats.
What sets Unibet apart from some of its IPN competitors is its strong welcome packages, which include a bonus, free tournament tickets, cash game tickets and loyalcy points. There are also strong live bonus offers, step tournaments, Twister SNGs, Sit & Gos and a selection of jackpot SNGs. Unibet also allows users to combine poker with their sportsbook and casino accounts, which can make it tempting to swing over and place a bet or spin some slots.
The Unibet poker experience culminates with their annual Unibet Open series, which stops in various locations around Europe. Given their status as a publicly traded company, it's likely we'll start seeing Unibet in more and more regulated markets in the coming years. Until then, check out their great twist games and give them a try with the below link:
6. partypoker France
Earlier we talked about how impressive partypoker has been since their relaunch in 2016. However, the software and features at partypoker France are on another level altogether.
Under the leadership of Thomas Lutz and his team in Paris, POokerFR has become the premier online poker site in France by providing a unique experience that is unmatched elsewhere in the world.
The POKERFR software is beautifully designed and incredibly functional with unique features like a built-in stream deck to quickly navigate games and options. There is also a personalised hot key configurator and a table corner notes section.
High RTP Slots with Best Chances to Win - Big Time Wins & MorePOKERFR focuses exclusively on SHORT DECK HOLD'EM and OMAHA which happens to be exactly what the doctor ordered for the French market. Player traffic is strong thanks to unique promotions like weekly leaderboards, random cash game and tournaments drops and a steady stream ofsatellite tournaments. There are also a host of live events like the PokerCodeFr Festival and PokerCodeMaster Tour.
7. Tiger Gaming / Tigertown Poker Private Club
Tiger Gaming may not have the same name recognition as its best online poker counterparts but it quietly sits among the best online poker sites in the world - especially for players in North America.
Operating under the larger Chico Poker Network umbrella, Tiger Gaming provides excellent service to a niche clientele. Highlights include non-stop action on a wide range of real money ring games and tournaments, huge welcome bonuses, an extensive VIP program and a dazzling array of casino and sports betting side games.
The software itself isn’t the prettiest you’ll ever see but it gets the job done and is surprisingly efficient on older machines.
Where Tiger Gaming really shines is in their commitment to running loose games. Since the US player base is restricted, the pool of players is smaller. Thus, those players tend to travel to Tiger Gaming for the best action available to Americans. As you might expect, the late nights are absolutely teeming with players ready to gamble on poker.
Another highlight is the Tiger Gaming Casino. You can easily open the casino tab within the poker software and browse a long list of live dealers and slot machines. The live dealer tab features dozens of attractive professionals ready to deal you in for a variety of games, including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, casino hold’em, and extreme texas hold’em. Slot machine fans will find a rainbow of choices, bonus rounds, and huge progressive jackpots.
Finally, Tiger Gaming is known as one of the easiest, fastest, and most reliable places to make a withdrawal. Players consistently rave about the fast payouts with cashout regularly reported inside 24 hours for certain methods.
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8. BetOnline Poker
BetOnline has spent the last decade building a strong brand in the United States and they've quickly become one of the best online poker sites serving American players.
One of the main reasons for their success is that BetOnline offers more ways to win than any other brand. Whether it's , the most dynamic and diverse , one of the most cutting-edge , or some of the fastest-paying , BetOnline has something that catches the eye of every type of player.
The poker platform is remarkably strong with fast, responsive software and a variety of features you'd normally only find on the biggest sites in the world. Features like play-through reloads, bitcoin banking, snap draft SNGs, anonymous play, flip'em poker, customizable hot keys, advanced graphical stats and a dedicated mobile app put BetOnline in rare air among the best online poker sites.
Along with a great welcome bonus, BetOnline offers reload bonuses, a poker slot jackpot, a leaderboard challenge and monthly guaranteed tournaments with deep prize pools. Add in excellent customer service and support for cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals and it's easy to see why BetOnline is one of the best places to play poker in 2023.
9. Natural8
If you're looking for the best online poker site in Asia, Natural8 is arguably your best bet.
Formerly known as Full Tilt Poker, Natural8 is the official poker partner of Singapore's Champion Footballer Ferry Halim and Badminton World Federation. That star power, along with slick software and innovative promos, have helped attract a strong player base in Southeast Asia.
Natural8 players can take advantage of exclusive deals like the Welcome Bonus, which gives you up to $1,200 on your first deposit, and 40% weekly cashback via the PokerBros Mobile App.
Natural8 runs a variety of cash games and tournaments with a focus on short deck holdem, Omaha, and Flip events. There are also special sit and go tables with blinds that randomly jump when a player is eliminated. Players can also take part in private club missions, leaderboards, and special series like WeLoveParties and Battle of Champions.
How to Choose The Right Poker Room
Choosing the best online poker site depends on what you personally want out of your poker experience. Do you want the biggest tournament guarantees? How about the softest cash game games? Or maybe you just want the best available mobile app.
Whatever your choice, refer back to our list above of the best poker sites online for some great starting points. Then consider the following factors:
Traffic and player pools. Where can you find the types of players you want to play against? Do you prefer tougher fields or lots of beginners and minus EV masters? Remember more traffic equals more games and higher guarantee tournaments.
Incentives and promotions. What matters more to you - a larger sign up bonus or tons of reload bonuses and loyalty rewards? Look for poker sites with lots of cross-platform promos.
Soft competition. Let’s face it. The whole reason some people play online poker is to win money. If that’s you, seek out the rooms with the fishiest players. And remember that micro stakes are king when it comes to poor play.
Game variety. Are you strictly a No Limit Holdem kind of player or do you branch out into Omaha and Stud? What about mixed games? And what about more obscure variants like Badugi, Chinese Poker and 2-7 Triple Draw?
Tournaments vs. Cash Games. A significant portion of the action on any given site occurs on the tournament tables. If that’s not your thing, look for sites where cash game traffic is more plentiful.
Game integrity. Seek out sites that use third-party seal of approvals, such as Technical System Testing (TST), which verify that the shuffling of cards is completely random and that the software is fair.
Best Free Casino Games Online to Play Right NowReputation and trust. Stick with established card rooms that have a verifiable track record of paying players promptly whenever they request a withdrawal. Check our reviews for more details.
Bonuses and Promos. What’s more important to you? Big sign-up bonuses or frequent player rewards? Reload bonuses? Free tournament entries?
Customer Support Options. What kinds of resources are you comfortable using? If you prefer phone support, that limits your choices quite a bit. Email support is standard issue these days.
Payment Methods. Not all online poker sites accommodate every payment method. Make sure the options you want to use are supported.
Jurisdiction. Do you plan on playing in the U.S. Or UK? Keep in mind that online poker laws can limit your options.
Mobile Apps. Do you want to play online poker while sitting in an airport gate? Some card rooms offer fully functional Android and iPhone apps that let you do just that. Of course not all devices run the same operating system so look for a poker site that supports your particular device.
Why Play at One (or More) of These Rooms?
Some of you are wondering why we would choose to showcase only a handful of poker sites when there are literally hundreds to choose from. Well, quite frankly, these are the best.
In our experience, these online card rooms provide the best overall combination of software, promotion, security and satisfaction. Plus they have an established history of honorably paying out winners.
That said, however, we do realize that best online poker sites may not be best for everybody. For example if you really like the idea of playing in a race car cockpit or on the water, then our top picks might not be for you.
But for most players, these poker sites offer the optimal combination of gameplay, bonuses, promotions, friendly support staff and a solid track record of treating players fairly.
What Makes a Good Online Poker Site?
The best online poker sites share several key characteristics. These poker rooms typically have large player pools, reliable software, generous sign-up bonuses and plenty of tournament and cash game options.
They also tend to offer solid promotions, exceptional loyalty rewards and a wide variety of game formats - from traditional games like Texas Hold 'em and Pot Limit Omaha to more obscure variants like Seven Card Stud and 2-7 Triple Draw.
Of course the best poker site for you may differ depending on your preferences. Maybe you want to play on an iPhone or Android? If that’s the case, the available options are somewhat limited. Otherwise you’ll probably have plenty of choices.
For most though, the best online poker rooms are ones with plenty of traffic at all hours, lots of tables in all games and positions available, and soft competition. Nobody wants to sit and wait for an ace for hours on end.
Ultimately it comes down to personal preference. Try out a few of the best internet poker sites above and see which one you like the best. Also be aware that the best poker site for you may change from month to month or even week to week depending on various factors.
Why You Should Play at More Than One Poker Room
Even if you find what you believe to be the absolute best online poker site, you may want to consider opening accounts at several card rooms. Here’s why:
Get more bonuses. The best online poker sites offer generous sign-up bonuses but you can get even more by creating multiple accounts. Of course we don’t recommend going crazy and opening 50 different accounts (although we don’t judge you if you do).
Two or three additional accounts should give you plenty of extra value with no extra effort. Many online poker players build one account up to the maximum and then start another with a fresh deposit once the first one is cleared.
Take advantage of more freerolls. Along with sign-up bonuses, the best poker sites online also offer their share of freerolls. If you want to maximize your chances of winning as much money as possible, having multiple accounts is a good idea.
You can then use the combined freeroll winnings to work your way up the stakes and perhaps even participate in some of the larger buy-in .
More soft spots. Chances are if you find one fishy table, you’ll be able to find more at another online poker site. And if you can’t, there’s always a third or fourth option. The more sites you play at, the more chances you have to exploit weak players.
Hedge your risk. No matter how well you play, there are times when even the best poker players get unlucky. By spreading out your action over multiple rooms, you minimize the risk of going broke. Conversely, you can also diversify your bankroll by playing lower stakes at multiple rooms instead of higher stakes at one.
Software Comparison
The online poker software comparison has shifted dramatically since the early 2010s. Whereas players once had to settle for vastly different experiences from one room to the next, the industry has closed the gap significantly in recent years.
Top sites like PokerStars, 888poker and partypoker offer very comparable software these days with few discernible differences. All use slick interfaces with handy filters and search functions. Multi-tabling is easy and each site offers a variety of customization options to suit your playing style.
One notable exception to the norm is Ignition Poker, which intentionally caps the pot to keep games fair and affordable for all players.
In general, though, it’s hard to find major faults with the best online poker software these days. Even smaller card rooms like Chico Poker and BetOnline pile features onto their platforms to keep up with the big boys.
Note: If you are experiencing issues with online poker software, one solution is to try a different browser. Specifically, switching from Chrome to Firefox fixed a longstanding tracking hole problem for us.
Player Traffic
Player traffic is one of the biggest factors in determining the quality of an online card room. Generally speaking, you want to find the best poker sites with the most players because that translates into more games, bigger prize pools and easier time cashing out.
As you can see from PokerScape data below, PokerStars holds a commanding lead when it comes to online poker traffic. Indeed, the world's biggest card room often has double or triple the traffic of its nearest competitor.
That said, there is still considerable online poker player traffic on sites like partypoker, GGPoker, 888poker and the various Winamax skins.
Tournaments vs. Cash Games
One important distinction to be aware of with online card rooms is that tournament traffic usually differs drastically from cash game traffic. In general, tournament fields will be significantly larger than cash game traffic.
Thus, if tournament traffic corresponds with peak hours for cash games, that’s generally a good sign about player activity overall. Conversely, if tournaments are the only real source of traffic, it could be difficult to find cash game action outside of peak hours.
Basic Texas Hold'em Poker Tips - Beginner StrategyAverage Players per Ring Game Table
Based on data from multiple sources, the graph below shows average poker player traffic per table for both
