Poker is one of the most popular casino games of all time. Poker, next to slots, is one of the first things we think of when we think about casinos. Poker is well known as a game, and even if you are not a gambler, you will surely know plenty about poker already.
There are hundreds of sites you can play on like Fanduel.com and while you may have already chosen a site, it is worth knowing what the benefits and drawbacks are to playing poker online.
Playing Poker Online – How Is It Different?
Poker online and poker in a land-based establishment are not all that different at their core, but the style of play and way you play is different. There are many rules around poker that are carried over from traditional poker and into online poker.
However, there are differences in how you play. Online poker means that you cannot see the other players, but instead, you can play from the comfort of your own couch.
There are also more types of poker you can play online, as casinos online are not restricted spatially.
However, we won’t give you all the spoilers. The differences between playing poker online and at a land-based establishment are also the pros and cons of playing online.
Things To Consider Before You Play Poker Online
Before you start playing online, we recommend you decide if it is for you and if it is something that you have passion and excitement for.
There are many pros and cons, and deciding if poker online is something for you can be done by establishing if the pros outweigh the cons.
People will play poker in different ways and for different reasons, for some the cons may not be so bad, but for others, the cons of online poker could be a dealbreaker.
Without further ado, what are the pros and cons?
Pros
One of the reasons that online poker has hit off so well is down to its many benefits. There is so much going for online poker, it is not hard to see why it has taken off so well.
More Affordable
Online poker is more affordable. Typically, it can be less expensive than playing at a casino or brick-and-mortar establishment.
There are no overhead fees which online casinos would have to factor into their fees. Let’s not forget that you do not have to pay to travel when you play online, and all the other factors of going out to a casino are moot when you play online.
Play When you Want
This has to be the most popular factor in people loving to play online. Everyone loves being able to do what they want when they want to. Online casinos allow for online gambling as and when you feel like it.
Want to play in the bath? While you commute? As you are waiting for dinner to cook? You can! You can enjoy as you want, whether you wake up early or go to bed late, it is always available.
Variety
Online poker will also have more variety in its games. There are plenty of types of players. You might enjoy 3-card poker most, but a land-based casino may only have Texas Hold’em due to spatial restrictions.
Online, there are no restrictions in space, and so an online casino can have as many varieties of poker as they want to. You can play whatever version you like, allowing players of different styles and expertise to enjoy their favorite game without having to search around.
Bonuses
Bonuses are a benefit of gambling at an online casino as well. Online poker gives you the ability to make the most of the bonuses and deals.
This can increase the amount of money you have to spend and gives you the opportunity to play new games and make the most of free games too.
If you enjoy gambling for the fun of it, then this can be a great way to use some spare cash.
Better For Newbies
When you go into a physical casino it can be overwhelming if you are new to the scene. Being able to play online is less of a stress for newbies to the scene. Not to mention how inviting and friendly the community of online poker players is.
Cons
However, while all this stuff sounds amazing, online poker also has drawbacks too. Nothing is perfect after all. These issues will not matter to many people, but for some, they can be a dealbreaker in playing poker online.
You Can’t See Peoples ‘Tells’
If you are an avid poker player whose strategy is being able to tell when people may be bluffing, online poker takes away this ability.
Some people will have tells in their face or body when they are bluffing, giving you an idea on how others are doing. Online you won’t be able to see these tells.
For the most part, this is not necessary, but for some players, this is a key part of their strategy, this makes online poker less of a choice for them.
However, if your tells are obvious, and you always get caught out on them, perhaps online poker is a better option for you.
Easy To Get Addicted & Harder To Stop
Playing online is addictive, as is the case with many online games. When you can play whenever you want it does run a risk of addiction.
If you have an addictive personality type, perhaps you will need to set yourself limits on your play, or temper with the poker site account you have and ensure you set limits on how long you can play or how much you can spend.
Otherwise, you could end up spending all your paycheck on poker.
While it is great that we have the ability to play the games we love whenever we want to, it does have drawbacks as well, and easy addiction is one of these.
No Real Social Interaction
Finally, the last downside to online poker is that you lose out on the potential for social interaction. For some people playing at a casino is better because they can socialize, make new friends and gambling buddies.
Sure you can use chat rooms in some online casinos, but it just is not the same, and you do not connect with fellow players online like you might in a land-based casino.
It loses that special touch, and so if you enjoy playing poker for the social interaction as well as the fun of the game, perhaps online poker is not for you.
