Online Real Money Poker: Pros and Cons

Poker is as much a game of the mind. Online poker today also offers the possibility of winning real money, and even earning a living from it. Players also take their gaming further into other live lifestyles, in which they might, for example, play live 3 card poker along with traditional online cash games. To start playing for real money, you need to learn the rules, choose the right online poker room, and get some live practice.

What Are Poker Rooms and How Do They Work?

Poker rooms are unique websites that bring together players all around the globe in virtual tables for real-cash games. As a rule, there are four kinds of poker rooms:

Top rooms. Big, established sites that meet all the software, look, and support requirements, and have achieved long-term dominance of the marketplace.
New and fast-growing rooms. Rooms where players are able to begin from scratch and accumulate a bankroll through no-deposit bonuses and promotions.
Rooms with double reputations. They come on with a promise of being reliable but end up lacking on their promise.
Unreliable rooms. Without key parameters, these are usually associated with deceit.

To end up in one of the first three categories and steer clear of the last, it's crucial to consider all the pros of a poker room before investing your money.

Key Criteria for Assessing a Poker Room

Design and interface. An old look and no handy control panel can indicate that the platform owners do not care about development. Such a site can shut down anytime, and your money might not be refunded.
Cross-platform compatibility. Presence on different devices is a sign of a serious service. When choosing a room, make sure the provider resizes their tables in proper time to other operating systems.
Payment methods. The fact that a wide range of deposit and withdrawal methods are available suggests the company has undergone auditing and compliance testing. This is important but not the most important indicator of a room's trustworthiness.
Cashout speed. When customer support responds quickly to withdrawal requests, then the company is trustworthy. Regular delays in payouts, however, are a red flag. Exceptions may be short delays in regard to the wallet used for withdrawals.
Promotions and special offers. Free tournaments, offers, and deposit bonuses show that the room takes care of new and regular players.
Reviews, publicity, and player base. If search engines do not vomit results, there are no real reviews, or only a handful of players are playing, reconsider entering your payment details.
Reliability. Learn about the algorithms. If games are being played among real humans, fair play can be anticipated. While bots may be difficult to identify, opinion from veterans can go a long way in minimizing risks.

Can You Really Make Money Playing Online Poker?

Yes — poker is one way to earn money online. First, don't need to do too much of it:

Choose a poker room.
Check on minimum bets.
Read up on the site rules.

As you begin with cash games, it's wise to play low limits. This keeps the risk to your bankroll at a minimum as you learn and build confidence. At lower limits, even you'll find regulars — only by playing successfully against them can you move up to higher stakes.

Constant practice is the key to improvement. The tight-aggressive style, with selective bluffing, is usually the most effective. Bluffing at the appropriate time can win games against tough players.

However, playing while in tilt (frustration) can destroy your prospects. Remaining patient and keeping cool during the game is important.

Pros and Cons of Playing Online

Advantages

Accessibility. To begin with free games, just a swift registration is required. Then it's down to your time, knowledge of rules, and willingness to hone your strategy.
Flexi schedule. Internet players dictate their own schedule, opting for tournament series or constant cash games.
Increased number of games per hour. Online poker is quicker compared to games played live, allowing players to make more money by playing multiple tables at once.
Choice. You decide on the type of game, how many players are playing, and the degree of competition.
Free entry real money games. Begin with bonus promotions first before risking.
Cashless play. Convenient deposits and withdrawals.

Risks

Online poker can save time, deliver social interaction, and contribute to financial stability, but risks are still there.

Unlike with live poker, inexperience is the biggest issue there. With online poker, fraud is also a risk. These days, they are not very common and usually don't target popular poker rooms that want to keep their reputation intact. Nevertheless, it's wise to play on respected sites.

To be as secure as possible, some suggest using a computer dedicated to poker. This minimizes the risk of malware and keeps your poker account safe from hackers.