Play Live Dealer Poker for Real Money

Variations of the Game

For most outside observers, the world of live casino poker is usually narrowed down to Texas Hold'em, which they mistake for the only game option. There are many variations of poker, and we will consider the main ones.

Texas Hold 'Em poker

In Hold'em, bettors are dealt 2 face-down cards, and 5 common face-up cards are laid out on the table. This variation is especially popular due to its excitement and fun, the abundance of strategies, as well as availability to any player, regardless of the level and size of bets.

Whatever one may say, the majority of poker players in the world prefer no-limit live Texas Hold'em, which has easy rules and the ability to make any bets, including the intriguing "all-in". Therefore, learning to play poker, as a rule, begins with Hold'em. The object of the game is to collect the highest combination using two of your cards, which you will immediately receive from the dealer at the beginning of the game, and five common "face-up" cards on the table.

Omaha poker

The rules of this live poker game online are similar to Hold'em. A participant receives 4 cards at once. The final combo consists of 5 cards, but only 2 of the player’s cards and 3 common cards from the game table are taken into account.

As a result, the number of options for playing, as well as opportunities to choose any live poker strategy, increases. For inexperienced bettors, it can be too difficult a task to play against seasoned gamblers and professional dealers.

Seven Card Stud

There are several variants of the game of Stud, but the most well-liked one is Seven Card Stud. The main difference between Stud, Hold'em and Omaha is the absence of common cards. After a round of bets, the banker deals 3 cards to the players, one of which will be open to everyone. Then, you will get three more face-up cards and one face down.

Thus, when enjoying a seven-card stud, you can see 4 of the opponent's cards out of the 7 that they will eventually have in their hands. And so do other players. The winner is the one who collects the best combo of the 5 cards.

poker Rank of Hands

Let’s dig into the entire list of poker hands in the most common game variation (Texas Hold'em):

Limit or No Limit

The game of poker can take place in various formats, which determine the rules for poker bets and regulate their minimum/maximum size. There are three such formats, differing from each other by the limit on the maximum stake. Knowing them, you can choose the table for the game that suits you more:

• Fixed limit - in such a game, poker players can place bets of limited size - not less and not more than the established limit. For example, with $1-2 bets, the player can only raise $1 in the 1st two rounds.
• Pot Limit - in this format, players have more opportunities in terms of raises, as the maximum bet size increases during trading. Yet, it cannot exceed the pot size. That is, when the total amount of the pot is $100, then you can bet the same amount and no more.
• No limit - here, the rules of poker bets do not limit the maximum amount. A gambler can raise the bet to any amount, even by betting the entire stack (All-In).

Live poker vs. Online poker

Live poker online differs significantly from regular web-based poker. It has the following positive features:

• Players can observe the full gameplay, ranging from card dealing to the announcement of the dealing result.
• The presence of the opponent (a live dealer) creates a thrilling atmosphere.
• The usual RNG algorithm is completely removed. That is, the results are determined by "physical" randomness and can’t be (pre)programmed. Though RNGs are usually secure, for some players, their absence is a very essential point.

Some players love online poker with live dealers because of these features, while others avoid the live-dealer game due to the same reasons. The main disadvantages of poker live games, in comparison with the usual online casino game, are as follows:

• the strict requirements for a good Internet connection;
• the potential for human error;
• the need to play at high limits to generate meaningful profits;
• less number of hands played (because the gameplay takes place via real-time stream).

Types of Poker Bonuses and Promotions

Live poker sites offer the next bonuses:

• Welcome Bonus - a promotion for your first deposit. As a rule, you get a 100% bonus with the wager and time limits.
• No-deposit bonus - you can claim the offer without depositing any funds. In some cases, you may need a promo code.
• Freerolls - players get an opportunity to play a few poker hands at zero cost. A big plus is that all the winnings can be withdrawn later.
• Percentage Bonus - it returns an established percent of your deposits as bonus money. Usually, there are no particular wagering requirements for such an offer, but you are better to check the terms and conditions in advance.
• Loyalty Scheme - standing customers with VIP statuses can get customized bonuses, cashback, and even personal managers.
• Refer a Friend - by inviting a friend to the live poker website, you both can receive bonus codes for exclusive promotions.

Live poker App or Mobile Live poker

Both live poker apps and mobile sites provide an opportunity to play from various portable devices at any time and location. Yet, there is a significant difference: real-dealer poker applications are usually more stable, better optimized for the device screen, and load way faster. Mobile poker sites, in turn, require high-speed Internet connection without delays and freezes. Otherwise, you are likely to miss the part of the hand or even automatically exit the poker room.

How to Choose the Best Live poker Casino

We always research live casino poker sites before listing them. We want them to meet several criteria to provide a useful service to our readers. Below, we have detailed the most common criteria for choosing the best platform with live-dealer poker.

• Licensing and Rating. The recommended online casinos have obtained a license from an authorized entity with a good reputation, including Malta Gambling Authority, The Government of Gibraltar, The UK Gambling Commission, Kahnawake Gambling Commission, Alderney Gambling Control Commission, and The Curacao Gambling Commission. All of these organizations are reputable institutions that regulate gambling activities in their jurisdictions. This means that they guarantee the safety of the games as well as the reliability and honesty of the casino.
• Fast Payout Speed. We suggest giving priority to quick payouts and whether they are available on weekends. According to the standard, payment requests must be processed automatically or within 24 hours. Delays beyond this period (which are not related to the receiving bank) lower the casino's rating.
• Deposit and Withdrawal Methods. It’s important to make sure casinos with live poker have all popular payment methods available such as Visa, MasterCard, Paysafecard, Neteller, Skrill, and others. These must be reliable payment Deposits and withdrawals must not be too complicated or insecure. Our team pays attention to what players say about depositing a casino account, as well as the range of options available to customers.
• Bonuses And Promotions. Bonuses and promotions are a plus for the live poker game online, but only when it’s clear what exactly is offered and on what terms. Bonuses must be available to all players (unless there are any legal or licensing requirements). Loyalty programs need to bring good rewards at a reasonable rate, and VIP programs need to be decent and offer the most loyal players a good deal of devotion to the site.
• Mobile Almost all online casinos have mobile optimization or apps for Android and iOS smartphones/tablets. If you prefer to play live poker through your device, make sure the website is well adapted to the screen, all the components are displayed properly, and navigation is simple. In the case of mobile apps, check whether the software runs on your phone/tablet and if it offers all the services the official casino website does.
• Customer Support. Client service must be of a high standard and be accessible to everyone. It should be transparent and, if possible, available 24/7. A wide range of options is also a plus because a site with an online chat, phone number, and email consultation offers triple good service. Online casino support should be fast, friendly, of high quality, and around the clock.
• Safety and Security. Every player who intends to play live online poker is interested in the fairness of this game in terms of the actual randomness of the outcomes and the absence of card tampering. Playing online poker with a live dealer is fair and transparent in all respects as the gameplay takes place in real-time on reputable gambling sites. The latter, of course, does not make any sense to give preference to one or another player.

Another guarantee of secure play in online poker live is the modern software from leading gaming providers, including Evolution, Playtech, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Play. The likelihood of any fraud when using this software tends to be zero.