For many people, poker has remained the top casino table game of all time. With over 100 million active poker players worldwide, it is not a surprise that online casinos must include poker in their offerings if they want to thrive.
The online casino world has been growing at a tremendous rate, with more and more people preferring it to the traditional form of gambling. This is because of the convenience that online casinos offer. For instance, the flexibility of playing your favorite games at any time, regardless of where you are. However, with the many online casinos in place, it might be a bit hard to find a suitable casino that fits your needs.
As of 2024, according to IBISWorld, there were 4,563 global casinos and online gambling businesses. If you want to engage in free poker online , then you’d need to look far and wide in order to find a suitable site to work with. But with such a huge number of easily accessible platforms, you’d need a criterion that would separate the wheat from the chaff. And this is where this article comes in.
Licensing cannot be overstated
Casinos are out to make money, and if you are not careful, you might fall into one that goes overboard and can end up sucking you dry. Regulators come in to ensure the safety of players by making sure the casinos are following a specific code of strict guidelines. The licensing body holds the operator accountable to industry standards in fairness, security, responsible gaming and financial operations.
Top-tier poker players actively check for licenses from reputable regulatory commissions, such as:
- UK Gambling Commission (UKGC): Known for its strict rules on fairness and anti-money laundering.
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA): Top EU license that enforces strong consumer protection.
- Gibraltar Regulatory Authority: Popular among top European online casino and poker sites.
- Curacao eGaming: Their rules are more relaxed and suit operators, but still focus on fairness.
You should be careful about offshore accounts that do not hold any reputable license. Most of these offer attractive bonuses, faster payouts and fewer restrictions, but you might end up compromising your security. With cyberthreats and fraud increasing in the online casino world, it is not a good time to try out platforms that are not tried and tested.
Find the reputation
Reputation in the poker world is earned, not claimed. Before you can settle for a poker site, you need to know what other people are saying about it. It is not just for show that 81% of consumers prefer to check Google reviews before they can engage with a business. A report by Backlinko stated that at least 71% of consumers claim to “always” or “regularly” read online reviews when they are looking for local businesses. It is not different when it comes to online poker sites.
Reading online reviews satisfies two functions:
- To see the reputation of a site and whether it is living up to the standards
- Finding the best deals, whether bonuses or payouts
The good thing about online reviews is that they will always call out the good and the bad. Real users are quick to call out platforms that delay payments, suspend accounts unfairly or operate in a suspicious way. If you happen to meet some of these platforms, it would be best to keep away, as you don’t know how long it would take for you to be their next victim.
For poker fans, there are many online forums where you can get trustworthy reviews. For example, TwoPusTwo is a poker discussion forum with over 500,000 members and 100 different poker forums. Here, you not only learn the strategies for sharpening your skills, but you also get to find out which sites are best to interact with. Social media platforms like X and Instagram are also credible sources of getting good reviews. Also, you can visit sites like PokerScout or TrustPilot, which provide expert reviews about different sites. Once you get one that suits your preferences, then you’re good to go.
The payment method can change your experience
When your money is on the line, it is important that you find a platform that offers fast and secure banking options. Actually, most players prefer casinos that support a wide range of payment methods that offer flexibility and cater to regional preferences.
The rise of cryptocurrency has made the use of these digital assets popular among poker players. Interestingly, Blockonomi reports that the global crypto gambling market increased from $50 million in 2019 to a staggering $250 million in 2024. This just shows how many people are getting the hang of these blockchain-based technology. They are especially popular with players who do not want to reveal their identity (you don’t have to provide any financial information when using crypto) or those who cherish speedy transactions.
A casino with multiple payment methods will be appealing for various reasons, including speed, ease, privacy, security and geographical location. For example, while bank transfers are good for large withdrawals, they are not the best for cross-border transactions because of their slow speed and high transaction costs. Debit and credit cards are good options, but some jurisdictions and banks restrict gambling-related transactions. E-wallets like PayPal, Skrill and Neteller are also good options for operating between various poker sites.
In short, it is important to perform your due diligence before you settle for a poker site. With the current age of technological advancement, malicious players are looking for gullible players to take advantage of. That is why you need to consider a number of things before you can finally settle for a poker platform. Otherwise, you will not have a good gaming experience.
This article was written in cooperation with BAZOOM