Whilst this stat isn't true for poker, it is estimated that some 40% of traffic is mobile, which is significant. Most poker sites, you would think, would be mobile friendly and come with a user friendly app to play on the go - but this isn't the case. A site that restricts players to desktop play isn't.
If you are interested in playing poker on your iPhone, here is a guide to poker rooms and poker apps to help you enjoy poker on the move.
Apple has released one of the most popular products in the mobile device market running on their own operative system, the iOS. Due to the large number of users, it soon became optimal grounds for the online poker industry, which is how iPhone poker sites came about.
Nowadays, these iPhone poker sites enjoy great popularity and have distinguished between two formats in which such gaming content is available. Players can choose to access such iPhone poker sites directly through their browser, as an instant play version. This suits those who don’t want to install any poker software, or are limited by their device’s memory.
On the other hand, iPhone poker is also accessible through inherent apps, developed specifically for iPhone users who enjoy a more personalized mobile poker experience. They can be downloaded straight from the operator’s website, or through the Apple App Store, as it permits the distribution of both free-play and real money poker apps.
Playing iPhone poker is one of the best poker gaming experiences the industry can offer, but the iPhone poker industry is still in its infancy, fraught with several technical problems, and needs to develop a lot. Since the iPhone is a feature-rich smartphone, poker players can expect the best in terms of graphics, sound effects, and game play or, in other words, they can expect a realistic poker gaming experience on their iPhones.
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Apple does not approve of real money poker apps, online poker sites have not yet launched any native iPhone poker gaming software although efforts are on to create downloadable iPhone poker software clients for iPhones. The iPhone is compatible with Safari, a number of poker players felt that they could gain access to their online Flash poker accounts through their iPhones. Unfortunately, online poker rooms offering instant play or Flash poker games require Adobe Flash to work. Also, the iPhone does not support Flash, poker players cannot access instant play poker games through their iPhones.
The poker gaming industry has come up with several real money and free iPhone poker apps. Poker players, on their part, have developed roundabout ways of accessing their favourite online poker games on their iPhones.
Software Compatibility & Security
As mentioned above, the software for iPhone poker sites comes in two distinct variants. Moreover, you should know that most operators include two types of poker game play on their chosen variant – for free or real money poker action. That way, players can practice and improve their strategy without wasting a dime, and get used to the iPhone poker site layout in order to prevent accidents.
As for the software’s security, iPhone poker sites run on fully protected platforms equipped with the latest encryption certificates. These reputable sites are licensed by corresponding governments and authoritative bodies, meaning that they have met the standard requirements for regular operations.
Game Range
The game selection at iPhone poker sites is just as varied and attractive as it is on any desktop platform. When it comes to types of poker games, iPhone poker sites offer the most popular options by default, although more and more dedicated operators seem eager to attract a wider player pool by increasing the range of offerings. Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo are considered the standard options, with Razz, 7-Card Stud and several others joining the tables recently.
Players are able to enjoy all these poker games at a number of cash game tables, tournaments or Sit’n Gos. Multitabling is also becoming a more frequent feature on iPhone poker sites, as well as ‘fast fold’ versions.
Here is a list of some of the most popular iPhone mobile poker apps in the industry
- Zynga Live Poker : Zynga Live Poker is the best iPhone poker app in the industry, and interested players can download it from the app store. Players can connect to their MySpace and Facebook accounts through this app and play poker against real players. However, Zynga Live Poker is not a real money poker app, which means that players cannot win real money prizes; they can only enjoy the fun of playing poker on their iPhones. There are several variants of Zynga Live Poker; besides, players have the option of purchasing extra free chips and take part in poker tournaments.
- PokerStars iPhone Poker : The PokerStars iPhone Poker app, which can be downloaded from the App Store, allows players to play their favorite poker games on their iPhones. Poker games are available for every skill level and bankroll size and players can play for fun as well as real money. Besides, they can grab generous bonuses and take part in lucrative tournaments.
- Texas Poker : Developed by Pokerist.com, Texas Poker is an excellent Texas Hold’em game for iPhone players. Besides, it includes a tutorial for beginners. Players can wager anywhere in the range of $100 to $1 million and choose from a wide range of tournaments. iPhone users can also play poker games for fun, create a profile and a list of friends, and track their progress.
- Mega Poker : Mega Poker is just like Zynga Poker, but not as good as the latter. Although the games are great and free, Mega Poker just does not have as large a player base as Zynga Poker, owing to which there aren’t enough opponents to play against. Players need to create an account before getting started with Mega Poker.
iPhone Poker Sites Bonuses & Promos
The bonus offers for iPhone poker site players are no less generous than they are at any other poker client operating on different platforms. Namely, this player pool is able to receive the same benefits of novice players, such as No Deposit and First Deposit bonuses, as well as Loyalty programs and player points.
Promotions at iPhone poker sites are generally distinguished by the player group they target or the time period in which they are available. Nonetheless, the selection has proven able to meet player demands.
iPhone Poker Sites Banking Methods
iPhone poker sites allow their players to perform all the transactions they need in order to have a seamless poker game play experience. The iOS is built to be compatible with all kinds of payment service elements, and considering the fact that iPhone poker sites are inherent to the platform, it is only expected that multiple payment methods are provided.
Starting from debit and credit cards, today’s iPhone poker players also have e-wallets at their disposal, money transfer services, bank transfer options and even cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.
Conclusion
It is evident that iPhone poker sites have been able to meet industry standards and include all major elements in their offering. Customer support is generally provided through email and live chat contact options, but some players are also given the option to look for an answer through an extensive list of FAQs.
Ultimately, all the features discussed above, as well as additional ones which are constantly added to the top iPhone poker sites serve to create the perfect balance between their quality and functionality.
FAQs
Players should be aware of the fact that iPhone poker sites can drain quite a bit of your data plan. Apart from this, they also require a regular and stable connection for optimal operations. Hence, it is advisable that you use a secure Wi-Fi network whenever possible.
The same poker games which are normally found on the sites’ desktop versions tend to be available on their iPhone mobile versions as well.
While all iPhone poker sites tend to distinguish themselves from the rest by providing a unique and recognizable graphic design, table and menu layouts, most of them set payment processing in the Cashier option. All you have to do is access it and choose your chosen method based on the limits provided.
Just like any other reputable licensed poker operator, all iPhone poker sites are bound to respect legal regulations. Thus, limits regarding deposit and withdrawal options are normally applied as a result of the player’s specific country of residence and their internal online gambling regulations.
These sites are developed for the iOS system specifically, but that does not mean that they can be supported by any version of it due to the fact that they require good device performances and iOS functionality. The specific versions vary from one iPhone poker site to the other; however, newer versions from the recent couple of years are usually known to be a fitting match.
Mobile apps differ in their response to this action. Generally speaking however, if the app is inactive for a certain period of time (usually up to 1 minute), it automatically turns off.
Most of these software versions include the multi-tabling feature in their package, although this is not very common practice.
Yes, the iPhone compatible versions of the poker sites allow their users to perform all kinds of payment functions.
No, the withdrawal waiting time is specific for each separate operator, so playing poker on a desktop platform is not a guarantee for faster withdrawals. In fact, the latest leading iPhone poker sites have build a solid reputation for providing reliable and timely payment processing services.
Mobile poker is technology’s newest gift to online poker players, enabling them to play real money poker from any location under the sun.
The game of poker has been discovered to date back centuries in the past, but when it comes to the present, it seems that it is bound to exist for just as many years to come.
This pastime of the human civilisation has been able to survive the passage of time due to some of its key qualities. For one, it bears an element of entertainment due to the fact that players need to have developed card skills, bluffing capabilities and an inherent desire to use all this for the sake of winning the card game.
As for the other key feature that seems to have determined the game’s popularity throughout the ages – gambling – proof of its ability to capture people’s attention is evident in multiple studies throughout the years. In fact, the risk factor seems to be one of the players’ main drivers towards the next available poker table.
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As technology started to progress, and all kinds of tech achievements were brought to the fore, it became certain that a lot of segments in human life were bound to change and adapt to the circumstances. The game of poker surprisingly turned out to be one of them, and as computers and all kinds of hardware gadgets were brought to the fore, so the game started to evolve and accept being played on platforms other than the poker table felt.
With the massive rise in mobile device’s popularity, smartphones and tablets became the new unexploited market. Developers soon managed to set the transition from desktop to mobile underway and mobile poker sites and corresponding apps were soon attracting the player pools to their realms.
This shape of the game still abides by the same rules and standards, but there are a few novel considerations which need to be accounted for when choosing to take your seat at a mobile poker site’s table. Reading on, you will learn about the different types of mobile poker sites and services, the way they enable you to enjoy your favourite game and the different features which help you identify those mobile poker sites that offer the best experience.
Types of Mobile Poker Sites
Contents
- Types of Mobile Poker Sites
In order to make the most use of this invention and enjoy it fully, there are a few things that eager poker players will need to be aware of before accessing such platforms and playing poker with the rest of the player pool.
Before we move on to the specific types of mobile poker sites and the features mentioned above, you need to understand the concept of a mobile poker site. This is a form of online service which will operate as soon as you are able to connect to the Internet. Now, once you have established a stable and secure online connection, accessing mobile poker sites can be done in one of two ways, which basically denotes the two types of the service.
The ability to play poker on mobile devices is a boon to poker players who are always on the move. Thanks to the availability of mobile poker rooms and mobile poker applications, poker players can play their favourite games of poker for real money, irrespective of their geographic location.
Web Browser Sites
This is the true form of mobile poker sites – a platform that operates online and can solely be accessed through a web browser. While these mobile poker sites may not require any operative system specifications for the mobile device, you will need to have the appropriate mobile browser in place in order to run the site’s software.
These online website services first appeared with the rise of the Internet, but became even more famous as land-based casinos and poker rooms turned more and more obsolete. Nowadays, they are known as online poker room operators and are considered as just another form of a modern business establishment.
Poker Apps
The second form of these mobile poker sites is known as mobile poker apps. These are practically sites which, aside from their instant-play browser version, offer a downloadable version of their software in the form of a mobile device app. Even if they do not offer any game play on the website as it is, the mobile poker app is bound to offer all the functionalities that are found in the previous type.
While mobile poker sites only required a suitable browser, these mobile apps tend to be constructed for different operative systems. Mobile devices run on many various OSs, but the dominant types include Android and Apple’s iOS systems. Other than these, Windows Phone systems and Blackberry are popular types, but owners of such smartphones and tablets tend to access the mobile poker sites rather than looking for the rarely available inherent apps.
Android mobiles on the one hand, and iPhones and iPads on the other, running mobile poker apps are a common occurrence. They don’t require a lot of maintenance and can be downloaded directly from the operator’s website or through the Apple App Store. The only requirement you are supposed to meet is the operative system’s version – most apps tend to run on all the newer versions of the OS and the corresponding device hardware, but the best way to guarantee your enjoyment in all of the app’s benefits is by checking the exact specifications.
Playing real money Poker on Different Mobile Phones
The online poker industry has only recently realized the amazing potential of mobile poker gaming, owing to which mobile poker is still in its infancy and has a long way to go. The best mobile poker rooms have launched amazing poker applications that can be easily downloaded onto Android, Blackberry, and iOS devices, enabling players to play real money poker on the move.
iPhone : Playing poker on an iPhone can be a delightful experience because the iPhone is packed with innovative features. A large number of online poker rooms have already developed mobile poker applications compatible with iPhones, but the iPhone poker industry is very young and needs to be developed. In future, the poker gaming industry might develop downloadable poker gaming software compatible with the iPhone, enabling players to access all the features of the online poker room on their iPhones.
Currently, a handful of online poker rooms such as PokerStars, Bwin, and Switch Poker offer iPhone poker.
iPad : Playing poker games on an iPad devices is definitely an enhanced experience because of their larger screens and better batteries. Since the iPad battery lasts longer, iPad poker is ideal for poker players who prefer longer cash games and poker tournaments. The above-mentioned online poker rooms are also compatible with the iPad.
Android : Although many were skeptical when Google acquired Android Inc in 2005, Android mobile phones became just as popular as iPhones and iPads. Cashing in on the popularity of Android devices, online poker companies became rolling out real money poker apps compatible with Android phones. Today, Android mobile poker is rapidly gaining popularity.
In fact, Android mobile poker is more easily available than iPhone online poker, and Android users in different parts of the world such as UK, Australia, Canada, and US can play real money poker games on their Android phones.
Moreover, Android devices come with touch screens that facilitate smooth game play with awesome graphics, giving players a realistic poker gaming experience.
Blackberry : Today, the market is literally flooded with smartphones at present, Blackberry, which happens to be among the first smartphones launched in 1999, still enjoys a great deal of popularity. Since Blackberry devices are the fifth most popular in the world, a large number of people prefer to play their favorite poker games on their Blackberry devices.
Blackberry devices are a hot favorite in the US although people in Australia, UK, and other parts of the world are developing a fondness for these fabulous devices. The poker industry has, therefore, churned out a number of Blackberry mobile poker apps for the benefit of Blackberry users.
Windows Mobile : Although Windows Mobile is not as popular as Blackberry, Android, or iPhone, its latest version called Windows Phone 7 is almost as good as the above mentioned. Playing Windows Mobile Poker is an excellent experience as the device has an excellent touch screen, high resolution, and fast processors, making the mobile poker experience as realistic as possible.
Poker players can find a number of excellent mobile poker rooms and apps compatible with Windows Mobile, and many of them offer great bonuses and lucrative tournaments.
Main Features of Mobile Poker Sites
As mentioned earlier, mobile poker sites are packed with all kinds of features and characteristics which make them as functional as they are. These refer to all different elements that find their place in forming the end product – a mobile poker site.
While some may seem to be less important than others, you need to pay great attention to all of them equally. For example, you need to have at least the standard poker variants and a selection of several different types of player competition events in order to stay with one poker site a longer period of time. However, should the site lack the ability to sustain a stable connection, or simply come packed with too many minute buttons that can cost players dearly, game selection will not suffice on its own.
Evidently so, mobile poker sites have been able to achieve some form of equilibrium. Had operators not been able to do this – the mobile poker industry would probably be non-existing. Now that the situation has a rather positive outlook, and mobile poker is all the more supported by the constant evolution and improvement of mobile devices – smartphones and tablets – all you need to do is identify the separate elements of these software solutions and understand each of their roles in constructing the perfect product.
Poker Licensing & Security
The matter of legalizing and regulating the market presence for this kind of establishments is quite a complex situation, and when it comes to their mobile counterparts, the situation is no different. A large number of governments over the world have specific authoritative bodies that impose strict regulations and requirements for these operators to meet. Should they be able to reach the standards, they are awarded with a license to operate. Nonetheless, such licenses are not irrevocable, and can easily be annulled should the need arise.
When it comes to the specific case of mobile poker sites, these could be inherently dedicated to mobile use or simply provide a mobile-compatible script of the desktop software version. In the first case, the mobile poker site acts as an independent entity and is expected to meet requirements on its own in order to receive proper legal authorization. As for the latter case of a mobile version of the same software, operator and ultimately player pool, players should expect to see a license from the same gambling commission on both platforms.
Security issues, on the other hand, have long been considered a major obstacle for the mobile industry in general, so when mobile poker sites came up, security became a priority. Mobile devices, phones primarily, had a reputation of being susceptible to third party interference, which is why operators were forced to employ even more stringent security measures to ensure such things are virtually impossible. Nowadays, reliable mobile poker sites use SSL encryption to that purpose, along with regular tests and software inspections.
Poker Software Reliability & Fairness
Speaking of software inspections and tests, it is important to mention how indispensible they are to ensuring the software on your mobile poker site (or inherent app) is provably fair. Special independent consulting companies are hired for this purpose, with the intention of checking and proving that every outcome of the card decks is completely random and unpredictable, yet reliable enough to give players a chance at winning, should they play their hand right.
As for the software’s reliability aspect, players need to take into account much more than its plain regularity. Namely, a mobile poker site’s reliability is a multi-factor affair – for one, the site needs to be fully compatible with the device it is intended for, and should any inconsistencies arise, there’s risk of losing the entertainment element. On a different note, the mobile poker site’s reliability also factors in the availability of customer support options and their responsiveness, as well as the site’s interactivity with the players.
Free Poker Apps
Mobile Poker Sites Design
While the site needs to be interactive enough in order to be reliable, it can only achieve that if it is well designed and created. Mobile poker sites may appear to be the same to the untrained eye of an amateur occasional player, but the best in the game can tell a good concept from a non-existing one.
The site’s design covers everything from the poker lobby, the tables, cards, felt, all the way to the sound effects, as well as the ability to customize all that in a way that players find fitting. One thing that cannot be customized, yet plays a major role in this segment is the site’s menu. Its accessibility, the way it lists the options as well as the actual consistency of the list are all taken into account for the mobile poker site’s design rating.
On the whole, the best mobile poker design is one that is not noticeable, yet manages to be completely serviceable and pleasing to the eye. While some consider this as an aspect that only operates in the background, the fact that it can seriously obstruct the player’s experience brings the matter to the fore by default.
Mobile Poker Game Selection
Poker players come to mobile poker sites for their irrepressible wish to play some poker when they can’t spare the time at home or at a land-based poker room, meaning that their primary use emphasizes the need for a good and varied game selection.
Still, smaller screens and lesser processing power remain features of mobile devices, thus setting the standard game selection at about two to three variants, which is enough to keep players interested for quite some time. Texas Hold’em and Omaha are the omnipresent poker games, but recent releases have seen operators trying to add more vibration to their game selection. Some go so far as to provide the same game selection from their desktop client, which is bound to have a positive effect on the overall progress.
Mobile Poker Player Bonuses & Promos
The pillars of the online gambling industry have just as big an influence on the mobile poker sites rating charts as they do on the whole. In order to appeal to a larger player pool, these operators employ a specific marketing strategy in the form of player bonuses and promotional offers. These aim to reward or incentivize the person to accept the deal and get into the platform, or to keep them in once things get monotonous.
While the entire concept is intended to help the players and encourage them, there is one thing about player bonuses and promos that should be factored in when looking at the big picture. Namely, mobile poker sites offer all kinds of player benefits in these programs, often including real, free cash straight out of their pockets – in order for this to pay off on the long run, it is connected to a string of terms and conditions. Also known as wagering requirements, these bonus terms determine the exact situations and circumstances under which players are able to qualify for the benefit, use it, and pay it back in order to be able to take out their profits.
Conclusion
En masse, a mobile poker site operates as a complex organism that needs all its segments to be just as optimised as the whole in order to provide the best service possible. Now that they have entered the online gaming industry by and large, players are more than ever encouraged to learn all about them. As it seems, they are beginning to appear fully independent and separate of desktop clients, hence, need to be accepted as such and properly evaluated during players’ selection process.