The Top 5 Online Poker and Casino Websites
The Poker World, like any other gaming world, is just a click away. It has completely taken over the internet. You get the real-time experience, too, because online poker does not kill the action associated with live gaming since one player can handle multiple tables at a time.
No-money online poker is another excellent game suitable for amateurs to learn the essence of the game. It prepares them for real-money games. Thousands of platforms offer free poker games with no deposit policy, as well so that it stays strictly for entertainment purposes.
The exciting part of it is that the player has an open window to explore. He might have to play Omaha when he wants to play Texas Hold ’em. Until then, he will figure out the game anyway, which is impossible to do in real casinos.
In this article, you will find the top 5 cash and no-cash online places where you’ll have the best time. These places are also entirely secure and legitimate.
Table of Contents
- The Decline of Casino’s During COVID-19 and The Shift to Online Gaming:
- Online Gambling Ages:
- Canada: Legitimate Minimum Age for Online Gambling
- U.S. Legitimate Minimum Age for Online Gambling
- List of The Best Online Poker Casinos with Real Money:
- List of Best Online Poker Casinos With No-Money:
- Secure Form Of Payment Options for Online Gaming:
- Conclusion:
The Decline of Casino’s During COVID-19 and The Shift to Online Gaming:
The global pandemic COVID-19 affected the whole world and continues to manifest its life-threatening consequences. It also had a massive impact on the gambling fraternity all over the world. At the initial stage of the pandemic, numerous casinos and gaming zones started to work within the safety protocols by using high-tech apparatus. They even set up U.V. technology to disinfect the air.
As per the SOPs, masks were made mandatory. But it wasn’t enough. Lo and behold! The casinos installed thermal imaging cameras to detect the rise in skin temperatures.
When Canada, the United States, U.K., Italy, etc., were struck by a severe pandemic wave, it affected the people financially and mentally. The significant revenue losses resulted in the shutdown of casinos and various gambling spots because of the inability to pay the bills and rents of the gambling zone. It was only a matter of time that live gaming switched to an online platform.
As the online setup is far more affordable than the actual casino, several operators have not only gone digital but joined other U.S. states to set their online market.
Software industries worked day and night to improve their applications and provide their consumers with a safe and secure online gaming experience. They also invested in mobile apps to give a more flawless user experience.
Online Gambling Ages:
The legal age is a significant factor in the gambling world. All the players should be aware of the rules and restrictions of the game, whether it is online or offline.
Canada: Legitimate Minimum Age for Online Gambling
The legal age for gambling is an average of 19 in Canada, with some exceptions. Laws vary across ten provinces and three territories. Below is the list that includes some of the states which allow 18-year-olds to gamble:
| REGION | LEGAL GAMBLING AGE |
| Alberta | 18 |
| Calgary | 18 |
| Montreal | 18 |
| Manitoba | 18 |
| Ottawa | 18 |
| Quebec | 18 |
People living in most Canadian states need to be 19 to enter into the gambling world. Good news for the youngsters who live in Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta, though. They don’t need to wait an extra year.
U.S. Legitimate Minimum Age for Online Gambling
Like Canada, the U.S. also legalizes gambling (with some restrictions). Most of the U.S. states permit minimum age of 21 to land-based or online gambling. Twelve states allow 18-year-olds to gamble. Though, some of these states have prohibited alcohol usage at this age. Here is a list of U.S. states where 18 is the permissible age for online gambling.
- California
- Florida
- Idaho
- Minnesota
- Michigan
- Montana
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington
List of The Best Online Poker Casinos with Real Money:
Serving people for more than 20 years, Bovada is one of the most reliable online poker gaming brands in the U.S. The best thing about Bovada gaming is its fast payouts and an A+ rating in the sportsbook. It has one of the largest gaming rooms all over the world. Bovada offers loyalty rewards and other exotic bonuses, as well.
Unfortunately, with a long list of good things, it has some restrictions within the U.S. as it cannot permit new players from New Jersey, Maryland, Nevada, and Delaware. It has also delayed money lines, which, in some cases, take half an hour before the game starts.
Launched in 2016, Ignition is one of the latest casinos in the online gambling world. They are relatively new, but this is not to say that they haven’t established themselves as a proper and sought-after gambling place.
Ignition offers 00 as a welcome bonus with gambling requirements. The operators don’t care for anything when it comes to American players, and they welcome them wholeheartedly. However, certain things need to improve. For instance, they don’t deal with live games and, also, “sports betting” isn’t obtainable.
America’s Cardroom is one of the premier online gaming zones revived in 2011. It, however, laid its foundations in the ’90s. America’s Cardroom has been supporting U.S. contestants as a reputable online poker platform.
The most enticing feature of ACR is its Elite program and the offer of 27% Rakeback. Players have several options to deposit and withdraw “bitcoins,” which is the quickest and safest way to execute transactions. It also saves hand histories in log files and allows the usage of tracking software.
You can’t access the website in some states, which affects both sides as it has massive bonuses to attract regs who are in turn figuring to set volume. They have been facing a hard time in terms of shady players that they registered earlier.
The only real-money poker gambling option for U.S. natives is Global Poker. It is working on a unique design that operates as a sweepstakes game in disguise. Players easily convert the real money via Skrill, American Express, or Mastercard. Some of the players get free sweep coins which are equal to every purchase of the dollar value.
Global Poker has some drawbacks, too. They don’t offer loyalty rewards, Rakeback incentives, or freerolls. Buy-ins are low-cost, which allow some wild play from other participants. They also have a higher side of the rake as compared to other U.S. card rooms.
BetOnline Poker entered the market with an individualistic approach and built an independent platform. They offer one of the biggest bonuses in the U.S. market. Another appreciating feature is their 100% bonus release rate, which stands as a stark difference from its contenders.
Unfortunately, it does not take any action to restrict HUD usage, which allows the pro-players to get an advantage over casual players who are not even aware of HUD. The operators of BetOnline are also associated with a Blackjack cheating video in which a dealer performed a suspicious card swap.
List of Best Online Poker Casinos With No-Money:
It offers a no-deposit bonus because of its highly lenient features; even new players could clear their bonus. It is one of the largest poker rooms that provide fast-fold competitions and plays based on browsers. Tables at 888poker are profitable if you consider yourself to be patient because it takes a lot of time.
Established in 2011, every poker player knows about Pokerstars throughout the world. They offer big cash prizes in their tournaments. Pokerstars offers a great environment to the players, so the customers are always happy. They are not good in terms of free money, and reload prizes aren’t even more significant.
Partypoker delivers quality online poker gaming with the best cash tournaments, promotions, and bonus opportunities. They have solid traffic because they guarantee $15 million in competitions each month. However, they don’t have a decent number of high-stakes tournaments. Players often complain that their software is boring, and for the no-download client, they offer lesser functions.
WSOP gives millions of bonus chips if you sign up through PokerNews. It also offers cash games and tournaments. WSOP runs in the browser, and there is no requirement to download it. But you must be 21 years old to play online.
Borgata Poker was launched in 2013 and later joined PartyPoker NJ Network. It is an established casino with an online presence that offers bonuses on first sign-ups. Their software is easy to handle and offers a simple way to create an account. They give guaranteed prizes to the players and don’t bother if you are not an N.J. native.
Secure Form Of Payment Options for Online Gaming:
Payment methods are essential when you are playing online. It’s vital to make sure the website or online gambling room has a proper mechanism to record the payment details. Many gaming sites allow multiple modes of payment. Below is the list of payments that most online gaming/casino websites use.
- MasterCard or Debit/Visa card
- Skrill or Neteller
- Paypal
- Bank Transfer
Conclusion:
Considering how the pandemic has affected casinos, online gaming is the best alternative to gambling. But before registering on any poker website or depositing your money, keenly read out the rules and regulations. Customer service is also available for your queries. Most of the sites are reliable, but some aren’t, and they want you to keep spending your money after all. So there might be chances that it is working against you. Play safe!
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