Online poker has become an internet phenomenon with the game growing in popularity on a daily basis. There has never been more people playing poker and because of the internet the game is now more accessible than ever. Casino memberships have soared as has the interest in televised tournaments played throughout the world. This growth in the popularity of poker has been matched with a huge increase in the number of websites allowing players from all over the world to match their skills with players of all levels and abilities. In this article we will look at some of the world leading online poker sites and some of the options the average player should consider when choosing a site. Should the player look for the biggest sites, which sites host the most tournaments, which sites are used by the pros and which sites specialise in specific forms of poker?
One of the first tips when choosing a poker site is, of course, the amount of traffic on a site. A site can be designed perfectly with a plethora of options – slick software, big prizes and good customer support – but will not be very entertaining if there is nobody on the site to play against. Site traffic is therefore vital. Online poker is a worldwide game because of its ease of use and convenience. – play anytime, anywhere and on the better sites there will always be opponents.
So which are the internets’ busiest sites? Statistics carried out by various sources suggest that there are five international sites which house a large majority of online poker enthusiasts. The figures suggest that the most popular site amongst poker players, professionals and amateurs alike, is PokerStars.com. Although not the earliest online poker site to be developed, it has certainly raced ahead in the popularity stakes. Estimates have shown that the PokerStars.com site has nearly three times the number of players than its nearest rival – PartyPoker.com. It offers games and tournaments for players of all levels and abilities. Other sites which make up the top five of internet poker sites are Poker30.net, 888.com, Winner.com and Bwin.com.
So why do people visit these sites so regularly when it can be argued that their chances of winning are enhanced by visiting less populated sites? Once again, it can be argued that poker players want to play poker 24/7. The beauty of online poker is that anyone can play at any time – hence the more popular the site the less time is wasted waiting for opponents.
Another of the main reasons players flood back to the most popular sites is the size and regularity of major online tournaments. The larger sites hold regular tournaments for players of all abilities and of course the larger the site the greater the rewards on offer for victories. Bigger sites also offer a greater variety of types of games of poker. This allows players to hone and develop their skills in the many different forms of poker available. This increases the mass appeal of the site. Research has shown when players have a favoured site they tend to stick to it which naturally has increased competition amongst sites for every player.