The biggest leap for poker in recent years has to be the creation of online poker. It was the driving force behind poker’s popularity surge in 2003 and is now the most-played form of poker worldwide.
Over the years, poker has seen its fair share of changes. The game has been continually evolving over its lifespan, diversifying its strategy and incorporating new technology. One such example of this would be hole card cameras. They became popular in 1999, as they offered spectators an exciting insight into the thoughts of professional players, revolutionizing competitive poker.
Poker has long been one of the world’s most popular games. A timeless staple ever since its inception in the 18th century, it’s never relinquished its grip. One of the biggest reasons for this is that poker has the perfect blend of stakes, luck, and skill.
The game’s element of chance keeps it fresh and exciting since every hand will be different. Unlike other casino games, poker isn’t all about luck, with solid strategy winning out in the long run. Lastly, poker’s stakes make everything far tenser. Players must be wary of every move, and the game becomes incredibly lucrative if you’re good enough.
This poker guide will compare online poker to live, giving beginners the information they need to make their choice.
Convenience
Online poker’s single biggest strength is its overall accessibility compared to live. For live poker, you must find a casino, schedule a trip, and then pray that a table is open. Poker isn’t usually the main attraction, so you must navigate through a sea of other casino games that try to tempt you into gambling away all your money.
In contrast, you can play online poker from anywhere, anytime. Every poker site is just a few clicks away if you have an internet-connected device. There are even online poker apps for mobile so you can play on the go.
Online poker waiting times are short due to the game’s popularity and the polished nature of digital games, making online the clear winner in terms of comfort. For beginners, online can be a great way to dip your toes into the game before deciding if you want to try it live.
Game variety
Another category where online poker demolishes live is game assortment. Depending on the casino, there may not be enough poker tables to offer different variants besides Texas Holdem. Even if you’re lucky enough to have other types, you’ll be limited to only the most popular ones, like Seven Card Stud and Omaha.
Online poker allows you to find almost any variant, even obscure ones such as Chinese Poker. The primary reason is that online poker is much easier to set up than live poker. Casinos wouldn’t waste money hosting an obscure poker variant nobody plays. Modifying an online poker site to support different game mechanics is a lot easier to set up. It’s also effortless for players who enjoy a specific format to find and play against each other online since the distance barrier is removed.
Lastly, online poker offers far more variety in terms of stakes. Casinos would want to refrain from hosting micro-stakes games because the profits will be insignificant. Still, you can easily find games as low as $0.01/$0.02 online. Having easy access to poker without threatening your bankroll and being able to choose from a wide variety of poker games means online is far more appealing for beginners.
Socializing
One aspect of the game where live poker has online poker beaten is the ability to mingle with people. You can’t adequately replicate the banter and chit-chat over the table online. Finding other local poker players can be fun for making friends and learning the game with them.
While online poker usually has a chat room, it pales compared to the real deal. If you love talking with people and want to make new friends, live is the way to go. Still, online poker could be good if you’re introverted and prefer to focus on your game.
Pace
Playing online poker is around twice as fast as live for numerous reasons. The game is far more streamlined with automatic dealing. Bets can be made at the press of a button and do not require careful chip-counting. Lastly, many online sites have a timer that keeps you from stalling the game.
The speed of online poker makes it generally more desirable since you can play more hands in less time. This feature enables beginners to learn the game more quickly. As you improve, this faster pace will also allow you to earn more if you’re good enough.
Earnings
It’s a little harder to decide a clear winner for online vs. live when choosing which format enables you to win more money. Both types require much skill to earn consistently, so you probably shouldn’t worry about them as a beginner. Still, if you plan on making poker your career, you should understand the financial strengths of both types.
Online gives you exclusive access to site bonuses, a faster pace, and multi-tabling. Since the online poker industry is so competitive, sites offer promotions that can boost your bankroll significantly. Multi-tabling allows you to play many games at once and can increase your profits exponentially if you can handle multitasking.
On the other hand, live poker shines with its famous million-dollar tournaments. Tournaments like the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour have huge payouts that are rare online. Beyond this, the fame of winning a major live poker event is unmatched. Players like Chris Moneymaker started online and proved themselves on the live stage, becoming part of poker history.
Verdict: Online poker is better for beginners
In conclusion, we recommend online poker if you’re just starting. Its wide variety of game types, including low-stakes games, allows you to learn the game without committing much financially. It’s also more convenient and offers exclusive benefits like multi-tabling and site bonuses. Nevertheless, once you’re more proficient at poker, you should try some live poker for the experience.
