Online poker is a dynamic medium. The most recent information. The current legal situation. The games in which we participate. The quality of those who compete with us. Since the “Moneymaker Effect” catapulted the game to unprecedented heights, poker strategy has evolved to keep up. Despite its continual change, the only constant about poker is that it is still played. This, however, is also what makes it such a fun game to play.
Because the game has been around for a long time, we will make an effort to document what we know today and guess on what will happen in the future. While you’re reading this section, don’t forget to check out our guide to the most basic poker games. The editors at 4Flush are dedicated to helping you become a better poker player.
What is the future of online poker and its many variations?
A lot of big things are going to happen in the realm of online poker in 2016. Whether you’re an old-school player who only wants to read our recommended poker evaluations or you want to do your study on the legality of all types of gambling, the four most crucial things to look out for are as follows. Options for Legally Playing Poker in New Jersey (and the Tristate Area) LEGAL internet poker is currently available in New Jersey and the three other states bordering the state.
Poker within a state
The present legal situation will make intrastate poker a big worry in the foreseeable future. Intrastate poker refers to online poker that is regulated and played only within a single state. Nevada, for example, has already passed laws making it legal to operate real-money internet poker games within the state’s borders. As a result, once a site is operating, only Nevada residents will be able to use it and play games on it.
When discussing Nevada, it is worth noting that they were the first state to adopt legislation legalizing internet poker. They distributed their first license in August of 2012, and they have since distributed many more licenses to other software sellers, affiliates, and operators.
There are a handful of other places in close vicinity to Nevada. Poker can now be played online within the state’s limits. Legalization is currently being proposed in the states of Florida and New Jersey. If I had to guess, I would say that New Jersey will be the next state to declare poker legal and to operate casinos that offer the game. There have been reports that PokerStars is looking to buy a (land-based) casino in this area, and if that deal goes through, they will have a stake in the intrastate poker market before you know it.
When intrastate poker becomes lawful, it not only paves the way for internet poker to become legal on a state-by-state basis, but it also opens the door wider for online poker to become legal on a federal or nationwide level. There is no doubt that people in control of the White House and Congress will be watching the intrastate poker sites in Nevada, New Jersey, and the other states to see how well legal online poker is working for those states.
The Governor of New Jersey has signed legislation authorizing online gambling. New Jersey is the third state to approve online poker and the second to legalize online casino games. However, don’t get too excited just yet. After the prerequisite was completed, Nevada took nearly two years to issue its first license. Regulators in the state of New Jersey are still working out the specifics of their licensing procedure and how they will monitor activity. You may read more about it in this post.
888 Holdings PLC has made history by being the first company in Nevada to be granted a license to run an online gaming operation. 888 has been operating in the United States since the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006. You may read about our trip on our website as well as Calvin Ayre’s blog. Ultimate Poker is pleased to announce the launch of Nevada’s VERY FIRST online poker client!
Poker on the Go
Poker played on mobile devices is becoming increasingly popular. It’s not because online poker is naturally trending in that direction, but because mobile usage has already eclipsed desktop usage in a number of countries around the world. Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are rapidly being used for daily tasks. It’s hardly surprising that they want to play poker with them as well.
However, this does not rule out the possibility of complications. At the moment, the Android platform provides the most compatibility. In comparison to iOS, Android has at least the same amount of real money poker apps, and in some cases considerably more. It can also run flash and java without the need for rooting, which means that even if an online poker site does not offer a mobile app, you can still play their games in the browser on your smartphone.
Apps for the iPhone and iPad are the second most popular category; however, there are less options accessible for these devices because they are more difficult to produce for (they do not allow flash or java) and their app store is more difficult to enter. It’s quite rare to discover a poker program that allows you to play for real money and runs on Windows or BlackBerry.
Furthermore, I believe that the market for mobile poker will grow because markets for mobile sports betting and mobile casinos are already (or are on their way to being) established. The majority of casinos have specialized games that can be downloaded into a player’s mobile device, and the most reputable online sportsbooks already have mobile-friendly websites. I believe poker will soon catch up because more and more individuals are using their mobile devices as their primary internet access point.
Consolidation and Growth in the Online Poker Industry
In 2013, I foresee an increase in the number of locations that consolidate. We have already seen a large number of sites go out of business and simply move their player pools to sister sites within the same network. Some of the sites, such as Black Chip Poker, made the decision to switch to a completely other network.
Given the current state of circumstances in the United States, I do not expect this to change in the near future. When there are so many websites fighting for your attention, especially if you live in the United States, it must be difficult for the less well-known operators to flourish, let alone build their operations. Because of this, as well as intrastate poker, I anticipate that more sites will close or merge their player pools with those of other sites in the near future. It will undoubtedly be uncomfortable for players in the short term; however, in the long run, it should only lead to improvements because player pools will grow and there will be more (concentrated) revenue flow into each site.
Furthermore, we should assume that websites will enter new markets. Carbon Poker, an online poker room, is an outstanding example of a company that has done this previously by including a casino and a sportsbook into their range of offerings. This will not only attract casual poker players and gamblers in general, but it will also assure the existence of some of the more specialist gaming websites. In addition to its present operations, PokerStars is rumored to be planning an expansion into the casino and sports betting areas.
And, while we’re on the subject of PokerStars (again), there have been speculations that the business is considering purchasing a traditional land-based casino in the United States, with the ultimate goal of using that establishment as a stepping stone for resuming its online presence in the country. This would be just another example of the company’s growth, as well as maybe a foreshadowing of future developments.
Social Media Poker for Real Money
Real money social media poker was another hot topic years ago, and it is something “massive” I anticipate to see more of for new players in the future. However, with the launch of other popular poker venues’ own poker applications, it may be increasingly difficult to break through in the long run. There is no disputing that playing poker for real money on social media has both advantages and disadvantages.
One of the benefits of playing social media poker for real money is that it introduces a big number of (new) people to the game of poker played for real money. People who are either uninformed of its existence or have been unwilling to try it. This is fantastic for professional players because it increases the number of fish in the game. Even casual players will gain from this adjustment because it will result in fewer professionals at each table on average.
The disadvantage of social media poker is that it might be tough to persuade players who are used to playing for free or at a low cost to make a real money deposit. Even in the United States, playing poker for real money on social media is unlikely to happen anytime soon, at least not until some type of regulation is in place.
As a result, for the foreseeable future, social media poker will only be available in European markets. However, depending on how things go with intrastate poker and whether or not that results in any kind of federal or worldwide regulation for online poker, it is feasible that it will be available in the United States sooner than we currently expect.
Poker with a Live Dealer
The introduction of live dealer games revolutionized the online casino gambling industry. Poker with a live dealer allows players to communicate with real dealers while playing games such as Texas Hold’em on their computers, smartphones, or tablets. The live gaming action takes place on a casino floor or in a gaming room, and players can watch and engage with it using live streaming technology.
The use of video communication connects the players and the dealer. You are viewing the game from the same perspective position as if you were physically present in the casino. In contrast to the conventional internet poker format, where players are unable to witness the action taking place physically hand by hand, live dealer poker allows them to make decisions in real time. Players favor live dealer casinos that offer poker over traditional casinos that only offer poker because live dealer poker has a realistic quality to it in addition to the physical visuals at the poker table.
Casino Hold’em is a popular game among players that is commonly played at live poker tables. This game is quite similar to Texas Hold’em, but it has a specific betting structure, as well as an ante bet and a qualifying hand for the dealer. The goal of this game is not to compete against other players, but rather to outwit the dealer. The game is fairly popular among online poker fans, and it is a fantastic alternative to consider when playing live dealer poker.
Online poker is gaining traction in the United States. Residents of Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada have been able to play poker online since 2013. Pennsylvania recently approved legislation to legalize online poker and casinos, and on July 15, 2019, it officially launched a few online gaming establishments. Online poker is expected to become available in the near future, giving US players even another choice for playing poker online.