Introduction to Online Poker
Did you know that most people used to think that online poker was purely based on luck? Imagine how they felt when amateur player Chris Moneymaker stunned the world in the early 2000s and used his skills and strategy (not just luck) to defeat behemoths like Phil Ivey and Sam Farha and go down in history as one of the online poker game’s greats.
Unbelievable, right? Just think of what happened after that triumph. It wasn’t just online poker sites offering new and regular online poker players exciting poker games, generous bonuses, promotions and exciting tournaments, but most claimed to be the best. But are they still worth trying today? That’s what we’ll find out (and more) in this post.
If you’re looking for helpful online casino tips, this guide has everything you need.
Popular Poker Casino Games Available Online
When you ask people to name a poker game, they usually refer to Texas Holdâem. This is the kind you usually see in movies and TV shows. Though Texas Holdâem is one of them, there are other popular versions like Omaha Poker and Seven-card stud, which we’ll be talking about next. Meanwhile, after you’ve learned about them, you can go to some of the poker sites we mentioned in this article and try them out.
Texas Holdâem
This is one of the most played poker games â it’s very easy to learn and understand. You’ll see Holdâem players who play poker gather round a table, where each player gets two hole cards from a deck and they continue to play until everyone gets five community cards. The game ends when somebody gets the best five-card hand.
Omaha Poker
After Texas Holdâem, Omaha poker is Irish playersâ favourite. Omaha is similar to Holdâem, but with a slight difference. Omaha poker players get four hole cards, instead of two, but at the end of the game, all the cards are revealed at once to determine the winner of the round.
Seven-Card Stud
There’s nobody who doesn’t love online poker that’s never heard of seven-card stud, because it’s the âgrandaddyâ of poker games.  And its rules are simple: all the players at the table get seven cards each, with three facing down and the four up. To win in this game on any poker platform,  just have skills and creativity and then use them to create the best possible five-hand card and the pot is yours.
How to Play Poker Casino Online
Before you play poker, you should consider joining a community or online poker rooms first. This is where you’ll learn more about tables and poker rules. Notwithstanding, if you want to learn how to play poker online, you’ve to create an account, and then learn a few other things that we’ll show you next.
Setting Up Your Online Poker Account
Have you reached the age of consent for online betting? Youâll need to be at least 18 years old in Ireland before you can successfully set up your online poker account. Again, you’ll also need things like a government-issued ID, virtual cards, and so on.
Download the Poker Software
To download the poker software is easy, as long as you have all your basic information ready, just go to any of the poker websites we listed in this article and follow the download instructions. They are user-friendly, very easy to download, and you can use them on iPhones, iPads and even Android devices.
Create Your User Account
After downloading the casino app or software online, you need to create your user account next before you can start playing. Some of the things the poker sites may ask you for are your age, full name, and address, and maybe a government ID. Just make sure what you’re submitting on the site is correct.
Select a Deposit Method
After creating your user account online, you need to select the deposit method that you prefer before you can start playing. Depending on which you select, remember to pick a deposit method that is safe and secure.
Choosing the Right Poker Game
How do you choose the right poker game for yourself as a beginner? Maybe you’ve thought about this several times and it seems you don’t know how. It’s not difficult.
Since you’re a beginner, start with Texas Holdâem. It’s popular, has lots of tutorials on strategy, stakes, formats, and tournament structures, that you will understand. Where you play Holdâem is not a problem, because it’s available on most poker casinos we listed here.
We also believe you should start small as a beginner when you play online. Don’t choose expensive buy-ins because you might regret it later. There are cheaper options like micro stakes which cost as little as 10 EUR that will help you save more and that you can use to improve your poker skills.
Best Poker Casino Sites in Ireland
What are the best poker websites online in Ireland? And how good are their offerings in terms of bonuses and promotions, security, VIP perks, and so on? Most Irish online poker beginners like to ask these types of questions and we’ve already answered them below by selecting only the best poker sites Ireland has. Let’s check them out together.
Poker Ireland online sites | Top Features | Overall rating |
| 888poker | â
WSOP satellites â No deposit bonus â Large table limits | 4.9/5 |
| Partypoker | â
Extensive poker variants â Massive cashback rewards | 4.8/5 |
| William Hill Casino | â
100% up to 300 EUR â Dedicated poker section â Live poker tables â Poker tournaments | 4.6/5 |
| Pokerstars Casino | â
Largest poker site in the world â Great tournaments and popular poker games | 4.5/5 |
| bwin Poker | â
Flexible payment methods â Lots of tournaments and top games | 4.4/5 |
The Best Poker Casino Sites in Ireland by Category
Most people find it strange when we say Ireland has some of the best poker websites in the world. After doing our research, we were convinced that these poker websites are better at some things than others:
- Best tournament site â bwin Poker;
- Largest global poker site â Pokerstars;
- Best cashback site â partypoker;
- Best Poker Ireland online site â 888poker.
How We Selected The Best Poker Casino Sites in Ireland
What we did when selecting the best sites to play poker online in Ireland was to gather usersâ reviews on the best poker sites and combine them with other aspects like their payout rates, how safe these sites are, and so on.
The Online Poker Games They Offer
We didn’t just screen the poker casinos on this list by how large their game collection is, we also made sure that the poker games are good.
Payout Rates: The Rake and Rakeback
Sometimes you’ll see poker casinos with incredibly low payout rates and that’s not encouraging at all. So what we strived to do was make sure the poker websites in this article have the best payout rates or bankrolls anywhere.
Bonus and Promotion
Before now, most online poker beginners believed that the best poker websites don’t have bonuses and promotions, when in fact, that’s false. All the poker websites we covered in this article have generous bonuses and promotions with which you can enjoy a free hand anytime.
Safety
Everything weâve mentioned here wouldn’t count if we don’t talk about your safety on the platforms plus the reputation and security of these sites. We pride ourselves not just in giving accurate information, but also in putting your safety at the forefront.
Mobile Poker Apps
Most of the poker sites in this review have mobile apps. Because we know it wouldn’t be nice if you had to play poker online and it’s not mobile-friendly.
Mobile Poker: Play Poker on the Go
Who would have thought that playing poker online while on the go could be a hit worldwide? Or that many players would choose their iPhones, iPads or Androids, over desktops and computers. But, like you, we can’t help but wonder if this change is worth it or not? So, we checked the advantages of playing mobile poker and you’d be surprised at what we found.
Convenience
When we searched for some of the reasons why players preferred to play poker on their smartphones more than on laptops and desktops, most said it felt convenient for them. Compared to the past years, most players can now download their best poker app for real money on their smartphones and play online without stress.
More Games on the Go
In the past, you could play poker online tethered to your computer.  If you didn’t have one at home, you couldnât play poker games online. But now, most poker sites are mobile-friendly and come with a dedicated mobile app. You can play your favourite poker games anywhere, anytime. And still get access to perks like bonuses and different payment options.
Simple and User-friendly Interface
Many players now have the best real-money poker apps on their smartphones, making it easy to join the latest online poker tournaments anytime. And the reason is simple- these apps are incredibly easy to use.
Multi-table Play
Out of all the reasons players love online poker, this oneâs our favourite: you can now play on multiple tables at once. Thanks to game developers, multi-tabling is easier than ever, giving you the chance to win more in less time.
Poker Strategy and Tips
What are the best strategies and tips that you need to know as a beginner who wants to play poker online? Maybe you’ve thought about this before when you didn’t care about learning the game. But don’t worry, we have tips and strategies that will help you become a better online poker player.
Learn the Rules of Poker
As a beginner in online poker, real money online poker is not something you should dive into without learning the rules of poker. And to learn the rules on how to play poker online, Texas Holdâem is what we recommend for most beginners. Those basic online poker terms like flush, river, antes and blind, full house, the flow of action and hand rankings, you’ll understand them better when you play Holdâem.
Position is King
Most beginners don’t even know that how you sit in an online game of poker can help you win the game. But, how many beginners know what a position means when playing online poker games? A position is where you sit at the table, and in most games, it decides who has control over the outcome of a poker game and the size of the pot. Most players think position doesn’t matter as long as you play first, but that’s not true. How can you know what cards others will play when you go first? How will you adjust your strategy when you can’t see your opponentâs hand? So, going last in position is usually the best.
Size Your Opponents Online
Why is it important to size your opponent in online poker games? Is it necessary? What does that even mean? Most beginners are unaware that when they size their opponent, they’ll understand their playing style, such as how often they make a bet, raise or call, and even their bet size.
Bluff sparingly
When people play poker, youâll sometimes hear them say they made a bluff. What does that mean? What theyâre trying to say is that they tried to deceive their opponents into thinking they have an advantage over them (sometimes they do!) so that their opponents can fold, and then they can grab their profits at the tables. Sounds like a good online poker strategy, right? Most players overdo it, though, so be careful. Bluff only when you need to.
Poker Tournaments and Bonuses
Who doesn’t love the poker tournaments and bonuses in Texas Holdâem, Omaha, and even Seven-card stud? Who would pass up the opportunity to go home with a fat paycheck after playing online poker in any of Ireland’s best poker websites? Every year, sometimes monthly, the best poker websites that Ireland has to offer host tournaments and give out generous bonuses to new players who register on their sites. Why not check them out now?
Sit and Go Tournament
What sets this online poker tournament apart from other poker tournaments on the best poker websites? It’s a short, simple tournament that involves 3-10 players and the rule is, finish as the last player on the table to win the prize money.
Multi-tables
If you enjoy fast-paced action, youâll love online poker multi-tabling. It lets you play on several tables at once on top poker sites in Ireland against players from around the world. The rules are similar to sit-and-go tournaments, but multi-table games typically take longer to complete.
Free Rolls
Are you looking for a tournament that inexperienced online poker players can play for free with no financial risk attached? Try free rolls as they cost nothing and are loved by many Irish beginners who enjoy playing poker online.
Heads-up
Interested in a poker tournament thatâs just between friends who enjoy the thrilling excitement of an online poker game? Then look for a heads-up on any of the best poker websites in Ireland in this article. Is it a challenging tournament? No, but the rewards aren’t as huge as multi-tables. And the format? Players get the same number of chips and play till someone folds.
Head Hunter
Is there a poker tournament that is more exciting than the ones we’ve mentioned earlier? Of course, there is the head hunter poker tournament, which has a celebrity-styled theme (Yes! You get to meet a top online poker brass!). How is it played? The professional player enters the tournament and your sole objective is to eliminate them and win the prize money.
Types of bonuses | Description |
| Welcome Bonus | You get this bonus when you join any casino platform and make your first deposit as a new player. |
| No Deposit Bonus | This type of bonus is specifically designed for new players and it costs nothing to get it. |
| Cashback Bonus | Cashback bonuses offer poker players a lifeline online as they get to enjoy a percentage of their rake or tournament fee as a refund. |
| Loyalty Rewards and VIP Perks | This type of bonus rewards regular poker players with points, exclusive cashback and privileges (such as a dedicated customer support). You’ll mostly find this type of bonus on the poker websites in Ireland. |
| Bad beat Jackpot | A bad beat jackpot bonus is a unique bonus where a player receives a portion of the jackpot when they lose with a strong hand like a full house or better. |
| Mission Promotions | This bonus is given to players after they complete special tasks or objectives online, like winning a hand or finishing at the top of the leaderboard. |
Why Play Poker Online in Ireland
What makes playing poker games online captivating? Is it the unparalleled accessibility and innovative features, or the safe and secure environment? Itâs all of these combined that make playing on the best poker sites Ireland has to offer a highly attractive option for Irish players. Are these benefits worth it? That’s what we’re going to find out, so come with us.
Unprecedented Accessibility
Among the things that attract Irish poker players to poker sites, is how easily accessible these sites are. Just have a good and stable internet connection and a smartphone with the basic hardware and youâll be able to have access to any poker website online.
Sheer Variety of Games
The popularity of poker games in Ireland comes down to one thing: variety. There’s a format for every skill level and playing style.â
A Chance to Play Multi-tables
Who would ever miss the chance to play on multiple tables at the same time on the best poker websites and real money apps? That’s like losing the opportunity to gain valuable experience, develop your online poker skills, and enjoy the fat paychecks.
Multiple Bonuses and Incentives
What better reason is there to play poker online in Ireland than for the multiple bonuses, promotions, and generous incentives that you get as a new and regular player? But are they worth it? Yes, they are since you can use these bonuses and incentives to become better as an online poker player.
Safe and Secure Environment
Just how safe is playing poker games on Ireland poker sites? Should you be concerned about your data? Stolen data or hacked transactions never happen if you play only on trusted and legit poker sites. This is because they have SSL technology (Secure Socket Layer), which is extremely tough to hack.
