Poker is one of the most popular casino games in the world. According to Poker Players Research, more than 40 million people play regularly, its popularity driven in part by its high-stakes role in the film Casino Royale. But poker isn’t just limited to the cinema screen – the rise of poker software means that more people than ever can enjoy playing the game from their phone or computer.
We’ve put together a beginner’s guide to help you master the art of online poker. From the benefits of virtual play to whether or not it’s safe to play with real money, read on to find out more.
Table of Contents
How Does Poker Software Work?
There’s a lot to learn when it comes to poker software. Whether you’ve dabbled in poker before, or are a total newbie, playing online poker at Leovegas is a good overall playing experience to get started.
Poker software enables you to play against other people from all over the world. You can sit at a virtual table, where you’ll connect with other players in real time. The game itself works exactly like in-person poker. You’ll be able to see your hand and the communal cards, and players direct the game by sending commands from their computer (for example, ‘fold’ or ‘raise’).
How Are The Cards Dealt?
The main difference is that the deck is shuffled by a random number generator, otherwise known as an RNG. This isn’t always the case – some poker software has a live dealer, but an RNG is more common. Some players worry that this makes it easy for games companies to rig rounds, with biased generators that can manipulate the dealing. However, RNGs are actually more reliable ‘random’ than live dealers, who don’t always shuffle the cards perfectly. This means it can often be safer to bet real money on online games than in physical casinos.
How Does Poker Software Make Money?
Poker software usually makes its money by taking a percentage from each pot – the total amount of money wagered in every game. The exact percentage varies between software, but is typically around 3%.
What Are The Types Of Poker Software?
Although there are many different forms of poker software, they generally fall under two categories:
- Independent poker software. This is only available to play on specific sites which actually own the software.
- Networked poker software. This is software which can be played from various sites, and which can pool players from different sites to fill the same virtual game.
The playing experience is very similar, whichever type of software you choose.
Why Use Poker Software?
We’ve already mentioned that random number generators can remove the risk of human bias in games. But what are some other benefits of using poker software?
- Lots of poker software will enable you to keep track of your games using statistics (for example, your wins and losses, and your typical strategies). This makes it easier for you to analyse your game play and hone your tactics.
- You can often automate certain actions, for example, placing bets.
- You can play against people from all over the world.
- The gameplay is often more fast-paced than in-person games.
- You have 24/7 access to poker tables.
If you’re intrigued by the world of poker software, we hope this beginner’s guide has given you the confidence to start playing online.