The online gambling industry has soared in the last 12 months. People all over the world are going online to gamble on their favourite games. Online poker has gone through a resurgence too but not to the same extent as other casino games. Is online poker harder than it was? Are gamblers looking for new ways to get a thrill? In this article, we’re going to explore the pros and cons of playing online poker this year.
Pro – Countless Resources Available
There are hundreds of great poker strategy sites online to help. They offer tips and insights from ranging abilities. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a professional, you can find resources online to help you. Beginners can access free downloadable poker cheat sheets from poker training sites like Texas Holdem Questions. Cheat sheets offer a quick way to learn important concepts that could otherwise take a long time to learn.
Pro – Flexible Payment Methods
Most online poker sites offer over half a dozen ways to deposit and withdraw cash. Bitcoin seems to be one of the most popular methods available and is growing in popularity day by day. This is evidenced by the share price rocketing.
If you prefer to deposit in other ways then you can deposit with PayPal, Skrill or credit card too. The online poker sites know that everyone has their own preferred methods and don’t want to exclude any potential customers.
Pro – New Variants
Have you noticed how many new poker tournaments and cash games are appearing? Nearly all the major poker sites offer a fast fold poker style and unique tournaments like hyper turbo or bounty builders. These innovations are all designed to keep players on site and entice new ones, and it’s working!
The new variants available entice gamblers from other forms to try poker. If you’re looking to try a new poker game, do some research and make sure you adjust your strategy. Any change in the game of poker requires a slight change in strategy too.
Pro – Instant Play and Apps
Online poker used to be played only on downloadable clients. Remember that? You used to have to wait several minutes while it downloaded, slowing down your laptop all the while. With the advances made in mobile phones and browsers, the majority of poker sites now offer instant play on browsers and mobile app functionality. That’s amazing as it means you can play online poker from anywhere.
Con – Players are Better
There’s no getting around the fact that even the weaker players have some competency nowadays. That doesn’t mean poker is not beatable. Far from it. But it does mean there is less “easy money” than there used to be.
The weaker players know some of the fundamentals or have watched experts and learnt how to play. They are less clueless than the standard player who joined in the past. If you want to play poker in 2024, you will need to work hard as players are better now.
In order to overcome the tougher players, it means investing more time studying poker theory, watching training videos and reading books. Who has the time to spend hours on learning advanced poker concepts? Most poker professionals accept this as part and parcel of their week but for recreational players, it’s a little too much.
Con – Lack of Bonuses
Unlike most casino games that offer lucrative bonuses, most poker sites have very specific and limited bonus incentives. Very few of the no deposit bonus you get with major casinos. This is a shame for both existing and new players who want to get some extra cash.
If you want to earn bonuses on major poker sites, you need to put in a healthy deposit of cash and play a lot to earn any matched deposit bonuses. This could take a long time to get through and you have to make sure you don’t lose your funds in the mean time!
Con – American Legislation
Despite some American states now legalizing online gambling, the majority do not. This continues to leave a hole in the poker industry which can’t be filled. It’s widely accepted that the Americans accounted for a huge percentage of the online poker industry.
Obviously, there were some very strong American poker players, but the majority online were bad players. This meant the games were softer and it meant easy money for experts and even intermediate players. Until the legislation changes in USA, poker won’t be the same as it was, which is a great shame to the rest of the world and America too.
Con – Bots
The last few years has seen a rise in the number of bots playing online poker. This has always been a worry and concern for new players and the sites themselves. Poker bots are banned on all the poker sites but that doesn’t stop them cropping up.
You can tell a bot from a person based on their behaviour. They take the same time on decision making and their betting looks and feels automated. If you see an instant raise or instant bet/fold, it can sometimes be an indication of a poker bot. You should always report any suspicious activity to the poker site. No one wants to play against bots. It ruins the entire poker experience.
Summary
There are advantages and disadvantages to poker playing in 2024. Ultimately, it’s dependant on what you prioritise. If you enjoy poker and the new games, you should continue to play this year.
If you’re a little burnt out and sick of it, take a break. Online poker is not going anywhere and sometimes a short break gives you the respite you need. Then, when you come back you enjoy it more and hopefully earn more too.
I hope this article has given you some insight into what poker is like in 2024, and given you enough information to weigh up whether you’ll play online poker or not soon.