U.S. Poker Rooms 101
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Do you ever get in a funk playing the same old games at the same sites? It doesn’t have to be that way.
I have a background in computer software and systems. I was partners in a computer software company for 10 years before I sold my interest in 2002. This knowledge and background gives me a health respect and fascination for online poker rooms. Just to be sure I wasn’t missing something, I thoroughly “Road Tested” some 100 plus sites both approved for U.S. players and some that aren’t. As some of you already know there are only a dozen or so distinct software packages for U.S. approved sites and many of the rooms have the same games/tournaments which they share in common. That said, there are differences and variations that make some standout over others. I enjoy and play a lot at the Cake Family of Poker of rooms including; Doyle’s Room, Players Poker BetUS and 10 or 12 others. Most recently a medium size room that I have enjoyed over the years, PokerWorld moved to the Cake Platform. Lock Poker is also a new room on the Cake network and The Greek Sports Book has added The Greek Poker through Cake.
I happen to like Players, BetUS Power and Doyle’s the best of this group primarily for their Tournaments. Players has 5 or 6 freeroll tournaments that qualify you to play in a weekend tournament where you can win a $13,000 all expenses paid trip to the WSOP. Hurry, time is running out. Doyle’s has a daily tournament that qualifies you for a weekend $1,000 freeroll. Pretty good stuff.
I play a fair amount at Poker Stars, UltimateBet (which I prefer over its twin Absolute Poker), Timeless/Minted poker along with Carbon/Wass/PDC Poker rooms. They are all very good. For some reason I put Bodog Poker at or near the top of my list. It has its quirks and you either like it or hate it but I like the way the tables are displayed. The configuration allows you to play multiple tournaments (which I am doing most of the time now) and know right where you are at a quick glance. Bodog is easy to use, is well supported and has good cash games and tournament for all levels. For a variety of reasons I also happen to favor playing at Poker/Sportsbook High-Byrd sites over the Top 4 which includes PokerStars, Full Tilt, UltimateBet and Absolute. The play during small buy-in and Freeorlls is not so reckless and the players tend to be more mature (another way of saying they aren’t Full Tilt young guns!) with some respect for the Game. With all that said I don’t have just one favorite. All the sites I mentioned have great incentives and freerolls so I often go where the best Games are being played.
Unlike some of the problems experienced in the Sportsbook industry, Poker Rooms are well equipped to handle cash-outs in a variety of ways and there are new and easier methods coming along everyday. Obviously, all rooms have some small print you have to be concerned about if you have received bonuses and freebies, but getting your money to and from the online Poker rooms is typically pretty painless.
So what’s stopping you; get out and play somewhere new. It will do you and your Poker game a world of good!
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