Best Real Money Poker Apps for Android
Android now accounts for over 80% of all smartphone and tablet sales, making it by far the most popular mobile gaming platform in the world. With such a commanding lead, it's little wonder that so many online poker sites are falling over themselves to develop Android compatible poker software for real money games.
While the first generation of Android poker sites were limited to Texas Hold'em and Omaha cash games, new versions now also offer multi-table tournaments, Sit and Go's and fast-fold turbo poker. Android players can generally install a native apk app or instead opt to play poker from the Chrome browser of their Samsung Galaxy or Google Nexus. All of our reviews contain easy to follow download and install instructions to get you up and running in minutes. The real money iOS and Android poker sites featured on this site will work regardless of whether you are using a HTC One, Sony Xperia, Amazon Kindle or Xiaomi device. We also list the top United States real-money poker sites for iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone (Microsoft Lumia) and BlackBerry handsets.
While the first generation of Android poker sites were limited to Texas Hold'em and Omaha cash games, new versions now also offer multi-table tournaments, Sit and Go's and fast-fold turbo poker. Android players can generally install a native apk app or instead opt to play poker from the Chrome browser of their Samsung Galaxy or Google Nexus. All of our reviews contain easy to follow download and install instructions to get you up and running in minutes. The real money iOS and Android poker sites featured on this site will work regardless of whether you are using a HTC One, Sony Xperia, Amazon Kindle or Xiaomi device. We also list the top United States real-money poker sites for iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone (Microsoft Lumia) and BlackBerry handsets.
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Perhaps the robots will never quite take over the Earth, but
there's a good chance Android will, if it hasn't already done so. Android, the
company, was founded in 2003, and was bought by Google two years later. It
wasn't, however, until 2008 that the Android operating system was unleashed
onto the mobile world via a HTC Dream smart-phone.
Google's operating system went from strength to strength, and in August 2014 the number of devices being used that operated via Android surpassed those using Apple's iOS for the first time.
Initially, poker rooms were keen to trot out specialist Android apps that could be hosted on Google Play, and many of the top poker rooms – such as Poker Stars and 888Poker – provided some of the best mobile poker apps going. However, all that changed in August 2013 when Google decided to stop allowing real money gambling apps to be hosted on Google Play, giving all parties 30 days in which to remove such apps from the store.
Despite this setback, Android poker apps continue to go from strength to strength due to the open source nature of the Android OS that allows third-party apps to be installed on Android devices. Most poker rooms offer apps that can be downloaded as apk (Android package) files and installed, or HTML5 apps that run from a mobile browser.
Google's operating system went from strength to strength, and in August 2014 the number of devices being used that operated via Android surpassed those using Apple's iOS for the first time.
Initially, poker rooms were keen to trot out specialist Android apps that could be hosted on Google Play, and many of the top poker rooms – such as Poker Stars and 888Poker – provided some of the best mobile poker apps going. However, all that changed in August 2013 when Google decided to stop allowing real money gambling apps to be hosted on Google Play, giving all parties 30 days in which to remove such apps from the store.
Despite this setback, Android poker apps continue to go from strength to strength due to the open source nature of the Android OS that allows third-party apps to be installed on Android devices. Most poker rooms offer apps that can be downloaded as apk (Android package) files and installed, or HTML5 apps that run from a mobile browser.
THE ANDROID MOBILE POKER F.A.Q.
If you're thinking about downloading an Android poker app and playing at a mobile online casino, you probably have a few questions. Here is a neat FAQ list of some of the most common ones.
Q. Will any Android poker app work on any Android-powered device?
A. As long as the Android device is relatively recent (usually 4.3 “Ice Cream Sandwich” and above) you should have no problem in running any Android Poker App offered by any poker room. The better poker clients will usually list which operating systems their Android poker app will run under.
Q. How easy are Android poker apps to use?
A. All Android poker apps are (or at least they should be) configured to run perfectly well and function perfectly adequately on any Android device with a big enough screen. Some of the better apps will have configurable options so you can set things up precisely how they want them.
Q. Which poker variants will I be able to play?
A. Well, you will certainly be able to play Texas Hold'em poker! EVERY Android poker app will allow you to play the online poker world's most popular variant, but you may have to search a little harder if you prefer Omaha or any version of fast-fold poker, and if you like variants such as Stud, Draw and Razz then you will have to search with even more diligence.
Q. Can I play at poker tournaments?
A. Initially, the only games that were made available via Android poker apps were ring games, but as mobile poker grew to become more and more popular the wilier poker rooms quickly added Sit & Go's and other tournaments to their app repertoire. Not ALL Android poker apps offer anything other than ring games, so if you do like to be a little more competitive with your poker playing, it's best to check that the poker room at which you are intending to play will allow you to take part in Sit & Go's and scheduled tournaments.
Q. Can I play with Play Money via an Android poker app?
A. This is another question that is impossible to answer. Lots of Android poker apps – especially from the bigger poker rooms such as Poker Stars, Full Tilt Poker, 888poker and Party Poker – will allow you to join in at play money tables, but for many others its real cash only.
Q. Am I still eligible for sign-up bonuses if I use an Android poker app?
A. Absolutely. You should be able to use the same account for your mobile play as your desktop play – if you have to have separate accounts for both, then move to a different poker room! If you are still unsure then simply sign up for the poker room using your desktop, and then download and install the mobile poker client, and then sign in using the account that you have just created.
Q. What happens if I am playing and I get disconnected halfway though a hand?
A. Every site should list the rules it adopts when a player disconnects. Usually, you are given a little extra time to re-connect if you happen to lose your connection. If you cannot re-connect in time, then you are allowed to remain in the hand as long as you are not raised. If you time out you will be checked if checking is an option, else you will be folded.
Each different poker room has its own version of disconnection rules, so it's always best to check the room's T&Cs if you are unsure.
Q. I am based in the US? What are my chances of finding an Android poker app I can play at?
A. Well, your chances are a lot better now than they were in 2012! In 2013 Carbon Poker broke new ground by releasing an Android poker app that accepted US-based players. The app initially allowed players to play NL and FL Texas Hold'em games either full ring, 6max or heads-up, but Sit & Go's and tournaments were soon added.
Bovada Poker followed suit in 2014, and Android poker apps which are US-friendly are also now provided by Full Flush Poker, BetOnline, PlayersOnly Poker, Sportsbook Poker and Superbook Poker, among others.
So there, in a nutshell, is all you really need to know about Android Poker Apps. If you do have an Android-powered device, and you like the idea of poker 'on the go', then there should be absolutely nothing stopping you from doing that. Hopefully this FAQ should have answered a few of the questions you may have, but as most online poker rooms provide help facilities, if you remain unsure about anything, just ask!
If you're thinking about downloading an Android poker app and playing at a mobile online casino, you probably have a few questions. Here is a neat FAQ list of some of the most common ones.
Q. Will any Android poker app work on any Android-powered device?
A. As long as the Android device is relatively recent (usually 4.3 “Ice Cream Sandwich” and above) you should have no problem in running any Android Poker App offered by any poker room. The better poker clients will usually list which operating systems their Android poker app will run under.
Q. How easy are Android poker apps to use?
A. All Android poker apps are (or at least they should be) configured to run perfectly well and function perfectly adequately on any Android device with a big enough screen. Some of the better apps will have configurable options so you can set things up precisely how they want them.
Q. Which poker variants will I be able to play?
A. Well, you will certainly be able to play Texas Hold'em poker! EVERY Android poker app will allow you to play the online poker world's most popular variant, but you may have to search a little harder if you prefer Omaha or any version of fast-fold poker, and if you like variants such as Stud, Draw and Razz then you will have to search with even more diligence.
Q. Can I play at poker tournaments?
A. Initially, the only games that were made available via Android poker apps were ring games, but as mobile poker grew to become more and more popular the wilier poker rooms quickly added Sit & Go's and other tournaments to their app repertoire. Not ALL Android poker apps offer anything other than ring games, so if you do like to be a little more competitive with your poker playing, it's best to check that the poker room at which you are intending to play will allow you to take part in Sit & Go's and scheduled tournaments.
Q. Can I play with Play Money via an Android poker app?
A. This is another question that is impossible to answer. Lots of Android poker apps – especially from the bigger poker rooms such as Poker Stars, Full Tilt Poker, 888poker and Party Poker – will allow you to join in at play money tables, but for many others its real cash only.
Q. Am I still eligible for sign-up bonuses if I use an Android poker app?
A. Absolutely. You should be able to use the same account for your mobile play as your desktop play – if you have to have separate accounts for both, then move to a different poker room! If you are still unsure then simply sign up for the poker room using your desktop, and then download and install the mobile poker client, and then sign in using the account that you have just created.
Q. What happens if I am playing and I get disconnected halfway though a hand?
A. Every site should list the rules it adopts when a player disconnects. Usually, you are given a little extra time to re-connect if you happen to lose your connection. If you cannot re-connect in time, then you are allowed to remain in the hand as long as you are not raised. If you time out you will be checked if checking is an option, else you will be folded.
Each different poker room has its own version of disconnection rules, so it's always best to check the room's T&Cs if you are unsure.
Q. I am based in the US? What are my chances of finding an Android poker app I can play at?
A. Well, your chances are a lot better now than they were in 2012! In 2013 Carbon Poker broke new ground by releasing an Android poker app that accepted US-based players. The app initially allowed players to play NL and FL Texas Hold'em games either full ring, 6max or heads-up, but Sit & Go's and tournaments were soon added.
Bovada Poker followed suit in 2014, and Android poker apps which are US-friendly are also now provided by Full Flush Poker, BetOnline, PlayersOnly Poker, Sportsbook Poker and Superbook Poker, among others.
So there, in a nutshell, is all you really need to know about Android Poker Apps. If you do have an Android-powered device, and you like the idea of poker 'on the go', then there should be absolutely nothing stopping you from doing that. Hopefully this FAQ should have answered a few of the questions you may have, but as most online poker rooms provide help facilities, if you remain unsure about anything, just ask!
