Best Real Money Poker Apps for iPhone
The Apple iPhone is the original and still the best smartphone on the planet. The arrival of the iPhone 6 with its larger screen size has made it the ideal platform for mobile gaming. Online poker sites have developed high-tech apps that offer all the same great features you would expect to find on the desktop clients.
Most mobile poker sites now offer two identical varieties of poker app. One that can be played instantly from the Safari browser of any iPhone, iPad or Mac, in just about any country. The other needs to be downloaded and installed from the iTunes App Store, although this version is only available in a limited number of countries. Each iPhone poker site has its pros and cons, which we delve into in greater detail in our reviews. Thankfully most of them now offer ring games, fast fold poker and a variety of tournament options, including Sit and Go's and MTT's. Practice tables are also available for anyone not looking to play for real-money. United States players can now enjoy playing Texas Hold'em and Omaha cash games and tournaments on their iPhone, iPad, Android or Windows Phone.
Most mobile poker sites now offer two identical varieties of poker app. One that can be played instantly from the Safari browser of any iPhone, iPad or Mac, in just about any country. The other needs to be downloaded and installed from the iTunes App Store, although this version is only available in a limited number of countries. Each iPhone poker site has its pros and cons, which we delve into in greater detail in our reviews. Thankfully most of them now offer ring games, fast fold poker and a variety of tournament options, including Sit and Go's and MTT's. Practice tables are also available for anyone not looking to play for real-money. United States players can now enjoy playing Texas Hold'em and Omaha cash games and tournaments on their iPhone, iPad, Android or Windows Phone.
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No major poker room worth their salt these days will not have a mobile version of their poker client available for iOS-enabled devices. The ubiquity of mobile devices means that more and more people are accessing the internet via their mobiles and smartphones, so poker sharks are just as keen to indulge in a few hands of real-money poker when out and about as they are when sitting at their desktop PC or with their laptop.
No two mobile poker apps are alike, and sometimes the array of options is quite bewildering. Some apps can only offer Texas Hold'em for ring games, while others add Omaha and fast-fold poker, and include Sit & Go's and even multi-table tournaments.
To help you understand the world of iPhone Poker Apps more clearly, here is a quick list of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to mobile poker:
Q. What's the difference between iOS-based and desktop poker clients?
A. As smartphones and most tablets have less processing power, memory and storage than desktop PCs and laptops, the options available via a mobile client are significantly less. All mobile poker apps will at least offer Texas Hold'em ring games, but the number at which you can play other variants such as Omaha are few and far between.
Mobile poker clients are of course not as 'flashy' as desktop clients as the screen size on mobile and tablets is not as generous. Poker clients used to be written in native iOS code but mostly these days they're written in HTML5. This means that the software can run straight from the poker room's site in a browser, often meaning that no separate download is required.
Q. Can US Players use iPhone Poker Apps?
A. As any US-based poker player will be 'pleased' to inform you that they have been pretty short-changed when it comes to iPhone poker apps. It's still illegal for unregulated poker rooms to run within the US, and financial institutions still cannot allow their customers to fund gambling accounts.
However, in 2013 Carbon Poker (who run under an Antigua & Barbuda licence) became the first poker room to offer an iPhone poker client that accepted players who were based in the US. They were followed a year later by Bovada Poker, but currently these are the only two iPhone poker apps that accept players from the US.
Q. How do I get an iPhone poker app on my phone?
A. There are two ways in which apps are offered for iOS devices – via the iTunes App Store or through the poker client itself as a browser-based HTML5 app.
Apple does allow mobile poker clients to be hosted on iTunes, but only in certain countries. The United Kingdom is one of the best places to be if you want to download a mobile poker client, but quite a few apps can be downloaded from many European countries, plus Australia and Canada. There are even a few apps available for US-based players in states where regulated poker has been sanctioned, i.e. New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware. You have to be physically located in the specific state while you're playing using the app – the geo-location software on your phone will check to ascertain your specific location before you can play.
Q. Are the numbers of opponents available limited?
A. That depends on the poker client and the policy of the poker room. Some poker rooms will allow you to mix in with players currently playing using the desktop version of the client, and some won't. The main reason for the 'players shall not mix' policy is that mobile clients tend to suffer from connection issues, and there is nothing more annoying than sitting at a virtual poker table with players who constantly have to re-connect.
If you want the best iPhone poker app experience, it is probably better if you find a poker room that does allow a mobile/desktop mix. That way you get more tables at which you can pay, and a greater range of players of all abilities.
Q. Am I still eligible for poker room promotions if I'm solely a mobile client user?
A. Typically, yes. Nearly all poker rooms will view a mobile poker account exactly the same way in which they view a desktop poker account – in fact to all intents and purposes, they are one and the same. All the promotions available to desktop client users are exactly the same as they are to mobile client users – in fact many poker rooms offer special incentives for players who download their mobile poker client, and make a deposit via it.
If you're unsure as to whether you'll receive a specific bonus when you sign up for a site you're intending to use on your iPhone, you can always sign up for your account via the desktop client to make sure. The account you use at the desktop client and the one you use via your mobile will be (or at least, should be) one and the same.
Q. Do I need to use real money when I play using an iPhone poker app?
A. That depends upon the poker room and the poker client. Many apps will allow you to play on 'play money' tables as well as 'real money' tables, but some won't. If you want to play on play money tables via an iPhone poker app, then it's best you check the app details before you download and install it.
These are probably the most common questions you'll be asking yourself when you are contemplating downloading and installing an iPhone poker app. If you need to know more, most poker rooms will have FAQs you can refer to, and online help associates who will typically be more than happy to field any concerns and queries you may have.
The mobile revolution when it comes to computers is already in full flow – just make sure that you do not miss the boat, especially when it comes to mobile poker clients.
No two mobile poker apps are alike, and sometimes the array of options is quite bewildering. Some apps can only offer Texas Hold'em for ring games, while others add Omaha and fast-fold poker, and include Sit & Go's and even multi-table tournaments.
To help you understand the world of iPhone Poker Apps more clearly, here is a quick list of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to mobile poker:
Q. What's the difference between iOS-based and desktop poker clients?
A. As smartphones and most tablets have less processing power, memory and storage than desktop PCs and laptops, the options available via a mobile client are significantly less. All mobile poker apps will at least offer Texas Hold'em ring games, but the number at which you can play other variants such as Omaha are few and far between.
Mobile poker clients are of course not as 'flashy' as desktop clients as the screen size on mobile and tablets is not as generous. Poker clients used to be written in native iOS code but mostly these days they're written in HTML5. This means that the software can run straight from the poker room's site in a browser, often meaning that no separate download is required.
Q. Can US Players use iPhone Poker Apps?
A. As any US-based poker player will be 'pleased' to inform you that they have been pretty short-changed when it comes to iPhone poker apps. It's still illegal for unregulated poker rooms to run within the US, and financial institutions still cannot allow their customers to fund gambling accounts.
However, in 2013 Carbon Poker (who run under an Antigua & Barbuda licence) became the first poker room to offer an iPhone poker client that accepted players who were based in the US. They were followed a year later by Bovada Poker, but currently these are the only two iPhone poker apps that accept players from the US.
Q. How do I get an iPhone poker app on my phone?
A. There are two ways in which apps are offered for iOS devices – via the iTunes App Store or through the poker client itself as a browser-based HTML5 app.
Apple does allow mobile poker clients to be hosted on iTunes, but only in certain countries. The United Kingdom is one of the best places to be if you want to download a mobile poker client, but quite a few apps can be downloaded from many European countries, plus Australia and Canada. There are even a few apps available for US-based players in states where regulated poker has been sanctioned, i.e. New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware. You have to be physically located in the specific state while you're playing using the app – the geo-location software on your phone will check to ascertain your specific location before you can play.
Q. Are the numbers of opponents available limited?
A. That depends on the poker client and the policy of the poker room. Some poker rooms will allow you to mix in with players currently playing using the desktop version of the client, and some won't. The main reason for the 'players shall not mix' policy is that mobile clients tend to suffer from connection issues, and there is nothing more annoying than sitting at a virtual poker table with players who constantly have to re-connect.
If you want the best iPhone poker app experience, it is probably better if you find a poker room that does allow a mobile/desktop mix. That way you get more tables at which you can pay, and a greater range of players of all abilities.
Q. Am I still eligible for poker room promotions if I'm solely a mobile client user?
A. Typically, yes. Nearly all poker rooms will view a mobile poker account exactly the same way in which they view a desktop poker account – in fact to all intents and purposes, they are one and the same. All the promotions available to desktop client users are exactly the same as they are to mobile client users – in fact many poker rooms offer special incentives for players who download their mobile poker client, and make a deposit via it.
If you're unsure as to whether you'll receive a specific bonus when you sign up for a site you're intending to use on your iPhone, you can always sign up for your account via the desktop client to make sure. The account you use at the desktop client and the one you use via your mobile will be (or at least, should be) one and the same.
Q. Do I need to use real money when I play using an iPhone poker app?
A. That depends upon the poker room and the poker client. Many apps will allow you to play on 'play money' tables as well as 'real money' tables, but some won't. If you want to play on play money tables via an iPhone poker app, then it's best you check the app details before you download and install it.
These are probably the most common questions you'll be asking yourself when you are contemplating downloading and installing an iPhone poker app. If you need to know more, most poker rooms will have FAQs you can refer to, and online help associates who will typically be more than happy to field any concerns and queries you may have.
The mobile revolution when it comes to computers is already in full flow – just make sure that you do not miss the boat, especially when it comes to mobile poker clients.
