When you think about it, tablets like the iPad seem almost custom made for playing online poker. The portability combined with the generous screen size and reasonable processing power makes for a device that is simply naturally suited for poker game. Despite the obvious fit, playing online poker for cash on your iPad still involves more work than it ought to. Not enough major rooms have apps specifically designed for the iPad, and of those that do, not many take advantage of the native features the iPad has to offer poker players.
There shouldn’t be. If you download an app it should be free. The poker room makes money when you play for real money, so there’s no reason to nickel and dime you to download the app. If you do download an app and it costs you a couple of bucks, it’s probably not an app for real money poker games.
In breaking down the process of playing real money iPad poker, we'll identify the best current option for poker players, talk about the importance of fast-fold clients and the role iPad apps will play in driving innovation before concluding with some alternatives players can explore if they're unhappy with the available suite of poker apps for the iPad.
Best Option for Playing Online Poker on the iPad
It's pretty easy to hand this one to 888 Poker, as the room is one of only a handful of online poker sites that has released a dedicated app for the iPad. The 888 iPad app for poker is definitely a solid offering, with support for cash game play and tournament play. Stability, a clean interface and high usability all count as positives for 888 Poker's iPad app.
You can install the app directly from the App Store, or by visiting 888 Poker. When you're playing at 888 on your iPad, you're using the same account you would use at the main room and you're participating in the same player pool as you would if you were playing using the desktop software. You might notice a few differences between the 888 iPad app and the downloadable software; obviously the layout is impacted by the screen size and the features are limited by what Apple allows developers to include. Those small differences aside, playing real money poker at 888 on your iPad is a reasonably similar experience to playing at the room on your laptop or home computer.
One drawback of the 888 iPad App: 888 Poker has yet to release a fast-fold client, so their mobile client offers a somewhat slower pace of play than rooms that do have such a feature. Let's briefly touch on the relationship between fast-fold and mobile poker in the next section.
Best Option for US Real Money Poker Apps and iPad
As of right now, there are no real money iPad poker apps on the market specifically for US players. Sure there are plenty of US-friendly poker rooms, but none of them offer mobile compatible versions of their software. That said, real money iPad apps aren’t necessarily restricted to Non-Us players. Sites like BetOnline and Slotland do provide an iPad app; but the iPad apps only provide you with access to the casino or Sportsbook. We do expect more real money poker apps for US players in the future, and will update this page accordingly once they become readily available.
Fast-Fold Clients Are Perfect for the iPad
Not familiar with fast-fold? It's one term used to describe a format of poker that is unique to online sites. The first fast-fold client was Full Tilt Poker's Rush Poker, but now over half of the 10 largest online poker sites offer a fast-fold option to players. The way such clients work is simple: Imagine you have 100 players. In a normal room, those 100 players might be spread across 10 static tables with 10 seats each. In a fast-fold game, those same 100 players exist in one central pool, and new tables are built out of the pool on the fly. When you fold your hand at your table, you move from that table and go back into the pool, where you're instantly assigned a new table and a new hand.
It's clear why fast-fold is perfect for mobile poker; playing on your iPad can get a bit boring if you can only play one table at a time, and playing multiple tables can be a bit of a challenge given the screen size you're dealing with. Having one table that constantly deals you new hands is the perfect solution to the problem.
iPad Poker Apps Will Drive Innovation
It's easy to imagine how devices like the iPad will drive innovation in the online poker industry. As the number of potential players that own tablets increases, major rooms will start developing apps that make greater use of the full functionality of the iPad. Whether it's voice recognition, video integration, the use of gestures to indicate bet sizes and actions or features that we can't even imagine yet, it's safe to say that the iPad - and devices like it - is a new frontier for online poker.
How Do You Play iPad Poker When There's No App?
Players do have some alternatives to apps for playing real money poker on their iPad. The first is to find rooms that have browser-based clients not written in Flash. The next is to jailbreak their device for the purpose of playing at a Flash-based client or an Android poker app. Obviously that's a fairly extreme step for some people, and you will want to engage in a fair amount of research and consideration before choosing to do it.
A final solution is to rig it so that your iPad is accessing your home computer via any of the dozens of remote access programs available on the commercial market. Just be sure that you test such a setup extensively before playing for real money on your iPad - you wouldn't want a lag or software glitch to cost you a big pot or accidentally muck aces.
Ipad Gambling Poker Apps
In the article on free poker iPad apps, I list a ton of free apps poker players can enjoy. I go into detail about Zynga Poker, VIP Poker, Live Holdem Poker Pro, Bikini Poker, Texas Holdem Poker Deluxe, Appeak, and Poker King Pro-Texas Hold'em, but I wanted to mention them in game you're in a hurry for poker on iPhone or iPad and you never get to that page. American poker players with iOS devices can learn more about their opportunities for Texas hold'em on the United States iPad poker sites page, though their mobile gaming opportunities are a lot more limited than most of the rest of the world, though their free poker apps are countless. If you like poker on the Apple iOS, you'll be able to find entertainment. I hope this site makes your search quicker, easier, and more informative.
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Is it just me, or does Apple put out a new iPhone or iPad every year? I suppose you can’t blame them. Consumers are using their phones and tablets to consume media more and more everyday. Experts don’t expect that to slow down anytime soon either.
Real Money Online Poker On Ipad Pro
Poker sites are starting to take notice of this trend, too, and are creating apps and downloads of their software as a result.
What Poker Sites Can I Play at Using My iPhone / iPad?
The best way to tell is to use our lists and reviews. We make it very clear what sites are compatible with iPhones and iPads. Of course, if you find a site that has a non flash/java based instant play version of their software, or you use a remote app, you can play from any site using your Apple device.
Most Commonly Asked Questions About Poker Apps for iPhones and iPads
Do iPhone / iPad Poker Sites Accept US Players?
That depends. The sites we list do. The best way to tell on our site is to look for an American flag on our tables. That means the sites accept American players. However, keep in mind that doesn’t guarantee players from your state are allowed. Many poker sites exclude states that have stricter laws regarding online gambling.
If you’re searching for poker sites on your own, whether they accept Americans or not will be listed on their homepage or terms and conditions page. You can always contact their support to find out, too.
How Do I Play Real Money Poker on iPad / iPhone?
Simple, really.
- The first step is to read our reviews. Find the site that appeals to you the most.
- Next, visit the site you like and create an account. I recommend doing this from your computer. It’s easier than trying to fill out the form(s) from your phone.
- You’ll then need to download the app, if available.
- Then make a deposit. Keep in mind many sites make you do this from your computer for security purposes.
- Then open up a game and play. If you have to play from your browser, find the no-download section of the site and load a game.
That’s it. Getting started is that easy.
Can I Play Poker on My iPad or iPhone for Real Money?
Yes. Assuming you choose a poker room from our site, or found a gambling site on your own that states they offer real money poker.
Another way to tell is if the app costs you money. Most real money poker sites will give you the app free, since they’ll make their money from the rake they charge you each hand or tournament you play.
How Do I Make a Deposit?
Making a deposit on your tablet or phone is the same as your desktop. You’ll choose your deposit method, fill in your details and hit submit. Remember that some sites force you to make deposits from your desktop (instead of your mobile device) for security purposes.
Each site is different, but your deposit options (can) include Bitcoin, Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, PaySafeCard, PayPal, Skrill, Ukash, bank wires, money transfers from Western Union and e-wallets. The best payment options for US players will be any form of credit or debit card, e-wallets, transfers and prepaid cards.
Fees and limits will vary from site to site.
Is Online Poker on my iPhone / iPad Safe?
Absolutely. No different than playing from your desktop/laptop computer. The rooms featured on this safe are safe poker sites.
One exception is the security measures you take on your own phone. The more precautions you take the more secure your account will be. Another exception is the site you play on. Choose a bad site and you’re more prone to security/safety issues and vice versa.
Are There Any Costs or Fees Playing Real Money iPad Poker?
There shouldn’t be. If you download an app it should be free. The poker room makes money when you play for real money, so there’s no reason to nickel and dime you to download the app.
If you do download an app and it costs you a couple of bucks, it’s probably not an app for real money poker games. It’s going to be a free poker game where you play against the computer or against real players, but for fun.
Other than that, the only costs or fees you’ll run into is the banking costs, if there are any.
What Other Options Do I Have for Playing Poker on my Phone / Tablet?
Find an app from the Apple store. They aren’t real money games, but it’s really the next best thing if you have an itch to play a few hands of holdem.
You can also setup a remote app so that you can play poker from your desktop, but control everything from your tablet. That will give you the opportunity to play real money games if there isn’t an app available for the poker site you want to play at.