Free Online Poker

You may have seen advertisements on television or in magazines offering free online poker. No doubt as a poker player, this idea appeals to you. But what exactly is free online poker and how can you take advantage of it? Here are the facts.

No legitimate online poker site charges for the use of its software or for playing on its site. In this way, all online poker is technically free online poker. Online poker sites make their money by charging a “rake,” a percentage that they take out of each pot that is played on the site.

So when you play free online poker, does that mean no money changes hands? Not necessarily. When you play at an online poker site, you have two options: real money games or play money games. The play money games are truly free online poker; you are playing solely for play chips. The real money games are, as the name would imply, for real money that you will have loaded into your casino account from your own real money bankroll.

When choosing a site for your online poker, don’t be influenced by a site that offers free online poker, as any reputable site does. When deciding whether you want to play real money online poker or free online poker in the sense that only play chips change hands, consider whether or not you are ready to play for real stakes. If you haven’t had much practice playing poker or online poker, it might be smart to take advantage of the free online poker games while you get the hang of the software and the rhythm of the game. Good luck, and whether free or for real money, have fun playing poker online!