Best Free Online Poker Sites
- Reputation
- A site’s reputation reflects the relationship it has with its players. That’s why we speak with gamblers and industry experts to uncover every detail in our reviews.
- Safety and Security
- It takes trust to deposit your real money online and we want you to know, if we trust a partner, so can you. This is why all sites must be legitimately licensed and regulated, as well as keeping your data safe with the best encryption technology.
- Banking and Payments
- A necessity of all online gambling sites is a range of secure banking options. From there, it’s imperative all sites provide high payout percentages with fast withdrawals and a fair RTP.
- Bonuses & Promotions
- All our sites are expected to provide new players with a welcome bonus, as well as rewarding loyal players with bankroll boosting promotions. We also check for any unfair T&Cs, meaning you can bet with confidence.
- Customer Support
- Top sites will offer extensive customer support, which is why we review this rigorously. While we always encourage our users to get in touch, we understand the importance of having your questions answered efficiently and by a real person.
- Compatibility
- Whether you're playing online from your computer or mobile device or tablet, our top recommendations can match your lifestyle. A top online casino needs to be compatible with multiple devices, so you have the freedom to play wherever and however you want.
- Online Experience
- Whether through the range of games or sports to bet on, the option to play for free or even choosing between software providers, players must be provided with options when gambling online. Aside from this, we require all partners to meet a high standard with the graphics of their games and localization to accommodate for players from around the world.
What Online Poker Games Can I Play for Free?
With the exception of satellite and big money tournaments, there are very few restrictions when playing poker for free. Texas Hold'Em, Omaha, and online casino games like Three Card Poker and Caribbean Poker are the easiest to find.
However, you can play free versions of all poker variations if you know where to look. Here's a list of poker games you can play for free, along with the basics to help you decide which you think you might enjoy.
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- Texas Hold‘Em
- A hugely popular form of poker on the web, Texas Hold'Em players use two hole cards and five community cards to put together the best five card hand possible.
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- Three Card Poker
- Played against a dealer rather than other players, Three Card Poker players place an initial bet then decide whether to bet or fold when they're dealt a three card hand.
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- Omaha Poker
- Think Texas Hold'Em, only with another two hole cards. Omaha players must use exactly two of their hole cards and three community cards to put together a hand.
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- Video Poker
- Similar in play style to online slots, video poker sees players keeping or discarding cards in an effort to put together the best poker hand they possibly can.
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- Stud Poker
- In stud poker, of which there are several varieties, players must use a certain mixture (which varies by game) of hole cards and face-up cards to put together a hand.
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- Caribbean Poker
- Similar to both stud poker and Three Card Poker, Caribbean Poker players must decide whether to wager on their own hand based on a face-up card that the dealer is showing.
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- Draw Poker
- Multiple different variations of draw poker are available, but a common thread is that players keep their cards to themselves and get an opportunity to swap some out.
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- Hi-Lo Poker
- Like the name suggests, Hi-Lo variants of poker typically place emphasis on building a high and a low hand. The pot is split between players who have the highest and lowest hands.
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- Limit Hold'Em
- In Limit Hold'Em the bets that players can place must adhere to certain limits. For example, in a 20 and 40 limit game, players may bet $20 in the first two betting rounds or $40 in the third and fourth rounds.
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- OFCP
- Open Face Chinese Poker sees players put together three hands (3 cards in front, 5 in the middle and 5 in the back), each subject to certain rules, to compete against each other.
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- Razz Poker
- Razz plays a lot like 7-Card Stud except, unlike in most forms of poker, the aim of the game is to put together the lowest hand possible. Only here is A, 2, 3, 4, 5 the best you can get.
Benefits of Free Poker Online
While not as exhilarating as playing for real money, playing free poker online certainly has many benefits. The biggest of these is that, should you experience a string of losses, you can walk away from the table knowing that your wallet or purse hasn't suffered for it.
Beyond that, playing poker for free gives you an opportunity to learn the rules of different variations and test out distinct styles of playing without the pressure that comes with using real money.
Since wins and losses aren't real in free poker, you can play for as long as you want. When there's money in the pot you might not feel comfortable continuing to play after a bad beat or a big loss, even if it's very early in your playing session.
The main thing to remember is that, if you do decide to move up to playing real money poker, you'll want to be a lot more cautious with your chips when they represent a deposit that you've made.
What is Freeroll Poker?
In most circumstances, freeroll poker refers to tournaments that cost nothing to enter but feature a real cash prize. There are some exceptions, though, as some freeroll tournaments require a buy-in of points earned by playing real money games or feature entry to another event as their prize.
Although freeroll poker won't cost you anything to play, it's a little different to other types of free poker in that there's a real money prize on the line. You may notice your fellow players being a little more cautious than they would be in true free poker games, which makes freeroll poker an excellent bridge between free poker and playing for money.
How to Play Free Poker Tournaments?
Freeroll tournaments are widely available to players at online poker rooms and, barring the exceptions mentioned in the section above, are free to enter. As you might expect based on that, they're highly sought after and always feature lots of competitors.
Here's our brief guide to getting started with (and hopefully winning) freeroll tournaments:
- Sign Up & Register
- Most sites feature a calendar of when their freeroll poker tournaments kick off, along with any entry requirements and so on. Choose an appropriate freeroll event and register your interest in playing.
- Take it Slow
- When the tournament begins, play tight. There will be a lot of fish out there, many of whom will make foolish mistakes and crash out of the tournament early. Try to keep up, by matching their silly all-in bets for example, and you risk doing the same.
- Size up Your Opponents
- Pay close attention to what other players at your tables are doing, particularly as the tournament progresses. You'll need to keep tabs on lots of competitors as you progress, but this may end up giving you just the edge you need to close out a round.
- Step up Your Betting
- While we're not suggesting that you raise big on poor hands, it's likely that you'll need to bet more aggressively to build up your stack in preparation for the final rounds of the tournament. Don't try to bluff your way to victory.
- Timing is Everything
- As in all poker tournaments, there's an element of luck when it comes to winning a freeroll event. Sometimes you'll get hit with a string of bad beats but, other times, you get the perfect hand at the perfect time and can bring your last opponent down.
What is Free No Download Poker?
In a nutshell, this refers to any type of poker that lets you play the game without the need to download software. That might refer to any one of the following:
- Online casino games like Three Card Poker or Caribbean Poker
- Social poker games that can be played on Facebook or other websites
- In-browser poker rooms available via major poker sites
- Tutorial sites that include playable examples of poker hands
In most cases, with the possible exception of in-browser poker rooms, these won't require any type of registration before you can play. In other words, you can jump right into poker action without the need to go through any signup process. As well as this, you won't need to take up valuable space on your hard drive with downloaded software.
What is No Deposit Poker?
While more commonly associated with online casino sites, no deposit bonuses also appear at online poker sites too, allowing players to test all game types.
A no deposit bonus gives players a certain amount of cash to play with before they need to think about placing a deposit of their own. If that sounds too good to be true, it's because it usually is; any winnings from a no deposit bonus must be wagered many times over before they can be withdrawn.
The idea of racking up lots of bonus cash might not sound all that appealing, but no deposit bonuses are still very useful. Their biggest advantage, aside from padding your bankroll, is that they enable you to check out how an online poker room plays without the need to deposit any of your own money.
If you're not a fan, you can leave as quickly as you signed up, but if you like the place, and decide to stick around, then you might be starting off your time there accompanied by some decent bonus winnings to play with.
Free Offline Poker
Playing poker offline essentially means without needing an internet connection. This is most commonly enjoyed through free poker apps on your phone and aren't played against other players. Instead, actions are determined through a mix of RNGs (random number generators) and “players” powered by a crude form of AI that bets, raises and folds based on hand strength.
While it's true that the experience is very different to playing poker online, for free or for real money, it can still be useful for players who are yet to get familiar with all the rules. For example, you can take as long as you want to make moves without frustrating other players. Free poker apps are definitely a good way to get your foot in the door of playing poker.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Poker Games Can I Play for Free?
With the exception of satellite and big money tournaments, there are very few restrictions when playing poker for free. Texas Hold'Em, Omaha, and online casino games like Three Card Poker and Caribbean Poker are the easiest to find.
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What is Freeroll Poker?
In most circumstances, freeroll poker refers to tournaments that cost nothing to enter but feature a real cash prize. There are some exceptions, though, as some freeroll tournaments require a buy-in of points earned by playing real money games or feature entry to another event as their prize.
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How to Play Free Poker Tournaments?
Freeroll tournaments are widely available to players at online poker rooms and, barring the exceptions mentioned in the section above, are free to enter. As you might expect based on that, they're highly sought after and always feature lots of competitors.
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What is Free No Download Poker?
In a nutshell, this refers to any type of poker that lets you play the game without the need to download software.
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What is No Deposit Poker?
A no deposit bonus gives players a certain amount of cash to play with before they need to think about placing a deposit of their own. If that sounds too good to be true, it's because it usually is; any winnings from a no deposit bonus must be wagered many times over before they can be withdrawn.