Top-Ranked Online Casinos for Playing Poker in 2023

This is the best, most comprehensive guide to playing online poker games for real money at online casinos. As you go through our guide, you will find loads of important information on the most popular online poker games. We also have a full list of the best online casinos to play different poker variants, such as Pai Gow Poker, Texas Hold’em Poker, Five Card Draw Poker, Live Casino Poker Games, Caribbean Stud Poker, and other popular variations.

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Poker
The Comprehensive Guide to Online Poker: Learn the Rules, Strategies, Tips, and Terminology. Discover a detailed overview of poker games, explanations of different poker variants, access to free poker games, and top-rated online casinos for playing real money poker, all expertly reviewed and ranked.

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Overview

Poker is the umbrella term used for a variety of popular card games that all share several key elements in common. For instance, all of the different poker games you can play online have the same poker hand ranking system. At the same time, other rules of these games differ.

One of the most exciting things about playing poker online is the fact that you can play poker against the casino or against other poker fans and enthusiasts. Most players refer to Texas Hold’em with the term poker and this should not come up as a surprise considering the fact that Texas Hold’em remains the most popular poker games.

At the same time, there are many other popular poker variants you can play online, including Five Card Draw and Seven Card Draw. Omaha Hold 'em and Six Plus Hold 'em have recently gained traction in the ever-changing poker world also.

All in all, you have come to the right place if you enjoy playing poker in one or more of its forms. In the following sections, we introduce you to the best online casinos to play real money poker. We also share with you handy tips and tricks for playing poker and much more.

Different Variations of Real Money Poker Games

As already mentioned, the term poker includes quite a few different poker games and these are generally divided into two groups, one group includes poker games played against the casino and the other group includes poker games played against other players.

The most popular poker games played against other poker players include:

  • Deuce to Seven Triple Draw
  • Five Card Draw
  • Texas Hold’em
  • Seven Card Stud
  • Omaha
  • Seven Card Razz

Most of these games can be played against other poker players at different poker tournaments, and live poker rooms. Many online casinos have also poker rooms reserved for these games. With so many different real money poker games available online, everyone can find a poker game to enjoy. Poker games also suit both low and high-rollers, as well as beginners and more experienced players.

When discussing the exciting world of poker, we have to mention the biggest poker tournament held in Las Vegas every year, the World Series of Poker. The World Series of Poker hosts the best poker players, as well as, amateur players who want to play with big boys. Kenyan poker players have a huge variety of poker sites to join if they want to take part in exciting poker tournaments or poker cash games.

The most popular poker games played against the casino include:

  • Oasis Poker
  • Stravaganza
  • Caribbean Stud Poker
  • Casino Hold’em
  • Pai Gow Poker

 When compared to the previous group of poker games, poker variants played against the casino usually have simpler rules and are more beginner-friendly since fewer skills are involved. At the same time, you cannot beat poker games played against the casino, at least not in the long run, unless poker games you play against other players.

The bottom line, the house always has an edge, just like in other popular classic table games, such as Baccarat and Blackjack. Still, poker games played against the casino remain very popular, especially due to the fact that bluffing is not involved. Poker players residing in Kenya have a huge selection of these poker variants to explore at online casinos.

They do not have to register at poker sites to engage in online poker sessions since these games are still considered online casino games. When playing poker at online casinos, players can also benefit from bonuses and promotions, including welcome bonuses that offer instant bankroll boosts.

Poker Games Played Against the Casino

If you do not want to learn the complexities of games like Omaha or Texas Hold’em, there are plenty of opportunities to play poker in a much simpler format at online casinos. Playing poker against the casino means you will not be able to bluff or decide how much to bet on multiple streets, but you also will not be bluffed. Most casino poker games involve comparing your hand to the dealer's. The rules are generally very simple and everyone can enjoy some online poker action, including players who are not very familiar with the game.

The most popular casino poker games among Kenyan players are Caribbean Stud Poker and Casino Hold’em. Both of these poker games share many similarities with Texas Hold’em and Seven Card Stud but the rules are simplified.

Speaking of the rules concerning casino poker games, they are usually very simple no matter which variant you play. These games usually feature up to two betting rounds and sometimes jackpot prizes reserved for higher-ranking poker hands. The standard poker hand ranking system applies.

Where Can I Play Online Real Money Poker?

As previously stated, Kenyan poker players have a huge variety of iGaming sites to choose from if they want to play online poker for real money. Aside from poker sites, many online casinos have rich gaming lobbies with different poker variants.

The most popular poker sites also offer poker tournaments and cash games if you want to test your poker skills and play with others. Participating in poker tournaments can lead to big cash prizes. Playing cash games can help you build your bankroll by making smaller bets.

At the same time, playing poker at online casinos may be a better option if you want the ability to play any day and any time of the day since poker games of this kind are accessible around the clock. When playing online casino poker games, you have a greater selection of betting options and you play one hand at a time which works perfectly for beginner and less experienced players.

Whichever route you take, you want to make sure the poker site or the online casino you have chosen is the right option. While Kenyan poker players can register for an account at play at many online casinos and poker sites, you should only look into sites that are properly licensed and sites that have all the necessary safety and security measures employed.

To help you find the right online poker casino for you, we have done all the research that goes into checking many different online casinos that cater to Kenyan players. Either way, whichever online casino recommended by us you choose, you can rest assured that you have made the right decision.

Put on Your Best Poker Face and Play

Whenever you are ready, face your opponents with your best poker face. With online casino poker games accessible around the clock, you will have no issues with getting started whenever you are ready. If you are ready, check our list of the best online poker casinos, register for an account, claim the welcome bonus if available, and play your game. You never know, you could become the next World Series of Poker champion with a little luck and a lot of skill!

Real Money Poker Wagering Options

When playing real money poker, you have only five wagering options, so you will have no issues familiarizing yourself with these if you have never played poker before.

Wager: The first person to put money into the pot places the bet. Once the bet is placed, the other players must decide whether to fold, call, or fold.

Raise: Players who are confident in their cards can also choose to raise the stake. With raising, players increase the betting pot and other players can follow the same steps or fold.

Check: Checking allows you to keep your hand without betting any money as long as no one else does. If somebody raises or makes a bet, checking will not keep you in the game.

Fold: If you are not confident that you have a strong hand you can fold and when you fold, you leave that betting round.

Call: The last option is to call. Once the wagering round has started, staying in the betting round requires calling or matching the last wager made.


Real Money Poker Winning Strategy

While many poker players prefer playing the game casually, many are looking for different ways to boost their gaming skills and potentially boost their winning odds. If you are one of those players who want to sharpen their poker skills, you should explore different poker winning strategies, and some of these are discussed in the section that follows.

Focus on One Poker Game at the Beginning

One of the most appealing features of online casino poker is the amazing amount of different online poker variations you have at your disposal. However, when you are a beginner player, the best option is to focus on playing one game. This allows you to practice your game and gain experience before you go out there and play other games and play with other poker fans.

Be Patient 

No matter which poker game you play, you want to be selective and patient with your hands. Keep in mind that you do not have to play every single hand you have. Sometimes, it is better to fold and wait for a better hand. When you do not have a strong hand, fold and wait for something better instead of forcing your way to stay in the game.

Keep an Eye on Your Bankroll

Stake levels at poker games vary significantly between different online casinos and different online poker variants. If you are a beginner, consider playing at lower stakes. If you are very confident in your skills, you can start playing at high stakes right away. Either way, you want to keep an eye on your budget at all times.

Play at Smaller Stake

Beginner poker players should start playing at smaller stakes and starting small lets them develop their own winning strategies and familiarize themselves with the game better while avoiding huge financial losses. Betting at small stakes casinos enables you to build a consistent winning strategy before you go out there and play with the big boys at higher stakes.

 


Poker Hand Rankings System

As stated in the sections above, poker players have a huge variety of different poker games to play at online casinos. While different poker variants have different rules, they share the same basic rules and they also share the same poker hand rankings system.

No matter which online poker variant you play, the main goal is always the same, you want to get a stronger five-card hand when compared to your opponents’ hands. In some poker games, you only get five cards to play with. Either way, the poker hand rankings system always remains the same, as featured below starting from the least valuable to the strongest poker hand.

  • High Card
  • One Pair
  • Two Pair
  • Three of a Kind
  • Straight
  • Flush
  • Full House
  • Four of a Kind
  • Straight Flush
  • Royal Flush

The best way to win is to have the strongest poker hand. However, this is not the only way to win playing poker. When playing with other poker players, you can also bluff and go for the win this way. In fact, bluffing is very prominent in popular poker games, such as Omaha and Texas Hold’em. In games, such as Caribbean Stud Poker and Oasis Poker, you need the strongest hand to win.


Rules of Playing Poker

Now, onto the rules of playing poker online. Since Texas Hold’em remains the most popular poker game, we will examine the game’s rules. Texas Hold’em may be a great start for beginner players as the rules are very simple to learn. However, mastering the game of Texas Hold’em can be challenging and many players spend years getting to know all the different Texas Hold’em winning probabilities and mathematical variations.

Those who are new to the growing world of online poker may want to explore the game of Texas Hold’em first before they start exploring other popular poker variants. Below, you will find the game’s rules associated with a single betting round.

Blinds: The "dealer button" is given to one player who is designated as the dealer for the betting round in progress. The "small blind" and "big blind" are posted by the two players situated on the left side of the designated dealer. These bets are mandatory, and their size varies between different poker variants and different poker tables. A typical online game spread would be a buy-in of KSh20,000, with blinds of KSh100 and KSh200 each.

Hole Cards: Everyone seated at the same poker table receives two cards that are facing down, so these are not visible to other players at the table. The two initially-dealt face-down cards are called hole cards and they determine how will you play your hand in the first betting round.

First Wagering Round: Once all players at the table have received their cards, wagering can start. Players have a couple of different betting options, they can fold, raise the stake, or call the big blind. Once all players have made the decision, the first betting round completes. If only one player stays in the game, that player wins the round.

Flop: The flop is dealt with after all bets on the first betting round have been completed. Three cards are dealt facing up so that all players seated at the table can see them. All players at the table can use the three facing-up cards to reinforce their hands.

Second Wagering Round: After the flop, the second wagering round starts. Just like in the first wagering round, players get to check their hands and make their bets, starting from the left side of the dealer button. Once a wager has been made, players can fold or call the bet made.

Turn: The turn is the fourth community card. Just like the three flop cards, the turn card can be used by all players at the table. 

Third Wagering Round: The remaining players enter the third betting round which unfolds just like the first and second betting rounds discussed earlier. 

River: The river is the fifth community card and once again, it can be used by all players seated at the table.

Final Wagering Round: Players place their wagers for the final time during the last betting round that initiates after the river has been placed.

Showdown: Players who are still in the game show their hands and the strongest hand wins the game. 

As explained in the previous section, Texas Hold’em Poker has very simple rules which make the game an excellent choice for players who are just starting their online poker journey. When playing Texas Hold’em poker, you make your wagers and you call other players’ wagers depending on which cards you have. Mastering the game takes a lot of time, but everyone can get there eventually.

 

 

 


Why Should You Play Online Poker?

At land-based casinos, poker remains one of the most popular games and its popularity has also been growing among fans of online casino gambling. While some poker fans are not familiar with all the rules associated with different online poker variants, they are usually familiar with the most basic rules that apply. Either way, online poker is one of the most popular games and there is no wonder why most online casinos operating in Kenya have at least one poker variant available to their customers.

There are different benefits of playing the game of poker online, and some of these are discussed in the section that follows.

Play Multiple Hands: Whenyou play the game of poker online, you can play multiple hands at the same time and this is not possible when playing the game at a land-based casino unless you want to run from one table to another. In addition, online poker gaming sessions usually unfold faster, so you end up playing more hands in a relatively short time period.

Lower Stakes: Playingonline poker is more suitable for beginner players who have a tight budget since smaller stakes are allowed. The selection of online casinos with smaller stakes poker games is also huge, so everyone can find a game to enjoy.

Excellent Variety of Poker Variants: When you play the game of poker online, you have a huge variety of different poker games to explore and at the same time, many popular poker variants are not available at land-based casinos due to space limitations. Playing online also lets you play a couple of unique poker games, such as Razz poker, alongside standard poker games, including Texas Hold’em and Seven Card Stud.

Availability of Generous Bonuses: Another awesome benefit of playing poker online relates to the availability of generous bonuses and promotions. Most online casinos offer welcome bonuses, alongside special bonus offers reserved for fans of poker.

Fast-Paced Gaming Sessions: Lastly,playing poker online does not involve waiting time and all gaming sessions are fast-paced. At the same time, when you want to play poker at a land-based casino, you commonly need to wait for a table. Once you get seated, you need to wait for all players to make their bets.

Tips When Playing Online Poker

Having a good winning strategy when playing poker or any other online casino game is crucial if you want to enjoy long-term success. Even if you are new to the online poker world, you want to have a strategy of some kind to boost your winning odds. This is why we have a couple of handy tips for you to maximize your online gambling sessions.

How to Get Started Playing?

As discussed in the previous sections, learning the rules of poker is relatively easy and even though you have different poker variants to play online, the basic rules are always the same. Below, we discuss everything involved in a single poker betting strategy when playing Texas Hold’em. Keep in mind that the rules may slightly differ from other poker games.

1 Place Your Wager

Before the very first cards are dealt, you need to place your wager in the form of blinds. As discussed in one of the previous sections, players situated on the left side of the designated dealer place small and big blinds. Initial bets placed in the form of ante wagers are placed by all players at the table. Once everyone has placed their bet, you get two cards facing down and you decide to fold, call, wager, or check.

2 Examine the Three Community Cards

Following the conclusion of the initial wagering round, three community cards are placed and these are called the flop. Everyone can use these cards. Once the community cards have been placed, the following wagering round starts.

3 Examine the Fourth Community Card

The turn or the fourth community card is dealt. You then check your hand and decide on your next step before the third wagering round starts.

4 Check Out the Fifth Community Card

Once the wagering round has been completed, the final community card called the river is dealt. If you are still in the game, you can use all five community cards to strengthen your hand before the final betting round.

5 The Showdown

After the completion of the final betting round, it is time for the showdown. All players’ hands that are still in the game are compared and the player with the strongest hand wins.

Playing Free vs Playing for Real Money

Below, we look at some of the biggest differences between playing free online poker and playing poker games for real money.

Playing Real Money Poker Playing Free Poker
The ability to claim bonuses. Zero financial risking.
Awesome winning opportunities. Test different poker games without risking your money.
Test you gaming skills. Great option for beginner players.
Poker Terms to Learn

When you start playing poker for real money for the first time, there will be many unfamiliar terms and we have got you covered. Check out our list of the most used poker terms and phrases and you will sound like a professional player in no time.

Poker Terms

Different Poker Variants

While Texas Hold’em remains the most popular poker game, there are many other equally rewarding and exciting variants to check out. Below, we briefly discuss some of these.

Seven-Card Stud Poker

Seven-Card Stud is a very popular real money poker game widely available at online casinos. As suggested by the game’s name, players receive seven cards. The main goal of the game is to beat the others with the strongest seven-card hand.

Texas Hold’em Poker

When compared to all other different poker variants, Texas Hold’em is still the most played and the most famous poker game. As discussed in one of the previous sections, Texas Hold’em betting rounds start with all players at the table receiving two cards. In Texas Hold’em, players have five community cards to use and the main goal is always the same, beat the others with the strongest hand made of the two cards you received initially and the community cards.

Five-Card Draw Poker

As suggested, in Five-Card Draw poker players get five cards. During the draw phase of the game, players can replace one or more cards in hopes of having the strongest five-card hand.

Omaha High/Low Poker

In Omaha poker, every player at the table gets four hole cards, while five community cards are placed at the center of the table. Players use their hole cards, alongside the community cards, to create two hands, one low and one high.

Razz Poker

When compared to other poker games, Razz shares the most similarities with Seven-Card Stud. In Razz, players can use seven cards to create a five-card hand. However, unlike other games, in Razz the lowest-valued poker hand wins the pot.

Caribbean Stud Poker

Caribbean Stud Poker has many fans among online casino players. The game shares some similarities with Five-Card Draw. In Caribbean Stud Poker, players get five cards and the main goal is to beat the dealer’s five-card hand.

Cyber Stud Poker

Cyber Stud Poker is a real money online poker variation that is becoming increasingly popular. Players need to place a wager before any cards are dealt. Once they have placed their wagers, players get five cards and the dealer gets only one card. Depending on what they have, players can keep wagering and, in this case, the dealer receives four cards. The player wins if he/she has a higher-valued poker hand.

Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is a popular poker version of the Chinese game of the same name. Unlike the original game, Pai Gow Poker uses real playing cards instead of dominoes. In Pai Gow Poker, players get seven cards and the main goal is to get a strong five-card hand and a low two-card hand.

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FAQ

Yes, most online casinos let you play poker games of different kinds on your iOS or Android device.

Yes, many popular poker games are available in live formats, including Texas Hold’em and Casino Hold’em game.

Most online casinos offer multiple popular poker games played against the house, alongside different live poker variants.

This depends on your gaming preferences. Either way, every licensed and reputable online casino site that features your favorite poker games is probably a great choice.

Generally, yes. The most basic rules are usually the same, including the poker hand rankings system that is shared among different poker variants.

You have a huge selection of different online poker variants to explore, including Seven Card Stud, Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, Five-Card Stud, and many other poker games.

Yes, nothing is stopping you from enjoying online poker gaming sessions at different sites at the same time.

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