If you’ve spent any time at all looking around online casino lounges in the past few years, it’s likely that you’ve come across a few different ways to play poker. This classic card game has come a long way over the decades, and now it’s possible to play real, live games of poker with others through the magic of the internet.
However, if you’re fairly new to either poker in general or even the idea of live casino gaming, it makes sense to do a bit of research before you dive straight in. There’s no need to worry, however, because I’ve done the digging for you.
In this guide, I’ll take you through the main differences between live and online poker, what you can expect from each version, and how you can work out which playing style is best for you. Don’t start placing any bets until you’ve read this guide to the end!
Differences between live and online poker
By ‘live’ poker in this sense, I’m referring to card games taking place at an online casino but with a live dealer. Much in the same way that you can play blackjack, roulette and other classic table games with a real dealer at casinos such as Tonybet, it’s also possible to play live poker!
However, as you can imagine, there are going to be some differences between the real games and the live equivalent. Even more so, there are going to be differences between live online poker and live virtual poker – and that’s what I will explore below.
Here are the five main differences between live and traditional online poker to keep in mind before you start betting.
There’s a real dealer
Yes, this is the most obvious point to make, but the main difference between traditional online poker and live casino poker is that there’s somebody handing out the cards for real. Live poker dealers connect to you via video link, meaning that you’re essentially streaming a croupier while making decisions about your hand.
As with traditional online poker, you’re playing fairly anonymously. Just because you can see the dealer doesn’t mean that they can see you. In fact, several people will be playing poker alongside you with the same live dealer, and they are generally handling cards and rounds to cover each game individually.
A live poker dealer will act as your host for the entirety of a game and all of its rounds, often calling out winners or chatting along the way. In virtual or traditional online poker games, there’s no host – meaning that some people prefer to play live instead for the injection of personality!
You’re only playing against the dealer
In most cases with live poker online, you’re playing against the dealer alone. This means that you don’t have to worry about what other players have in their hands. It also means that you’re effectively only playing poker against one person – and, thankfully for you, there’s no need to worry about your poker face!
However, there is still something of a challenge, as you won’t know precisely what the dealer or croupier is holding at any one time. Therefore, you need to think carefully about your own hands and how you can play strategically.
With traditional online poker games, you might play alongside other bettors – albeit again, without actually seeing them! This doesn’t mean that traditional games are any easier or harder than live poker games. In fact, some feel that the live variations offer more of a challenge!
It makes sense to play against a dealer in live poker at this point in time. While live casino games have been around for a while now, casino developers are not yet at a point where they can roll out multiplayer, multi-video games between separate players – at least, not safely, and not with the stability that players would usually demand.
Games might take longer than usual
If you’re used to online poker games, you might find that – because everything is simulated – the play moves pretty thick and fast! There’s no need for poker faces or moments of deep reflection – rounds and entire games can be over and done within minutes.
With video and three-card poker online, you can expect games to move even faster. Players are betting in an age when poker is one of the fastest casino games available online – which really does transform the way that we see the game traditionally played in real life!
Live poker games at online casinos try to slow things down a little, more to a pace that you’d expect at a usual poker table. That’s because you’re actually playing against a real dealer, and they need time to think about their cards as much as you need to think about yours!
For some people, these changes can transform the dynamic of the game and might even make things more appealing than virtual poker online. That said, there are still different versions of poker played at live tables that do still unfold fairly quickly. So, don’t always expect live poker with a real dealer at a casino to be slow going!
It’s a different type of experience
If you’ve never played live casino poker before, it might be easy to assume that it’s just the same as traditional online games. In some ways, the classic rules are followed and hand rankings are also golden – but there’s a different kind of atmosphere and experience when you play live games online, certainly compared to playing virtual games.
For one, some people feel that live poker games are more realistic. Virtual poker online is randomly determined and managed by a machine – and the one major facet that these games and live tables share is that they’re completely random.
The appearance of a live dealer can give some players the reassurance that the games they’re about to play are completely real and therefore never predetermined. You can rest assured, however, that none of the games offered at Tonybet are predetermined in the first place – the games we offer are fair and are completely randomised.
Yet we understand that some bettors enjoy live gaming more because of the atmosphere. While you’re not actually talking directly to a live dealer outside of a chat function, you’re connecting with a real person – and it’s arguably this realism that helps to make live poker all the more popular.
Which one is right for you?
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to play live poker games rather than traditional online games – and much of those are down to personal tastes.
If you prefer your poker games to be fast-paced and want to play a digital version without real people present, then traditional online poker is still going strong. In fact, we’re always bringing new table games – including new twists on online poker – into our catalogue.
Traditional online poker also brings in more players – so, if you prefer playing virtually against other people, again, this is the option that’s likely to be better suited to you.
Live poker with a real dealer, meanwhile, is probably the best choice for players who want that extra realism from their games. You might be an avid poker player in real life but don’t get chance to head to any local tables. In which case, live poker is a fantastic alternative that you can get into from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, phone or tablet.
Live poker is also likely to be the first choice for people who miss some of the slower, more contemplative action that they find at real tables. Virtual online poker games, because they take away some of the human aspects, can make rounds fly by in an instant. Therefore, if you really prefer to savour your poker action, it’s worth getting into a live dealer game or two.
Of course, the final decision is entirely up to you. Tonybet offers a range of real and virtual casino experiences you can easily launch from your chosen device. You might even want to explore both!
Conclusion
There are plenty of differences between live poker and traditional online games. However, this doesn’t mean that one is necessarily better than the other! Both allow players to get into the classic games from afar, with one offering human connection with a one-on-one play style, and the other providing a multiplayer experience at an often faster pace.
I personally recommend that you take some time to explore different styles of poker available online and see what types appeal to you the most. That said, always make sure to gamble responsibly when you do. Set yourself clear limits for your play time and bankroll, and if you need help from the Tonybet team, you can always contact us for advice.
In the meantime, take a look at some of the upcoming poker games available at Tonybet, and explore some of the most popular takes on the classic game in our growing catalogue.
Play poker online with Tonybet!
