For many poker players in India, choosing the right website can be confusing. Most states don’t permit online gambling. That means the best solution is to look for a casino outside of the country.
Picking an offshore poker website is equally challenging. Where do you start? How do you know which site is safe and which one is not? This guide is for you.
1—Pick, A Safe, Licensed and Trustworthy Website
The most important factor to keep in mind when choosing a poker site is safety. You want to create an account where your data can be protected. More importantly, you want safety for your money.
Choose a poker site licensed by a reputable regulator like the Malta Gaming Authority or the UK Gambling Commission. These organizations have incredibly high-standards for licensing new operators.
As a result, your safety is assured at all times. Additionally, the most reputable poker casinos have certificates from independent auditors that show they provide fair games. Add safe banking and good customer service to that list and it’s clear why you need a licensed poker website.
We’ll admit—it’s not always easy to identify a trustworthy poker website. There are just too many casinos out there. Many of them look appealing and professional. But they’re not always reliable.
Read a comprehensive guide on the best poker sites in India on this page. Additionally, you’ll discover how to find great poker bonuses to boost your bankroll.
2—Look for User-Friendly Software
This might seem obvious but online poker is all about software. You interact with poker software more than you interact with human players. Owing to that backdrop, you need a website that provides smooth software.
Beautiful graphics are important but they can be damaging if they interfere with the poker site’s interface. Find a website with a simple, neat interface. Test some of the company’s games, especially games with a free demo mode.
Alternative, read reviews and watch YouTube videos about the poker websites. You’ll get a better understanding about its design, games, how it works and the experiences of other players.
3—A Full Range of Poker Games and Tournaments
Look for a website that covers your favorite games and tournaments. Don’t assume that a poker site will have a variety of poker games. You might be surprised to join a casino that doesn’t even feature Texas Hold’em.
Go through the casino’s game catalog to discover the options you’ll find. If you’re like many players, you want to see some of these games:
- Texas Hold’em
- Omaha
- Seven-Card Stud
- Five-Card Draw
- HORSE
In addition to game variety, look for a site with loads of competitions. Tournaments make poker gambling more exciting. When we talk about competitions, we mean freezeouts, rebuys, turbos, guarantee and satellite tournaments.
A freezeout tournament is like a knockout. Once you run out of money, you’re out of the competition. In a prize pool guaranteed competition, there’s always a chance to win money at the end of a competition.
Next, Satellite competitions help you win tickets for tournaments with bigger prize pools. Famed 2003 World Series of Poker Winner, Chris Moneymaker, qualified for the WSOP through an online satellite competition.
4—Fair Bonuses and Promotions
Poker bonuses are so popular nowadays that you don’t need to make any effort to get an offer. Almost every casino wants you to be their customer. To win you over, they welcome you with free betting credits.
The first bonus is usually a welcome reward. You earn by creating an account and making your first deposit. It’s an opt-in kind of deal. If you don’t want it, you can opt out. However, always pay attention to these offers because some of them are pretty amazing.
For example, a 100% bonus worth up to $1000 with zero wagering requirements would be a must-claim offer. Sadly, it’s hard to find such a generous bonus with no playthrough. All the same, consider picking bonuses if they have appealing terms.
Besides the welcome bonus, you want to get loyalty bonuses regularly. Look for a reload bonus and special rewards like betting credits for leading at SPIN & GO leader boards or for being a high roller.
5—Friendly Banking Policies
Choose a poker website that supports your favorite payment methods. This is particularly important now that most poker casinos in India are based offshore. Most of them support lots of payment methods accepted in Europe.
But they don’t always support local Indian banks. In light of that information, pick a site that accepts Visa, MasterCard, crypto PayPal, Google Pay and bank transfer: popular payment options in India.
Additionally, read the banking policies. What’s the minimum deposit? What’s the maximum you can deposit through PayPal versus Visa? Do the same research for withdrawals. You want a casino with a low minimum withdrawal limit and a fairly large maximum withdrawal.
6—Find Sites with Huge Player Traffic
No one likes to play real money poker against robots. You can’t tell how much better they’re. What’s more, it’s no fun to play against fan. Instead, it’s more exciting to compete against someone like you.
You can gauge their skill-level, exploit their weaknesses and defend against their bluffs. At some casinos, you can also see and talk to fellow players. That said, the main reason you want a site with huge traffic is to ensure there’s always someone to play with.
7—Quick, Efficient Customer Service
No matter how reputable a poker site is, there’s always a chance you’ll experience some challenges. A delay could happen during withdrawals. A game might crash after you’ve won. Or you might experience challenges logging into your account.
These challenges can only be solved if you join a poker site with efficient customer service. Pick a platform that provides live chatting. It makes it easy to communicate with customer service.
Email and phone support are also necessary. Your problem might not be urgent and so you could send an email. Alternatively, you might feel the need to talk to a staff agent, in which case a phone call would be ideal.
