Is Live Poker Still Profitable

You might be wondering which format of poker is better? Which among Online Poker vs Live is the best option to play? Or you have never played poker live and want to know how it feels. Don’t worry, I’ll tell discuss everything about online poker Vs Live Poker here. Online poker has its own up’s and down. Even Live Poker has its own up’s and down. I’ll be discussing each of the up’s and down of Online poker vs Live Poker in detail. By the end of the article, you’ll be able to decide which is a better format than the other.

Online Poker Vs Live Poker: Which one is Better? To answer this question, you have to know all the positives and negatives of both online and Live. In general Online Poker is the best option if you don’t have any casinos nearby. Also, you’ll get plenty of statistics while playing Online. But, while playing Live, You’ll be able to experience the atmosphere where thousands of people taking part. This will be an awesome experience to feel and be a part of. Also, read the entire article to know the further difference between Online poker and Live Poker.

There are several questions that come to mind when we compare online poker vs live poker. The questions below will help you get your answer to which is a better format to play.

Questions regarding Online Poker vs Live Poker

Online poker is the game of poker played over the Internet.It has been partly responsible for a huge increase in the number of poker players worldwide. Christiansen Capital Advisors stated online poker revenues grew from $82.7 million in 2001 to $2.4 billion in 2005, while a survey carried out by DrKW and Global Betting and Gaming Consultants asserted online poker revenues in 2004 were at $1.4. Live poker is a completely different animal though. In fact live poker is profitable pretty much anywhere on earth in 2020 especially at the lower stakes. This is because live poker games are often considerably easier to beat than their online counterparts. And this isn't likely to change any time soon.

1. Is Online Poker harder than Live?

The most common question that each one of us come across is which format of Poker is easier to play? When we compare Online poker vs Live poker, this is the question that holds a lot of players from playing either live or online. The answer is that Online is much harder to play than Live. There are several reasons for this. I’ll mention the top three below.

a) Online players are more serious than live players.

Online poker is usually played by much more serious players who are all looking to make money. Also, most of these players are young and they value their money a lot. The players that play online usually don’t have much money and their main motive is to win no matter what. To compete with these players is much more difficult and the chances of winning are really slim unless you’re a really good player.

But, in Live poker, a lot of different people come to play who are all not that serious to win. Most of the people visit Casinos to have fun and have a great time. They won’t be playing their best. Winning would be a bonus for most of the people who visit casinos. Don’t get me wrong. There will be a few players who play seriously even in live. But, the number of serious players are less in general. So, if you’re one of those players who are much more serious while playing live, you have a high chance of winning live than online.

b) You tend to win more money in Live than Online

While playing online, you usually start your poker career in the lower stakes. Most of the players play the $25 NL table online. It is really difficult to make even $100 after playing for several hours. Also, with the rake, there isn’t much profit in playing online.

But, in live poker, to play a $1/2 No limit you need to buy in a minimum of $1000 to $2000. So, you tend to win more in live poker than online.

c) You have all the resources while playing online.

While playing online you tend to have more poker resource with all the tools that are available online. So, it is much more challenging to win online since all the players are equipped with it. Even if you’re a really good player, those tools online help the other players and they become much more threateningas you.

But, while playing Live, there are no tools that are going to help the players. They have to be on top of their game all the time. Also, since in live poker all the players can see you play, you need to have really good control of your emotions. So, if you’re a really good player and control your emotions, you have a great chance of winning in live poker than online.

These are the top 3 reasons why online poker is much harder to win and also to earn more money.

2. What are the differences between Online Poker Vs Live?

There are several differences when it comes to online poker vs live. Some of the major differences are as follows:

a) The pace of the game

Online poker is a much faster-paced game than live poker. You tend to play more hands in online than live poker. The reason for this is that you don’t have a dealer to deal the cards online. This significantly increases the pace of the game. Also, after the end of the game, the chips won directly goes to the player while playing online saving a ton of time.

b) Multi-Table

You can play multiple poker tables at once when you are playing online. This is not possible while playing live. Also, with multiple tables you tend to play more poker hands per hour than a live game.

c) Software

There are various software’s which are available online, which track player stats and give you an analysis of their play. All these are available in one place while playing online. You miss out this feature when you’re playing live poker.

d) Understanding Players

When you’re playing live poker, you can have a better reading of your opponents and get to know a lot better in a short span of time. You can also intimidate players with talking while playing live. All of these are not possible to do when you’re playing online. So, in general, you’ll have better reading and understand players much better while playing live poker.

e) Multi-Way vs Heads-Up Pots

In the live games you’ll often encounter looser play, generally speaking, in the form of players doing a lot more calling. One consequence of this trend is more multi-way pots occurring live than online where the preflop betting more typically creates heads-up situations.

It isn’t that unusual in a live cash game session to witness a number of limpers preflop and/or several callers of a preflop raise, thereby creating a multi-way situation.

These are some of the major differences between online poker vs live poker.

3. Is Live Poker more Profitable?

Yes, live poker is way easier to earn money than online. This is because live poker games are often considerably easier to beat than their online counterparts. And this isn’t likely to change any time soon. I have mentioned several reasons as to why online poker is much harder to win nowadays. So, yes, Live poker is much more profitable than online if you consider yourself to be an above-average player.

Check out thetips to master the live poker games and be better equipped at all times.

4. Are Online Poker Sites Rigged?

If you’re curious to know whether an online poker site is rigged or not, the simple answer is it is not. There are severallegalized sites that offer players to play poker online. Signs that make you feel the online poker sites are rigged as follows:

• Too many bad beats
• Bad hands leading to big pots
• Big bankrolls equaling bigger wins even with weak hands

If you are facing all of these then you might feel that the online poker sites are rigged. But, it is not. You are either having a seriously bad time, or you are not playing well.

Also, some players think that there might be bots involved while playing online. And, they think that these bots seem to win every single hand. Again that player might be really lucky and is having the time of his life. There are no bots in general while playing online. To know more check out this article. You’ll have a clear picture then.

5. Online Poker Vs Live Poker: Which one is more addictive?

Poker, in general, can be very addictive. When playing Online, you tend to play more as it is easier to have access to. You can play online poker from home or even from the office. Whereas to play live poker, you need to visit a casino or play with your friends in your home. This is not possible all the time. Hence the tendency to online poker is more than live poker.

But don’t forget, Casinos have their own strategies where they make their customers visit again and again. Some players are so addicted that they go and play in casinos all day long. If you’re winning then it’s fine. But, if you lose all the time then this becomes a serious problem. This is really bad for you and to your health as well.

To summarize the question, more players play online since it is easier to have access to. But live poker is way more addictive than online.

Summary

What do I think about Online poker vs Live Poker? If you are starting your career, then I would suggest you start with Online Poker. Because Live poker can be very intense and you have to be on top of your game all the time. But, in Online, since you’re playing virtually, You can relax much more. Also, if you’re a beginner, then you’ll be able to get the stats while playing online for each hand you participate. You don’t have this option while playing Live.

But again try both. See which one suits you the best. See in which mode you’re making more money. See in which mode you’re more comfortable. Also, having fun is super important. Make sure you’re having fun while playing both. If you are not having fun playing online, then you need to try live poker and vice versa.

Hope you had fun reading the article and have got your answer to online poker vs live as to which is better. Please make sure to check out the best cardsthat you can buy to play poker with your friends. 🙂

I am the owner of the site rohithebbar.com. I love playing poker and other card games.

Online casinos, also known as virtual casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of traditional ('brick and mortar') casinos. Online casinos enable gamblers to play and wager on casino games through the Internet. It is a prolific form of online gambling.

Online casinos generally offer odds and payback percentages that are a bit higher than land-based casinos.^{[citation needed]} Some online casinos claim higher payback percentages for slot machine games, and some publish payout percentage audits on their websites. Assuming that the online casino is using an appropriately programmed random number generator, table games like blackjack have an established house edge. The payout percentage for these games are established by the rules of the game.

Many online casinos rent or buy their software from companies like CryptoLogic Inc (now Amaya), International Game Technology, Microgaming, Playtech, Golden Race and Realtime Gaming.

Types

Online casinos are broadly divided into two categories based on the software they use: web-based and download-only casinos. Traditionally, online casinos would include only one of the two platforms. However, with advanced technological changes, an online casino can now accommodate both.

Web-based

Web-based online casinos (also known as flash or no-download casinos) are websites where users may play casino games without downloading software to their local computer. Games are mainly represented in the browser plugins Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave, or Java and require browser support for these plugins. Besides the plugins and browser, a stable internet connection is required to have a seamless gaming experience as all graphics, sounds, and animations are loaded through the web via the plugin. Some online casinos also allow gameplay through a HTML interface.

Apple devices such as iPod, iPad, and iPhone cannot play Flash games as the technology is not supported. To access the no download casinos using the iOS platform, you'll have to download browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, or Opera Mini.

Download-based

Download-based online casinos require the download of the software client in order to play and wager on the casino games offered. The online casino software connects to the casino service provider and handles contact without browser support. Download-based online casinos generally run faster than web-based online casinos since the graphics and sound programs are cached by the software client, rather than having to be loaded from the Internet. On the other hand, the initial download and installation of the casino's software take time. As with any download from the Internet, the risk of the program containing malware exists, which makes it less popular among skeptical casino players.

Games

Virtual

Also known as software-based online casino games, the outcome of these games is determined using a pseudorandom number generator (PRNG) software. This software ensures that every deal of the card, the outcome of a dice throw, or the results produced by the spinning of a slot machine or roulette wheel is totally random and unpredictable. PRNGs use a set of mathematical instructions known as an algorithm to generate a long stream of numbers that give the impression of true randomness. While this is not the same as true random number generation (computers are incapable of this without an external input source), it provides results that satisfy all but the most stringent requirements for true randomness.

When implemented correctly, a PRNG algorithm such as the Mersenne Twister will ensure that the games are both fair and unpredictable. However, usually, the player has to trust that the software has not been rigged to increase the house edge, as its inner workings are invisible to the user. Properly regulated online casinos are audited externally by independent regulators to ensure that their win percentages are in line with the stated odds, and this can provide a degree of assurance to the player that the games are fair, assuming the player trusts the regulator.

Live dealer

Live dealer casino games are the complete opposite of software-based games. Instead of depending on software to determine the outcome of the roulette spin, dice throw, or deal of a card, these games depend on real-time results. This is possible as the games are streamed in real-time from a land-based casino or a studio recreated to mimic a land-based casino.

To ensure that players have an easy time playing these games and that the land-based environment is fully recreated, software developers include innovative features such as the chat feature. This enables the player to type your message to the dealer and they can respond back verbally. The live chat feature can also be used to communicate with other players seated at the table following a set of rules laid down by the casino.

The results of the physical transactions by the dealer, such as the outcome of the roulette wheel spin or the dealing of cards, are translated into data that can be utilized by the software by means of optical character recognition (OCR) technology. This enables the player to interact with the game in much the same way as they would with a virtual casino game, except for the fact that the results are determined by real-life actions rather than automated processes.

These games are a lot more expensive for websites to host than virtual games, as they involve a heavier investment in technology and staffing. A live casino studio typically employs one or more cameramen, several croupiers running the various games, an information technology manager to ensure that any technical hitches are dealt with swiftly, and a pit boss that acts as an adjudicator in case of disputes between players and croupiers.

In most cases, this requires at least a three-room setup, comprising a live studio, a server/software room, and an analyst’s room. The configuration of these rooms varies from casino to casino, with some having several gaming tables in one room, and some having a single table in each room.

The high running costs involved with operating live dealer games is the reason why online casinos only tend to offer a handful of the most popular games in this format, such as roulette, blackjack, sic bo, and baccarat. In comparison, the running costs associated with virtual games are very low, and it is not uncommon for online casinos to offer hundreds of different virtual casino games to players on their site.

Online casinos vary in their approach to the hosting of live games, with some providing live games via their own television channel, and others offering the games exclusively via their website. In the case of televised games, players can often use their mobile phone or television remote controls to place bets instead of doing so via a computer connected to the internet. The most common live dealer games offered at online casinos are baccarat, blackjack, and roulette.

Examples

A typical selection of gambling games offered at an online casino might include:

Bonuses

Is Live Poker Still Profitable Games

Many online casinos offer sign-up bonuses to new players making their first deposit, and often on subsequent play as well. These bonuses are a form of marketing that may incur a cost (potentially justifiable in order to attract a new player who may return and deposit many more times), since the casino is essentially giving away money in return for a commitment from the player to wager a certain minimum amount before they are allowed to withdraw. Since all casino games have a house edge, the wagering requirements ensure that the player cannot simply walk away with the casino's money immediately after claiming the bonus. These wagering requirements are commonly set to be sufficiently high that the player has a negative expectation, exactly as if they had deposited and not claimed a bonus.

Casinos may choose to restrict certain games from fulfilling the wagering requirements, either to restrict players from playing low-edge games or to restrict 'risk-free' play (betting for instance both red and black on roulette), thereby completing the wagering requirement with a guaranteed profit after the bonus is taken into account.

Welcome

The Welcome bonus is a deposit match bonus on the first deposit ever made in the casino or casino group. Welcome bonuses sometimes come in packages and may be given to match the first two or three deposits (First Deposit Welcome Bonus, Second Deposit Welcome Bonus, etc.). They can also be tied to specific games, such as the Welcome Slots Bonus or the Welcome Table Games Bonus. The casino may also offer Welcome bonuses for high rollers who make an initial deposit above the standard amount limit.

Referral

There are two types of Referral bonuses: one for the Referee and one for the Referrer. The Referee gets a bonus when he or she registers an account at the casino and mentions the Referrer. The Referrer gets a bonus when the Referee completes all the requirements, such as making the deposit and wagering it a certain number of times.

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Cashback or insurance

Cashback or Insurance bonuses are offered as a percentage of all losses in the player’s previous gaming activity. Typically, only deposits that were not matched with bonuses count towards this bonus. You can additionally find websites that offer casino cashback payments based on your losses encountered while playing with one or more online casinos. Those types of cashback deals are usually paid back to players by the casino portal that offers those special cashback offers.

No-deposit

The most popular form of bonus is one that can be claimed without the need to deposit any of the player's own money - known as a no deposit bonus. These bonuses are used as acquisition tools by casinos wishing to attract new players. No deposit bonuses don't always take the form of real cash, as exemplified below.

Non-cashable

Non-cashable bonuses may be called 'sticky' or 'phantom' bonuses. In both cases, the bonus forms a part of the player's balance, but cannot be cashed out. The difference between cash-able and phantom bonuses comes at cashout time. A phantom bonus is deducted from the player's balance at the moment he places his withdrawal request. For example: if you deposited $100, received $100, played, and finished the wagering at $150. If the bonus is sticky, the player will be able to withdraw just $50. If the bonus is cash-able, then the whole balance is available for withdrawal.

Comp points

Comps are commonly available at land-based casinos, but also exist online. Comp points can usually be exchanged for cash, prizes, or other comps. The amount of cash given per wager is usually very small and often varies with game selection. A casino might offer three comp points for each $10 wagered on slots and one comp point for each $10 wagered on blackjack. The casino might give $1 for each 100 comp points. This example is equivalent to returning 0.3% of wagers on slots and 0.1% of wagers on blackjack. In addition, online casinos may offer comps such as free tickets to online tournaments, free slots online, tickets to other special events, extra bonuses, souvenirs, and payback.

Hunting

Bonus hunting (also known as bonus bagging or bonus whoring) is a type of advantage gambling where turning a profit from casino, sportsbook and poker room bonus situations is mathematically possible. For example, the house edge in blackjack is roughly 0.5%. If a player is offered a $100 cashable bonus requiring $5000 in wagering on blackjack with a house edge of 0.5%, the expected loss is $25. Therefore, the player has an expected gain of $75 after claiming the $100 bonus.

Disputes

A large portion of online casino disputes relates to bonuses. Casinos may label players who win using bonuses as 'bonus abusers.' Both players and casinos may commit fraud. An example of player fraud is creating multiple accounts and using the accounts to claim a sign-up bonus several times. An example of casino fraud is changing terms of a bonus after a player has completed the wagering requirements, then requiring the player to meet the new bonus terms.^{[citation needed]}

Fraudulent operator behaviour

Fraudulent behavior on the part of online casinos has been documented, almost exclusively by player advocacy websites and forums. The most commonly reported behavior is a refusal to pay withdrawals to legitimate winners. An online casino with multiple confirmed cases of fraudulent behavior is often called a rogue casino by the online casino player community.

Many casino gambling portals and player forums maintain blacklists of rogue casinos. While some carry more authority than others, all blacklists constitute individual webmaster and player opinions rather than an official list from any type of regulating body.

Often, casinos use buffer sites that offer free play of their casino games but in reality use different means of deceptive strategies to redirect or lure the visitors into signing up to their services via appealing bonus offers or exclusive reward programs. The majority of these deceptive 'free' sites lead to equally deceptive casinos.

Since almost all existing online casinos offer free play of their casino games, recognizing whether a casino is deceptive based on whether they offer free gameplay is no longer viable.

Legality

Online gambling legislation often has loopholes that result from the rapid development of the technology underpinning the development of the industry. Some countries, including Belgium, Canada, Finland, and Sweden have state gambling monopolies and do not grant licenses to foreign casino operators. According to their law, operators licensed on the territory of these countries can only be considered legal. At the same time, they can't prosecute foreign casino operators and only block their sites. Players in these countries can't be punished and can gamble at any site they can access.

Australia

The Australian Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA)^[1] criminalizes the supply of online casino games by an operator anywhere in the world to persons located in Australia. It only targets operators of online gambling sites, resulting in the curious situation that it is not illegal for a player in Australia to access and gamble at an online casino. No operator has even been charged with an offense under the IGA and many online casinos accept Australian customers.^[2] In June 2016, the South Australian Government became the first state or territory in the world to introduce a 15% Place Of Consumption Tax (POCT) modeled on the 2014 UK POCT.^[3]

Belgium

The Belgian Gaming Act^[4] went into effect in January 2011 and allows online gambling, but only under very strict conditions and surveillance.^[5]

Is Live Poker Still Profitable Casino

Canada

The Canadian criminal code states that only provincial governments and charitable organizations licensed by provincial governments may operate a casino in Canada. It also prohibits residents from participating in any lottery scheme, the game of chance, or gambling activity not licensed or operated by a provincial government.^[6] In 2010, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation launched Canada’s first legal online casino, PlayNow, which is available to residents of British Columbia. The province of Quebec also operates a legal online casino through Loto-Québec.

Despite this legislation, the Kahnawake First Nation in Quebec has taken the position that it is a sovereign nation, able to enact its own gambling legislation, and has licensed and hosted nearly 350 gambling websites, without ever being prosecuted.^[7]

Germany

A German state contract about gambling (German: Glücksspielstaatsvertrag [de]) between all 16 German states was ratified in 2008 and has been adopted in 2012. It regulates restrictive handling of online-gambling, including a basic state monopoly on public gambling with limited exceptions for a few commercial providers. Online gambling, and other forms of public gambling, against these regulations is illegal in Germany. The state contract, its implementation in contrast to the more lenient EU legislation, and possible further changes have been controversially discussed in the public, politics, and courts.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the Gambling Bill that was passed into law in 2005 tends to all matters of online gambling, permitting online betting sites to have a Remote Gambling Licence in order to offer online betting to UK citizens. In 2014, the UK government put into law the Gambling Act of 2014 which in addition to the original 2005 law, required offshore online gambling operators catering to UK players to obtain a UK license. The new regulation required operators to pay a 15% Place of Consumption Tax (POCT), something that triggered an exodus of sorts of some operators from the British Isles. However, this exodus did not last long in most cases as the benefits outweighed the stumbling blocks, due to the UK being a major market for online gambling.^{[citation needed]}

In 2019 the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced a series of new measures that apply to online and mobile casinos to reduce underage gambling with the aim of increasing fairness and transparency.^[8] The new measures will require casinos to have users verify their identity and age in order to gamble.^[9]

United States

In the United States, the legality of online gambling is debated and can vary from state to state. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) limits the ability of banks and payment processors to transact with internet gambling sites that are unlawful under any federal or state law. However, it does not define the legality or otherwise of an internet-based gambling site. It was commonly assumed that the Federal Wire Act prohibited all forms of online gambling. However, in December 2011, the United States Department of Justice released a statement clarifying that the Wire Act applied only to sports betting sites and not to online casinos, poker, or lottery sites,^[10][11] leaving the definition of legality up to individual states. Certain states such as Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey have started the process of legalizing and regulating online gambling and it is expected that regulation will continue on a state by state basis.

See also

Notes

1. ^Interactive Gambling Act 1998 - Australia
2. ^Cowie, Tom. 'Last Bets: around the world in online casinos — first stop, Gibraltar'. Crikey.
3. ^SA to become a most expensive place in the world to wage a bet, betting agency says
4. ^Gaming Act
5. ^Platteau, Koen (23 October 2012). 'Online gambling is taking off in Belgium'. Olswang LLP. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012.
6. ^'The Criminal Code of Canada (s.206 and s.207)'. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
7. ^Crowne, Emir; Roy, Sanjay (May 2010). 'Maintaining Provincial Monopolies: The Legality of Online Gambling Sites in Canada'. Canadian Gaming Lawyer Magazine. Vol. 3 no. 1. SSRN1611862.
8. ^Miller, George (2019-02-11). 'UKGC: New rules to make online gambling in Britain fairer and safer'.
9. ^'New rules to make online gambling in Britain fairer and safer'. www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
10. ^Vardi, Nathan. 'Department Of Justice Flip-Flops On Internet Gambling'. Forbes.
11. ^Dunstan, Roger (March 1997). 'II. History of Gambling in the United States II-1'. Gambling in California. California State Library. Archived from the original on 2017-01-18.

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External links

• Online Casinos at Curlie