Cryptocurrency Poker vs Regular Poker: What's the difference?
Crypto poker and traditional online poker are almost identical games, but there’s a slight difference. Instead of using fiat currencies, this game uses decentralized currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Monero.
Playing poker with Bitcoin gives players greater anonymity, quicker payments, and many more benefits we'll get into in a moment. But first, before you can play crypto poker, you’ll need to purchase crypto off an exchange and then send it to a crypto poker website. This is identical to how a player must trade their fiat currency for chips at a casino.
Then instead of playing at a physical casino where you play alongside other players, crypto poker is online, and you generally won't physically see the other players. This opens doors to shady dealings on the websites, but there are ways to ensure you're playing a legit game. That being said, this gives crypto poker a different vibe to traditional poker as you aren't able to see the other players and so it may be harder to find their "tells".
Despite lacking personal interaction, playing crypto poker at an offshore casino or poker room is just as exciting as a land-based casino. So, let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros
-
Anonymity: Playing Bitcoin poker at an offshore crypto casino is one of the best platforms for players to remain anonymous at all times. This is easily one of the greatest draws to using crypto to play poker. Nobody has to know what they're doing, and it's their right to remain anonymous.
-
Low Transaction Fees: Depending on how much you're looking to spend on your poker games, playing poker using crypto can be much cheaper. Especially if you're a high-roller, you'll only need to make payments of just a few dollars to transfer the funds from your wallet into the dedicated website account.
-
Play Games Faster: Since cryptocurrency works as a decentralized system, it doesn't belong to a bank who could hold your funds, and trading takes place 24/7. Taking this fact along with the fact that most cryptocurrency gambling websites include "instant deposits" that only need a single confirmation on the transaction, by using crypto you could jump into a game of poker in a matter of minutes after joining the website.
-
Reliability: When choosing your crypto casino, it's essential you find ones that either offer live games or provably fair results. Since there are many well-established gambling websites out there that include poker, it is not difficult to either!
-
No Cheaters: When it comes to online crypto poker, you can know you're not up against a card counter or somebody with a slight of hand. The provably fair systems that the casino's provide mean you can rest assured your opponent was truly dealt their cards fairly.
-
Crypto Tournaments: While most casinos will run Poker tournaments often, some crypto site provide crypto poker tournaments that add an extra ounce of joy to the experience.
-
Tax Exemptions: Part of the allure of playing poker with crypto is the chance of a huge payout. Crypto Poker games have considerably higher betting limits and winnings. When a player wins a large sum of money playing fiat poker, paying taxes is inevitable. That isn’t entirely true for crypto poker winnings. In most countries, crypto gambling winnings are free from taxes.
Cons
-
Ain't nobody telling me nothing: One of the best skills to have in a game of poker is being able read your opponents. Many people have a tell when they have a good hand, or when they're bluffing. It's a key component to the game. While some skilled players may still be able to pick up skills according to their opponents betting habits, there's generally no way to pick up if the player is bluffing or not.
-
The environment: While crypto casinos have made every effort for the player to have an immersive experience as they spend hours on their favourite games, it's never going to quite match the feeling of walking into a casino. That being said, crypto sites like BC.Game have options for "live poker" where the player watches a live host play out the cards. This helps you feel like you're in the environment.
Criteria for a great Crypto Poker Casino
Finding the right casino to play poker with crypto is often challenging. There are several factors that one needs to consider before they attempt to go all in. So we’ve included a criteria for you to use when choosing a crypto casino:
-
Anonymity: Despite popular belief, not all crypto casinos are completely anonymous. Most of them require players to validate their accounts and have KYC policies. Before signing up, check out a platform's KYC policies, to see if they’re truly anonymous. If you’re wanting to stay anonymous, you’ll need to use one of our offshore crypto casinos.
-
Bonuses: It’s no secret that crypto casinos dish it out when it comes to welcome bonuses and rewards. Be sure to check out a casino’s incentives and offerings for new registrants, so that you can increase your winnings.
-
Customer Support: In a technological world, there are always unexpected hiccups. When you run into complications, it’s important that there is someone to offer support. Choose a crypto casino that offers several customer support channels.
-
Game Selection: Crypto casinos have a unique offering of games, just because one offers a specific variant of poker, it doesn’t mean that the rest oblige. So, it’s best to check the selection of games available at the site.
-
License: The unregulated nature of cryptocurrency means that you’ll often come across crypto casinos without a license. It may not be necessary for a crypto casino to possess a license, however, we’d like to think that gambling at one carries an increased risk.
-
Payment Methods: There are thousands of cryptocurrencies available, but not all casinos accept them. We strongly recommend checking which currencies a site accepts to avoid disappointment.
-
Reputation: The reputation of a crypto casino is a clear indication and the only way to gauge whether it’s legit or a hoax. We always read up on what the crypto community has to say about a casino. Bad reviews and an unresponsive site, are a sure red flag. Steer clear of sites with a bad reputation.
How to Play Crypto Poker
So we're not going over every rule on how to play Poker, but here's a solid guide to understanding the game rules. But we will go over how you can play poker with crypto:
-
Step 1: Find the right crypto casino that offers poker. See our list of the best crypto poker casinos
-
Step 2: Creating an account is a straightforward process. Some offshore crypto casinos offer the option to log in using Google or Facebook. We recommend avoiding this method as it diminishes your anonymity.
-
Step 3: Deposit your crypto. Each crypto casino provides its users with a unique crypto wallet. Depending on what the website's crypto options are and the currency you're looking to play with. Some casinos will allow you to connect your ConnectWallet or Metamask but most will just provide a unique address and QR code to deposit funds into.
-
Step 4: Wait for the funds to show in your account. The amount of time varies according to your gas fees and traffic at the time, it shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to show up on your site balance. If it takes longer than this, we suggest contacting customer support on the website.
-
Step 5: Navigate to the poker game you're looking to play. Different P2P games will have their own betting limits. This way, casinos separate the high-rollers from placing bets that other players can't afford to compete against the high-rollers.
You'll find the options of low-stakes ($0.25-$50 blinds) mid-stakes ($1-5$ blinds) and high-stakes ($5 +). Depending on the website there could be a few poker versions to choose from. Once you're in the game start praying you'll be dealt the best hands and walk away with an enjoyable experience and a profit 🙂
Types of Crypto Poker
While the basics of traditional poker apply to crypto poker, there are different rules that you should consider if you want to increase your chances of winning. So here are some rules of popular crypto poker variants:
Live dealer poker
Live dealer poker is an enhanced version of the game with a high RTP percentage. A player plays against the dealer who represents the casino. The game takes place virtually through a live stream. The most popular types of live dealer poker are Three Card Poker, Texas Hold’em, and Caribbean Stud.
Video poker
Video poker is slightly different to live dealer poker, in that you don’t play poker against another player. You’re up against a machine and have to have the best hand to win. In this game, you are allowed to hold cards and discard others, which are replaced by new cards. The house edge of the game determines the payout odds for players.
Aces and Eights
Aces and Eights, otherwise known as the Dead Man’s Hand, is a popular video poker game. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and is similar to Jacks or Better, with five cards dealt in the first hand. In the game, you only need a pair of Jacks or better to earn a payout, with the Royal Flush being the highest-paying hand.
Three Card Poker
Three Card Poker is a popular live dealer poker game where a player and the dealer are each dealt three cards. The objective of the game is to have a higher three-card hand value than the dealer. The game starts with a player placing an Ante bet, they can then decide to fold or to continue playing by making a Play bet. The dealer is required to have at least a Queen-high hand to play. If the dealer’s hand is higher or the player and the dealer have the same hand, the dealer wins and the player loses both bets. If a player's hand is higher than the dealer's hand, they win both their bets.
Caribbean Stud Poker
Caribbean Stud Poker, also known as “luck of the draw”, is a casino poker game played against the house. Similar to Three Card Poker, a player places an Ante bet and a Call bet. The dealer needs at least a Queen-high hand to qualify. If they don’t, the player wins their Ante bet; or the higher hand wins.
Texas Hold`em
Texas Hold’em is a popular poker game at traditional casinos. Its Bitcoin version has some variations, but follows the same rules. One notable difference is that Bitcoin’s version uses three cards instead of two cards. Three Card Hold'em requires a player to place an Ante bet. A dealer then deals three cards face down to every player and themselves. Each player then makes a decision to fold or continue with a Play bet. If the dealer qualifies, the player with the highest hand wins.
Jacks or Better
As the name suggests, Jacks or Better is a video poker game where a player tries to get a pair of jacks or better. Players make an initial bet and receive five cards. Players can discard and replace cards to improve their hand. The minimum hand to win is a pair of jacks, the ranking of a player’s hand follows the same rules as conventional poker.
Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild is one of the most popular video poker games played at crypto casinos. In this game, deuces (2s) are a wild card and can substitute another card in a deck to complete a winning hand. At the start of the game, a bet is placed and players are dealt five cards. The player may hold all five cards or discard all five cards to receive a better winning hand. The lowest payout hand in the game is ‘Three of a Kind’ and the highest is a ‘Royal Flush.’
Tips and Tricks
Incentives
There are multiple poker sites to choose from, but some of them provide greater incentives and reasons to join their site. Take your time to look for a poker website that offers sign up and welcome deposit bonuses. You can utilize these bonuses as additional funds for playing poker.
-
Provably fair results, or live games
-
A decent deposit bonus
-
A Rakeback and VIP program
-
An existing community
-
Best if they have a greater focus on poker games, and a variety of different poker versions
-
Supports multiple cryptocurrencies
-
Low KYC requirements for anonymity
Low-Stake Start-Up
If you're new to the online poker scene, start with low-stakes. Online poker is not just about luck, there's a ton of skill that takes time and experience to get the hang of. Even if you have quite a bit to play with, start with low-stakes to gain a little experience before jumping into the big leagues.
Learn the tricks of the trade
It may go without say but, Poker is a game with many rules and if you don't know the rules properly, you'll miss great opportunities thinking your hands sucks, and blunder some winning opportunities. Take time to learn exactly how to play the game properly and where each hand ranks, and you'll outperform many of your opponents.
Learn the basic math
Many players believe that playing poker with Bitcoin is purely a game of chance. However, it relies on probability and fundamental concepts. In Texas Hold ’Em, players can calculate the odds of getting a specific hand and determine how many outs remain in the deck. By using basic math, players can make more informed decisions instead of guessing what cards their opponents hold.
Don’t play too many hands
Poker players are sometimes under the impression that playing a lot of hands translates into winning the pot- it's the wrong strategy to play poker with Bitcoin. When starting a game, it's better to be selective with your poker hands.
Choose your game mode and master it
As we mentioned earlier, different crypto casinos will offer different versions of the game. Whether it's Crypto Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Blitz Poker, Jackpot Poker, etc. each have their own variant in game play, but we suggest sticking to what you know when you're playing with some real money.
Don't Bluff The Fish
Bluffing may work in some cases, but especially if you're playing a low-stakes game, people are more willing to call and take the loss than to fold what could be a potentially good hand. This is especially true when playing against "inexperienced" poker players (the fish). Opportunities to bluff on high-stake games are more viable, but online Poker bluffing doesn't work as well as it does in person.
Avoid Bot Games
The house always wins, and that seems to be even more true when playing against bots. Ensure the game you're playing is actually against real human opponents. This will always be the case on live casino games, and if you can engage with them in a live chat.
Choose different styles of play
In online live dealer poker games, the key to winning lies in being flexible to play different styles of play depending on the circumstances. One of a player's biggest weaknesses is to be predictable. When the situation demands you to play tight, keep your bets low. It won’t hurt to make some loose calls now and then. Playing different styles will ultimately allow you to make more money.
Where to play Crypto Poker
Crypto poker is easily the best way to play poker online, there are many benefits that come along with it, including greater incentives to the players, and jumping on to your first games can be very simple. But don't just take it from us; try it out and experience it yourself! You won't regret it.
And so, here are a few of the best crypto poker rooms for you to try out!
Ignition Poker
Ignition Poker is easily one of the most popular crypto betting websites as it caters to players in the US as well. They have almost 3,000 people active on the site at every given moment, meaning you'll always find yourself a table that caters to you. With such a large player base it's also easy to immerse yourself into the gambling world.
We found Ignition Poker to be the best crypto poker website for high-rollers as some high stakes require a minimum of $2,000 buy-ins. Loyal players and whales will find themselves enjoying some of the best Rakeback and rewards as they play at Ignition Poker
Join Ignition Poker with our affiliate link and grab a 150% deposit bonus of up to $3000.
Chipstars
If you've ever heard of Chipstars it's probably fair to their online Poker games. They run daily Poker tournaments and allow users to create custom games to play poker with their mates. They offer low-stake games starting at just 0.02 blinds and even cater to high-rollers. They accept multiple currencies and offer instant deposits.
While their community is relatively small, they only started in 2020 and have grown rapidly. Join Chipstars, and you'll receive 270% deposit bonus (tiered) up to $15,000.
BC.Game
BC.Game have turned many heads in the crypto industry since their release back in 2017. The site concentrates on Provably Fair gameplay and the best user experience, which has worked well enough to bring in over 4.39 Million users so far. BC.Game has its own original Provably Fair Video Poker game, as well as multiple Live Casino options with Evolution Gaming and Playtech.
Join BC.Game and receive 360% deposit bonus (tiered) of up to $100,000 and win weekly cash prizes.
Bitcoin Video Casino
Bitcoin Video Casino is one of the best anonymous crypto casinos to play Video Poker. While there are many great crypto Poker casinos out there, very few of them cater to players who want to remain completely anonymous while enjoying a game of poker. The website is not the prettiest of them all, but this is more than a worthwhile compromise to keeping anonymous in 2024. They do not require users to create an account but rather just provide an address and a session token.
I should note that the casino doesn't provide the best aesthetics and there aren't any sign-up rewards due to its lack of KYC. But these are benefits that are worth sacrificing to remain anonymous during some of the best games of poker of your life!
Americas Cardroom ACR Poker
Americas Cardroom ACR is one of the best crypto poker rooms for players from the US, Canada, and United Kingdom. The site offers tournaments from as little as $1 with bigger buy-in up to $2,500.
At the site, you’ll finds a plethora of poker tournaments including 6-handed tournaments with buy-ins from $10 to $500, 9-handed tournaments, bounty tournaments, and tournament series.
ACR supports several methods of payment including USDT, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and MoneyGram. For crypto players there’s a deposit limit of up to $50,000 and 100% deposit match up to $2,000.
Deposits at the site are generally processed within an hour and withdrawals are released within 24 hours. However, to play at the poker room you’ll need to verify your account with ID, passport, driver’s license, or recent utility bill.
America Cardroom ACR also offer exceptional customer support services on the website or through live chat. So there’s someone to call if something goes wrong!
BetOnline
BetOnline poker has been in operation since 2004 with just over 20 years of experience. The poker room is available for players in the US and is licensed under Panoma Gambling Authority.
Betonline is traditionally known as a sportsbook and casino. That said, the poker room is exceptional and offers a wide selection of poker tables, poker jackpots, and more than 10,000,000 dollars monthly in tournament prizes.
New players at the poker site can receive a 50% deposit bonus of up to $250, along with 100 free spins. However, to register, you will need to verify your identity by providing an ID, passport, driver’s license, or a recent utility bill.
In addition, the site accepts a wide variety of payment methods including 14 cryptocurrencies (ADA, BCH, BTC, ETH, MATIC, SHIBA, + 8 others), Moneygram, and Payz.
TigerGaming
TigerGaming is a high quality and reliable poker room with over 8 years of experience in industry. The site is known for it’s speedy withdrawal process and is licensed under the laws of Curaçao.
At the poker site you’ll find a wide selection of poker games and tournaments including Hold’em, Omaha, and Fast-Fold with tables starting as low as $0.05/ $0.10 up to $1k.
Verification is needed in order to deposit funds at the site without any restrictions. New players will need to verify their identity with an ID, passport, driving license, or utility bill. However, there’s a generous 100% deposit bonus up to $1,000, which makes it worth it!
TigerGaming is a crypto-exclusive poker room, which means it only processes withdrawals in crypto. The casino supports 8 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Stella, USD Coin, and Ripple.
Despite being a part of a network of US friendly poker sites, TigerGaming doesn’t accept players from the US and a few other jurisdictions.
CoinPoker
CoinPoker is one of the world’s leading poker rooms and offers games in USDT. Established in 2018, the site has the best traffic of all crypto poker rooms and doesn’t require any KYC verification.
CoinPoker offers a wide range of poker games including tournaments, Texas Hold’em, Omaha, MTT, and Cosmic Spins. Furthermore, the site has set incredibly high betting limits for VIP players of up to 20,000 USDT.
To sign up at the poker site, new players only need to provide their cell phone number and register with an email address. New registrants will receive a 150% deposit match of up to 2,000 USDT. In addition, CoinPoker also offers 33% Weekly Rakeback for players.
RedStar Poker
RedStar Poker is one of the oldest poker rooms to date. Established in 2005, the site holds a Curaçao gambling license and an impeccable reputation.
At the site there are a multitude of poker tables available with exclusive tournaments and exceptionally high betting limits. In addition to poker the site offers casino games and sports betting.
RedStar Poker is highly regarded amongst poker players for its loyalty program which offers players a 35% Rakeback. There is also a lucrative 200% deposit bonus of up to $2,000 and reloaded bonuses.
RedStar Poker accepts a wide variety of payment systems including Neteller, Skrill,ecoPayz, Bitcoin, ETH, and LTC. If the cashout is small enough, it can even be processed without verification. However, the site is restricted in several countries including the US, France, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom.
Betplay
Betplay is a leading offshore crypto casino for playing poker with Bitcoin. This crypto poker site is licensed in Costa Rica and holds hundreds of monthly tournaments. The crypto casino hosts several regular tournaments, guaranteed events, and freeroll events every day.
Apart from running its dedicated poker room, the crypto casino also offers a wide selection of classic video poker games. But that’s not all. You can also find popular live dealer poker games such as Casino Hold’em, Triple Card Poker, Texas Hold’em Bonus, and Caribbean Stud Poker.
Registering an account at the casino only requires an email address and password. In addition, the casino offers a 100% deposit bonus of up to 1,000 USDT with your first deposit.
GGPoker
If you’re looking for the world’s biggest poker room, then we’ve found it at GGPoker. Founded in 2016, this site is licensed under Curaçao and upholds a 5 star reputation.
At the site, you’ll find hundreds of poker games and exclusive poker tournaments. There are a wide selection of poker tables with $500/$1,000/$2,000 blinds. The highly rated poker site is available in most regions including two states in the US.
New registrants will have to sign up with an email address and before completing registration the site may ask you to verify your personal data. To do this, you will need to submit an ID (passport, driver's license), proof of address, and banking details.
Each month the site runs a millionaire monthly promotion in the form of leaderboards. New registrant’s receive a 100% deposit bonus up to $600 and Rakeback up to 60%. However, player’s are limited to a maximum withdrawal fee of $50,000 per month, so high rollers might need to play somewhere else.
Black Chip Poker
When it comes to poker, Black Chip Poker does it best. Founded in 2001, the operator is licensed under the Government of Curaçao and offers hundreds of poker tournaments with $12 million in weekly guarantees.
Black Chip Poker offers poker tournaments with exceptionally low buy-ins. We’ve yet to come across another US-friendly casino, that beats the casino’s $150,000 tournament guarantee with a $200 buy-in. Besides poker tournaments, the operator stocks a wide selection of slot games and a sportsbook.
Black Chip Poker also features an Elite Benefits program with exclusive rewards and promotions. The 6-tiered VIP program is available for everyone and rewards players for gameplay. Top-tiered players will receive up to 65% in rakeback rewards, with entry-level players earning 27% in rakeback rewards.
At Black Chip Poker, there is a wide selection of deposit and withdrawal options for players to use. The site supports over 60+ cryptocurrencies (BTC, BCH, DASH, DOGE, ETH, LTC, USDT, XMR, XRP, + 53 others) with a low minimum deposit of $10. Furthermore, players are restricted to a daily withdrawal limit of $10,000 (crypto equivalent).
Registering an account with the poker site is straightforward and only takes a few minutes. Unfortunately, the operator isn’t anonymous and requires some personal information when signing up. Despite this, the site is available in most countries, including the US and UK. In addition, players will receive a lucrative 100% deposit match up to $2,000 for their first deposit.
