Poker is the most popular game to be played at online casinos. There are many poker games developed by top-notch gaming providers like Microgaming, Playtech Betsoft, and others. These poker games are easily available to play with many variants to enjoy with real money or for free. Free and real money poker games are available at online casinos, whereas real money poker games are available at live casinos. What is the difference between Online Video Poker and Live Casino Poker?
Live Casinos are part of online casinos. These live casinos are managed by live dealers where you play poker against live dealers. These live casinos are streamed live from a live studio directly to your home where you can play these live games with your mobile, PC, or tablet. Remember that live casino games can be played only with real cash in real-time and no free games are allowed here. Also, you need a good internet connection or WIFI to enjoy these games.
Video Poker Games
These games are available to play for free or with real money. At the start of a betting round, you’ll receive five cards. At this point, you’ll have the option to hold or swap any number of cards you like. Once you’ve made your decision, you hit the deal button and any cards you haven’t held are exchanged for new ones. If your five cards make a ranked poker hand, from ace-high to a royal flush, you’ll win a prize.
The only caveat here is that video poker variants often have minimum hand requirements. For example, Jacks or Better means you need to have a pair of jacks or better to win a prize. The popular video poker games found at online casinos are Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Joker’s Wild, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, Pai Go Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, Texas Holdem Poker, and many others.
Live Dealer Poker
Unlike video poker, live dealer table poker is a play on a real table. Despite this obvious difference, the underlying aim is the same as video poker. In other words, you’ll have to make a winning five-card hand. Additionally, there may also be minimum hand requirements when you play live dealer poker.
However, the main difference is that you’ll need to beat the dealer in order to win the pot. This dynamic introduces an element of hand reading and timing that’s actually quite similar to Texas Hold’em. For example, at the start of a betting round, you’ll be dealt two cards and asked if you want to continue.
If your starting cards are strong, you can place an extra bet and see the flop (three community cards). From there, you can bet or check your way through the turn (fourth community card) and the river (the fifth community card) if you believe you can beat the dealer. Eventually, if you stay to the river, the dealer’s two cards are revealed and the strength of your hands are compared. If you win, you receive a return on your investment.
There are many types of live dealer poker games available at a live casino. You can find games like Live Casino 3 Card Poker, Live Casino Holdem Poker, Omaha Poker, Hold’em Poker, and other variants.
Should you play video poker or live poker?
Here are some points to note before you decide to play video poker or choose to play live poker.
Difference Between Video Poker and Live Poker
The first point to note is that video poker is a digital game and live poker is a live game. Because of this, there will be time constraints on the latter simply because there are other people involved when playing at a live casino. Because video poker is digital and a solo pursuit, betting rounds take less time. In fact, video poker games are almost as quick as online pokies.
Also, perhaps the most important difference between the two games is tactics. Video poker is a game of mathematics. If you can learn the hand rankings and the odds of making hands when you hold/exchange cards, you can get an edge in video poker. Live dealer poker still has an element of mathematics but timing also comes into play. By being able to read the game, the cards in play, and remembering what’s been dealt, you can refine your moves. Like if the previous three hands had all contained aces, the chances of another one appearing have clearly decreased. Therefore, you wouldn’t continue to play if your only chance of winning was hitting an ace.
Video poker games can be played for free as well as with real money
Live poker can be played at a live casino with only real money. This means if you play at the live casino without an understanding of the poker game you are at risk of losing your money.
Finally, it’s up to you to decide where to play poker, but we recommend playing first video poker games to get yourself acquainted with the game before you try to play poker at a live casino.
