Bitcoin poker is growing in popularity with every passing month, and it’s easy to see why. Crypto poker offers you a safe and transparent environment, specifically when it comes to being able to prove that cards are dealt randomly. Poker forums are rife with calls of ‘fix’ and ‘rigged’: now, you can play at the best crypto poker sites where this is provably false.
The wider benefits of online poker with crypto include the usual top-tier perks: anonymity, speed of withdrawals, juicy bonuses and more.
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One of the main reasons for the rise in popularity of bitcoin poker is because of how safe it is.
Of course, you can’t just play at any old site which supports BTC and expect it to be safe. Every bitcoin poker room needs to go through the same checks and tests as any other top gambling site. That means only playing at licensed, regulated sites, like those approved by a regulator like the MGA, or Curacao-licensed sites.
Anonymity is a huge perk of crypto poker, even more so than at anonymous crypto casinos. Why is it even more important for poker? Because you’re playing against real-life opponents who can usually track your poker history. If you’re playing anonymously, you get a fresh start every time you sit at the table.
Bitcoin poker may raise legal question marks in most provinces, but the bottom line is to always play it safe by gambling at reputable poker sites licensed offshore. You’ll notice a lot of new crypto sites are located offshore yet welcome players from Singapore.
There are a handful of non-negotiables we demand in all the best crypto poker sites. Most of them are transferable to casinos and sportsbooks too. In other words, we hold bitcoin poker to the same high standard as the best slot sites and other crypto casinos.
Here’s what we look for in every bitcoin poker site:
As we touched on earlier in our bitcoin poker review, it’s essential that the site is fully licensed by a reputable authority. Without this, you don’t know whether or not the site can be trusted with your funds, your private information, or in terms of the fairness of the games.
There are several clues which will indicate whether a site is secure. Our experts will scrutinize the T&Cs to find out whether your details are encrypted and where they’re stored, what security procedures the poker room has in place, and the history of the company to make sure they don’t have a suspicious past.
Bitcoin poker is the predominant type of crypto poker, but not everybody wants to play with BTC. We give a higher score to online poker crypto sites which let you deposit and play with a bunch of currencies like ETH, XRP, LTC, USDT. If it also includes traditional fiat deposits, even better.
We look at two aspects when it comes to games at the best crypto poker sites. Firstly, a diverse poker lobby is a must – and they’ll need players sat at the tables, too. But secondly, we’ll also check to see if the site offers slot games, live tables and so on. It’s convenient to have everything in one place.
Whenever you use a crypto poker site, it’s always worth focusing on the bonuses. These can sometimes be incredibly large, especially if we’re in a crypto bull market. Our team checks wagering requirements and other small print, then boost the scores of bitcoin poker sites with the best bonuses.
Bitcoin poker should mean a quick payout. Our team runs tests to make sure they actually deliver. We also record each transaction to compare any fees, as well as times. The fastest and cheapest withdrawals at bitcoin poker sites get the best scores.
Sometimes the first step to playing bitcoin poker is also the hardest. If you’ve thought about trying it but always revert back to what’s familiar, you’re missing out on a new and exciting market with big bonuses and access to new player pools and liquidity.
Here’s how to play bitcoin poker:
Choose a site & sign up. Find a bitcoin poker site you like the look of and download its software, if required. Sign up with the usual details. If you get to choose a username, make it a good one, as you might not be able to change it later.
Deposit fiat funds. First, you need to get some SGD. At some poker rooms, you can do this directly. If not, you’ll need to do this through an exchange or app like Coinbase.
Convert SGD to crypto. With the SGD in your account, it’s time to swap it for the crypto you wish to play with. Again, you can do this at any crypto exchange.
Transfer your coins. Once you have your desired token, get your wallet address from the cashier section of the poker room and initiate the transfer.
Select a table & buy in. Browse the poker lobby to find a suitable tournament or cash game table. If it’s all new to you, start at a low-stakes Sit & Go. When you’ve found what you’re after, tap ‘Buy in’. If it’s a cash game table, choose how much you want to sit down with.
Play crypto poker. Start playing poker using your usual strategy – focus, take notes on opponents, and don’t get tilted.
This is by far the most popular version of poker, and it’s also the simplest to learn, which is handy. In Hold’em, you’ll receive two face-down cards with up to five face-up cards in the middle. These are known as community cards, and everybody can use them.
Here’s a quick guide to when you can bet:
Pre-flop – After receiving your hole cards but before seeing any community cards
Flop – After three community cards are dealt face-up
Turn – After a fourth face-up card is dealt
River – After the fifth and final face-up card is dealt
In Omaha, you’ll receive four cards instead of two. However, you must use precisely two of your hole cards and exactly three from the community cards. Both Hold’em and Omaha have the same betting rounds.
There are three main types of Omaha at crypto poker sites: Omaha Hi, Omaha Lo, and Omaha Hi/Lo. The most popular of these is Omaha Hi. It’s usually played in a pot limit format, which stops too many crazy bets ruining the game.
Once upon a time, Stud was the go-to game in poker. It’s since been massively overtaken by Hold’em, but is still popular in certain circles. You can find it at the best bitcoin poker sites, with more tournaments popping up during major series.
There are a few variations of Stud poker, with Seven Card Stud being one of the most common. You’ll receive up to seven cards – three face-down, four face-up – and no community cards. This gives it an interesting spin, as you can analyze your opponents’ hands in great detail.
A Sit & Go tournament in bitcoin poker is one which begins as soon as enough players register. That could be two players, nine, 180 or more.
Some of the most appealing aspects of Sit & Go poker are:
You know exactly how many opponents you’ll face
You know the prize payouts in advance
You can predict the approximate length of the tournament
For these reasons, low-stakes, single-table Sit & Gos are a great starting point for new players.
Multi-table tournaments or MTTs make up most of the tournament options in the poker lobby. They’re pretty similar to Sit & Gos but, instead of beginning when X amount of players register, they start at a certain time.
MTTs can carry massive guarantees of seven or eight figures. This means they can attract a huge number of players. It’s not uncommon to have hundreds or even thousands of players in an MTT.
Once you join an MTT, you play until you’re eliminated. In you finish in the top 15-20%, you’ll usually win a cash prize.
Cash games might look similar to Sit & Gos and MTTs, but they’re entirely different. In a cash game, you can sit down or leave whenever you please. There’s no start time or minimum threshold to meet, and there are no payouts.
Instead, each chip has a cash value. Every time you bet, you’re betting actual money. If two players each bet S$5 on each street (Pre-flop, flop, turn and river), that’s a S$40 pot which goes to the winner, minus rake.
Although cash games can seem exciting and instantly gratifying, it’s better to stick to Sit & Gos or MTTs if you’re new to poker. If you do play cash, start off at lower stakes like the S$0.01/S$0.02 tables.
There are tons of benefits to playing bitcoin poker when compared to more traditional methods. Here are some of the biggest perks and how they can be useful to you:
Provably fair. Blockchain technology creates a more transparent environment where you can see that cards are dealt randomly.
Anonymity. Play without anyone knowing your poker history, making it harder for them to figure you out.
Faster transactions. Forget waiting weeks or even days for your winnings and receive them in minutes instead.
Increased rakeback. Playing with certain poker crypto tokens such as CHIP can mean more money back.
Bigger bonuses. The fluctuating nature of crypto can lead to some huge welcome bonuses.
New players. Get access to a new player base rather than the same old players doing the rounds.
Low fees. Avoid expensive bank and check fees by using crypto for next to nothing.
Bitcoin poker gives you a lot of opportunities to increase your bankroll, not just at the digital green felt, but through bonuses, offers and more.
Here’s how to get maximum value in bitcoin poker:
Welcome bonuses. When you first sign up, consider maxing out on your bonus if it fits your budget.
Deposit bonuses. Even as an existing player, you’ll still have opportunities to rack up additional bonuses.
Free poker chips. Whether it’s a freeroll or a tournament ticket, use those freebies to earn real cash.
Rakeback offers. Sniff around for the best-value rakeback offers, especially if you intend on playing a lot.
VIP promos. Move up the VIP ladder to unlock extras like free tournament entry, boosted rakeback and more.
What are the best crypto poker sites?
There are many top poker bitcoin sites which allow you to claim huge bonuses, play tons of tournaments which huge guarantees, and win seats to live events. You can see the best options in our bitcoin poker guide.
What are the advantages of using crypto for online poker?
When you play poker using crypto it’s easier to remain anonymous, which is really beneficial from a player perspective. You can also enjoy bigger bonuses, faster withdrawals, access to new player pools and more.
Are Bitcoin poker sites safe?
Yes, bitcoin poker is extremely safe. In fact, some believe it’s safer than playing at a normal online poker site. This is because blockchain technology creates provably random games, perfect for a virtual deck of cards.
Do I need a crypto wallet to play Bitcoin poker?
Yes, you’ll need a digital wallet whenever you use crypto online. Luckily, this is extremely easy to set up. It’s fast, free, and doesn’t require any application or documents like setting up a bank account would.
Can I get bonuses when playing poker with crypto?
Yes, you can enjoy tons of bonuses when playing at the best bitcoin poker sites. Because the price of crypto can accelerate rapidly, you’ll often get much bigger bonuses at crypto poker sites than regular ones.
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