Online Poker Apps for Real Money

Posted by James Guill . Last updated:

The best online poker apps provide players an alternative mobile option to sitting in front of a computer or traveling to a brick and mortar casino to play their favorite games. Our guide to the best poker apps and mobile poker sites will teach you everything you need to know to get great poker games from the palm of your hand.

Best Poker Apps and Mobile Poker Sites

Here are the best poker apps and mobile poker sites for US players reviewed by Gamble Online’s team of experts for quality and safety.

  • No results were found.

Blacklisted Mobile Poker Operators

These mobile poker operators did not live up to the expectations and quality set by Gamble Online and its team of betting experts.

  • lock-poker
    Lock Poker
    • Slow Payouts
    • Frequent User Complaints
  • Full Flush Poker
    Full Flush Poker
    • Denied Payouts
    • Poor Customer Service

How to Choose A Mobile Poker Site

No two poker sites are created equal, and which is truly ‘best’ often comes down to a matter of preference, and which factors matter the most to you. With that in mind, how should you choose a site?

It’s important to keep in mind that all the poker sites recommended by our experts have been thoroughly vetted for safety and security – we’ve done the homework so that you can focus on what matters most to you.

Here are the factors we recommend you use to find the perfect site for you.

a hand holding a mobile phone displaying a playing card

Mobile Site vs. App

In recent years, we’ve seen the differences in experience between poker app and mobile site grow smaller and smaller. As such, the majority of the mobile poker sites we recommend are exactly that – mobile sites, rather than apps. Our experts prefer sites as they require no time or space to download & install, while providing the same great poker experience.

However, if you specifically prefer a dedicated poker app, start with this question: does this brand offer an app or a site? Our reviews for all of the above operators include a detailed breakdown of their mobile offering.

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Supported Devices

Again, in recent years as technology has improved, the answer is almost definitely yes. This is yet another reason we prefer mobile sites to online poker apps – they’re typically more inclusive and offer an optimized poker experience regardless of which device you use.

That said, the best poker apps are usually available on iOS, Android and Windows devices. It never hurts to do your homework – our poker reviews all include a breakdown of supported device types.

five green playing cards

Game Variety

With the boring technical requirements out of the way, shift your focus to the games themselves. Whether you want to exclusively play online Texas holdem for real money, you want a variety of Video Poker games, or somewhere in between, you’ll want to use our reviews to ensure a poker site offers your favorite game before you make a deposit.

a green poker chip

Bonus and Deposit Method Availability

Once you’ve found a mobile poker site (or poker app) that meets your needs, we recommend comparing their deposit options and bonus offerings. The online poker site space is a buyer’s market, so be sure to find a site that offers a generous selection of bonuses.

Our reviews thoroughly cover the accepted deposit methods and available bonuses at each site. If you’re a little unsure, you can always refer to our guides to casino bonuses and deposit methods for more information.

With this done, you’ve got a short list of poker sites that will meet your needs, and it’s a simple matter of signing up, collecting your bonus, and start playing.

Quick tip: poker sites typically offer generous bonuses to new players, so if there are two casinos that meet your needs, it’s not a terrible idea to split your deposit into two separate sites to double up on your welcome bonus.

Find the Perfect Mobile Poker Site

Just tell us which game you’d like to play, how you want to deposit, or what type of bonus you want, and we’ll find the perfect mobile site or app for you.

Based on your search, we recommend:

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Choose at least one item to search.

Online Poker Apps vs Mobile Sites

As we’ve mentioned, we prefer mobile poker sites to poker apps – and so does the industry. Particularly in the US, online poker sites have shifted their emphasis to developing mobile sites rather than proprietary downloadable apps. This allows them to focus on developing one great experience and allows you to play without downloads. Here’s are some of the reasons for and against browser-based poker play:

Pros of Mobile Sites

  • Like apps, personal details are kept safe and secure
  • Unlike apps, no storage or download space is required
  • No restrictions on device type beyond having access to the internet
  • Can be accessed from any internet device using the same login credentials

Cons of Mobile Sites

  • Less personalization & customization in browser-based play
  • Can be slower to open than an app

How to Start Playing Mobile Poker on a Smartphone

blank mobile phone

Register on mobile poker site

The first step is to open your chosen mobile site. Here you will sign up for a free account, or log in if you already have one.

a hand depositing cash into a machine

Make a Deposit

Head to the banking section and make your first deposit. Be sure to pick up a poker sign-up or deposit casino bonus to immediately boost your bankroll!

five green playing cards

Play Poker!

Once your deposit has gone through, you are all set to choose a table and stay playing. Good luck!

Online Poker Apps for iPhone, Android and Smart Devices

Another reason we prefer mobile sites over dedicated poker apps: mobile sites offer virtually no limitations on which device you’re using, meaning you can easily play poker on your iPhone, iPad, Android device, or any other mobile device.

While mobile experiences are generally designed with Apple & Android first in mind – like in most industries – rest assured that any of the sites we recommend here will provide a great poker experience regardless of your device.

Instant Play Poker

Instant play poker sites for mobile provide exactly what they promise – speedy & flexible access to mobile poker games, with no download required.

Most sites recommended here offer instant play, and this is a great option for playing poker on your phone (or other devices, like Smart TVs.) Typically, instant play poker sites typically just require the latest version of Flash and you’ll be good to go.

How to Download Poker Apps on iOS and Android

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iOS Devices

Poker apps can be downloaded directly from the Apple App Store. On your device, navigate to the App Store and search for your chosen app. Similarly named apps might appear, so be sure to check the ratings and reviews to help you find right one. The best casino apps will have hundreds, if not thousands of real reviews, and will be free to download. Select ‘get’ to begin the download.

a green poker chip with the Android logo in the middle

Android Devices

The Google Play store does not yet allow real money poker apps on their store, but that doesn’t mean you can’t download them! To find one, head to your chosen poker site on a mobile browser. If they have an Android app available, it will be made clear.  Start the download. Depending on the size of the app and the speed of your connection, it should take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes to complete.

Poker Game Types

This is important, as not every poker site/app offers each game format. Some offer only cash games, while others may give access to all games, though only one game at a time.

Here are the most popular mobile poker game variations:

Best Poker Apps & Sites

Here’s a look at the top mobile poker operators and what they offer in terms of bonuses, apps and instant-play.

Operator Bonus Great For Instant Play iOS App Android App Read Review and Play
1. Ignition Casino $3,000 Number of poker rooms Yes Yes Yes Read Review
2. Bovada $500 Poker tournaments Yes No No Read Review
3. Everygame $1,000 Low minimum blind values Yes Yes Yes Read Review
4. BetOnline $1,000 Bad beat jackpots Yes Yes Yes Read Review
5. America’s Cardroom $2,000 Weekly promotions Yes No No Read Review

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James Guill

James Guill is a former professional poker player who writes fro GambleOnline.co about poker, sports, casinos, gaming legislation and the online gambling industry in general. His past experience includes working with IveyPoker, PokerNews, PokerJunkie, Bwin, and the Ongame Network. From 2006-2009 he participated in multiple tournaments including the 37th and 38th World Series of Poker (WSOP). James lives in Virgina and he has a side business where he picks and sells vintage and antique items.

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