Mobile gaming is becoming increasingly popular in the US. Statistics revealed that there were around 139 million mobile gaming users in 2019, which could increase to 156.33 million or more by 2024. The same report found that card or casino games are among the most popular among the various game genres available, with 11% of US adults claiming they played this type of game in the past month.

But why are people playing card and casino games on their mobile phones? Online poker apps have lots of advantages causing this trend; here are some of the key ones:

Benefits of Online Poker Apps Over Casino Poker Rooms

Games are accessible and convenient

One of the main advantages of playing poker using online apps is that you can play anytime and anywhere. They’re unlike traditional poker games, where you have to travel to the venue and work around the casino’s operation hours. With online poker, you can even start a match on your commute to work or in a long line. And if you’re playing with friends, you no longer have to spend time setting up the table and chips when you do it online. As explained in our article on ‘How To Play Carrom Board Online for Free’, casino or card-type game apps will automatically set up the game for you, cutting down the preparation time.

There’s a wider pool of competition

Because online poker apps are open to players worldwide, you can play with different people with varying levels of expertise. This can be advantageous for you since in-person games are limited to the regular and casual players present at the casino that day. So if you’re up against a tough competitor, there’s a chance that you’ll have to play more rounds with them, especially if you’re both regular customers of the casino.

In addition, playing poker online is less intimidating than playing it live. It’s beneficial for you if you’re new to poker because you’ll feel less pressured than playing in front of other people in person.

You can play a game just for fun

Lastly, some online poker apps allow you to play without spending any cash. Unlike traditional poker rooms, where buy-in amounts are usually higher, you can play a round through these apps without putting down your hard-earned money. Ultimately, it means you can enjoy the game without the pressure of losing funds, unlike in most casino poker rooms. So if you’re a casual or amateur poker player who wants to play a game for leisure or practice, online poker apps are the place to go.

How To Start Playing in Online Poker Apps

If you’re interested in playing online poker games, you need to consider which type of game you want to play. Different apps offer different types of poker games. These include Texas hold’em, Omaha poker, open-face Chinese poker, and seven-card stud, which have varying game rules and mechanics.

For example, PlayWPT focuses on Texas hold’em, where you create the best possible five-card hand using two hole cards and five community cards. But if you’re into open-faced poker, Pineapple Poker is another app you can play easily for free. You don’t need to be an expert to play in these apps, so you can enjoy a match even if you’re a novice player.

Play on legitimate and reliable poker apps

Playing online does come with a caveat: You can be exposed to cyber threats. One of the ways you can avoid this is by downloading legitimate and secure apps. Poker.org listed the best poker apps that you can download today. One of these is Zynga Poker, one of the longest-running and most reliable apps for playing recreational and competitive poker.

Additionally, you can avoid cheating instances like AI poker bots by only using reputable apps like Zynga Poker, 888Poker, and WSOP.com, to name a few. Nature.com shared that poker bots can beat even professional players in multiplayer games by cheating the algorithm. The likes of Zynga Poker don’t use automation software or bots, so they don’t have bots in their system to play against real users.