Poker Online Comparison

Whether you’re new to poker or simply new to playing poker online, No Deposit Poker offers a chance to get your first online hands in for no money out of your own pocket.

Using an online poker odds calculator is a huge help when it comes to improving your game, but how else can you increase your odds of winning? Understand the importance of strategy. Online Poker Rankings Compare the top online poker sites by rake & fees with rakeback, freerolls, and sign-up bonuses to find where to play online poker! Poker Site Reviews If you are playing poker online, check out our reviews of the best poker websites! Home; Poker Rankings Best Sites by Game. Differences between online and live poker. At one point in your betting career, you might have come across the phrases “online poker” and “live poker” and you keep getting it all mixed up.

Comparing rake in online poker Although you can use this information to help you decide where to take your poker game, you should take other aspects of online poker into consideration when choosing where to play. These include the player pool, rake back, what stakes you want to play, and the usability of the different poker client software. Compare Poker Sites The sheer variety of poker sites on the market can be overwhelming, especially for beginners. Our expert team has found the best online poker sites available, so you can simply use our list to compare providers, pick your favourite, sign up and start playing.

While you can always play for free on any poker site in play-money games, most online poker sites also give you credit to play in real money online poker games just for signing up.

This is known as “No Deposit” Poker. While it’s usually not a ton of money (typically up to $25 or $30), and it can’t be cashed out right away, a no deposit poker bonus makes it easy to play for fun in actual, competitive poker games and start building your online bankroll.

All you have to do to claim it is set up a new account, create a username, and start playing.

No Deposit Poker Bonus Codes

Where can you play no deposit poker in the US?

As of 2021, there are five states that currently offer legal, real-money poker sites to US players:

At ;east one more state has passed regulation to license and legalize online poker but has yet to launch any real money sites:

While the amount of real money poker sites available in each state varies (NJ has the most options, for example), most if not all poker sites offer no deposit poker for new players.

No Deposit Bonus Poker Sites

Whichever your state, use the links in the table above to claim your no-deposit poker bonus. After downloading the online poker software, you can then create your account.

This is where you enter your “Bonus Code” (see table above) to secure your no deposit bonus. After signup, the bonus is instantly credited to your account. You can then hit the tables and get started.

If you want to play no deposit poker outside of the above states, see our Global Poker section below.

WSOP.com (NJ, NV) – $10 free

This is the online poker arm of the famed World Series of Poker. WSOP.com offers online poker to players in Nevada (where it’s the only operator in the market) and New Jersey.

The WSOP partners with 888poker in the US for its software platform. 888 is a respected international online poker operator and a regular sponsor of the WSOP in Las Vegas.

WSOP.com offers the only shared player pool in the US among Nevada and New Jersey, and with 888 in Delaware. This makes for larger prize pools and player pools in most events, which makes it the regular revenue leader in New Jersey.

WSOP.com gives you a free $10 no deposit bonus simply for signing up. This makes it easy to play low-budget cash games, tournaments, sit & go’s, and other events.

That 10 bucks may not seem like a lot, but there are cash games that start at only pennies and low roller tournaments and sit & go’s for that as well. Those who decide to play for even more will also find an extra bonus of 100% match up to $1,000 on your first deposit.

If you prefer taking your poker on the road, WSOP.com also has a nice real money poker app for your phone. The free $10 No Deposit Bonus is also available to app users so it’s easy to jump right in the action and test drive what’s on offer.

888poker (NJ, DE) – $20 free

888poker offers online poker in New Jersey as a partner with WSOP.com, but also offers all online poker in the state of Delaware. 888 players also benefit from being part of the New Jersey/Nevada/Delaware interstate player compact with WSOP.

As for a no-deposit bonus, new players get $20 free to play real money casino games and poker tournaments. Here’s how that cash is distributed:

• $10 in free play for select casino games on 888 Casino.
• A credit of $4 worth in bonus money that can be used at 888poker or 888 Casino.
• Six 888poker tournament tickets with a value of $1 each.

If you want to deposit into your account for further play you can also claim a 100% match bonus up to $1,500.

partypoker (NJ) – $25 free

This is another excellent option for players in New Jersey offering a $25 No Deposit Bonus for players simply signing up. That can go a long way for players looking to play some cards on house money.

partypoker is one of the best platforms in the world and partners with MGM’s Borgata casino in Atlantic City. The additional skins BorgataPoker.com and BetMGM Poker also make use of partypoker software and all three share the same group of players.

You can receive your $25 in a few different ways. This makes for a nice way to play some of what partypoker has to offer including:

• $10 in poker cash
• $5 free for use in partypoker tournaments
• $10 free for use in the party casino

Players simply have to set up and account to earn that free money. The partypoker app also offers a great playing experience, and the company has worked to make it an even better option since 2019.

Beyond the free money option, those looking to fund their account will find another nice deposit match bonus of 100% up to $600.

PokerStars (NJ, PA, MI) – $30 free play (on deposit)

When you’re the most recognized and popular online poker site in the world, a no deposit bonus isn’t in the cards. But you can get $30 in free play for a minimal deposit.

Known for its world-class software and massive tournaments, PokerStars now offers real-money online poker in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan. As of January 2021, it’s the only poker site in PA and MI, but that should change shortly when partypoker launches. In the US, all of NJ, PA and MI are still “fenced-in” markets, which means players can only play against others located in that state – not against a national or international player pool (yet).

That being said, you’ll find many similar series and promotions that you’d find on the international PokerStars platform, only geared toward each state. Both have proven popular so far and offer access to big tournament series such as the NJ/PA Championships of Online Poker and the Bounty Builder Series.

Players won’t find a completely free no deposit bonus for poker, but a pretty solid deal nonetheless. For a deposit of $20, players get $30 in free play. Or, on that first deposit players can also choose a 100% match bonus up to $600 instead.

The $30 free play bonus includes:

• $20 Bonus Money
• $10 in Spin & Go tickets
• Free entry into a $5,000 depositor freeroll
• 1 million in Play-Money chips

BorgataPoker.com (NJ) – $20 free

The online site of one of Atlantic City’s most renowned poker rooms, Borgata Poker online is a partypoker skin that offers another nice no deposit bonus – simply set up your account and earn a free $20.

As they share software, you’ll find the same excellent and newly revised table layout you’d find on partypoker NJ plus the same cash game and tournament selection.

Your no deposit bonus comes in the form of:

• $10 in cash
• $10 poker bonus

If you choose to go on and make a deposit you’ll get a 100% match bonus up to $600.

Players at BorgataPoker.com will find some nice daily and weekly events as well as major tournament series. That includes chances to qualify at the property’s regular live tournament events – some of the best in the country.

BetMGM Poker (NJ) – $25 free

Another partypoker skin, this platform also uses the same software and player pool. It also offers the chance to earn another nice no deposit bonus.

Set up an account and take the free $25 to jump on a table and do some betting and bluffing. No big requirements here; just use this link and get started playing with your free cash.

If you decide to actually make an additional deposit, you’ll get a 100% match bonus up to $1,000.

Global Poker No Purchase Bonus (All US except WA & Canada except Quebec)

This is a unique Sweeps Coin poker site available to players in the US (excl. WA) and Canada (excl. Que). Similar to a social casino gaming site, players can play for a free with a virtual currency called Gold Coins (GC).

Those who purchase more Gold Coins receive Sweeps Coins (SC) as a bonus. These can also be used in separate tournaments and ring games and ultimately be redeemed for cash prizes and gift cards.

Global Poker is a great promotional sweepstakes poker option with a $20 Gold Coin no purchase package for you to get started and try the platform out.

Free Poker vs No Deposit Poker

No deposit poker is a great way to jump in to your first action online. These bonuses are indeed real money and can be a great jumpstart to having a proper poker bankroll you can use to play progressively bigger stakes.

That’s certainly not required however – you can play at the lowest stakes (literally pennies) for as long as you want to. Legal poker sites also offer the chance to simply play for virtual currency (play money), too, although the game is decidedly different strategically than real money poker.

Regardless, through both you can see how the site functions, get used to the speed of the online game and work on your own strategy weak spots.

Playing at a legal, regulated online poker site in the US is the same as playing at a live poker table at a casino. They offer safety and security and must meet strict gaming regulations like traditional casinos. Read more about safe and secure online poker sites.

Beyond the traditional poker software client, playing for real money on poker apps is also an option.

These are not to be confused with other social gaming and similar play money apps. These don’t offer a real-money option and playing poker is much different when not playing for real money. You’ll find traditional real-money online poker is much closer to what you might experience in a real casino card room.

Traditional online poker sites in the US offer players a virtual game as well as the ability to play for real money in major tournaments and cash games.

New Player Freerolls to Build a Poker Bankroll

Another great way to build a bankroll on an online poker site is to make use of freerolls. These are free tournaments to enter where the poker site puts up a real money prize pool.

There is no tournament fee and you can earn real money if you win or make it into the money spots. Many sites offer new players exclusive freerolls in addition to no deposit bonuses.

Freerolls are another nice option to make some money on a poker site without having to make a deposit. Additionally, these tournaments aren’t solely for new players and many sites use them as promotions.

No Deposit Bonus vs. Welcome Bonus

Most poker sites offer all new players a Welcome Bonus. This shouldn’t be confused with a no deposit bonus.

A welcome bonus, also sometimes referred to as a match bonus, applies to players who make an initial deposit. Some of these bonuses can be for up to $1,500 and make for a great way to get started on a real-money online poker site if you intend to play a lot of poker. Meeting the clearing requirements for some welcome bonuses – particularly the largest amounts – will take some concentrated effort in a short period of time.

A no deposit bonus is just as the name implies. A new player only has to register an account and can play using these funds without even making a deposit. No deposit bonuses are the easier way to get started with online poker.

Play Free Poker on Your Phone

Poker Online Comparison Chart

Online poker has exploded as a way to play poker for real money on a cell phone or tablet. Poker sites now tailor their product for mobile users as well as those using the traditional poker client.

All the traditional online poker sites mentioned here in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada and Delaware all offer nice poker apps. Those include:

• WSOP.com (NJ, NV)
• PokerStars (NJ, PA)
• 888poker (NJ)
• Partypoker (NJ)
• BorgataPoker.com (NJ)
• BetMGM (NJ)

Poker apps are easy to download for both iPhone and Android. You can still take advantage of no deposit bonuses as well as other deposit offers found here. You can expect to find all the games and events you’d find using a laptop including:

• Cash games
• Tournaments
• Sit & Go’s
• Major MTT series

If you try out a poker app you’ll find a platform built specifically for mobile play. Much of the play on a poker app can be done utilizing a single finger, which makes playing on the go very simple. Most features found on the desktop client are also available on the app.

For players not able to play traditional online poker on their phones, promotional sweepstakes poker sites like Global Poker also offer an opportunity. While Global doesn’t yet have a mobile app, the site uses a browser-based system that also works great on a cell phone or tablet.

No Deposit Poker FAQ

Are online No Deposit Poker bonuses really free?

Yes, poker sites offer these bonuses to USPoker readers to try out the site. Players can build a bankroll using these funds and ultimately cash them out for real money.

What games can I play with a No Deposit Bonus?

While these bonuses may be smaller than players would typically deposit, they do offer a chance to play for real money. Players can take advantage of cash games, tournaments, and sit & go’s.

You can find stakes for all bankrolls and can play for as low as $0.01/$0.02 at many sites. You’ll also find tournaments and sit & go’s available for around $1.

Some sites may offer the no deposit bonus as a simple credit to your account allowing you to play as you wish. Others may offer players specific tournament or sit & go tickets. These can be used to actually win real money and build a poker bankroll just like funds you can deposit on the site.

Can I claim a No Deposit Bonus and a Match Bonus?

Yes, a no deposit bonus is free money a player can use after simply creating an account at a site. There is no deposit required and you don’t have to fund an account.

Match Bonuses or Welcome Bonuses are funds credited to a player’s account after making a deposit. These can be hundreds of dollars and even thousands, and are a great benefit for players looking to make a deposit.

These may have requirements for “play-through” before these funds are released however. That means a player may need to play a certain number of hands or events to have some of that bonus released and credited to his account.

When can I withdraw my no deposit bonus?

Most winnings from these bonuses can be withdrawn as they are accumulated. These funds are real money as if the player had made a deposit.

What’s the catch with a No Deposit Bonus?

There’s no “catch” with these types of funds. They’re available to you to try out a regulated, legal online poker site for real money and see if it’s for you. It’s real money to play poker and it’s free. What could be better? You won’t be able to claim the bonus and then immediately cash it out, obviously, but that shouldn’t be classified as a “catch” per se. That’s simple common sense.

Where can I get a No Deposit bonus in the US?

Since 2011, after what’s known as “Black Friday,” the US has been limited to a state-by-state approach to legalizing online poker. Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware have offered online poker since 2013.

Pennsylvania began offering online poker in 2019 and Michigan online poker launched its first poker site in 2021. West Virginia legalized online gaming including poker in 2019 but has yet to go live as of February 2021.

Those looking for some No Deposit Poker are in luck with a few sites in some of these legal states. It’s also important to note that while you have to be located within these states to play, you don’t have to be there to sign up for a No Deposit Bonus or even fund your account.

Some players see that No Deposit Bonus as a challenge – ie how long they can make it last as they try to build it up into an even bigger bonus. Here’s a look at a few popular sites where you can get in the games just for signing up.

If you’re interested in no deposit bonuses for online casino play, see our dedicated page here:

There are a number of notable differences between live and
online poker. Although the fundamentals of the game are largely
the same either way, the overall experience you get from playing
live is simply not the same as the experience you get from
playing online. Some of the differences can actually have a
significant impact on certain aspects of the game.

In this article we’re going to do a comprehensive comparison
of live and online poker by taking a detailed look at a number
of areas where the two differ. We’ll also consider the effects
that these two options have on players, based on their
differences, and try to determine whether online poker or live
poker has the most advantages to offer.

Speed of Play

This is easily one of the biggest and most tangible
differences between online poker and live poker. Playing online
is a lot faster, for fairly obvious reasons. Much of what takes
up time at live poker tables is done automatically and therefore
much more quickly at online poker sites. There’s no need for the
deck to be manually shuffled after each round, the cards are
“dealt” in a split second, and any chip counts are done
instantly.

These things all have a major impact on how long it takes to
play a hand.When playing live you can expect to see around 30
hands per hour at the most, whereas online you can expect to see
at least double that on average.

You might not think that this faster pace is a big deal, but
it really is. If you’re a winning player then playing more hands
should ultimately equate to making more money, and even if
you’re just playing for fun you’ll probably find the fast pace
games far more enjoyable. The slow pace in the live environment
can get very frustrating, particularly if you’re not getting
good cards. A lot of your valuable time may be wasted just
waiting for something to happen.

Verdict

Online wins. The faster game makes for a better all-round experience.

Current Score

Convenience & Comfort

Playing online poker is definitely more convenient than
playing live, especially if you don’t live anywhere near a
casino or poker room. There’s no need to make a trip, as you can
play any time you choose just by firing up your computer and
logging into whichever site you use. A lot of sites even allow
you to play from mobile device these days, so you can even
squeeze in a quick session when you are out and about if you
want to.

As a general rule, playing online is a much more comfortable
experience. The chairs in most poker rooms aren’t necessarily
uncomfortable but they don’t compare to the comfort you feel
from playing at your own home. You can sit (or lie down)
wherever you want when you’re playing online, and you don’t even
have to get dressed if you don’t want to. It’s not like your
online opponents can see you!

Verdict

Online wins easily. It’s far more convenient to play and generally more comfortable.

Current Score

Game Availability

Many live poker rooms around the world are only open during
certain hours. Even the ones that are open 24 hours can’t
guarantee that you’ll always be able to find games to join. It’s
quite possible that you could visit at a time when there’s only
one tournament running that you’re too late to enter. It’s
equally possible that you could visit at a time when all the
cash game tables are full and there’s a lengthy waiting list
made up of other players waiting for a seat just like you.

You don’t run into these problems online. Poker sites never
close and you’ll always find games running around the clock.
Some times are busier than others, so you’re not always
guaranteed to find action at your preferred game and stakes, but
there’ll always be something for you to play.

Verdict

Online wins again. Game availability is much better at online poker sites.

Current Score

Social Factor

One of the drawbacks to playing online is that you miss out
on the social factor. Most sites include a chat function on
their tables, so you can at least communicate with your fellow
players, but it’s really not the same as actually talking to
them in person.

The ability to have a laugh and a joke with opponents is a
big part of what makes poker such an enjoyable game for many
players. Some players aren’t too bothered by this aspect of
course, preferring just to focus on their game, but overall it’s
fair to say that the social factor is something that gives live
poker the edge over playing online. It just adds a little
something extra to your overall experience.

Verdict

Live wins this one. Poker is a clearly a more social affair in a live environment.

Current Score

Game Selection

The selection of games available at poker sites isn’t even
comparable to what’s available in a live environment. There’s a
massive variety of games to choose from online, whereas your
options are usually quite limited in even the biggest live poker
rooms.

Most poker sites offer several different variations of the
game for starters. Texas Hold’em is the most popular but there
are plenty of variants you can play too. The larger sites
typically offer all of the following:

• Omaha
• Omaha Hi/Lo
• Seven Card Stud
• Razz
• Five Card Draw
• Mixed Game Formats (e.g. H.O.R.S.E.)

Most of the above are usually available in both cash game and
tournament formats. You have a choice of betting structures too
with limit, no limit, and pot limit all widely available. You
can also choose whether to play full ring (up to nine or ten
players), short-handed (maximum of six players), or heads-up
(just two players).

We also cannot overlook the wide range of tournaments offered
online. In terms of size you’ll find everything from small sit
and go tournaments to large field multi-table tournaments and
there are many different types of tournaments as well.
Freeze-outs, re-buys, guaranteed, knockouts, turbos, and
satellites are just some the most common types.

Verdict

Online wins and it’s not even close. The selection of games available online is huge.

Free Online Poker Sites

Current Score

Range of Stakes

Poker Online Comparison Site

One of the major advantages of playing online is that there’s
a wide range of stakes that’s suitable for all budgets. You can
play cash games with blinds as low as $0.01/$0.02 and there are
tournaments which can cost as low as one dollar to enter. There
are also plenty of high stakes available for those who like to
wager substantial amounts and everything in between is covered
also.

This is quite a contrast to what you’ll find in your typical
live poker room. Many places are very limited in terms of the
range of stakes available and even the bigger rooms with a more
complex range don’t compare to what’s available online.

Poker Online Game

Verdict

Another easy win for online. Most poker sites offer stakes to suit all budgets.

Current Score

Option to Multi-Table

For any of you that aren’t familiar with this term,
multi-tabling can be defined as playing at multiple tables at
the same time. This is easy to do at most online poker sites,
but it’s essentially impossible to do in live casinos.

Many recreational players and almost all beginners aren’t
affected by this. They typically have absolutely no interest in
multi-tabling, preferring to concentrate on playing as well as
they can in one single game.

It does affect a lot of more experienced players though and
certainly those that play poker full time, as the option to
multi-table allows them to make money at a significantly faster
rate. Therefore, it has to be considered a big advantage to
playing online.

Verdict

Online wins. Mutli-tabling enables many players to make a lot more money.

Current Score

Reads & Tells

Reading your opponents is a big deal if you want to be a
successful poker player. You don’t need to be able to literally
read their mind, but it will certainly be beneficial to you if
you’re good at figuring out what they’re doing and why.

There are two main ways that you can get a good read on an
opponent. One is by studying the way they play and analyzing it,
as this gives special insight into their overall playing style
and how they act in certain situations. The other is by studying
them physically and looking for any tells in their body language
that might give something away about the cards they hold or how
they are about to bet.

The first method mentioned above can be used in both a live
environment and online. The second method can only really be
used when playing live though. This highlights one of the very
significant advantages that live play offers over online play;
the ability to physically observe your opponents and gain
information on them. This simply cannot be replicated online and
for some players it’s absolutely vital to how they play the
game.

Verdict

Live wins. The ability to gain physical reads on your opponents can be invaluable.

Current Score

Game Analysis

Another notable difference between playing live and online is
that there’s no automatic record of your hands in a live
environment, whereas at poker sites all your hands are recorded
and available for you to review upon request. This might not be
a difference that many people think about when comparing these
two options of playing poker, but it’s actually a very
significant aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked.

The record of the hands you have played (which is commonly
referred to as your “hand history”) can be a very valuable tool
when it comes to developing your game. It enables you to study
and analyze all your past play, which is something you really
should be doing if you want to improve your skills. Unless you
have a truly incredible memory, you won’t be able to do this
analysis on your live play.

Verdict

Online wins. It’s much easier to analyze your own game when playing on the web.

Current Score

Bonuses & Rewards

This difference is a very simple one and relevant to a lot of
players. Virtually all poker sites give their players some form
of extra value in the way of bonuses and rewards, while live
poker rooms generally do very little by comparison. Some sites
can be quite generous to their regular players, but some do
nothing at all. As a general rule there’s far more extra value
available to earn online.

Verdict

Online wins comfortably. Poker sites give away far more extra value than live rooms.

Current Score

Final Score: Online Poker 8 – Live Poker 2

From the differences we’ve discussed here it seems pretty
clear that online poker has more advantages than live poker. The
issues of convenience and availability are the biggest
advantages in our opinion, closely followed by the much greater
variety of games and stakes available online.

We wouldn’t go as far as to state that online poker is
indisputably better than live poker though. We’ve demonstrated a
number of advantages it has when comparing the two, but which
one is “best” is ultimately a matter of personal preference.
It’s also worth noting that you don’t have to choose one or the
other, as it’s perfectly possible to enjoy playing both!