Poker Online Without Real Money
- Answer (1 of 4): Get some friends, poker chips (pizza and beers optional but recommended) and just play some games. This is what we do- no one takes it too seriously but it's good fun and an opportunity to try different variants from time to time.
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Poker is a famous pastime, one that doesn’t need to be played for money to be enjoyed. Professional players may not agree with that assessment, but even they can think back to their humble beginnings when they wanted to learn the basics of the game without losing their bankroll.
No matter the reason for wanting to play free poker, there are many places to find it. Nearly all of the major online poker sites offer dot-net websites that can be played without any financial investment whatsoever. Those sites allow players to compete for play-money and coins, and while players may be able to buy a few coins with real money, the vast majority of them compete for the simple love of poker.
What are the Benefits of Free Poker?
With no money at stake, can poker really be enjoyable? Yes! The game is one of strategy and excitement, the thrill of the all-in and the suspense of the river card. And the pure fun of it is why it is played by millions of people of all ages at kitchen tables around the world.
Free Poker Features. Single player free poker game - Texas Holdem. Master the odds of real Texas Holdem poker. Compete against your own high score and watch your game improve. Learn all five unique AI personalities - each with his / her own playing behavior. Poker game is automatically saved as you play. 5 Online Poker Tips for Real Money Play. Playing online poker for money offers so many different options and exciting opportunities that some new players get too excited. This can result in costly mistakes because they're placing bets without really thinking about what their next move should be.
There are numerous benefits of playing free-play games, though. Whether one aspires to become a professional player or simply to improve those skills enough to beat family members at the next reunion, there are many things to gain by putting in some time at the play-money tables.
- Learning the Basics:The best way to learn the basics of betting, raising, and position is to practice. Of course, using primers on websites like ours is always a great starting point, but it doesn’t always make sense until those lessons are put into practice at actual online poker tables.
- Practicing Strategies: As a player improves, it is beneficial to devise strategies or take ones found in books and on instructional websites and try them out. Play-money poker is the best place to see how well those strategies work for each player and if they work as intended. Every player finds different strategies that work best for them.
- Bankroll Management:Before investing hard-earned money to an online poker site, try to manage play money first. Since a skilled player never puts more than 10% of their bankroll on the line at any one time, it is a good idea to try that method with play-money poker and learn how to manage that bankroll, even if it doesn’t contain real money.
- Discovering Swings: Poker can be filled with upswings and downswings. No matter how much skill is employed, the luck of the draw can get even the best players time after time. While the odds are always in the favor of the players who use skills, getting the full experience of the potential downswings of poker is a good lesson.
- Managing Tilt: Even with no money on the line, the actions of other players or frustrations with one’s own play can put players on tilt. It’s not uncommon to see players go crazy in the chat boxes at free-play poker tables because they ran into bad luck. Learning to manage tilt comes easier before real money is on the line.
- Garnering Experience: Most live poker players know that poker online is different and adjustments must be made. Starting on a play-money site is the best way to get the feel for the online tables, even for those with experience in live games.
Warnings about Free Poker
This is not as ominous as it sounds, but there are some things that players should consider when playing free poker. It is going to be different from real-money poker online in several ways.
First and most importantly, players on free poker sites tend to be much looser in their playing styles. Without real money on the line, they might be more apt to call on every street, bluff more often, and play more wildly in general. This will change when switching to a real-money site, but there are quite a few players on free sites who take it seriously.
Second, don’t get tricked into buying play-money coins! Free poker sites always provide ways to win more free chips or coins, so there is no need to buy any if the option presents itself. If a player is that desperate for coins or chips, it might be time to read about tilt and figure out a way to manage it.
Third, there is no need to rush from play-money to real-money poker. Winning a few hands or even a few days in a row doesn’t mean the jump should be made immediately. Take the time to experience some of the ups and downs, and don’t get overconfident because of a few million play chips.
What are the Top Free Poker Sites?
The best place to play poker for free is with PokerStars, 888poker, or PartyPoker. Instead of using the dot-com website address, simply replace with dot-net to access the free-play sites. These sites have invested a great deal of time and energy into providing an extensive free platform as well as offering tutorials, lessons, and tips for every level of player – from new to advanced. Take advantage of the information at no charge.
Ultimately, those sites will also offer special deals and bonuses to open a real-money account on their sister dot-com sites. While there is no rush to do so, it is good to have those bonus options to make the most of that first deposit when the time comes.
Even if sites don’t offer a specific free-play site, other poker sites like Ignition Poker and Intertops offer information that is meant to help new players improve their play. Most sites also offer things like freeroll tournaments that cost nothing to enter but give players the chance to win real money. This helps new players build their bankrolls with little to no initial investment.
No matter where a new player chooses to play, it is always beneficial to gain experience and move up slowly. Every pro player will give that same advice.
Is Learning Online Poker Easy?
I used to get intimidated by the enormous variety of poker sites online. What’s more, I had heard all sorts of stuff about how online poker players were really good, how I’d have a hard time at the tables, and how I should just stick to play money games to avoid losing my house. Had I taken these things to heart, I might not have learned poker at all! But I took the dive, head-first, and am glad I did. Nobody is ‘really good’ online. I didn’t have a ‘hard time’ at the tables. And I still have a roof over my head. Everything I had heard turned out the be the opposite of reality. Poker is an easy game if you play at one of the soft poker sites. The only hard thing about it is learning the rules, and even that only takes about five minutes.
Don’t doubt for one second that you can easily learn to play poker. And take it from me — you’ll be much better off learning online as opposed to in a casino.
Why Learn to Play Poker Online?
For starters, you’ll see more hands per hour online than in a brick and mortar cardroom. Online poker is inherently faster than live, because it’s easier to click a button than to shuffle chips and read stacks. The faster pace means you’ll be exposed to more poker situations in a shorter period of time playing online. This will make you a better player in the long run.
Second, playing poker on a software client is much more convenient than playing at a live table. In a casino, you’d have to memorize chip values and learn all sorts of arcane casino-specific rules. Online software displays bet amounts and stack values in plain-old number format — so easy to read! I can’t stress enough how helpful this is when you’re learning.
Third, you’ve got all the resources you can find on the net available to you when playing online. You can keep a poker table open on one half of your screen, and a starting hand chart on the other half. You can search Google if you run into tough situations. You can vent about bad beats to your friends via IM. I could go on and on about all the benefits to playing online. But I’d end up writing an entire book. Suffice it to say that the best poker sites to learn poker online beat out the best casinos any day.
3 Important Factors: Easy, Appealing, and Fun
Once you’ve made up your mind to learn the game online, it’s time to pick a site. This doesn’t have to be hard, or intimidating. Just ask yourself the following three questions about any poker site you come across:
1. Does this poker site look easy to use?
2. Is this poker software visually appealing?
3. Does this poker site look like it’s a fun place to play?
Factor 1 is pretty simple. If a poker site looks confusing or complicated, what’s the point? When you’re just learning how to play poker online, you don’t need all sorts of fancy features to deal with. You just need a simple, sensible poker client that will help you ease into the game. I found 888 poker to be one of the easiest poker sites for me. Everything I needed to get started was basically available on one screen. I just downloaded the client, clicked the link to register for an account, and boom! I was done.
Factor 2 boils down to personal preference. You’re not a professional grinder, so you don’t need to put up with crappy software just because the games are ‘good.’ Pick a poker site that agrees with your aesthetic sensibilities. In this regard, I found Bovada Poker to be the clear winner. The table layout is very simple — no distractions. Bet amounts are clearly labelled, action buttons are prominent and visible, and the games flowed smoothly. Bovada almost won me over with its well-designed software (I chose 888 though, in the end.) Try both sites, and see which you prefer.
Factor 3 is, again, a matter of personal preference. Does a prospective site look like fun to play on? If you aren’t having a good time — especially while you’re learning to play poker online– you won’t want to stick with the game. So if anything about a site puts you off, try a different one!
Table Of Contents
Who said free poker games are boring? From freeroll tournaments to mobile poker apps, there are a lot of ways for you to play poker online for free and enjoy it!
Get a glimpse of the best free poker sites as we get into 2020 and be prepared: the cards will soon be in the air!
Finding a reliable place to play free online poker can be an overwhelming task, especially if you are looking for some fun and you don't want to spend anything.
In this article, you'll learn:
- How to find free online poker games
- What is the best free online poker site
- The key differences between free poker and freerolls
- And lots more.
In case you are new to the poker scene, several online poker rooms offer these types of free poker games with no registration.
That's where you find the best free online poker games with fake money to play with other poker players from all over the world and engage in exciting Texas Holdem Poker and Omaha ring games and tournaments.
Playing on these play money poker sites helps you understand how poker works and how to use the right strategy to beat your opponents.
Many players started playing online poker from free games. That's because playing free poker online you can develop your poker skills and learn the ins and outs of popular games like Texas Hold'em and Omaha poker before you decide to play for real money.
Think of Anette Obrestad.
Once poker wunderkind, Obrestad started playing online poker for free — and then, one freeroll tournament after the other, she built the insane bankroll that helped finance games and tournaments for real money.
Use the free poker games online to become a better player.
The best online, free poker sites are essential to get some free poker practice. How else could you try our proven poker tips without risking a single cent of your bankroll?
In this article, you find all your best option to play free online poker in 2020.
All these sites have options to play free online poker games with fake money and help hone your poker skills with some good poker practice.
All the site in the list offer mobile poker apps or platforms, so you can play with other poker players on desktop, Android, and iOS.
The mobile poker apps feature the same games and tournaments you find on the desktop versions. Some (like the ClubGG app, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) app, Zynga Poker, and the World Poker Tour (WPT) Poker app) do not offer options to play for real money.
Others (like PokerStars, PartyPoker, and 888Poker) combine free poker games and tournaments with real money ones - so you can have an authentic 'full poker experience' always playing on the same website.
So, are you ready to start playing some poker? Join tens of thousands of other poker players on these exciting websites, claim all the poker bonuses available right now, and get busy with your first poker hand.
Best Free Poker Sites
Need more information to choose where to play some good free Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and stud games online?
Check out the description of all the free poker sites and don't forget you can read even more about them on the reviews published on our list of the top online poker sites.
ClubGG Poker (US - All)
ClubGG is one of the newest social poker applications and is compatible with just about any mobile device with downloads available via Google Play, Android, and the App Store.
The app boasts many of the features that grew GGPoker into one of the biggest real-money online poker rooms in the world in a very short period of time with betting sliders, emojis, and other amazing features.
ClubGG is the best option to play no-limit hold'em and pot-limit Omaha cash games against friends and family as it is free to join and you can set up your own club with its own private cash games and tournaments in no time flat.
US players can play online poker games on the ClubGG free mobile poker app.
In addition to playing against family and friends you can also play against the PokerNews family of staff and readers in our dedicated Club PokerNews (ID: 811180) where we will be hosting a full slate of fun tournaments and non-stop ring games that you can play absolutely for free.
PokerNews Live Reporting Executive Jason Glatzer published an extensive guide on how to join our FREE Club PokerNews at ClubGG. There, you find everything you need to get started playing at ClubGG in no time as well as learn how to join our club.
Play free poker games on ClubGG Poker at the App Store and Google Play; free.
WSOP Poker (US - All)
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Social Poker site is one of the best free-to-play poker sites in the world. This poker site and mobile poker app comes from the kitchens of Playtika, the same social Casino giant that came up with uber-successful apps like Slotomania and House of Fun.
WSOP Poker is of the best options to play no-limit hold'em and pot-limit Omaha cash games against friends, family, and opponents from all around the world.
US players can play online poker games on the WSOP free mobile poker app.
Compared to other free poker sites, WSOP Poker hosts some massive games and tournaments where you compete for awesome prizes, including virtual WSOP bracelets.
Link the WSOP free poker app to your Facebook account to challenge your friends and brag to them when you beat them in a big pot or major free poker tournament.
The WSOP poker app offers the best free poker games online. It is a superb place to practise poker for free and hone your skills without any financial risk to your bankroll.
Play free poker games on WSOP Poker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
PokerStars NJ (US - NJ)
PokerStars NJ is the most obvious choice.
The New Jersey 'division' of the world's largest online poker site has been the first one to get back to the United States in the post-UIGEA world.
Here you'll play on (probably) the best poker client in the world and get the luxury to choose between the best (and juiciest) poker games in New Jersey.
Like all the other PokerStars websites, PokerStars NJ features a wide choice of real money and free online poker games.
Since this article is all about how to find the best free poker games online, know that PokerStars NJ is where you get the largest selection of poker freerolls - the tournaments with no buy-in but with real prizes on tap.
Play / fake money poker games are also an option on this site.
Play free poker games on PokerStars NJ:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
PokerStars PA (US - PA)
As of today, PokerStars PA is the only legal online poker site in Pennsylvania. While we wait for the market to attract more operators, this world-famous poker site is your top (and only) choice to play some free online poker.
PokerStars is the most famous brand in the poker industry, with an unmatched offer in terms of free online poker games and real money options.
There are several ways to play poker online for free on PokerStars PA. These include:
- The virtual poker games with fake money
- The free home games to play with friends
- The freeroll tournaments with no buy-in
The main difference between the three, obviously, is that the freerolls come with real money prizes. These are your best shot at creating a bankroll from nothing and continue to play poker online for free.
The other games, however, are best suited for those who are looking for ways to learn how to play poker or practice Texas Hold'em online.
To play free poker games on the PokerStars PA website you need to be located in Pennsylvania.
Play free poker games on PokerStars NJ:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
WSOP.com NJ (US - NJ)
Not to be confused with the more generic free 'WSOP poker app', WSOP.com NJ is the other poker giant in the Garden State.
This site combines free online poker with real money action and is the only one allowed to run prestigious events like the World Series of Poker online.
While free games are always free - no matter what - there's an interesting opportunity for you if you are in New Jersey and want to play free online poke to win real money.
As a new player, you get 7x tickets to play $100 tournaments, meaning you get to play poker online for free and possibly take down some cash, too.
The competition is not the worse (these are new players-only events) so you actually have a decent shot at turning nothing into something.
Play free poker games on PokerStars NJ:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
Borgata Poker NJ (US - NJ)
Using the same engine as partypoker NJ, Borgata Poker NJ is another giant where you find free and real money poker games.
The wide choice of game formats and the active community of players that populate the site make it one of the most popular free online poker destinations in New Jersey.
Can you play online poker for free on Borgata NJ?
Yes! You can train with some free online poker games for fun or you can use their welcome to test the waters and join some of the 'more serious' games
There's a handy free $20 bonus on signup so you don't need to stick to the free games if you don't want to and you don't need to spend anything if you want to try something more than a few free poker tournaments.
Play free poker games on PokerStars NJ:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
888poker NJ (US - NJ)
PokerStars' arch-enemy landed in New Jersey to fight for the market and convince local poker players that the triple eight is better than the red spade.
To be honest with you, 888poker NJ is a great poker website with plenty of options to play online poker with fake money.
Frequent updates allow 888poker NJ to continue to meet their players' demands and expectations - and the way these guys care about their product is reflected in one of the most modern and appreciated poker clients out there.
888poker offers free and legal online poker games to all players in New Jersey.
Play free poker games on PokerStars NJ:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
partypoker NJ (US - NJ)
Could a poker market ever see PokerStars and 888poker fight for the leadership without a partypoker product to make things harder for them?
partypoker NJ is a spectacular site to play online Texas Hold'em for free and probably also the bets free poker app you can download on your mobile today.
While you can play free online poker with no download and no money, we recommend you do not miss the welcome bonus so you can play to win some real money, too.
There's a free $25 signup bonus on registration that you can use to play cash games or free poker tournaments online.
You need to be in the state of NJ to access the games on partypoker NJ and claim their free poker bonus.
Play free poker games on PokerStars NJ:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
Poker Online Real Money California
PokerStars (Global)
If you already play poker, you know PokerStars.
PokerStars is like a mecca for poker. It is:
- The largest online poker site in the world.
- The host of the most successful online poker series.
- The only site everyone has an account on.
PokerStars is also known for providing great free poker games online — although this isn't a 100% free poker site like the one that operates under the World Series of Poker brand.
This online poker site is known for the breadth of poker games and tournament formats that you can get accustomed to if you're starting and learning to play online.
Playing free poker games on PokerStars is simple:
- Register a gaming account (it's free)
- Select the 'Play Money' option.
From there, you are good to go. Ready to take on the world.
Pro tip: when you run out of chips, you can top up by taking a seat at a ring game table. That way, you can continue with your free poker games.
PokerStars Team ProBarry Greenstein joins the action of free Texas hold'em games on PokerStars very often.
As an American player, Greenstein can't play real money poker in the US. So he often shows up at the play-money tables over at PokerStars.
To play free poker games with Barry Greenstein, you'll need to work yourself up to the highest play-money stakes and grow a bankroll able to survive those limits.
Play free poker games on PokerStars:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
888poker (Global)
888poker is another behemoth in the poker scene. They too offer both real-money and free poker games.
The free poker practice mode helps you familiarise yourself with the poker rules and learn how to avoid all the most common mistakes beginners make.
To play free poker games on 888poker:
- Register a gaming account (it's free)
- Head to the 888poker Practice Play Lobby
If you qualify for their welcome bonus, you can also play free online poker games to win real money.
Just for registering with 888poker, you get a free $8 instant bonus to play free poker games and an additional $80 free bonus as you collect status points.
888poker is where you get non-stop cash games, giving you the ultimate freedom to decide when and for how long you want to play poker online.
With the number of players who have signed up for 888, free games for play money are always on offer. You never have to wait long to play a play money cash game or free poker tournament.
And, when you're finally ready to stretch into real-money games, you can take your first deposit, get 888poker to double it, and gain entry into nine free tournaments.
Poker Online Real Money
Play free poker games on 888poker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
partypoker (Global)
Partypoker also allows you to play online poker free and for real money. These games allow you to explore your ability, strategy, and luck.
If you're serious about playing, you can jump right into a free game in the 'Play Money' tab or even go to the free poker school to learn about how to play online.
New players can receive a money bonus for when they decide to step up their game and try real-money poker.
On Partypoker, you can track your progress, take free poker missions for rewards, and grab free poker promotions for a wide variety of prizes and tournament offerings.
Like on 888poker and PokerStars, there are plenty of players on the free partypoker client, so you should never be bored. Free poker awaits!
Play free poker games on Partypoker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
GGPoker (Global)
GGPoker is one of the newest and most interesting poker sites out there - with plenty of free online poker options for you to discover and play.
The flagship site of the GGNetwork is a modern and truly 'mobile-first' poker product. After gaming traction in Asia at first, this poker site became a major global player and one of the fastest-growing poker sites in the game's history.
There's plenty to read about GGPoker here on PokerNews, so there's no point in describing the client, the free poker app, and the games available on the site.
Just know that GGPoker is where you find some of the best free online poker games to play Texas Hold'em and lots of other variants. All the action is available with real and play money.
To play free poker games online on GGpoker:
- Register a gaming account (it's free)
- Choose your free poker games and play
Play free poker games on GGPoker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
Free Poker vs Freeroll
Freeroll tournaments are online multiplayer events that cost nothing to enter.
The difference between these free games and the ones with play money is that these are the event where you can win real money.
No other free poker event let you win real money for free. That's why freeroll poker tournaments are hugely popular with beginners.
Play is often reckless on these free poker events, so you have to be patient and smart about it.
Free Online Poker FAQ
According to our latest survey and market data, the best all-free online poker site is the World Series of Poker mobile poker app. In terms of hybrid sites (those where you can choose to free and real money poker games), the world's best poker site in 2020 is still PokerStars.
You can play free poker games in various forms. You can use a no deposit bonus to play real money games and tournaments (e.g. the one at 888poker), open an account on a hybrid site to combine play money and real money games (e.g. PokerStars), enter a freeroll tournament, or download a free mobile poker (e.g. WSOP Poker).
A: In what states can you play online poker?
As of June 2020, the only states where you can play online poker in the United States for real money are Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
To know what operators offer legal online poker games in these states, check our pages dedicated to PA Poker Sites and NJ Poker Sites. Also, you can follow the legislative process and know when more states are likely to regulate online poker via our US Poker Map.
The WSOP Poker app is legal in all US states.
Additional Readings
- PokerStars freeroll events (PokerNews-exclusive): full list of online, free poker tournaments available only to the readers of PokerNews.com.
- The best poker app in 2020: a complete overview of the top free poker apps available today with tips to play the best games of Texas hold'em, Omaha, and more.
- Best online poker sites in 2020: all the top websites to play online poker in 2019, ranked from the most beginner-friendly to the hardest ones.
This article was originally published on Feb. 17, 2017. Last update: June 19, 2020.
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