With most live events canceled because of the pandemic, many people are turning to live online poker tournaments as a substitute. In this piece, I’m going over the top remote options for those who want a live experience from the safety and comfort of home.
If you already have an account at one of these sites, now is the perfect time to break out the bonuses they offer to all new customers. If you don’t have an online poker room yet, I’ll discuss the top three choices in a bit. But first, here’s a breakdown of the best live online poker tournaments during quarantine.
Top Live Dealer Poker Tournaments Online
- BetOnline (Get $1000 bonus by following this link)
- Ignition Casino (Still accepting US players. Get $3000 by following this link)
- Bovada Poker (Get $500 bonus by following this link)
1. BetOnline Live Online Poker Tournaments
This site offers Drachma live poker online tournaments, which feature a Greek drama-themed design and gameplay similar to TV shows like Poker After Dark. The tournament entry fees range from $2500 to $50,000 and come with a one hour late registration period.
The blind structure is as follows – Level 1 (5 minutes), Level 2 (10), Level 3 (15), Level 4 (20), Level 5 (25), and Levels 6+ (30). All Drachma tournaments are available on the weekend, with the Caduceus (entry fee $10,300) running on both Saturday and Sunday. If you want to play Texas Hold’em poker games online against friends for free, I suggest playing at a mobile app.
Probably the biggest draw to BetOnline is that it accepts a wide variety of payment methods. You can use credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, and various cryptocurrencies. This makes it easy for anyone to deposit funds and start playing. Consider using crypto, as the deposits are not only quicker but also come with a generous bonus.
2. Ignition Casino Live Poker Tournaments
This site has the Freedom Stacks, which are live online poker tournaments that run every day at 7:05 pm (ET). These tourneys have a unique setup, as each player starts with a single stack of chips but can buy up to four more along the way. The cost per stack is $100, making it possible to reload and come back into a tournament.
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Ignition Casino’s blind structure works like this— Level 1 (5 minutes), Level 2 (7), Level 3 (9), Level 4 (12), Level 5 (15), and Levels 6+ (20). This is a great tournament series for those who want second chances or to go for a big stack early on. Keep in mind that the prize pool is based on the number of stacks each player buys. Thus, it’s a good idea to bring as many stacks as your budget allows.
Ignition Casino has several benefits worth mentioning. For one, it still accepts U.S. Players and provides them with plenty of poker tournaments to enter. Also, their welcome bonus is , which gives you a nice chunk of change to help get your online gambling career off the ground.
3. Bovada Live Online Poker Games
The live online poker tournaments at Bovada are known as the Fully Loaded. Similar to BetOnline, the Fully Loaded series has a Greek theme and entry fees ranging from $2500-$50,000. The schedule includes the Caduceus (entry fee $10,300) and the Apollo (entry fee $3000).
best ohio casinoAll Fully Loaded tournaments use the Drachma format, which was discussed earlier. Like Ignition Casino, Bovada is known for giving players second chances. The main example of this is the Weekly Gold Rush, a weekly tournament that offers a unique rebuys/add-ons structure.
The late registration period lasts one hour, and you get six add-ons during that time. Each one costs 20 percent of the initial buy-in/entry and stocks you with eight big blinds. It’s smart to buy-in low and load up on add-ons if you’re willing to take risks and wait to get deep into the tournament.
Bovada also has a strong welcome bonus (worth up to $500) for those who sign up for an account. Their site has a variety of other forms of online gambling, including sports betting and casino games. This makes it easy to wager on your favorite teams, spin some slots, or play live poker online for real money whenever you want.
How Do Live Online Poker Tournaments Work?
Players use webcam technology to play live online poker tournaments. This allows the site’s dealers to shuffle and deal cards while players make decisions through a digital interface. Everyone sees their cards and the community board via a web stream, simulating a real-life experience.
Awesome Casinos in the Bahamas You Need to Visit (or Win!)You would think that there would be a significant learning curve for live online poker tournaments. Yet the overall experience is quite simple if you know how regular poker works. Sites often have more than one table running the same tournament. You choose which table you want when registering and receive your seat assignment once the event begins.
Here’s an example: Say you registered for the Ignition Casino Freedom Stacks tournament. You log onto the poker client and see that there are multiple tables running for that event. Table 1 has ten players, while Table 2 has just two seats left. Since you want to get into the action right away, you decide to sit at Table 2—there’s one seat open and you click on it.
Once you’re seated, you can view the table features on your screen. Ignition Casino’s layout includes the dealer, who shuffles and deals the cards; the chip rack (where you select the amount you want to bet); your hand (which appears face down until it’s time to reveal), and the betting docks. Here are the docks for yourself and every other player at the table.
When it’s your turn to act, a timer pops up showing how long you have to make a decision. Just click on the betting dock that corresponds with what you want to do—fold, check/call, raise, or all-in. Your choice will be highlighted so that everyone can see it. If you make a mistake, don’t worry—everyone makes bad plays sometimes. There’s a button that says “Clear” located next to the betting docks; click it to start over.
Another person at the table goes broke, and it’s now time for late registration. The site gives you a message saying that you have one hour to buy in or rebuy. You look at your stack and realize that you want to come back stronger. So you click on the “Buy In” tab and choose either the same stack(s) you bought before or a different amount of chips.
The first part of the article covered the top three sites offering live online poker tournaments. Now I will discuss three other rooms that are worth considering. They may not be ranked among the elite, but each has something interesting to offer.
4. Americas Cardroom
One live online poker tournament series that stands out on this site’s schedule is The Venom. As you probably guessed, this event features a huge prize pool that often surpasses the $1 million mark. Recent examples include a $1000 entry fee and prizes that range from $50,000-$980,395. Direct competitors such as BetOnline and Bovada offer similar tourneys but aren’t as consistent with their schedules.
Americas CardRoom also welcomes newcomers with a solid bonus (100 percent match, up to $2000). You also get some cash game tickets after making your first deposit. I recommend using these tickets wisely, as they allow you to try out a different form of competitive poker.
5. PokerStars
PokerStars has an excellent selection of live online poker tournaments, primarily due to their large field events. One good example is the PSC Game Changer, which has a $200 entry fee and prize pools frequently exceeding $3 million. Another option is the weekly Turbo Championship Sundays (entry fee $109, prize pool $125k).
Most poker pros consider PokerStars to have the best software on the market. I tend to agree since the site offers innovative features like multi-tabling up to 4 tables of the same tournament and 8 of any cash game. They also made waves by bringing back "pop" sounds that celebrate a job well done, such as a successful bluff. Of course, you can always turn the noises off if they become annoying.
New customers are welcomed with a 100 bonus that matches your first deposit up to $600. PokerStars also has a fantastic VIP program and plenty of satellite tournaments for those who want to win their way to major events instead of paying the full entry fee.
Top-Rated Casinos in Ontario, Canada - Updated List 20236. Wild Casino
Wild Casino has been gaining momentum in recent years thanks to its parent company—Niuma Palaces. One reason why could be the live online poker tournaments, including the Grand Prix. Recent examples include a $250 entry fee ($100 add-on) and total prize pools ranging from $25,000-$30,000.
What sets Wild Casino apart is their 250% welcome bonus (up to $5000). I also like that they accept a variety of payment methods, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Litecoin, and bank checks. Crypto users get extra goodies, such as fast turnaround times and bonuses up to 300 percent.
I wouldn’t sleep on the poker software, either. All tables use the erratic behavior of other players to make critical decisions for you, allowing you to step away for extended periods. Other features include jackpot sprints, random prizes, daily and monthly leaderboards, and more. Overall, Wild Casino deserves consideration when looking for the .
Pros and Cons of Playing Live Dealer Poker Tournaments Online
There’s no denying that live online poker tournaments provide many of the same joys as the in-person events. But they’re far from perfect, especially when it comes to certain technical issues that arise from time to time. Here’s a quick overview of the positives and negatives
Pros
- Can win real money without leaving home
- Variety of live online poker tournaments on different sites
- Multiple ways to earn bonuses/extra funds
- Software improvements make gaming experience better
- Possible to interact with other players/dealer
Cons
- Technical difficulties (poor internet connection, lagging, etc.)
- High cost of some live poker online tournaments
- No physical presence of chips/cards
- May miss human errors/tells from opponents
More Tips for Choosing Where to Play
I strongly advise researching each poker site before signing up. While all three are reputable businesses, there are other factors that could affect your experience—bonuses, software, payment method availability, etc. Feel free to read our comprehensive reviews to learn more about each site.
Another thing to consider is where your money will go. For instance, BetOnline puts a lot of effort into promoting all any poker have. Meanwhile, Bovada focuses heavily on football wagering during the season. Think about which sports/events you want to cover and find a site whose priorities match your needs.
It’s also important to keep track of upcoming live online poker tournaments. Most poker operators release their schedules weeks or months in advance, allowing customers to plan ahead for exciting events. Whether it’s a Caduceus tournament or a big series like The Venom, it’s fun to know what’s coming up and how much it will cost to enter.
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What Are the Best Live Online Poker Tournaments?
The top live online poker tournaments during quarantine include Drachma, Freedom Stacks, and the Weekly Gold Rush. Others worth considering are The Venom from Americas Card Room and the PSC Game Changer from PokerStars.
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Is Playing Live Online Poker Legal and Safe?
Yes. Not only is it legal and safe to play on the sites mentioned above, but they're also legit businesses that operate under relevant laws and regulations.
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Can I Win Real Money Playing Live Dealer Poker?
Absolutely. All the sites listed here offer the chance to win real money. Just remember that Texas Hold'em poker tournament online winnings are taxable.
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Can I Play Live Poker Games Online for Free?
You can't play the major tournament series for free. However, you might be able to find some satellites on PokerStars that let you work your way up from smaller buy-ins. As for cash games and other low-stakes events, they typically have affordable entry fees.
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Can I Play Live Online Poker Without Downloading Anything?
Yes, but I don't recommend it. If you play directly through your web browser, then you'll suffer from a slower experience with fewer features. I suggest downloading the poker client to get the full experience.
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Which Site Has the Best Live Online Poker Tournament Software?
In my opinion, PokerStars has the best live online poker tournament software. The competition also uses premium encryption standards to protect private info and prevent fraudulent activity.