The online gaming industry is booming because of the steep rise in the number of potential online players worldwide and because many games have increased the fun quotient to multiple folds in the digital arena. Cognitive response, positive emotional outcomes, optimized cost and ease of access are some of the features that have convinced gamers to switch to the online mode.

There is an endless list of online games played depending on their categories, such as fantasy game apps for Fantasy cricket and football, online board games like ludo and monopoly, online card games like poker, and others. Since we are focusing on the game of poker in this article, let us see what difference it makes to play online poker compared to live casino games.

1. Difference in the stakes: How much money you are willing to stake for each game is essential to understand if you are learning how to play online because, in the virtual setting, you have the liberty to bet as low as in pennies. However, in the live environment, the stakes are high, and the competition is also challenging, but you have the scope to win real money from leading platforms like poker stars.

2. Less time-consuming: Live poker games consume relatively more time than online poker because they usually have sixty poker hands dealt in an hour. Virtual poker usually deals with 90-100 hands in an hour and allows the players to use multiple tables and explore much of the game in less time.

3. Ease of access: When it comes to accessibility and flexibility, the online poker version will be the winner any day because only in the virtual scenario can you learn how to play poker simultaneously with different opponents putting up other stakes. Every time you crave an exciting game of poker, you need not travel long distances to go to casinos.

4. Increased threat of bluffing: In the online set-up, the face of the opponents is not visible, which poses a danger of being bluffed. The players must catch up on important information, such as their opponent’s body language or emotions. However, online players can determine betting patterns, reaction times, or other non-physical behavioral traits. The players learn these skills with time and their ability to adapt to the varying atmosphere of virtual poker games.

5. Rules and protocols: There is a significant difference between online and live poker games regarding specific rules and regulations. The “Raise-first-in” rule of online poker states that the first person to raise the hand has to put in a higher amount than the big blind, but no such limitation is applicable for traditional poker. Similarly, online poker tables can have as many as four players, but the number of players in a live set-up is ten.

Multiple card games are similar to poker and are played and liked by card game lovers, such as Rummy Online, Bridge, Cribbage, Spades, etc. Although playing online has several advantages, it comes down to individual choices and preferences in deciding which mode the player wants to explore. What matters is understanding the differences and similarities between land-based and internet poker.