Playing Poker Online for Free or Real Money

Gavin Harper
by Gavin Harper

Casino News, Technology & Sport Editor

Looking for the best online casinos to play poker? Whether you’re new or experienced, our list of top-rated casinos has you covered. Enjoy poker bonuses, secure gaming, and a variety of games for all skill levels. Discover the ultimate online poker experience today!

Play Poker Online

Best Casinos When Playing Online Poker

FairGo Casino, Ozwin Casino and Ripper Casino are some of our top picks when it comes to playing poker online. They all have a good variety of games including Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild from the best poker game developers. The casinos are safe and secure and give you the option to switch between free and real money play.

Play Poker at Fair Go Casino

Poker Games:
Enjoy a strong lineup of video poker classics like Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, Aces & Eights, and more. Table poker variants such as Caribbean Stud and Pai Gow Poker are also available.

Free Play:
All poker titles can be played in demo mode—no registration or deposit required. Ideal for learning the rules or testing strategies risk-free.

Real Money Play:
Switch seamlessly to real money play with low minimum bets. Fair Go regularly features generous bonuses that can be used on poker games, and banking is easy for Australians with AUD support.

Why Choose Fair Go:
This Aussie-favorite casino is reliable, features excellent customer support, and gives players both great practice opportunities and the ability to win real cash at their own pace.

Exclusive
Fair Go

Play Poker at Ozwin Casino

Poker Games:
Select from a diverse RTG-powered poker catalog including Bonus Poker, Sevens Wild, All American, and more. Electronic “table poker” games round out the poker offerings.

Free Play:
Ozwin allows you to try all poker games in demo mode—no financial commitment required. Perfect for new players exploring the world of online poker.

Real Money Play:
Conveniently upgrade to real money play using AUD or Bitcoin. Ozwin often has poker-friendly promotions, and the mobile-friendly site makes playing on any device easy.

Why Choose Ozwin:
Ozwin stands out for its user-friendly interface, safe and secure banking, and poker bonuses that help you get the most out of your play—whether free or real money.

Play Poker at Ripper Casino

Poker Games:
Play multiple video poker favorites (like Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Joker Poker) and a selection of table poker games, all courtesy of trusted RTG software.

Free Play:
Every poker title includes a demo/play-for-fun mode. No account needed to practice as much as you like.

Real Money Play:
When you’re ready, Ripper Casino offers simple deposits, fast withdrawals, and frequent promotions tailored to poker players.

Why Choose Ripper:
With a modern design and attentive Aussie-focused support, Ripper Casino is a superb pick for enjoying poker both for fun and for cash, all in a safe environment.

Exclusive
Fair Go

💡Tip: All three casinos let you try poker for free and switch to real money at any time, giving you flexibility and the opportunity to build skills before playing for cash!

Why You Should First Play Poker for Free

  • Play just for fun or play for free to learn the rules, improve strategies or find the poker varient you like the most without risking any money
  • No deposits required when playing for free in 'demo' or 'practice' mode
  • When you know the rules you can switch to real money play at the same casino

Most Popular Poker Games to Play Online

Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud are top choices for multiplayer strategy, while Video Poker and Caribbean Stud are favorites in online casinos for their accessibility and jackpots.

GameWhy It’s Popular
Texas Hold’emSimple rules, deep strategy, huge online community
Omaha (Hi/Hi-Lo)Action-packed, strategic, loved by pros for big pots
Seven Card StudClassic, strategic, tests memory and observation
Video PokerFast, solo play, high payouts, slot-poker hybrid
Caribbean Stud PokerEasy, jackpot potential, play against the house

Quick Overview of Poker Rules

Poker games usually use the standard 52-card set. For online poker for real money games, there are two packs of 52 cards for purposes of speed so that one pack is the one being dealt with the other is shuffled for the next dealing.  Players take their turn after the first batch of cards has been dealt. Each player makes their move in a clockwise direction. Players have the option to check, bet, fold, call or raise.  Checking is only possible if no player made a bet during the present round. When all of the players opted to check in one round, then it is already considered as complete.

  • A player can only bet if none of his or her competitors placed a bet during the current round.
  • One can choose to call if competitors placed a bet during the present round. A player who decides to call will be required to match the highest bet made during the series.
  • A player can choose to raise if they believe that they have a strong hand. A raise means that the player is betting more than the current highest bet placed during the present round.
  • Placing of bets will continue until all of the players have either checked, called, raised or folded. Once all of the players have had their turn, a new betting or dealing round will begin. The dealing rounds will continue until the hand is already complete.
  • The showdown will happen as the last dealing or betting has been finished. The showdown phase is where the players show their hands. The winner of the game is the player who has the strongest hand.
  • In cases where the players have the same strength of hand, then the jackpot is usually shared by these players unless the rules of the game are different.

How Do You Know If You Have The Winning Hand In Poker

Arguably, those who are starting to learn poker may have difficulty understanding the winning hand or determining the hand's strength.

  • One of the first things a player must know when playing this card game is the poker hand rankings.
  • The highest is the royal flush where all five cards come from the same suit and have a straight ace to 10.
  • The next is the straight flush where the are five consecutive cards of the same suit.
  • Four-of- a kind is when a player has any four cards having the same rank. In cases where two players have the same four of a kind, then the kicker or the fifth card that is higher will determine the winner.
  • Full house pertains to any three cards having the same rank along with any two cards again with the same rank.
  • The flush is any five cards of the same suit in any order whatsoever.
  • Three-of-a-kind, as its name suggests, is when there are three cards of the same rank.
  • The two-pair is any two cards having the same rank along with another two cards with the same ranking.
  • One-pair has two same ranking cards.
  • The lowest ranking hand is the high card, which is a hand that has not been mentioned above.

Best Online Casino Bonuses For Poker

Playing more poker online games without shelling more money for deposits is possible with most online gambling sites. After all, online casinos offer online poker bonuses that help increase a player’s chances of winning.

A typical bonus is the match deposit bonus where the online gambling sites match the deposit of a player by a certain percentage. For example, an online casino offers a 100 per cent match deposit bonus, and a player makes a $50 deposit. The player will then have $100 in his or her account which can be used to play more games.

There are also other bonuses such as cash backs that lets players receive a particular portion of the losses from games played including poker. Players must merely check out the various promotions and bonus offers of their online gambling sites.

Our Site’s choice
Liberty Slots Casino
Read Review
Liberty Slots Casino
4.5/5
User Rating
95
Payout %
PlayCroco Casino
Read Review
PlayCroco Casino
4.2/5
User Rating
96
Payout %
Desert Nights
Read Review
Desert Nights
4.3/5
User Rating

Weekly Online Casino Offers, Right To Your Inbox

Don’t be the last to know about the latest bonuses, new casino launches, or exclusive promotions. Join us today!

By subscribing, you confirm that you are 18+