Playing Poker on a Tablet

More and more online poker sites are putting the “table” in “tablet” by allowing players worldwide to access their games without downloads. A good example is 32Red Poker, whose online poker room is powered by Microgaming technology. The web site’s “Instant Poker” application runs in a tablet’s web browser, plugging directly into the massive Microgaming Poker Network.

What is particularly attractive about 32Red Poker’s instant version is its compatibility with the Macintosh operating system, so iPad users running iOS are easily connected. Also, unlike the download version, the Instant Poker software is Flash-based so it is fully operational on Android tablets, too.
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There are, of course, some drawbacks. One of the biggest is that 32Red’s Instant Poker does not offer tournaments, neither Sit & Go nor scheduled. At the present time, only cash games (ring games) are available. Other full service features such as Poker Buddies and Freerolls are also limited to the download version.

More Ways to Play

Those seeking the full online poker experience via tablets will want to download a specialized app. Thanks to its integration with Facebook, Zynga Poker is the biggest and most popular of them all.

As a “for fun” app, Zynga Poker has got the complete set of the bells and whistles one might want in a big league poker room. All that’s missing is the ability to play for cash, the same barrier American players have been bumping into since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) went into effect in 2006.

In fact, because of UIGEA both Google and Apple have been hesitant to approve apps that launch poker for real money, so the majority of apps available for tablets just let players battle it out for non-redeemable play chips. Americans just have to wait until new state laws, such as one recently passed in Nevada, open the door for cash play.

For poker players outside the United States who want to play for real money on their tablets, there is no waiting and many options already exist. PokerStars, the heavyweight among online poker rooms, offers both Android tablet and iPad compatible apps for Sit & Go tournaments and cash games of Texas Hold’em and Omaha.

Similarly, SwitchPoker.com has apps for tablets that allow poker play for cash. Android tablets are constrained to those running Android OS version 1.6 or newer, while iPad users should have no problems other than some minor audio limitations. Meanwhile, Party Poker, another hugely popular site outside the U.S., has both a downloadable app and a Flash version of its poker room, as the trend towards “tablet friendly” sites grows.

Issues to Be Aware of

Over in the United Kingdom, mFortune mobile casino has introduced one of the widest ranges of games currently available on the move. It is one of the few real money mobile poker casinos licensed by the U.K. gambling commission, offering a £5 new player bonus (no deposit necessary) plus a 200% bonus on first deposits. Tablet users are most welcome, just as long as their devices are Java-enabled.

Android tablet users have reported that Flash-powered poker sites are almost all accessible, while those based on Java may depend on the tablet’s programming. It may also be necessary to set up an account via a desktop or laptop computer before logging on is possible. These glitches are minor, however, and should not have any effect on the enjoyment of play once set-up has been completed.

One other factor to be aware of when playing poker on a tablet is the possible cost involved in connectivity. Although poker rooms do not charge players anything extra for remote play, some mobile network operators charge per megabyte of data transfer and may bill you for accessing the poker room server. Anyone planning to play for real money should test network coverage, too, playing a few hands for fun to ensure that no unwanted connectivity surprises crop up later.

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