Over the last couple of years the mobile gambling industry has grown by leaps and bounds! One of the things that really drives this industry is our lust for new electronic toys, coupled with our need to own the markets most sleek and sexy handsets and other mobile devices.
We’ve come a long long way from the great big cell phones that take up the entire side of our face that really kicked off the entire world’s fascination with portable communication devices. In fact, it seems as though there are new mobile products on the market just about every day. Our cell phones are getting sleeker, smaller, bigger, faster, and holding more data. We’re also seeing the tablet phenomenon sweep the nation, as that sector of the industry works to fit as much functionality as is possible into a reasonably sized tablet, or kindle type device.
With all these new mobile products, and the subsequently new mobile technology coming available, the mobile gambling industry and its front-line companies like PokerStars mobile are forced to keep up. There are companies out there that make it seem effortless, like Switch Poker a newer mobile poker operation that primarily deals in mobile games, as well as PokerStars, a company primarily focused on poker, that offers mobile options in addition to Windows based software, Mac software and compatibly with less main stream operating systems such as Linux.
Best Mobile Poker Sites
As we mentioned above, there are three poker sites that really stand out as far as stellar mobile sites go. PokerStars is one of them, which is handy, because most of the non-USA facing poker world already has an account set up there. 888 Poker is another top option even more so popular because of the entire gambling suite offered by 888 which includes bingo, casino games like blackjack, craps, and roulette, as well the poker side of things; much of which is available online.
Free Mobile Poker Apps
If you’re JUST going to play free mobile poker games, with no hopes of EVER playing real money poker, then you might actually enjoy an online poker site such as the ones offered at Zynga.com (the best place online to play Farmville 2!) or any of the free poker apps offered on Facebook.
The best thing about these apps is that they generally provide a social feel to the game that isn’t readily available when playing real money games online. Somewhere along the way, real money poker sites lost their chat appeal. Players in that forum use the chat box more to bash on each other’s game than for anything else, and that’s a shame.
One of the other reasons players might opt to play at a free site like Facebook or Zynga is the opportunity to buy chips, or get them for free from friends. If you have a large friend base on a social site like Facebook, but aren’t really the best poker player, you can get free chips from your friends and still play quite a bit of poker, with a decent sized chipstack, that comes free.
Real Money Poker Apps
There are far more reasons to play free poker using real money poker apps however. For instance, let’s say you’ve just turned 18, you’re playing online, legally, and you’re doing well. You’re getting used to the software you’re learning the ‘layout of the land’ if you will. So if nothing else, you’re prepping for the possibility of playing real money games in the future.
Now let’s say you win a freeroll and a share of $50. Now you’re playing free poker, for real money. There are poker players, like Chris Ferguson for instance that have built behemoth bankrolls from pretty much nothing at all.
Android Poker Games
Android mobile phones, and some tablets employ the Android operating system, which was purchased by Google back in 2005, gives players the ability to use Android apps on their cell’s to connect to, and play poker on real money poker sites. This amazing software comes standard on most Android mobile phones, tablets and several other mobile devices.
Top Android Poker Sites
- PokerStars
- Switch Poker
- 888 Poker
Best Android Sites for USA Players
There are currently no Android compatible poker sites on the market for United States poker players; however, given the tremulous changes in the online gambling market, this should be changing very soon. Bookmark this page and check back often!
- Bovada Mobile Poker Site (down for maintenance (for the last several months).
Apple Poker Sites
The two most popular operating systems for mobile poker applications are the Android OS, and iOS. iOS is used by iProducts that have internet capabilities such as the Apple iPod Touch, iPad, and of course the iPhone; all of which contain the capability of running an online poker application.
Best Apple Product Sites
- Switch Poker
- 888 Poker
- PokerStars
Setting up a mobile poker account:
The best way to set up a mobile account at an online poker site is to first visit the site using a desktop or laptop computer by clicking any link on this page, or on any page of this site. Download and install the computer software to your hard drive, then run it. Set up your new player account, and then get ready to make your first deposit using the computer rather than the mobile phone which is not only more secure, it’s a whole lot easier too.
Once you’ve taken advantage of any applicable poker bonus offers, and made that first deposit, you’re ready to head back to the site using your mobile phone. Download the sites app to your cell phone, then login to the account you created on your computer, and head to the tables.
