Even though they look pretty much the same and theyre all selling essentially the same few games, all Online Poker Rooms are NOT created equal! The differences can go far beyond the look and feel of the software. After youve played at several different rooms, youll start to see the tell-tale signs of a quality room as opposed to the back alley type. Heres a few things to consider before you plunk down your money. The Number Of Players It simply doesnt matter how great the software is or how many game variations Are Offered. If youre sitting alone, staring at the virtual walls ...What Good Is The Poker Room? The great pokerrooms always have lots of real money players --- Playing! Cash Outs Dont let a big bonus or huge game selection be the only criteria you use when selecting a Pokerroom. Make sure you understand how to cash out, where your money will go and how quickly youll get paid. Remember, what good is your bankroll if you dont have access to it? Customer Service Before you purchase, know the customer service options. Is there a toll free phone number? Is there Online Chat (my personal favorite)? Or is email your only option? Make sure you can contact a rep when you need one. Heres A Tip: Before You Purchase, Contact Support and Ask a few questions, Just to see how responsive and knowledgeable the staff is. Great Pokerrooms know how important Customer Service is and will make sure their reps are well trained! Bonus/Comps Free Money at sign-up is always nice! But, its really not very important. Remember, there are always play through requirements and the more Free Money you get the more youll have to play before you can actually cash it out. More important then a sign-up bonus is the ongoing comps that are offered. Poker can be a very exciting game, where you have a pretty good chance of consistently winning. Once you find a poker room that you like, chances are youll be playing there frequently. A good comp program can directly add to your bottom line! Ease of Use Im including the entire poker room experience in this category. Starting with the first time you visit the site, through the download and sign up process, making a deposit, choosing a table and of course, the actual game-play. The easier it is to get all of this done the better. A clean, simple homepage and intuitive, easily installed software are important factors that shouldnt be overlooked. And Finally... Ive outlined what I think are the most important factors in any Pokerroom. Of course, youll need to consider your own factors also... For Example: * Do You Like Frequent Tournaments? * What Table Limits Are You Comfortable With? * Are You Interested In Multi-Table Play? An hour or so of research before you actually make your first deposit can go a long way toward improving your online playing experience. |
