Cash remains a very popular discipline in poker.
The reasons are obvious – the ability to finish the game at any moment and rest, plus a lower variance compared to tournaments. Cash players have to look for different conditions though and not all of the rooms will cater to them.
For some, rakeback is most important, the hardiest prefer leaderboards. For others, it’s the number of players at the tables and the fight for attractive win rates. In this review, we will look at the features of the five best online poker sites for cash games.
GGPoker
GGPoker is the undisputed leader in online poker sites traffic. There is play at regular cash games and fast-fold tables at any time of the day, up to sky-high limits.
This site is where the largest series constantly take place, including the online stages of the WSOP. GG holds dozens of promotions and attracts many amateurs, but all the professionals also play in this room, so the competition is serious at high limits.
The rake in cash games is 5%, even in preflop 3-bet pots, so it is one of the highest online.
Loyalty programs at GGPoker are focused more on supporting amateurs and losing players. For each poker player, a coefficient is calculated that affects the commission return percentage. Successful players receive less, and the exact formula is kept a secret. However, real money bonuses remain a significant part of regulars’ income. For players who are willing to grind a lot, there are generous leaderboards for all disciplines and formats (except MTT).
Deposit and withdrawal methods at GGPoker include Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter, cryptocurrencies and bank cards.
Beginners have access to a 100% bonus on their first account replenishment, but not more than $600.
Pros of GGPoker:
- Lots of games at any time of the day.
- Large leaderboards prizes.
- Lots of weak players at cash games.
- Probably the best poker software you’ll see on the market.
- Many options for replenishing your real money bankroll.
Cons of GGPoker:
- High rake.
- HUDs and trackers cannot be used.
- Bumhunting (hunting for weak players and playing only with them) is strictly prohibited.
PokerKing
PokerKing has many amateurs with weak strategy from the United States on the WPN network, despite the fact that Americans have not played on most major poker sites for a long time.
Up to NL25, there are an average of 20 6-Max tables. Usually, there are about 10 tables at stakes from NL50 to NL200.
PokerKing will especially appeal to fans of full table cash games. 9-max has become a rare format today, but here at low and medium stakes there are regularly 3 to 10 tables running. The rake is ~5%.
PokerKing may be the most loyal poker room to professional poker players. Bumhunting strategy is not prohibited and HUDs or trackers are allowed. The loyalty program is also aimed at regulars and offers rakeback between 12% to 65%. The more you play, the higher the rakeback percentage gets. The first deposit bonus 100%, but not over $2,000. It is won back incrementally and is equivalent to 20% rakeback.
You can top up your account and withdraw real money through payment systems like Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz and Luxon. Many popular cryptocurrencies are supported. Also, you may be able to make transfers between players. Once a month, you can withdraw money without any commission.
Pros of PokerKing:
- Amateurs from the USA.
- Availability of games at 9-max tables.
- High rakeback for grinders.
- Stable, resource-intensive software.
Cons of PokerKing:
- Peak playing traffic occurs at night.
- Commission for cashouts above the limit.
RedStar Poker
RedStar is one of the real money poker sites on the iPoker network, which is among the top 5 largest in terms of traffic.
Many players are from European countries. There are fewer players than in the poker rooms described above, but enough for a decent game. Tables up to NL200 get action regularly. At low stake cash games, there is action at any time of the day.
The poker room uses an anonymous lobby to limit bumhunting. RedStar does not encourage table selection, but also does not punish frequent table changes. Some professionals open dozens of cash games at once at the beginning of the session and then close those where there are no weak players.
RedStar Poker has a simple and transparent loyalty program. For every €1 rake, 10 SP points are awarded. At the entry level, Red, you can exchange 50 points for €1, which corresponds to 20% rakeback. Upon reaching 5,000 SP within a month, the player is assigned Star status, where you can get €1 for every 29 points, which is 35% rakeback.
New players receive a 200% welcome bonus on their first deposit, up to a maximum of $2,000. The reward comes as you play more and is equivalent to an additional 10% rakeback.
RedStar offers customers a wide range of deposit and withdrawal methods. Bank cards, popular electronic payment systems and cryptocurrencies are available. The complete list depends on the country from which the poker player plays.
Pros of RedStar:
- Transparent rakeback system from 20% to 35%
- Support service will respond quickly during the day via chat on the website.
- Cashouts take place throughout the day.
- Using trackers and HUDs is allowed.
Cons of Redstar:
- High rake at limits up to NL20.
- Commission for cashouts.
- Anonymous lobby.
- Apart from Texas Hold'em, there are almost no games.
PokerStars
PokerStars is still a bustling spot for online poker, boasting an unparalleled level of traffic that ensures active tables around the clock across all stakes. It's the go-to destination for the world's most prestigious online poker series, including the renowned World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) and the Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP), attracting a diverse mix of players from complete novices to seasoned professionals.
At PokerStars, players can enter several formats of cash game, from the staple No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha to more niche variants like 7 Card Stud and Razz, ensuring a varied poker experience.
The rake structure at PokerStars is standard among the large rooms, with the site taking a standard 5% from cash game pots, including preflop in 3-bet situations. This is in line with industry standards, making it a fair playing field for all.
PokerStars' loyalty program, Stars Rewards, is designed to cater to a wide range of players. It offers personalized rewards based on play, ensuring that both recreational players and hardcore grinders get value back from their time at the tables. While the specifics of the rewards can vary, players can earn everything from cash back to tickets for exclusive tournaments, making it a lucrative system for dedicated players.
Depositing and withdrawing funds at pokerstars is a breeze, with a wide range of options available including e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller, credit/debit cards, and even cryptocurrencies in certain regions. New players can take advantage of a 100% welcome bonus on their first deposit, up to $600, providing a nice boost to start their PokerStars journey.
Pros of PokerStars:
- Unmatched game variety and tournament offerings.
- Consistently high player traffic across all levels.
- Innovative and exclusive game formats.
- Comprehensive and rewarding loyalty program.
- Wide range of deposit and withdrawal options.
Cons of PokerStars:
- Competition can be stiff, especially at higher stakes.
- Some third-party HUDs and tracking software are restricted.
- Strategies targeting weak players are discouraged to maintain a balanced ecosystem.
TigerGaming
TigerGaming is a poker room of the Chico network has many fans from North America. The favorable ratio of weak players to professionals is one of the room’s best qualities. Amateurs often end up at the poker tables in Chico from bookmakers.
Peak traffic occurs late at night until about 3 AM GMT. The game regularly plays at stakes from NL10 to NL500. There are no stakes below NL10, and sometimes NL1000 tables are filled. The 9-max format is popular. You can play various variations of Omaha, but the games are several times smaller than in Hold'em.
An additional 10% rakeback can be obtained thanks to the first deposit bonus, which must be wagered within a month. In the poker room, the main emphasis is on jackpots and leaderboards. Trackers and HUD are allowed, but only Hand2Note works conveniently (as it does on many poker sites).
Pros of TigerGaming:
- Many weak opponents from the USA and Canada
- Fast cashouts
- Lots of play at 9-max tables
- There is a possibility for selection and the use of trackers is allowed.
Cons of TigerGaming:
- Deposits and cashouts are only in cryptocurrency. In rare cases, a deposit can be made using other methods.
- Rake above average
- Weak loyalty program
Club Apps are Great Alternatives to Poker Sites
Poker professionals can only make money if there are more amateurs in poker rooms.
Today, some of the best fields can be found in mobile apps such as PokerBros and PPPoker. Private clubs on these apps allow weaker opponents to play poker from countries where the game is legally restricted.
We’ve got plenty of club apps to try, with full guides for each one in our article catalog. We’ve even collected the best organizations to join on each app, which will save you tons of time and effort.
