Poker on iPhone, Android and Other Devices
Instant Play Poker
Gone are the days of needing to sit in front of a computer or going to a casino to play poker. Our guide to playing mobile poker for real money will teach you everything you need to know to get great poker games from the palm of your hand.
Our team of experts has scoured the internet to bring you a list of the top sites and best poker apps where US players can play on their mobile phone.
Just tell us which game you’d like to play, how you want to deposit, or what type of bonus you want, and we’ll find the perfect mobile site or app for you.
No two poker sites are created equal, and which is truly ‘best’ often comes down to a matter of preference, and which factors matter the most to you. With that in mind, how should you choose a site?
It’s important to keep in mind that all the poker sites recommended by our experts have been thoroughly vetted for safety and security – we’ve done the homework so that you can focus on what matters most to you.
Here are the factors we recommend you use to find the perfect site for you.
In recent years, we’ve seen the differences in experience between poker app and mobile site grow smaller and smaller. As such, the majority of the mobile poker sites we recommend are exactly that – mobile sites, rather than apps. Our experts prefer sites as they require no time or space to download & install, while providing the same great poker experience.
However, if you specifically prefer a dedicated poker app, start with this question: does this brand offer an app or a site? Our reviews for all of the above operators include a detailed breakdown of their mobile offering.
Again, in recent years as technology has improved, the answer is almost definitely yes. This is yet another reason we prefer mobile sites to poker apps – they’re typically more inclusive and offer an optimized poker experience regardless of which device you use.
That said, the best poker apps are usually available on iOS, Android and Windows devices. It never hurts to do your homework – our poker reviews all include a breakdown of supported device types.
With the boring technical requirements out of the way, shift your focus to the games themselves. Whether you want to exclusively play Texas Hold’em, you want a variety of Video Poker games, or somewhere in between, you’ll want to use our reviews to ensure a poker site offers your favorite game before you make a deposit.
Once you’ve found a mobile poker site (or poker app) that meets your needs, we recommend vetting for payment & bonus logistics. The online poker site space is a buyer’s market, so be sure to find a site that offers a generous bonus.
Our reviews thoroughly cover the accepted deposit methods and available bonuses at each site. If you’re a little unsure, you can always refer to our guides to casino bonuses and deposit methods for more information.
With this done, you’ve got a short list of poker sites that will meet your needs, and it’s a simple matter of signing up, collecting your bonus, and start playing.
Quick tip: poker sites typically offer generous bonuses to new players, so if there are two casinos that meet your needs, it’s not a terrible idea to split your deposit into two separate sites to double up on your welcome bonus.
As we’ve mentioned, we prefer mobile poker sites to poker apps – and so does the industry. Particularly in the US, online poker sites have shifted their emphasis to developing mobile sites rather than proprietary apps. This allows them to focus on developing one great experience and allows you to play with no downloads. Here’s are some of the reasons for and against browser-based poker play:
The first step is to open the app or mobile site. Here you will sign up for a free account, or log in if you already have one.
Head to the cashier and make your first deposit. Be sure to pick up a poker bonus to boost your bankroll.
Once your deposit has gone through, you are all set to choose a table and stay playing. Good luck!
Ignition has the single biggest pool of poker players in the United States. Every day you can expect up to 3000 players and 300 poker rooms at your fingertips.
What we love
Poker apps can be downloaded directly from the Apple App Store. On your device, navigate to the App Store and search for your chosen app. Similarly named apps might appear, so be sure to check the ratings and reviews to help you find right one. The best casino apps will have hundreds, if not thousands of real reviews, and will be free to download. Select ‘get’ to begin the download.
The Google Play store does not yet allow real money poker apps on their store, but that doesn’t mean you can’t download them! To find one, head to your chosen poker site on a mobile browser. If they have an Android app available, it will be made clear. Start the download. Depending on the size of the app and the speed of your connection, it should take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes to complete.
This is important, as not every poker site/app offers each game format. Some offer only cash games, while others may give access to all games, though only one game at a time.
Here are the most popular poker game variations available online:
Our recommend option for mobile poker players. Cash games are the most common format offered by instant-play poker sites, and allow players to drop in and out at their convenience.
A variation of cash games in which players are pooled and combined at random. The moment a player folds, a new hand with new players begins – so no wait times between hands.
Similar to Fast-Fold games, Lottery Sit N Go’s (SNGs) have a random prize pool that can reach jackpot proportions and a fast structure with little wait time between hands.
Your average sit and go is a one-table tournament – it starts when all seats are full, and when you lose your chips, you’re done. Typical SNGs have nine players to a table, with three receiving a prize.
Here’s a look at the top mobile poker operators and what they offer in terms of bonuses, apps and instant-play.
| Operator | Bonus | Great For | Instant Play | iOS App | Android App | Read Review and Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Ignition Casino | $1,000 | Number of poker rooms | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read Review |
| 2. Bovada | $600 | Poker tournaments | Yes | No | No | Read Review |
| 3. Intertops | $1,000 | Low minimum blind values | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read Review |
| 4. BetOnline | $1,000 | Bad beat jackpots | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read Review |
| 5. Sports Betting | $1,000 | Game selection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read Review |
| 6. America’s Cardroom | $1,000 | Weekly promotions | Yes | No | No | Read Review |
Yes, if you visit and create a new account with a reputable online casino. Before choosing a mobile poker operator, be sure to review their licenses and which third-party authority is regulating the random number generators used to power their mobile games. Also, be sure to review our safest poker sites.
Yes, most online casinos offer either an instant-play, browser-based mobile poker option and/or an Apple or Android poker app.
Glad you asked! We have listed the best mobile poker sites at the top of this page. Be sure to review each for the best poker welcome bonuses and promotions.
Most online casinos mobile poker offerings allow you to play all the popular games. This includes Omaha and Texas Hold’em and also cash games and sit n’ go poker tournaments.
