Best Online Poker Sites Ireland ☘️ Updated April 2024

How Online Poker Works

Like any other casino game, poker has rules and gameplay that guide the game's operation. Poker may be more complicated to understand than roulette, blackjack, or baccarat, but it is a pretty straightforward game. Players can join a virtual table and play against other players from all around the world using their computer or mobile device. The gameplay is similar to traditional poker, but there are some key differences. Online poker sites use digital versions of cards and chips, and players interact with the game using a computer or mobile device. Players can also take advantage of various features like multi-tabling, which allows them to play multiple tables at once, and the ability to play at a wider range of stakes. 

Gameplay

In poker, each player is dealt a set of cards at the start of a hand. These cards, known as "hole cards," are only visible to the individual player and are kept hidden from the other players. The game then progresses through a series of rounds, during which players take turns betting and raising the stakes. The dealer then deals out a set of community cards, called the "flop," "turn," and "river," which are shared by all players and can be used to make the best five-card hand. Players can use any combination of their hole cards and community cards to make the best hand.

Players take turns betting and raising the stakes, with the goal of getting their opponents to fold. The goal is to have the highest-ranking five-card hand or force all the other players to fold by making them believe you have a strong hand. Bluffing is an important part of the gameplay and can be used to your advantage, by pretending to have a better hand than you actually do and making opponents fold. The last person remaining in the game after all the other players have folded is the winner. However, it's worth noting that bluffing can be more difficult to pull off in online poker, as you don't have the ability to read other players' body language and expressions.

Texas Hold ‘Em

Driven by the immense popularity of the televised poker competition, the World Series of Poker, Texas Hold’em is easily the most popular poker game in the world. The game starts with each player at the table receiving two ‘hole cards' to themselves and then progresses as five community cards are spread on the table. The main goal of the Texas Hold’em game is for players to use the shared community cards in combination with their unique hole cards to produce the best possible five-card hand. 

In Hold'em, betting can take place up to four different times. The first bet comes right after each player receives their two-hole cards. The next bet occurs after the first three community cards are dealt and revealed, referred to as "the flop." The third bet is after the fourth community card comes into play, called the "turn," while the fourth and last bet happens when the fifth community card is revealed, called the "the river."

Texas Hold’em poker is of four kinds, which are usually only different from each other by their betting limits:

1. Limit Texas Hold’em: There is a predetermined betting limit on each round in this game.

2. No-Limit Texas Hold’em: As its name indicates, a player can bet any amount up to all their chips in this game.

3. Pot Limit Texas Hold’em: In this game, a player can bet any amount, but only up to the size of the pot.

4. Mixed Texas Hold’em: This variation switches between Limit Texas Hold’em and the No-Limit Texas Hold’em rounds.

Five-Card Draw

The Five-card draw is the most popular draw poker game you will find online or offline. While many players consider the game to be quite challenging due to the option of replacing their cards by drawing new ones, it is quite simple to understand and play. 

Generally, each player in the game is dealt five hidden hole cards. After this, betting will occur, and each player can fold, call, or raise. Once the first betting round is over, there will be a draw. This means that each player can select up to three cards they wish to discard and replace with new ones. 

The objective of the draw is to help players try and get cards that will help them produce the best possible five-card hand. Of course, players also have the option not to draw if they believe they already have a pretty good hand and don’t want to risk losing it for a worse hand.

 After the draw, there will be another round of betting, after which the showdown will happen. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot.

 Essentially, the action in this game follows these sequence:

1. Each player receives five hidden hole cards

2. The first betting round takes place

3. Draw

4. The second betting round takes place

5. Showdown

 The player’s main goal in this game is to make the best five-card hand after one draw. Note that if two or more hands have the same hand value (tie), the pot will be split equally. There is no precedence of suit or rank when awarding the pot.

Seven Card Stud

Seven Card Stud is the most popular game from the stud side of the poker families, giving players individual face-up and face-down cards. As its name indicates, each player will receive seven cards in this game: 3 face-down cards and four face-up cards visible to the entire table. The game's objective is for the players to use the seven cards they receive to create the best possible 5-card hand.

One of the many unique things about this game is that players are not dealt all seven cards at once. Instead, the cards are dealt with gradually, and a player will base their decision to stay and place bets as each of the seven cards is revealed gradually. 

Here is the sequence of rules that the Seven Card Stud follows:

1. Ante: The players put in the ante (the predetermined nominal amount) before starting the game.

2. Third Street: Each player will receive three cards: two hidden face-down cards and one face-up card. Based on these cards, the player will start betting.

3. Fourth Street: Each player will receive another exposed face-up card, called the "Fourth Street." Then, there will be another round of betting, and each player will decide to stay or stick with the game.

4. Fifth Street: Again, each player will receive another exposed face-up card, called the "Fifth Street," and another betting round will happen.

5. Sixth Street:  Players will receive the sixth card, another face-up card called the "Sixth Street." Again, another round of betting will take place.

6. Seven Street (or the River): Each player will receive the seventh and final card dealt face-down. There will then be a final betting round and a showdown after.

7. The Showdown: Involves the players revealing their cards, where the one with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. If there is a tie, the pot is divided equally.

Omaha

Omaha is an entertaining poker variant derived from Texas Hold’em. As such, the game has a lot of similarities to Hold’em. However, a few distinguishing features differentiate Omaha from Hold’em. First, in Omaha, each player will receive four cards instead of two at the start of the hand, but the community hand is still five cards. 

Also, the five community cards are revealed immediately and are not spread out over three rounds. In the Omaha game, players can use only three of the community cards combined with exactly two cards out of their hole cards to create the best five-card poker hand. 

Like the Texas Hold’em game, Omaha also has a few variations, namely:

• Pot Limit Omaha Poker: This is the most popular Omaha Poker, and it involves players betting what is in the pot (i.e., €100 into a €100 pot).

• No Limit Omaha Poker: Players can bet any amount into the pot, up to their entire chips.

• Fixed Limit Omaha Poker: In this version of Omaha Poker, a specific betting limit will apply to each game and betting round.

Others

Aside from the top four poker game versions that we have listed here, there are dozens of other poker game versions that you can play online. Here are a few that deserve mention:

• Razz

•  2-7 Triple Draw

• Omaha High-low

• High Chicago & Low Chicago

• Follow the Queen

Deposit Methods and Withdrawals Available at Online Poker Sites

When selecting operators to play online poker, having multiple or at least the most popular options can indicate a top poker site. Deposits should be instant and not be charged fees, including payouts, however, withdrawal speeds may differ depending on the method selected. Debit cards, such as Visa or Mastercard, should always be accepted, whilst credit card payments are forbidden in Ireland.

Not sure which payment method is the best option for you? Have a look below at the most popular payment methods available for Irish players.

What's a Rake in Poker?

The poker rake is a fee that a poker room (virtual or real life) charges as a commission; for operating costs and profit. For a more in-depth look at what the poker rake is, how it's calculated and collected, and much more, check out our poker rake explanation.

What Do We Think About Online Poker?

To sum up, poker remains one of the most popular, if not the most popular, table games you will find online or in brick-and-mortar casinos. It is believed that there are over 120 million players across the world that actively play poker online. Although the game comes in different variations, the rules and gameplay are simple: obtain the best possible five-card poker hand or bluff your way into a win like the pros. Before facing opponents, beginners should test the waters and get to know how the game works. Consider playing the demo versions of the game before you start playing for cash games.

References

• Online Poker, Wikipedia

• ICLG - Ireland Gambling Laws and Regulations

• UK Gambling Commission

• National Casino Forum

• Problem Gambling Ireland

• Isle Of Man Government - Gambling and E-Gaming

• BeGambleAware

• gamblingcommission.gov.uk

• The Betting and Gaming Council

• International Association of Gaming Regulators

• The Alderney Gambling Control Commission

• Gamblers Anonymous

• eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance)

• Rutland Centre - Treating Gambling Addiction

• Department of Justice and Equality Ireland - Gambling & Betting Act