Few games offer quite the same level of suspense as a good round of poker, and with huge wins often at stake, it’s little wonder that it has always been one of land-based casinos’ most popular. Today, players can find numerous different variations of the game on offer, with Texas Hold’em having quickly become one of the most loved – and with film characters such as James Bond having flown the flag and reinforced the game’s association with the glamour and sophistication of the casino, for some of the world’s biggest high rollers, it simply doesn’t get much better.
With many bricks-and-mortar casinos forced to close their doors over the past year to comply with ongoing regulations, sitting around a table and practicing your best poker face has been off the agenda, causing many of the game’s most seasoned and dedicated players to seek other ways to get their fix.
Thankfully, they haven’t had to look far, with many of the world’s biggest name luxury casinos scrambling to launch or upgrade their online offerings to meet the new and unprecedented level of demand. With people spending more time at home, the need for remote entertainment has surged dramatically – and the world of gaming and gambling has been at the centre of widespread change.
The move into the digital age isn’t anything new, and we’ve seen businesses across all sectors taking the leap in recent years in a bid to reach a wider – and in many cases, limitless – customer base. But while online casinos had been doing the rounds for a while, the events of the past twelve months have seen some of the world’s most opulent and well-respected land-based casinos follow suit in a bid to retain their high-rolling players.
Poker, it seems, has gone well and truly online, and with the changes have come new opportunities that will likely mean it’s a trend that is here to stay.
Connecting the world’s biggest poker players
Allowing some of the world’s biggest players to connect for a game wherever they are, poker enthusiasts can now take one another on from entirely opposite sides of the globe, making for more exciting games and potentially even bigger wins than before. This limitless potential also means that there is rarely – if ever – a shortage of people to play with, so should your fancy be tickled at any time of the day or night, you’ll be able to access an online game at just the click of a couple of buttons.
Advanced convenience and accessibility
While online casinos used to require logging onto a website, today’s providers offer high-tech apps that come complete with innovative artificial intelligence technology to ensure a smooth and seamless experience from start to finish. Making it quicker and easier than ever before to get started with a game of poker, it feeds into the ongoing and ever-increasing demand for greater convenience and accessibility, allowing high-rollers to initiate or join a game of poker anywhere, anytime.
Big bonuses and promotions
Unlike land-based casinos, many online providers offer big bonuses and promotions in order to entice players to sign up – and for the high-rollers of the world, the perks just keep on coming. After the initial welcome bonuses and free chips, they are often showered with gifts and rewards for their loyalty in a bid to retain their custom, and to put it simply, it works a treat.
Beat the Fish’s bonus codes are a prime example of what’s on offer and from free playing money and access to exclusive tournaments, to cashback deals, waived banking fees and special withdrawal limits, it’s easy to see why online poker has become so popular amongst players both old and new. And, when bricks-and-mortar casinos reopen their doors, they will likely have to make some adjustments and upgrades to their loyalty and VIP packages in order to remain competitive.
Wider variety of poker games
There’s no denying that Texas Hold’em remains the king of all poker games, but there are many variations available via online casinos and apps that do a good job of keeping players’ interest. Even a game of classic poker can get boring if the right players aren’t coming to the table, and by allowing members to mix it up a bit with new and novelty games, providers have managed to successfully keep the boredom at bay.
The bottom line
As land-based casinos begin to open their doors once again, they’ll have their work cut out for them when it comes to retaining real-life clients – but as many of them have already launched and upgraded their online offerings, they’re unlikely to lose them entirely. By bridging the gap between the two, the world’s top providers have successfully managed to stay at the top of their clientele’s consciousness, ensuring that they will likely continue to play poker with them, online or off.
Even so, there is no match for the glitz and glamour of a real night out at the casino, and these iconic and much-loved gambling venues will likely weather the storm as a result.
Please gamble responsibly (18+ UK) – check age restrictions before participating
