We are all familiar when it comes to the classic casino card game of Poker. It conjures images of tense moments in casinos with everything to play for and everything at stake. But where did the game come from? There are varying theories about where the game originated and how it got its name. Foster’s Complete Hoyle is a rather old book all about the play and rules of various card games. Here way back in 1837 R.M. Foster claimed that Poker originated from an ancient game originally found in Persia called at the time As-Nas.
However, historians in the 1990s began claiming that the game had originally come from the French card game of poque. This is very similar to the Poker game that we are all familiar with today. Yet the actual name of Poker is said to be attributed to the Irish poca meaning pocket. So there is some dispute where the game or its name originated.
Whatever the game’s origins, today it remains one of the most popular games played both in land-based casinos and online casino gaming destinations worldwide. In the 1970s the game really became popular especially with the advent of the World Poker Series. Since then it has achieved an almost-iconic status more so with its portrayal in some of the greatest movies ever made. From those edge-of-your-seat moments in cinema history with characters like James Bond playing that perfect hand with everything at stake. If you’re not that familiar with how Poker is played then may we recommend a couple of truly great movies that feature this amazing game, Grab your popcorn and settle down with The Cincinnati Kid, Casimo Royale or Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Furthermore, when TV stations began transmitting Live Poker games, it really brought the game to the masses. To add to the tension, hole-card cameras were used so viewers could see the player’s cards from under the table before the player was aware of their value. These broadcasts have been popular the world over.
Previous to 1987, only draw games were allowed in the USA. However, then California decided to legalise flop games such as hold ’em and stud. This began a revolution in the game as it soon spread widely across the USA. Also, in 1999, British television debuted Late Night Poker and this further brought this thrilling game to a much wider British audience.
In the 21st Century, Poker had an explosion in popularity. This was partly due to televised games but mainly due to the introduction of Online version. Now players could watch all the tension of televised games and also play themselves in Live casinos. In 2009, the International Federation of Poker was founded in Switzerland. They are now seen as the world governing body of the game, promoting the game internationally.
However, it is not legal to play Poker in every country. Countries do vary greatly with varying rules and some with a total ban on gambling altogether. Therefore we recommend that you do your own research beforehand. But gambling and slots have been legal in the United Kingdom since 1961.
If you’re looking for the best place to play online Poker, you’ve certainly made the right choice with Royalzee. We offer the very latest in online casino poker technology which means you’ll enjoy a slicker, smoother game with all the excitement of a land-based casino. You’ll enjoy faster play, greater game stability and overall, a fantastic online poker experience – all in the palm of your hands. Being a UK company, we also offer the best online poker UK. There are a number of poker sites for you to choose from but we believe that you will return to Royalzee again and again to play your favourite game of online poker.
So firstly, we’d like to give you a full online poker guide which will give you a great overview of how to actually play this game. There has been some debate for a number of years as to whether poker is a game of skill or chance. If we take a line from previously-mentioned The Cincinnati Kid, Lancey Howard the films hero, states it’s about “making the wrong move at the right time”. However, if you’ve seen the movie, then it was most certainly the right move as he’s just won the game with a Straight Flush! But you really do need to know the game in order to play it – and definitely if you want to try and master it and hopefully start winning those big bucks.
So if you’re a true beginner or maybe consider yourself more of a seasoned player then we’re sure that all will benefit from our quick online poker guide with, of course, a few online poker tips to help improve your game too. Some of the fantastic Poker titles that are in our game library include:
The most popular online poker version that seems to dominate online casinos is Texas Hold ‘Em or more commonly known as Three Card Poker. Therefore we will concentrate on how to play Hold ‘Em. We’ve all heard the expression ‘a minute to learn but a lifetime to master’. That can most certainly apply to Texas Hold ‘Em. Players are given only two cards and from that will them combine them with five other community cards to create the perfect poker hand. The game revolves all around the dealer. The dealer button moves one way to the left after each deal so each player is dealt first at some point in the game.
Each player is dealt two cards and the action all starts with the player to the immediate left of the dealer. Online poker player is called the small blind and the player immediately after that is called the big blind. The player to the left of this big blind is called ‘under the gun’. The dealer then deals two cards to each player. The game revolves clockwise around the table and players have options throughout the game. Players can fold (i.e. pulling out of the game completely), call the big blind or raise.
The action begins with under the gun and proceeds clockwise. If no-one has called by the time the game reaches the big blind, they have the option to check or to raise. If more than one player is still in the game at this stage, the dealer deals the ‘flop’. This is three of the five community cards. Then comes another betting round this time beginning with the player to the left of the dealer. Players can now check or bet. The dealer then deals the fourth community card and another bet round follows. The dealer then places the fifth and final community card. This is known as the river. A final bet round them ensues. After this is the showdown when all players reveal their cards. The pot is awarded to the player with the highest hand.
Sounds straightforward right? We said it was fairly easy to learn but you really want to learn how to get great at playing poker. Firstly, learn as much about the game as you possibly can. With a greater understanding, your game will go from strength-to-strength. There are also a number of definite advantages to playing poker online as opposed to playing in a land-based casino. Sure, its great to just pull out your laptop or phone wherever you are and play. But also, you can use the online poker environment to your gaming advantage.
Playing poker is most definitely a great way to pass some time online. However, the real excitement (and potential wins) come from playing with real money online. But firstly, with real bets obviously come risks of losing it too. Therefore its really important that you play at reputable online poker sites. That’s why we recommend that you always play somewhere like Royalzee so you know your game is completely safe and secure. All you need to worry about is getting on with your poker game and trying to win. At sites like Royalzee, you’ll be able to play LIVE for real money with lots of other eager players 24/7.
One of the fantastic things about being able to play poker online is that players get the chance to play in online poker tournaments. Since the World Poker Series began, players around the globe have flocked to play in grand tournaments with some incredible prizes on offer. It is actually now possible to win phenomenal amounts of money without actually ever leaving your own home. There are scheduled tournaments which happen every week but there are also Sit and Go Tournaments that are available 24/7. The game begins when all of the places are filled.
With better technology and the growth of poker tournaments like the World Poker Series, mobile Poker has become incredibly popular over the last few years. In addition to the growth of this exciting game, it’s also pretty much standard now for us all to carry a smartphone with the whole of the internet right there in our pockets. Therefore players can now partake in their favourite mobile poker game whilst on-the-go. Also, one of the great things about mobile poker is you can just dip into a game whenever you feel like it. Just pull out your phone and within minutes you’re able to play. However, choosing the best mobile poker sites will make a huge difference to the quality of your game.
Some great mobile poker sites have emerged recently and they offer a number of benefits to players over standard poker websites. Obviously one of the great things is that you are able to play your favourite style of mobile poker wherever you happen to be. But that’s not the only benefit. There are also some other great reasons to play mobile poker such as:
Depending on your smartphone size, players may find the screen size a little small at times. Also, it’s much harder to play multiple tables on a smaller device. So keep all these things in mind when deciding whether a mobile poker casino is for you. But most players seem to feel the advantages of mobile poker really do outweigh any small disadvantages. Also, with sites like Royalzee, there’s never any downloads, therefore saving you valuable phone memory.
Poker players in the United Kingdom are actually really lucky. And we don’t mean just at the poker tables! Unlike some other countries around the world, there are no laws in Great Britain to prevent players from using their mobile phones to play mobile poker. Many mobile poker sites have used this online gaming flexibility to the players’ advantage and actively seek to have players from the UK. Therefore many UK mobile poker sites offer some incredible bonuses, as well as cashback offers and loyalty bonuses. These are also not just limited to new players. Take advantage of your unique world position if you are a UK resident and try to seek out the very best casino and mobile poker offers such as the incredible deals available at Royalzee.
Additionally, we would always recommend that you only play at trusted sites. With so many worldwide online casino companies vying for the attentions of UK players, there are sadly some unscrupulous sites that may wish to rip you off or compromise your phone. So again, always stick to reputable sites such as Royalzee where you’re guaranteed a safe. secure game with some terrific offers and bonuses too.
With such a huge growth in mobile poker and mobile device use, poker clubs have built up around the world which are specifically aimed at mobile and smart device users. This very similar to if you happen to meet up with a group of friends once a week for a friendly poker game. But instead, you do it all from the comfort of your mobile phone with players all around the world. Players compete for real money and some offer some amazing prizes so its definitely worth taking a look at these if you really become serious about your mobile poker games. There are even online forums where players can discuss gaming tips and strategies. So you can ‘chat’ to other players online and maybe get some great tips to improve your game. And you may even make a few new friends along the way too!
With so many companies out there offering poker, there are also many sites that offer some great poker bonuses too. You may have seen adverts offering no deposit bonus offers for new players as well as similar promos. Some sites don’t offer any bonus or welcome deals at all. We think with the huge number of sites available that do have promos and offers, it’s definitely worth taking advantage of them! Most of the no deposit welcome deals from online casinos tend to focus on free spins and are often limited to one slot game or a number of slot games. Starburst seems to be the one that most sites give free spins for as most players are familiar with this online slot and also enjoy playing it. Plus it offers a fairly good chance of winning.
However, most poker bonuses don’t tend to be ‘no deposit deals’. This is generally because there is a chance that some real poker hustlers could completely clean out the casino. But of course, they still want to encourage players. Therefore, most of the top online casinos will offer some form of welcome deal or package.
There really are some great poker bonuses around. The best ones will offer you a good combination of both free spins on varying slots and also some form of a deposit match.
You’ve certainly come to the right place with Royalzee if you’re looking for one of the best online bonuses. Our unique welcome deal offers a combination of both bonus spins as well as an amazing match deposit bonus deal.
Royalzee also offers a number of other great ongoing bonuses, as well as seasonal poker bonuses offers too. Just a small selection of these great deals are:
This is just a selection of offers and promotions that you’ll discover at Royalzee. Make sure you always read the terms and conditions before you accept any deals. Try to make the most of these special Royalzee bonus promos.
At Royalzee, we want every visitor to our site to have an unforgettable poker bonuses experience. That’s why we recommend a number of things for players to look out for. Firstly, one of the easiest ways to check a poker site’s authenticity is to ensure it holds a licence. This is really easy with websites as they will have a Gambling Commission licence. Scroll down and the logo should be displayed somewhere, generally at the bottom of the screen. If it doesn’t we recommend you stay very far away from that site.
Of course, Royalzee has a full Gambling Commission licence. You can be completely assured of a safe and fair poker bonuses experience. Additionally, all your personal data is completely secure and safe. So you never need to worry about your private and payment details getting into the wrong hands.