Online Poker Rooms vs. Land-Based Poker Rooms

Where does the difference between online poker rooms and traditional casinos lie? Well, take a long breath because the answer to this question is going to be rather long. There are indeed great differences between the two types of gaming destinations and the experiences they provide. Although both practices have their advantages, both also have downsides. It is for a player to determine what experience, whether online poker or land-based poker, he likes best.

Different Poker Games

The difference we want to discuss in this section is not about the different versions of poker, such as Texas Hold 'em, Omaha and 7-Card Stud. Here, we talk about the free poker games available at online card rooms that are unfortunately unavailable at land-based gaming venues. Since online poker rooms are operated in virtual space, they have less hosting expenses to cover than traditional venues. Therefore, they can afford to attract new players by offering them to play for free. This is indeed a major attraction for novice players who seek to hon their gaming skills without squandering their funds.

Different Poker Skills

Not having to face your opponents has another major advantage. Poker beginners typically maintain that they feel less pressured when they play online. In a traditional poker room, there is a limit to the amount of time you can take so you can think over your next move, while in an online poker room this time is less limited. The process of gaining experience is certainly much more comfortable when playing in a virtual casino since you don't have in front of you a table full of angry and anxious opponents waiting for you to make your move.

Different Poker Strategies

While playing online implies play with people you don't have eye contact with, playing in a traditional poker room means that your opponents are right there in the room. This has great influence on your game. When you have your opponents seated next to you, you can take advantage of whatever poker tells that come your way. Meaning, you can try to decode your opponents body language in order to figure out what to expect of them. In turn, when playing in a traditional card room you need to consider hiding the tells you project to others. This is the main reason why many poker pros wear glasses in major tournaments. They say that eyes are easy to read. Therefore, when playing in a land-based gaming venue you need to adjust your strategies and take into consideration the traitorous 'tells' factor.

Different Collusion Detection Capabilities

It is widely known that online poker rooms are much better in detecting player collusion than land-based venues. For instance, virtual gaming websites can monitor the "hand history" of cards previously played by any of their players. In traditional casinos, however, a colluding player can simply fold his hand as soon as he feels that the casino management is on to him. Thus, the casino has no way to prove that collusion actually did take place.

Different Poker Legality Issues

Lastly, there is also the recent legality issue. In October 2006, U.S. legislators passed a ban on financial transactions related to online poker rooms and casinos. Following this blow to the online gaming industry many prominent virtual poker resources have withdrawn their business from the once lucrative U.S. market. However, since the traditional poker venues have been unaffected by the ban, B&M casino facilities still enjoy enormous popularity.