Frequently Asked Questions about Poker

Strictly following the legislation that will be in effect in 2023, only playing poker with play money is allowed in Ireland, as poker is considered a game of chance. However, the reality is different. According to a study, more than 580,000 Germans were already regularly playing online poker for real money four years ago. And the risk for the players is extremely low. Furthermore, there is still a debate about whether Irish or European law takes precedence in online poker. Providers rely on licenses from EU countries such as the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, or Malta for their offerings. The servers are not located in Ireland. Therefore, poker enthusiasts playing on European real money poker sites take no risks.

Before signing up on a website and making an initial deposit with real money, it is advisable to check the licenses of the respective provider on their homepage. If the provider holds a license from the EU region (such as Malta or Gibraltar), it indicates a reputable poker provider, and one can confidently deposit money and play poker at the poker room without any concerns.

Since poker is considered a game of chance, hobby players are not required to pay taxes on their winnings. Only professional poker players may encounter difficulties with the tax authorities. If they engage in poker as a profession, they would be obligated to pay taxes based on the current regulations.

Poker sites generate revenue through "rake." Rake refers to the portion that the organizer or operator of a poker site retains from each pot, proportionally. On average, 5 percent of a pot is deducted as rake. The maximum rake per hand is also limited, which depends on the provider and the played limit. Generally, there is no rake charged for a hand that is folded before the flop.

Safety is of utmost importance to all reputable online poker providers. They all prioritize responsible gambling and strictly enforce an age restriction on gameplay. The protection and security of user data are ensured through the use of cutting-edge encryption technologies. Both deposits and withdrawals are conducted exclusively through encrypted connections. Additionally, these providers are members of organizations such as GamCare, GamblersAnonymus, GamblingTherapy, or Responsible Gambling Trust, further demonstrating their commitment to player well-being.

Within the poker community, there's a well-known phrase: "Online Poker is rigged!" This statement refers to the suspicion that online poker is manipulated. At poker-6.com, we firmly believe that reputable and licensed platforms do not engage in cheating, as reliable poker providers adhere to numerous regulations and undergo regular inspections.

To ensure a safe and secure online poker experience, it is advisable to play only on platforms that hold a valid license issued by European regulatory authorities. These sites have obtained their licenses from reputable governing bodies such as Malta, Gibraltar, or the Isle of Man. In the rare event that you encounter any difficulties with withdrawing your winnings, you have the option to take legal action against the provider.

If the provider operates its poker site without a European license or if it is based in particularly exotic locations, such as a small Caribbean island, caution is advised. Furthermore, additional information about various reputable and legal poker sites, as well as the "black sheep," can be found on our blacklist and numerous online poker communities. Once a poker player has had negative experiences with a provider, they will also share and publish this in communities, so that other members do not suffer the same fate as them. Moreover, it is wise to stay vigilant and make informed choices when selecting a poker platform.

Our experts have thoroughly tested all the sites listed on poker-6.com, ensuring that they are safe and reliable platforms where you can play poker without any worries. Rest assured that these sites have been vetted and are considered trustworthy options for your poker needs.

Texas Hold'em is the most popular variant of poker worldwide. This format is used in all major online and live tournaments. Additionally, more than 80 percent of all online poker players prefer this variant. Texas Hold'em is well-suited for beginners due to its straightforward basic rules. Furthermore, one can always find the largest number of opponents both online and in live games when playing this variant.

Omaha, regarded as one of the most popular variations of poker after Texas Hold'em, shares many similarities in its rules with its predecessor. However, what sets Omaha apart is the opportunity it presents to players with its four hole cards, offering a plethora of combinations to explore. Aspiring online Omaha players should be prepared to encounter varying levels of player availability on different poker platforms and at different times throughout the day.

Discover the top poker sites in our poker-6.com testing and review section. This is where you'll find a comprehensive list of poker sites that have excelled in our exceptional evaluations.

The pages with the highest player traffic offer the most to gain. The more players deposit the buy-in for a tournament or cash game, the more there is to win. Consequently, the sites with the greatest traffic also have the most to offer in terms of winnings.

If you want to win more, there is only one maxim to follow: play, play, play! And practice, practice, practice! A player who wants to be successful in online poker must be willing to constantly learn and acquire poker strategy knowledge. You can, for instance, read books about poker, watch videos of professionals and experts on the internet, or study strategy guides. Moreover, many good poker sites also offer their players a poker school for free. Only those who work on optimizing their game can achieve long-term success.

Online poker has the potential to be a lucrative endeavor, although only a select few individuals possess the ability to sustain a livelihood solely from this pursuit. The key to long-term profitability lies in mastering poker strategies, understanding poker mathematics, and accurately calculating one's odds of winning.

Beginners should seek out reputable, somewhat smaller sites that still have a substantial amount of traffic. For instance, the sites within the iPoker network are well-suited for novices. Thanks to the network's player pool, there are always enough opponents to find. However, the sharks and poker pros prefer to play on the major sites like PokerStars.

Many poker players strive to enhance their gameplay using what are known as assistance programs. There exist two types of software in this realm: heads-up display and tracking programs, as well as training tools. During gameplay, tracking software imports hand histories and stores them, providing you with statistics and information about your opponents in real-time. Sadly, the utilization of such programs has recently been prohibited on numerous poker sites. A universally accepted alternative, however, comes in the form of training programs like "PokerSnowie," which can never be used during live play. With these, poker enthusiasts can also improve their own game and train away from the live tables.

Macintosh users of Apple cannot play on all poker sites. Some providers only offer a Windows version to their customers. However, the major poker providers have made their offerings available for Mac users to download as well. On many sites, Mac users can also use the instant play version of the games without downloading. Take a closer look at our poker-6.com reviews accordingly.

Thanks to the widespread use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, online poker enthusiasts can indulge in their passion through almost any provider. Nowadays, the leading and reputable providers have made sure to offer poker apps for their iOS and Android customers. However, a few sports betting providers, who have also expanded to include a poker section, and most iPoker network sites have yet to develop a mobile app for smartphone and tablet users.

The consumption of data while playing poker on mobile devices is relatively low. It is advisable to download and install the app of the respective provider using a Wi-Fi connection, as it tends to be slightly larger in size. Whether the poker app has visually appealing design or not is irrelevant in this context. The necessary data is already stored on the mobile device; only the opponents' moves and the cards used in the game need to be transmitted. In this regard, the standard 3G or 4G data plans offered by all mobile network providers are more than sufficient.

Irish online poker customers have a variety of banking options available to them when it comes to making deposits on almost all platforms. These options include PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, credit cards (VISA/Mastercard), Sofortüberweisung, Paysafecard, and Maestro. If the provider you choose offers it, we highly recommend using PayPal as your preferred method of payment.

If you choose to transfer your funds to the provider through a bank transfer, you will have to wait several days before you can sit down at the poker tables with your money. However, if you opt to use a credit card or online banking services like PayPal or instant transfer, you can start playing with the money in your poker account immediately after the transaction is completed.

The customary practice on poker sites is to refund the money to the registered bank account from which the deposit was made. However, if the deposit was made using an option like Paysafecard, this is not possible. In such cases, the client inquires about an alternative method for the withdrawal of funds after the customer has requested a deposit.

Many websites do not charge any fees for deposits or withdrawals. In any case, depositing with credit cards is free on all sites, although some providers may charge minor fees for transactions with online banking services such as PayPal. Withdrawals are also free on most platforms. However, players may not be able to use the same banking options for withdrawals as they do for deposits at every poker room. Information on this can be found on the poker-6.com poker site reviews or on the providers' websites themselves. Additionally, there may be exchange fees to pay when depositing in dollars, for example. Therefore, it is usually worthwhile to make euro deposits.

When it comes to online transactions, a credit card is often essential. However, most poker sites also offer their customers numerous alternative deposit options that do not require a credit card.