How to Play Free Poker Online December 2024

With Rhode Island being the latest state to offer legalized online casino games, the multi-billion dollar world of iGaming steamrolls ahead. With thousands of options and a bounty of poker variants at your fingertips on highly advanced casino apps and through the web browser, enjoying poker has never been easier or more lucrative. If you're ready to have your luck change for the better, get to know the exciting community of poker players where the odds are on your side. 

Poker variants like Texas Hold 'em and Omaha are prominently featured in any online casino like PartyPoker, especially in tournaments. Fortunately, when playing online, you can play some standalone options and elite casinos like DraftKings and FanDuel to sharpen your poker skills.

With the recent rise of social casinos, if sites like Pulsz support table options, you can enjoy staple poker options for free thanks to gold coins. You can gain free chips to lead to comp points and other perks through the gold coins. For real money casinos like BetMGM, you can earn free chips through no deposit bonuses and the general welcome package that can be used for most poker variants except for live dealers.  

Free Poker Variants

When playing at an online casino, you're bound to find these fan-favorite games that you can play with your online friends or the live dealer. 

Five-Card Stud

If you're familiar with Seven-card Stud, you have one foot in the door winning with the Five-card variant. Compared to Seven-card Stud, players play with fewer cards, specifically five cards, hence the name "Five-card Stud." Players have plenty of chances to use their poker chips between each card dealing. 

Before each betting round, all the players make an ante bet and work to form a victorious hand like other poker variants to be the last player standing in the showdown. All players get two hole cards that are face down and one that are dealt face up. The river round is when the final cards are dealt.

Video Poker

​The casino game developer IGT is greatly credited for developing the first video poker machine in the late 1970s. You can usually play the staple options online, such as Joker Poker, Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Double Bonus Poker.

Regarding placing bets, many video poker options are very flexible in accepting wagers. You can download the official casino app for your preferred Android or Apple device. Once you're situated, press the "deal" button to get the cards flowing. Like traditional poker, you can win with different combinations like the royal flush and straights. Most online casinos have bonuses that offer free play money for video poker. 

Texas Hold'em

Regarding elite contests like the World Series of Poker, Texas Hold'em is usually the game of choice for deciding its famous golden bracelets and life-changing money. ​Played with a single deck, players get two hole cards, and all players have access to five community cards that are dealt face-to-face. 

Texas Hold 'em features blind bets before dealing is done. These are known as big and small blind bets. The player to the dealer's immediate left makes the big blind bet. The other players will then have the option to match it or raise it, or they can fold their hands before the dealing gets going.

After the pre-flop, the hole cards and the three community cards are dealt. Players are free to use the cards as they see fit, and then more betting continues. Afterward, another card is dealt, which is known as the turn, and players have another chance to bet. The river round is where the fifth and last card is dealt before the showdown. 

Three-Card Poker

Before Texas Hold'em became the feature poker game, Seven-card Stud and 3-Card Poker ruled the roost. With 3-Card Poker, you still have the excitement of mainstream poker, but it's played much faster. Unlike other poker variants, 3-Card players go against the dealer. Before the dealing starts, all the players make an ante bet.

Unlike other variants, 3-Card Poker features the pair plus feature, a side bet that players can make based on the strength of their hand rather than beating the dealer. A great hand consists of Queens and Sixes.  

Mississippi Stud

Like 3-Card Poker, Mississippi Stud has the players going against the dealer. Players still make the ante bet before the dealer hands out three cards dealt face down, and each player gets two hole cards. Players then can use the cards to build a strong hand or fold to save face and a lot of losses.

For the players who wish to continue, their next bet, typically referred to as the "3rd street bet," is a substantial one that can be double the size or more of the ante bet. Once the players decide to continue or fold, the dealer discloses the first community card. After the final cards are dealt, players can again fold or make another substantial bet en route to the showdown.  

Playing free poker games on this page provides an opportunity to enjoy casino entertainment and sharpen your poker skills before transitioning to real games.

Read more about Pulsz Bingo and other gaming options.

Poker Basics

Regardless of the poker variant, most poker variants follow the same rules and conventions. Unlike other card games where the overall goal is to have the strongest hand possible, the art and beauty of poker is that you can win and enjoy tremendous payout options on different winning hands, ranging from the royal flush to the basic pair. 

Poker involves players watching other players and their gestures. This is essential to determining whether to raise, fold, or call their bluff, or better yet, get them to believe your bluff. If you decide to bluff, prepare to go all-in, which means putting all your funds into the game. 

Poker also involves body movement and gesture. Great poker players master subtle nuances and gestures to help them in their strategies. So, when playing, be mindful of how you're sitting at the table and develop that "poker face" so that other players can't pick up what you're doing.

Many poker variants have an ante bet where players make wagers before the betting begins. You might also make a big and small blind in between betting hands. But for each betting hand, if you don't decide to fold, this is where you call and raise bets, where you stack your chips and place them toward the center. If you fold, you lay your cards down face down to signal you're no longer betting and don't have to worry about any more losses. 

Poker Play Positions:

Poker, more so than other card games, factors in the player's positions in the betting and overall card dealing rounds.

• Early Position: The early position notes the players sitting from the left of the dealer and the first to make the big blind bet. Due to this prime position, they are the first to make wagers and decisions on the flop. 

• Middle Position: In many ways, players sitting in the middle get the best of both worlds. They don't have the pressure of going first and can gather some information from other wagers to make an intelligent bet. 

• Late Position: Depending on the table, you might hear the late position referred to as the hijack. The late position highlights the players sitting to the right of the dealer. They are the last to make a wager and benefit from watching the other players. 

Looking for a variety of poker played just against the dealer instead? Then check out Pai Gow Poker rules today!

Poker Hands and their Game Value

There are many ways to win and cash out big with poker. Discover the top winning hands. 

• Royal Flush — The royal flush offers the highest payout. The probability of getting a royal flush is a ludicrous 1 in more than 600,000 because it requires getting five cards in the same sequence from tens to the ace and from the same card suit. 
• Straight Flush — Next to the royal flush, a straight flush is the second strongest hand. Getting a straight flush requires players to get five cards in numerical orders from the same suit but stopping short of tens-to-the-ace.
• Full House — A full house is the third strongest winning hand for players. To get a full house requires getting three cards of identical value from different suits and two identical cards from different suits. For example, a full house can have three eights and two tens. Full houses are so complex that different full houses trump others.
• Four of a Kind — Four of a kind is when you get the number, an ace, or a face card in all the suits. In other words, you get seven hearts, clubs, diamonds, and spades. The fifth card can be anything else. The highest four of a kind is having four aces.
• Flush — All you need for a flush is to get five cards in the same suit, but they don't have to be in order. Flushes rank higher than straights and below four of a kind.
• Straight — A straight is five cards in ascending order but in different suits. Tens through Ace are a favorable straight combination.
• Three of a Kind: A three-of-a-kind in poker involves three cards of the same value but from different suits. The other two cards are not related to the three identical cards. 
• Two Pair: Two pairs are the basic poker hands, where two cards are of identical value, and another set is of identical value. The fifth card can be anything.

Where to Play Free Poker Online

The benefit of playing at real money casinos like Caesars Palace Online is that many offer demo versions for you to get the hang of things. Also, remember that all the esteemed partners offer competitive bonuses for non-live dealer poker. BetMGM has a special welcome package for poker, including $75 worth of multi-table tournament tickets. You can redeem them through rewards programs into cash to play free poker or gain exclusive entry to high-stakes games. 

Top Sites for Playing Free Poker Online

Below are the top live sites to play this classic card game with some free and demo options available to users. (list 10 casino apps offering analysis on what makes them so great and include screenshots where appropriate)

Seven states regulate online casinos, which means you have plenty of chances via the web browser or through the official apps to enjoy variants that you won't find at a traditional casino as well as the staple options. Discover the greatness of the leading online casino apps to play poker 24/7.

PokerStars

• Read our PokerStars Bonus Code & Review
• Bonus Offer: Get a 100% First Deposit Bonus up to $600!
• Available States: Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania

Running of the fabulous 88 poker software engine, PokerStars' apps are some of the most downloaded at the Google Play and Apple Store. Recently, PokerStars' apps have been retooled to feature a more simple design and even faster loading time. The retooling of the poker software enables players to keep tabs in real time the status of PokerStars sit'n go contests and more.

BetMGM Online Casino

• Read our BetMGM Casino Bonus Code & Review
• Bonus Offer: MI, NJ, and PA users — use promo code ACTIONCASINO and you’ll receive the following promo: Get a 100% Deposit Match up to $1,000 in Casino Credits + $25 on The House! WV users — use promo code ACTIONCASINO to claim this new user promo: Deposit $10, Get $200 in Casino Credits!
• Alternatively, new users can enter bonus code to
• Available States: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

BetMGM has an entire section devoted to poker, like PokerStars, including multi-table tournaments. Directly from the app is access to BetMGM's signature contests, like the Daily C-Note tournament. Also, poker players of all budget levels can join affordable daily contests for as low as $5 through the app. Through the Apple or Android BetMGM app, you can seamlessly sync your BetMGM rewards and tier points with your MGM casino accounts.

WSOP

• Read our WSOP Promo Code & Review
• Bonus Offer: Get Up to $100 in Free Play, 100% up to $1,000 Deposit Match + Daily Spins!
• Available States: Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania

Every year, the World Series of Poker is broadcast on networks like ESPN, where bounties of tournaments are available. Depending on the state where online gambling is legal, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, you can use the official app to link into inter-state online tournaments to win Hold'em tournaments worth tens of thousands of dollars. Also, the apps, lets you keep up with live updates on who's winning and where the chips are flowing. There's also the opportunity to play social poker for free. 

Golden Nugget Online Casino

• Read our Golden Nugget Casino Bonus Code & Review
• Bonus Offer: No bonus code is required to claim this promo offer: Spin for a shot at $1,000 in Casino Credits + Deposit Match up to $1,000 in Casino Bonus with our Exclusive Promo Code!
• Available States: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

Directly from the Android or Apple app, Golden Nugget Casino players can gain $50 in bonus credits for a $5 deposit. Even better is that Golden Nugget's apps are available for download in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia. All the poker wagers work toward building golden crowns that can be used as real cash. Play Mississippi Stud free of the internet with the Golden Nugget Casino app.

Fanatics Online Casino

• Read our Fanatics Casino Bonus Code & Review
• Bonus Offer: Deposit $5, Get $50 in Casino Credit! (PA, MI, and NJ) or Deposit $10, Get $50 in Casino Credit! (WV)
• Available States: Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia

Fanatics' apps, even if you lose with the live dealer poker variants, you can still earn free spins for the online slots. However, the real reason for downloading the Fanatics app is to rack up FanCash. As you move up the FanCash loyalty program, with all those poker bets, you get a small amount back into your account. 

Borgata Online Casino

• Read our Borgata Casino Bonus Code and Borgata Poker Bonus Code reviews
• Bonus Offer: Use promo code ACTIONBCASINO to claim the following promo: Get up to a $1,000 Deposit Match + $20 in Bet Credits!
  
• Available States: Pennsylvania and New Jersey

The sister site to BetMGM also offers a dedicated welcome promotion for poker play. Borgata's apps are rock solid, with poker options available on the mobile platform, including those for live dealers. Through the Borgata app, you can join daily and weekly poker contests and the Hot Tables.

888poker

• Bonus Offer: No promo offer at this time
  
• Available States: New Jersey

Go to the source of the poker app software by playing 888poker on your mobile device. Right in the palm of your hand is a $88 no-deposit bonus to conquer live dealer and multi-table contests. But you can only play one table at a time on the mobile platform. 

US States with Legal Real Online Casinos

Get to know the states where online gambling is legal, with plenty of real money poker options. 

Michigan

Gov. Whitmer signed passage in December 2019 to make sports betting and online casino play legal in the Great Lakes State and the sixth in the nation. Michigan has over fifteen online options with plenty of chances to play poker alone or in high-stakes contests like Knockout and Turbo Sit'n Go tournaments.  

New Jersey

In 2013, former Gov. Chris Christie made New Jersey the second in the nation to offer online casino play. New Jersey has thirty online developers, including bet365, that offer plenty of real money poker variants and live dealer play. 

Pennsylvania

In October 2017, Gov. Wolf signed HB 271 to make Pennsylvania the fourth state to offer real money poker games. However, it wasn't until 2019 that online poker apps, starting with PartyPoker, became available. Today, the Keystone State offers some of the best online poker play, with 20 online operators leading to $2.3 billion in annual iGaming revenue due largely to poker. As of 2024, a couple popular Pennsylvania online casino operators with poker variants include, BetMGM, Borgata, Fanatics, and several more. 

West Virginia

In March 2019, Gov. Justice signed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive into law, which allowed online poker to become available. Today, there are 10 active West Virginia online casinos, including FanDuel and Caesars Palace Online Casino. For exotic poker variants, you can turn to FanDuel and DraftKings for proprietary poker games, with many coming with progressive jackpots.  

Connecticut

In 2021, Gov. Lamont signed online gambling legislation into law. Currently, two online casinos in Connecticut are owned and operated by Native American tribes, and you can play staple poker games there.

Delaware

In 2012, Delaware legalized online casino play. Legally, online poker is available, but there aren't real-money casinos. However, Delaware supports many top social casinos, where you can easily play fan favorites. 

Responsible Gambling

If you or someone you know suffers from problem gambling, call or visit the 1-800-GAMBLER site for more info. Additionally, we also provide responsible gambling resources here at Action Network.

Take a look of the following poker guides to help boost your poker play:

• Poker Glossary
• Online Poker Strategy

Also, to learn more about online casinos, please refer to our addition casino education content below.

• Casino Gambling Information
• What Is a Casino Random Number Generator?
• Casino Gambling Biases
• Gambler's Fallacy
• Casino Games With the Best Odds
• Are Online Casinos Rigged or Legit?

Online poker is currently legal in Nevada, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island. For more legal information regarding your state, take a look at our online casino legalization tracker.

Did you know that social poker is also an option through Clubs Poker, a social casino operating in 45 US states?