How to Get Started

Even if you’ve never used your iPhone, iPad, or iPod for playing online poker, it’s incredibly simple to sign up with a poker room and start playing. Whether you’re using apps designed specifically for your iOS device or a mobile site , nothing beats hitting Texas Hold'em cash tables on the go, say, on the train to work in the morning!

If you want to get your hands – or swiping finger – on a great iPhone poker app in 2021, here’s how you can get started playing top iPhone games:

1. Load up the App Store and choose one of our recommended apps
2. Download and install as you would with any other app
3. Create an account with the relevant poker site, if you don’t have one already
4. Make a deposit, claiming any available welcome bonus along the way
5. Take a seat at a table and start playing a few hands!

It really is that easy to give poker on your iPhone a try, and you can always try out a few free play games if you’re not quite ready to play for cash yet.

How We Rate iPhone Poker Sites

When reviewing sites and apps, we take all sorts of different factors into account before we decide whether or not to recommend it to our readers.

1. SITES MUST BE SAFE AND SECURE

   Apps have to go through a rigorous testing process to get into the App Store but, even so, we again take a close look at the certifications and security measures (e.g. SSL encryption) employed by poker sites and their developers.

   If we have concerns about an app or mobile site’s legitimacy, we won’t recommend them to our readers.

2. SITES MUST PAY OUT IN A TIMELY MANNER

   When you win cash playing poker on your iPhone you deserve to be able to cash out and spend those winnings whenever you choose.

   If poker rooms have a reputation for making it difficult or impossible to withdraw your winnings in a reasonable timeframe then we’ll suggest you look elsewhere.

3. THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF BANKING OPTIONS AVAILABLE

   It’s a quirk of gambling online that some payment methods aren’t available in certain parts of the world, but that’s no excuse for an app or mobile site not to offer a range of different, regulated and safe ways to make real money deposits and withdrawals.

4. WE ONLY RECOMMEND SITES THAT USE QUALITY SOFTWARE

   The software employed by poker rooms has a huge impact on the experience of their users, whether it takes the form of a mobile site or a dedicated real money poker app. iPhone gamblers have plenty of options and there’s no need to settle for something inadequate.

5. EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MUST BE AVAILABLE

   If you play poker, even when using the best iPhone apps, for long enough then you’re bound to run into a small issue or two. That needn’t be the end of the world, as long as the customer support team works quickly and efficiently to resolve issues and make things right.

6. RECOMMENDED SITES GET A SCORE HIGHER THAN 85%

   If a poker room doesn’t measure up then we won’t recommend it and, if we’re particularly concerned about something it does, may even blacklist it.

App or In-Browser?

Modern iPhone devices offer larger screens that are ideal for fast games of poker on the move. But what if your chosen site doesn't have a dedicated app with full, enriched graphics and every game imaginable? Don’t worry!

Many poker sites online still allow iPhone users to play games via your web browser at "instant-play" sites. For some players, using anything other than an app is unthinkable while others will have no qualms about using mobile sites. Below, we break down a few advantages and disadvantages of each method of playing:

Apps

• Makes it easy to access poker rooms from your home screen with a single tap
• Offers the widest selection of games and poker variants
• Some sites offer incentives, such as bonuses, for playing on mobile devices

• Apple’s App Store has some very strict rules around real money gambling apps
• Not every poker room out there offers a dedicated poker app

In-Browser

• No need to install anything before you can start playing
• Wider adoption of HTML5 means that we may see more mobile poker sites for iPhone
• Polished mobile sites offer an experience that’s comparable with using an app

• Flash support not offered on iPhone, limiting the effectiveness of some options
• Not necessarily as convenient as being able to add apps to your home screen

While there isn’t a huge difference, players will generally find more games on a laptop or desktop than they will via iPhone apps or mobile sites. However, the sheer mobility and accessibility of iPhone poker play can’t be ignored, making it perfect for any player that demands flexibility.

Get Ready To Play

There are plenty of amazing poker rooms out there, but the best poker apps change regularly thanks to the influx of bonuses and gameplay tweaks made by software producers. You’ll never go too far wrong if you stick with our list of top apps and mobile sites, which we update constantly.

Simply make sure you know how to play poker on iPhone, choose one of the apps recommended above and get ready to hit the tables!

Check out other real money poker games you can play online:

• Texas Hold'em
• Three Card Poker
• Pai Gow Poker
• Omaha Poker
• Five Card Draw
• Mississippi Stud Poker