Ladbrokes Mobile Poker and their poker provider, iPoker, have now made it possible to enjoy tournament poker via their iOS and Android apps.

Now you can experience the full iPoker tournament schedule no matter where you are. Everyday there are daily guarantees running from a few cents, up to €150, with prize-pools often in excess of €10K. The largest game of the week, €100,000 Big Sunday runs each week and has plenty of satellites and where you can win tokens to enter.

Those who have not got the time to progress through these large fields can instead try the many Sit & Go games on offer. With full ring games running for less than €1 and 6-max tables going up to €60, there is plenty of action for all types of bankroll.

You can also find Double or Nothing games which run up to €100 or Heads Up specialists can experience some of the biggest games on the internet, with SNGs available up to €5000. There are multi-table SNGs and Steps style Rocket games too, which award tournament tickets.

For a shot at a huge score, off a small buy-in make sure you check out the Twister SNGs. These are 3-handed games where one lucky winner can take down a lotto-style jackpot. Prizes can just double your buy-in or range up to €10K for a €10 entry fee.

For more straight-forward payouts, and a chance at a progressive jackpot, the Fort Knox SNGs award a bonus payout of at least €35K to those who win 6x €40 in a row.

Ladbrokes Poker App also hosts No Limit Hold'em cash games with stakes ranging from €0.01/0.02 up to €3/6. Speed Poker is available too. This is iPoker's fast-folding game, which re-seats you straight into a new hand, as soon as you muck your cards.

If you are looking to play poker for real money on your iOS or Android device, you will want to make a deposit at a reputable site that is known to provide a safe and efficient service. Make sure that you choose a mobile poker room which is fully licensed and regulated so you can be confident that your money is being looked after by an authorized, legal site. You also want a poker app which provides fast deposits and withdrawals, because there is nothing more frustrating than depositing at a site and gearing up to hit the tables, only to find that you have to wait around for your payment to be confirmed. Another must is that the app you are using should offer customer support through e-mail, phone or live chat so that you can speak to someone directly if you are having any problems with the poker client.

If you are playing poker on your iPhone, you want to be able to get dealt hands and experience some action wherever you are, whenever you like. Because of this, it is best to choose a poker app that is popular and boasts a large player pool so that you don’t ever have to sit at a table and wait around for a game to get started. Also, the popularity of an app is a great indicator of its quality – if a site is regularly used by a large amount of players, it is for a good reason. Selecting a real-money app which is available to Android and Windows Phone users as well iPhone players can be a smart decision for this reason.

PartyPoker have finally acknowledged the increasing influence of mobile devices being used to access the internet, by adding Sit & Go tournaments (SnGs) to both the Android and iOS versions of their mobile poker client. 

If you're new to SnGs – a SnG is a tournament in which a specified number of seats are available. Players take their seat and wait for the tournament to start, which happens once all the seats are filled. Each player starts with the same amount of chips, and the blinds are raised every few hands or so. The winner is the last player not to lose all their stack.

This change to the iPhone and Android version of the app is the first since it was rolled out in September 2013, and SnGs now join ring games and PartyPoker's version of 'turbo' poker – Fast Forward – as the types of poker games available via the app.

Most SnGs are available via the app, aside from satellite SnGs, which have been excluded as winning a satellite SnG may qualify a player for a tournament that's not available via the app, and which therefore the player may not have the ability to play at.

The app's new interface makes it easy to find a suitable SnG game, and games can be filtered for the buy-in amounts, the number of players (from heads-up player to multi-table tournaments) and the tournament structure.

This new version of the app comes with further news from PartyPoker that they are seeking to expand into the regulated French online gambling market, of which currently they have only a 15 percent market share. With the creation of the Amaya-PartyPoker-Full Tilt Poker group, it can easily be surmised why PartyPoker is attempting to reach out to as many poker players as possible, and SnG fans will be pleased they can now play their favourite type of tournament via the PartyPoker mobile app.

For full download and install instructions, please visit our PartyPoker Mobile page.

2014 has been a huge year for Apple's flagship product, not least of all the release of the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6+ in September. The larger, 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens brought the iPhone closer to the size of smaller tablets, making game-play on the iPhone much easier than with the smaller screens of previous models.

Read Money Mobile Poker Arrives In The USA

Poker players in the United States of America now have 2 option for real-money mobile poker.  They can play cash games at Ignition Casino or BetOnline Mobile.

It won't excite players who prefer their poker playing to be slow and methodically as they grind out the cents over twenty tables at once, or owners of Android-based smartphones and tablets, but PartyPoker have released into Beta a new version of the mobile “fastforward” app for iPhone and iPad. The app features a new-style interface which aims to speed up your play at the virtual table by saving you the bother of pressing buttons and sliding sliders.

Fastforward is PartyPoker's version of “fast fold” poker, a fast poker variation of Texas Hold'em that has been around for a couple of years or so now, and is offered under various names by all the major poker rooms, such as the iPoker network's “Twister” poker, and Poker Stars “Zoom Poker”.

If you're new to the concept of fast fold poker, then where have you been? Fast fold poker works as any normal poker game with one crucial difference – as soon as you fold your cards at one table, you are re-seated at a different one. As soon as your new table fills up, the deal commences.

Fast fold poker has been created for poker players who are too impatient to sit around at a poker table waiting for a decent pair of hole cards to appear in front of them. Fast fold allows you to play many more hands (or at least see many more hole cards) than you would if you were playing at a ring game table or tournament. The downside of Fast fold poker is you are never guaranteed your position in two consecutive hands. You could find yourself in early position for a dozen hands a row, or, on the other side of the coin, in late position for the same number of deals.

PartyPoker's Special Edition of fastforward trials a new interface that has been designed so you can play poker one handed, which is ideal, we guess, if you like to combine poker and table tennis, or you're eating a sandwich with the other. By gripping your phone so you thumb is free, you should be able to perform everything as necessary in order to be able to play.

For example, to fold, all you need to do is swipe your cards onto the table, as perhaps you would if you were playing in a real poker game. To call, bet or raise you swipe your chips onto the table, and a double tap indicates a check. Actually selecting the size of your bet sees things become a little trickier. There's a slider in the bottom left hand corner of the screen that you use to set your bet amount. Once you're happy, you swipe those chips onto the table.

For larger bets, you can tap on the pot to open the potbet menu. This will give you a range of bets based on the size of the pot, such as 1x, 2x, 3x … you get the picture. You swipe along the menu until you find the bet you like, and then pull it onto the table.

The result is an interface that's slightly easier to use than the normal type of interface for mobiles and tablets, although we do have to admit after twenty minutes of “thumbing” our way around the app, our thumbs were beginning to cramp up a little.

Finding the softest poker games to play can be a skill within itself. Table selection is now such a massive part of the game that many would suggest that it’s ruined online poker, but in all honesty, it’s just brought another dimension to the ever evolving game.

The iPhone has brought about new challenges in the hunt for some of the softest poker games. The mobile device means that you can’t include a Heads Up Display (HUD) onto your phone which gives you limited ways in which you can spot the poorer players at the table. It’s essentially taking a trip back to the old school where you had to watch and study each hand then evaluate how someone has played. It’s a much harder skill to acquire, for sure, but done correctly can be one of the most profitable tools in your poker armory.

Your ego need not apply

A saying that has been thrown around the poker industry for a number of years now is “To be the best, you need to beat the best” and by this it essentially means that you need to play the better players in order to improve. In all honesty, we think this statement couldn’t be further away from the truth. The freedom which poker gives you and the opportunity to choose when and where you play means that you don’t actually need to sit with the better players. The game is all about making money and you do this any which way you can. In fact, it could be argued that making a concise effort to avoid the better players will mean you make more money as you won’t be playing against people who are fundamentally solid.

This all ties nicely in with the iPhone as the number of poker rooms and even dedicated mobile poker rooms are continuing to increase. A wider range in games means that picking out weaker players will be easier and in turn, the opportunity to win money will increase.

Features of soft iPhone apps

Deciding which app to play on isn’t always going to be the easiest decision, especially as the number of mobile poker apps is increasing by the week. What you will likely have to do is a lot of trial and error before finally coming to the conclusion of choosing an app you are happy with. It’s essentially all about choosing the one which is going to have the softest games, but it’s also got to have features which suit your needs such as a solid connection, good design and reputable wallet.

A good place to start is with apps that have been highly advertised on TV and in other areas. These generally aren’t just generic poker rooms, but they are often companies with large advertising budgets so are able to do this. This will attract a huge range of recreational players as they simply won’t know any different. Companies such as Ladbrokes are two companies that immediately spring to mind and both include poker apps to boot. Not only are they both huge recognisable brands, but they are both also highly linked with both sports betting and casino players meaning this will often include a good mix of just generic gamblers as well.

A great place to look when searching out some of the softer iPhone poker apps is with ones that include a lot of additional extras. By this, we mean things that will attract players to the table, but in reality a seasoned poker player will know that these features actually make not one bit of difference. A good example of this would be of someone such as PKR who were one of the first companies to include a 3D poker experience via their mobile app. This will offer up a different playing experience than most poker apps and in turn will attract players to that interactive feel that’s on offer from PKR. The animations, tricks, table demeanours and countless other interchangeable features adds depth but not any actual change to the poker playing experience.

Things to avoid

As with anything, there are always things to avoid, and mobile poker is no different. In fact, we only have one thing to avoid in the industry and that comes in the form of Poker Stars. Now don’t get us wrong, PokerStars is an amazing poker site and their app is pretty brilliant as well. But, if you are on the lookout for the softest mobile poker games, and as you are reading this we assume you are, then PokerStars is definitely one to miss.

What PokerStars has done over the years is have the monopoly within the industry and essentially gets pretty much every poker player who is anyone playing there. The company probably have about 70% or more of the entire online community playing there, with a large percentage of these guys being pretty good. They attract players who are playing a high volume of hands at a good standard. Granted, there will be weaker players mixed in there, but the majority of players will be more than capable making the games extremely tough.

Thanks to a new 888 software release, you can now play cash games or sit and go tournaments from the browser of your iPhone or iPad in any country, apart from the United States.  Previously, 888 poker for iOS was only available for download from the iTunes App Store in a limited number of countries.  The new version can be played from the Safari or Chrome browser of any iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android (Samsung Galaxy, HTC, Motorola) or Windows Phone (Nokia Lumia) device.  To start playing from the browser of your tablet or smartphone, just create an account at 888 and then browse to 888 on your mobile handset.

QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE NEW 888 POKER iOS WEB APPLICATION

The graphics are fairly plain with an uncluttered layout. This is always a good design plan when you have to play on a small screen. The fold, call and raise buttons start at the bottom left of the screen and move over to the center. For non-limit games there is a slider on the bottom right where you can increase your bet. It has icons or buttons that allow you to quickly do 1/2, 3/4 or pot sized wagers.

One neat feature included is the listing of your current best hand just above the fold icon button. While this is not a big deal most of the time, even seasoned players can occasionally misread a hand or the board, especially when fatigued, and the location of this feature makes it easy to double check your hand before folding. The settings icon is toward the top left of the layout and the cashier icon button is located on the top right. You can choose from a wide range of colorful avatars to represent your player at the table.

Once you log into your account you can choose from three tabs; beginners, cash or sit & go. Or you can click on the cashier icon toward the top right or go to practice play icon button just below the yellow cashier button.

Choosing a game requires a different system than most mobile poker apps. You use sliders to choose number of players, stake and game type. While this makes it quick and easy to join a game, it does force you to play against whoever happens to be at the table. In other words, you really don’t have any way to shop for a table full of weak players. Joining a sit and go tournament also uses a slider system. You choose between 2, 6 or 9 players, normal, turbo or super turbo speed and then a buy in amount. Once you have made all of your choices you simply hit the play icon button.

The only possible downside is that only Texas holdem is available at this time. While some mobile apps do have games beyond Texas holdem available, they rarely have enough players to fill a table, so 888 has chosen to stick with the most popular poker variation to make sure active games are always available instead of disappointing players who can’t get a game started.  Need more information?   CLICK HERE to read our full review of the 888 poker app for iOS and Android.

While playing online poker at offshore sites is perfectly legal, there’s no denying the fact that funding your poker account has become increasingly difficult over the past  few years, as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 forced many companies to stop processing online gambling related transactions. Consequently, many inexperienced poker enthusiasts have been asking me how to ensure that their money will arrive at the site of their choosing without any unnecessary delays. The goal of this short guide is to address this issue and tell you which methods work and which ones you should generally avoid.

Credit Cards - Deposit in the U.S. with Visa, American Express & MasterCard

Using a credit card to make a deposit has become the most widespread method in the United States ever since the companies like PayPal have decided to stop cooperating with the US-facing part of the gambling industry, which shouldn’t be all that surprising given how popular they are. Making a credit card payment to a poker room is very similar to transferring money to any other site – as you’d expect, you’ll be required to provide the room’s staff with your billing address, card number and expiration date, as well as the CVV code. Moreover, you’ll have to ensure that you’re using a card that has been cleared for international transactions, as the popular domestic-only cards will simply be refused. Furthermore, it is worth pointing out that not every credit card deposit will be successful – some transactions might still be refused even if you aren’t using a domestic card. Many players have reported that Visa cards tend to have the highest acceptance rate, but MasterCard and even American Express are also fairy likely to work. Fortunately, you won’t lose any money if your transaction fails to go through – in the end, using a credit card to fund your poker account is perfectly safe, but not 100% reliable.

Western Union and MoneyGram

Western Union and MoneyGram money orders have recently become fairly popular among US-based poker enthusiasts due to the fact that credit card payments aren’t perfectly reliable. Unlike credit card deposits, money orders pretty much guarantee that your money will arrive on schedule and will be available for withdrawal without any holds. Unfortunately, depositing via Western Union and MoneyGram requires considerably more effort, as the entire process can get rather complicated. Usually, you’ll have to request the poker room to provide you with the necessary transaction details, head to your local supermarket, enter them on a form and submit it along with the cash. Once you do that, you’ll receive a Money Transfer Control Number, which you’ll have to send back to the poker site. Once the transaction has been confirmed, most rooms will credit the money to your poker account within one hour. Furthermore, it is worth pointing out that making a deposit using this method tends to involve paying a transaction fee. Some offshore poker sites might opt to cover those additional costs by giving you a small bonus. However, if you decide to play on a site that refuses to cover your fees, you should keep in mind that making a huge number of small deposits via MoneyGram or Western Union might get fairly expensive.

Prepaid Cards - Mixed Results for U.S. Poker Players

If your credit cards keep getting refused and you don’t want to fund your account using a money order, you can always try depositing to your poker account via a prepaid debit card or even a simple gift card. Much like in the case of standard cards, not all prepaid cards are going to work – in fact, you might be forced to buy several cards in order to find the ones that get your money through and stick to buying them. The easiest way is to start with a small prepaid card to see whether it will be accepted or not. In the end, you should be prepared to go through some hassle before actually finding the right pick. Furthermore, you should always check the fees before actually purchasing your gift card or funding your prepaid, as they tend to be incredibly varied.