
Just before 2013 turned into 2014, Carbon Poker finally released the iOS version of its poker client (which they had been beta-testing since March 2013) with a promise of “Every Hand, Every Device”. Because Carbon Poker deftly sidesteps US regulations by having an Antigua & Barbuda license, and iTunes regulations by making their poker client browser-based, they allowed US players to play at their table via the iPhone app. The app offered No-Limit and Fixed-Limit Texas Hold'em poker in full ring, 6max, and heads-up games as well as SnGs and MTTs. In May, US-based players were given an alternative when Bodog Poker released their version of an iPhone app, also based on HTML5. The Bodog app allowed for cash games, plus their version of fast-fold poker (called Zone Poker) for Hold'em, Omaha Hi and Omaha Hi/Lo.
888Poker Release "Instant Play" Web App For iOS
In May, The 888 group released a new version of their mobile app for iPhone and iPad in order to circumvent the restrictions imposed upon them by iTunes. Apple only allows real-money gaming apps to be hosted via iTunes if they are downloaded in territories where online gambling is legal. The new version of 888's poker app was written in HTML5, meaning it could be played via the Safari or Chrome browser on iOS-enabled devices. United States players were still restricted from playing though.
888Poker Release "Instant Play" Web App For iOS
In May, The 888 group released a new version of their mobile app for iPhone and iPad in order to circumvent the restrictions imposed upon them by iTunes. Apple only allows real-money gaming apps to be hosted via iTunes if they are downloaded in territories where online gambling is legal. The new version of 888's poker app was written in HTML5, meaning it could be played via the Safari or Chrome browser on iOS-enabled devices. United States players were still restricted from playing though.
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.
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.
Sky Poker Add Apple TouchID To iOS Apps

Also in May, Sky Poker announced the release of their first ever iOS-based poker client, again written in HTML5, although only at first for the iPad as some customisation of the app was required to make it playable on the iPhone's smaller screen. Additionally, only ring games could be played via the app. Reviews of Sky's new app were largely positive, citing the ease of play on the iPad, and the vivid, crystal clear graphics.
The app also included the ability to stream the SkyPoker TV Channel. In November, Sky announced that they were the first Poker site to make use of the iPhone's 'Touch ID' (fingerprint recognition) to login to their app.
The app also included the ability to stream the SkyPoker TV Channel. In November, Sky announced that they were the first Poker site to make use of the iPhone's 'Touch ID' (fingerprint recognition) to login to their app.
iPhone & Android Poker Sites Accept Bitcoin Payments
So, what will 2015 bring? As our world becomes increasingly virtual – with virtual stores, virtual gaming and virtual communications becoming evermore prevalent, surely it is only a matter of time before we all become users of virtual currencies in order to fund our virtual lifestyles. Bitcoin is slowly becoming increasingly popular as the internet's version of cold, hard, cash. Using Bitcoin does not require the intervention of financial institutions as bitcoin transactions are sent peer-to-peer, which is the virtual equivalent of handing someone a five pound note.
Already Switch Poker, WinPoker, Seals with Clubs and Betcoin Poker all accept Bitcoins, and when surveyed, Millennials express the opinion they feel more comfortable in using Bitcoins than credit cards to fund online purchases and activities. Perhaps 2015 will be the year when the virtual currency revolution really begins to gather a little momentum.
US Regulated Online Poker Market Fails To Deliver
US Players already had cause for celebration after New Jersey became the first state to legalise online gambling, which it had done so in November 2013. New Jersey was quickly followed by Nevada and Delaware, and these two states signed a deal in February 2014 that allowed Nevada poker players to play at Delaware-based online casinos and vice versa.
While US poker players were quick to embrace this new opportunity, US-based credit card companies were less than enthusiastic. Many firms remained unconvinced of the legality of allowing their cards to be used for funding online poker accounts, and decided to play safe rather than sorry.
As well as the credit card issue, US players also faced the issue of geo-location problems with their iPhones. To be legally allowed to play in a US-based online casino, players had to physically be within the state boundaries of the poker room to which they were connected. To ensure of this, poker apps used the geo-tagging technology of the iPhone to pinpoint the phone's location.
Unfortunately, great numbers of players found that the geo-location systems on their iPhones, which rely on strong satellite signals, were temperamental at best, and completely useless at worse. Such players could be standing right next to the physical location of the servers on which poker games were being offered, yet would still be barred from logging in.
As a result, those initial targets of revenues approaching $500 million per annum in New Jersey alone came to be understood as being wildly optimistic. As it turned out, figures for the first year were closer to a much less than inspiring $100 million.
The first company to open a regulated poker room in the US – Ultimate Gaming – decided to close its doors to New Jersey residents in September, and to Nevada poker players two months later. They were followed by Betfair Poker in December, who revealed that during 2014 they had managed to pull in a disastrous total of $50 in rake, including nothing at all in October.
These growing pains as the US continued to slowly re-embrace online poker meant that US-based poker players remain best placed to use off-shore poker rooms, such as those provided by Carbon Poker and Bodog Poker.
US Regulated Online Poker Market Fails To Deliver
US Players already had cause for celebration after New Jersey became the first state to legalise online gambling, which it had done so in November 2013. New Jersey was quickly followed by Nevada and Delaware, and these two states signed a deal in February 2014 that allowed Nevada poker players to play at Delaware-based online casinos and vice versa.
While US poker players were quick to embrace this new opportunity, US-based credit card companies were less than enthusiastic. Many firms remained unconvinced of the legality of allowing their cards to be used for funding online poker accounts, and decided to play safe rather than sorry.
As well as the credit card issue, US players also faced the issue of geo-location problems with their iPhones. To be legally allowed to play in a US-based online casino, players had to physically be within the state boundaries of the poker room to which they were connected. To ensure of this, poker apps used the geo-tagging technology of the iPhone to pinpoint the phone's location.
Unfortunately, great numbers of players found that the geo-location systems on their iPhones, which rely on strong satellite signals, were temperamental at best, and completely useless at worse. Such players could be standing right next to the physical location of the servers on which poker games were being offered, yet would still be barred from logging in.
As a result, those initial targets of revenues approaching $500 million per annum in New Jersey alone came to be understood as being wildly optimistic. As it turned out, figures for the first year were closer to a much less than inspiring $100 million.
The first company to open a regulated poker room in the US – Ultimate Gaming – decided to close its doors to New Jersey residents in September, and to Nevada poker players two months later. They were followed by Betfair Poker in December, who revealed that during 2014 they had managed to pull in a disastrous total of $50 in rake, including nothing at all in October.
These growing pains as the US continued to slowly re-embrace online poker meant that US-based poker players remain best placed to use off-shore poker rooms, such as those provided by Carbon Poker and Bodog Poker.