5 Reasons Why Some Online Poker Players Never Play for Real Money
The other day, a few of us who own poker websites were discussing why some players choose to play poker online for play money, while the others eventually deposit to play online poker for real money.
The discussion caused me to think back to when I first started playing poker online. A friend told me about Texas Hold’em, got me to watch Rounders and the WSOP on ESPN. Before long, we bought some poker chips and started hosting our own free poker tournaments. I started playing for play money on Party Poker, but I had the intention of depositing and winning some real money as soon as I felt comfortable.
I read all the poker strategy articles and books that I could get my hands on, and learned how to make money from poker bonuses.
But not all players follow that same pattern. There are many reasons why players never make a real money deposit at a poker site. Below are 5 of the reasons why some people choose not to play poker for money.
1. Some players sign up because of freerolls
These free poker tournaments aren’t usually present in live poker. So, when players hear about online freerolls, they decide to sign up. Some players may cash in a few freerolls and start a bankroll that way, others may be content playing these free tournaments in their spare time and never feel the need to deposit.
2. Some players don’t like the poker site’s software
Poker sites are not all created equal. And if a player signs up and doesn’t feel comfortable with software immediately or within a few hours of playing, chances are they won’t feel good about making a deposit.
3. Problems with poker deposit
Maybe the poker site advertises that they accept credit cards, but the player’s card gets declined. Every roadblock a player encounters when trying to deposit makes it less likely that they will continue. A player who has problems depositing at one poker site may try a different site, or give up trying to play poker for money altogether.
4. A player may feel that poker is too difficult to win money at
One of the things I remember most about play money poker is how loose the players are. In free ring games, most pots had half the table all in with a variety of hands. If a new poker player tries free money games, he may believe that real money poker games are the same – just one big gamble. I also know some players who feel like play money games are challenging and enjoyable enough.
5. Some players lose interest in poker
There are many people who hear about poker from friends or on T.V. and want to see what all the fuss is about. Play money poker may not seem exciting so they stop playing.
If any of these reasons have kept you from playing poker for real money, I would suggest you give it a try. Even if you make a small deposit, it’s always more exciting to gamble online for real money, rather than playing free games.
