Online poker has come a long way in recent years, and the industry’s top sites now offer plenty of options for players who want to enjoy some social action with their friends. Playing at home games is a great way to relax and blow off steam with your pals without having to pay for drinks or get out of a cold, rainy building to enjoy some good old-fashioned fun at the local pub or other gambling venue.
While the most popular poker variant available is Texas Hold’em, many other online poker rooms also host a variety of different games and variations, including Omaha, Stud, Mixed Games, HORSE, 2-7 Lowball and Badugi, to name just a few. Then, there are also a variety of real cash and free money sites and apps that let players play for chips instead of actual money – great for those still learning or who aren’t quite ready to run the risk of spending their hard-earned wages.
The top choice here is obviously PokerStars, which offers a special feature called “Home Games” that lets players host private cash and tournament games for their buddies. This is especially convenient because many people who play at home games are not looking for high-stakes or serious competition, but simply a laidback gaming experience with their pals. The ability to join from any device, even a mobile phone or tablet, makes this an ideal option for those who just want to play some hands, talk and hang out with their friends.
Creating a private game on PokerStars is easy and requires just a few clicks to get started. A player can enter their club name, a password and a short description and then they can start inviting their pals via email, on Facebook or through other messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Viber or Skype. Once the details are set, a link to the game can be shared and they’ll be able to hop in and start playing as soon as they wish.
Another option for a fun online poker session is Partypoker’s version of private games, which they call “Club Games.” Launched during the first lockdown in 2020, these games are similar to Home Games at PokerStars and allow players to create their own friendly online tournament with two to nine seats and a selection of either real money or play money tables.
888poker has made this option even more convenient by allowing users to access their private games from the official 888 Poker app for both mobile and desktop devices. There is also the option to use video chat for additional banter and live poker tells.