Online Poker Rooms & Sites

Carbon Poker was the first site on the Merge Gaming network, created from the player base of Poker.com. And since the Merge Gaming network allows U.S. players, network growth has been fast. Carbon Poker is doing everything in its power to attract players and offers some very nice promotions, very playable software and nice graphics. Sign up through a PokerListings.com link and get an exclusive $1,000 bonus at 200% deposit match.

For being a new poker site on a relatively young network, Carbon Poker already sports decent player volume. At any time, several hundred players are logged in and playing, with the most players active at European peak hours. Because a lot of the players are beginners, the skill level is relatively low at most games, making them profitable for skilled players.

The most well visited tables are Texas Hold'em, with the viewed-flop percentage normally in the 40s or 50s. Real-money player statistics as of October 2008 show 500 ring-game players and 2,000 tournament players at peak hours. Carbon Poker offers an exclusive $1,000 sign-up bonus on your first deposit at 200% match for PokerListings players.

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Ultimate Bet was one of the first big sites to enter the online poker market, backed by WSOP record holder Phil Hellmuth. In 2007, a merger plan with Absolute Poker was signed, and in late 2008 the two rooms are expected to complete the shift to the new Cereus poker network, greatly increasing the player base and traffic volume. The action at Ultimate Bet is well-distributed along its great array of games and some of the best players in the world battle it out at their high-stakes tables. Sign up through a PokerListings link and get an exclusive $1,500 bonus at 150% match.

Ultimate Bet has always been somewhat of a pioneer when it comes to poker software, and even though players at times have complained the software is not as graphically appealing as some, it has always been on the forefront of security and stability. The software allows for many different table views and sizes, fast card dealing and many great features that make multi-table play easy and smooth. Real-money player statistics as of October 2008 show 2,100 ring-game players and 14,000 tournament players at peak hours.

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(Note: this poker room does not allow U.S. players).

Ladbrokes Poker is one of Europe's most popular poker rooms, offering great promotions and play. It offers a nice game variety, good graphics and playability. Ladbrokes Poker offers action at all games and limits, although the Texas Hold'em games are the most popular. Sign up through a PokerListings link and get an exclusive $1,000 bonus at 100% deposit match.

The Ladbrokes Poker software offers great functionality and playability and the graphics are relatively clean and appealing. The software also runs quickly and reliably. Aside from the nice promotions, there are a number of freerolls and guaranteed tournaments running daily and weekly. Real-money player statistics as of October 2008 show 1,400 ring-game players and 5,000 tournament players at peak hours.

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(Note: this poker room does not allow U.S. players).

RedKings Poker is part of the Ongame network - one of the largest poker networks in the world. The player base is widespread but mainly European, and offers slightly tougher competition than most poker sites. The software is very good and comes in both a download and a no-download version, making RedKings Poker available for players using either a PC or a Mac. Sign up through a PokerListings link and get an exclusive $5,000 bonus at 1,000% deposit match.

The download version is for PC only and offers good looking 3D graphics, nice looking avatars and many good functions. The software is stable (both the download and no-download version), clean, fast and in line with the better software on the market when it comes to functionality. RedKings Poker and the Ongame network are both growing quickly, offering plenty of guaranteed tournaments and satellites to live poker events, as well as highly active cash-games at any level. Real-money player statistics as of October 2008 show 9,000 ring-game players and 45,000 tournament players at peak hours.

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Absolute Poker has historically been one of the stronger players in the U.S. online poker market, offering good action and loose games. In 2007 a merger with Ultimate Bet was signed, allowing for transfers between accounts among other things, and in late 2008 the two rooms should complete the shift to the new Cereus poker network, greatly increasing the player base and overall traffic volume. The action at Absolute Poker is still somewhat concentrated in Texas Hold'em - in particular shorthanded games, where the play is loose and fast - but other games are also well-populated. Sign up through a PokerListings link and get an exclusive $600 bonus at 150% deposit match.

Absolute Poker has always offered good software, and the latest release has lots of great improvements, including many different table views and sizes, faster card dealing, new graphics and innovative mouse actions such as scroll-wheel betting increases. Absolute Poker allows play at 10 tables simultaneously, and multi-table play runs smoothly and safely. Real-money player statistics as of October 2008 show 1,800 ring-game players and 9,000 tournament players at peak hours.

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(Note: this poker room does not allow U.S. players).

Founded in 2004, Mansion Poker was one of few really serious stand-alone poker operators launched in recent years, and it did well to attract a lot of players with massive promotions and highly customizable software. Looking to expand their game variety and player volume, however, Mansion has switched over to the iPoker network, dramatically increasing their traffic volume and overall offerings. The unique high-value guaranteed tournaments they are known for, including weekly $150,000 and $110,000 events, continue though, providing excellent per-player value. Sign up through a PokerListings link and get an exclusive $550 bonus at 100% deposit match.

The iPoker network software is known for first-class graphics, speed and design and offers a great poker experience for low-stakes Hold’em players who want loose and juicy action. Real-money player statistics as of October 2008 show 10,000 ring-game players and 55,000 tournament players at peak hours.

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(Note: this poker room does not allow U.S. players).

Noble Poker is one of the new poker rooms on the iPoker network, with loose games filled with lots of casino players and new recruits. Noble Poker offers their players a very nice package of promotions, such as guaranteed tournaments, sign-up bonuses and a strong refer-a-friend bonus. The rake at Noble Poker is actually better than the online average, with very player-friendly caps at lower stakes. Sign up through a PokerListings link and get an exclusive $600 bonus at 100% deposit match.

Noble Poker and the iPoker network have, despite the introduction of new U.S. gaming regulations, still been very successful in building a very popular network full of active and loose players. The games at Noble Poker run smoothly, thanks to good software, although the game pace is a little slow due to the generous time allowance per hand given to players. Most of the volume is in the No-Limit Texas Hold'em games, where the viewed-flop percentage is normally in the 40s or 50s, making for profitable games for skilled players.

Real-money player statistics as of October 2008 show 10,000 ring-game players and 55,000 tournament players at peak hours.

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(Note: this poker room does not allow U.S. players).

PKR is one of the newest additions to the poker world, and what an addition! PKR offers amazing 3D graphics, supreme gaming feel and fantastic customization with a game variety and playability only comparable to live casino play. PKR player volume is in the lower end of the spectrum but growing quickly. The most action is found at the lower limits for now, but some mid-stakes games are starting to pop-up. Sign up through a PokerListings link and get an exclusive $250 bonus at 75% deposit match.

The PKR software offers unparalleled graphics, feel and overall playing experience. The functionality is quite good and the graphics, quite simply, are nothing short of amazing. The software does run a little slower than most, and updates also tend to take a little longer due to the amount of data required for download, but it is quite reliable.

PKR is definitely growing quickly, and even though the higher-stakes options and tournaments still leave a few things to be desired, the games are super-loose and a gold mine for a skilled poker player. Aside from the nice sign-up bonus, players are also offered a good loyalty program and some nice freerolls. Real-money player statistics as of October 2008 show 1,100 ring-game players and 5,000 tournament players at peak hours.

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(Note: this poker room does not allow U.S. players).

Paddy Power Poker is another of the poker sites in the iPoker network initiative by PlayTech, and is the one with the most gaming and entertainment options. Games are subsequently quite loose, with lots of players coming from the massive amount of non-poker entertainment available. Paddy Power Poker offers their players a multitude of options, with bingo, casino games, skill games, sports betting, auctions and mobile gaming all part of the PaddyPower portal. Sign up through a PokerListings link and get an exclusive $600 bonus at 150% deposit match.

Paddy Power Poker is a very popular poker room and gaming portal, primarily in the U.K. and Europe, and have been very successful in building a very popular network full of active and loose players. The games at Paddy Power Poker are generally loose and run smoothly, thanks to good software, and even though the game pace is a little slow the action is good at most levels. Real-money player statistics as of October 2008 show 10,000 ring-game players and 55,000 tournament players at peak hours.

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