So I've been working on bitcoin projects for the last few years, but I recently got back in to online poker thanks to Covid-19. Good to see the game is still alive.
Anyway, I decided to play at poker sites that used bitcoin as a deposit and withdrawal option (naturally), and I thought I'd share my experiences in this thread in case anyone is looking for recommendations on where's currently best to play.
1. Dedicated bitcoin only poker sites.1.
SwC Poker - This is the original bitcoin poker room. Has the most players. Top recommendation.
2.
NitrogenSports - Nice software, but even less players than SwC Poker. You can still get a game at any time of the day, but your choices are limited.
These poker sites use bitcoin
only to get money in to and out of the room. They're relatively new and tend to have a smaller number of players compared to older poker rooms, but you have the benefit of being able to sign up and play anonymously.
I found a few other sites in addition to these, but these ones I liked the most.
2. Older poker sites that use bitcoin as a deposit option.1.
Ignition Poker (US Only) - Good player traffic. One of the best options.
2.
Americas Cardroom (Worldwide) - Good player traffic also, but players are tougher (more "regs").
These are poker rooms/companies that existed before bitcoin. They've introduced bitcoin as an option in the cashier, but your funds will be converted to dollars when you deposit and converted back when you withdraw.
These are reputable sites, and they have
more traffic than the bitcoin-only sites above. They may also ask for your ID before you start playing or before you cash out though.
Summary.I prefer the flexibility of the bitcoin-only sites, but the more mainstream options are fine too. I think all of these companies are reliable, but as a general rule you're better off not keeping your entire balance at any one place -- just keep a "working" bankroll and deposit/withdraw as you need. Bitcoin makes getting money in and out of poker rooms easy, so take advantage of it.
That's about it really. For what it's worth here's a more detailed guide:
https://www.thepokerbank.com/bitcoin/. If there's anything missing let me know.
Lastly, I haven't listed
every bitcoin poker site in existence here, just the ones I like and would recommend. Are there any others worth checking out?