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The Best Online Casino Sites for Real Money The reputation and customer care of each online casino is essential to its clients and, in this direction, some of the best online casinos for real money play all across the globe are renowned operators such as Leo Vegas, Mr. Green, Slots of Vegas, Slotocash, Raging Bull, Winner Casino or Black Diamond Casino, to name only a few.

One of the reasons people choose to play online poker is the flexibility it gives them when it comes to playing this amazing game. So long as they are in a country that allows online poker, and they have an internet connection, you can essentially poker play anywhere.

While a large number of online poker players use their mobile phone or tablet to play online poker on the move, the machine of choice for the vast majority of poker players is a laptop computer, but with so many of them available to buy today, which laptop is best for playing online poker in 2016?

Choosing the Right Laptop For Your Online Poker Needs

When you go buy an online poker specific laptop you are spoiled for choice. All of the major manufacturers offer a plethora of sizes and specifications. The laptop you buy depends on your budget and your personal needs.

Some of the factors you need to consider before parting with your hard earned cash, include:

• Do you frequently travel? If so, you may want a smaller, lighter laptop so you’re not lugging around a huge dead weight each time you’re on the move.
• Do you play multiple tables when playing online poker, and do you prefer to stack or tile them. If you like to tile, you need a larger screen with a higher resolution otherwise face the prospect of playing with plenty of overlap on your tables.
• Do you run third-party tools such as Holdem Manager or PokerTracker? If so, you may want to invest in a machine with more RAM to ensure your machine runs smoothly.
• Is this laptop solely for playing online poker, or will it be used as a secondary machine. Maybe you're using it for playing video games? If it is the latter, you need a higher specification machine capable of running today’s eye-popping graphics.

There are many other factors to consider, but you get where we’re coming from.

Do I need a High-Spec Machine For Online Poker?

Thankfully, the majority of online poker sites, such as PokerStars and partypoker, are not resource intensive, which means they do not require a powerful laptop in order to run their software. PKR Poker’s 3D client used to require a higher-spec machine when it was on its standalone software, but since joining the MPN this is not as much of an issue.

That said, you don’t want to opt for a laptop that is very low-spec because it could struggle to run everyday tasks or multiple tables with your tracking software running.

In basic terms, RAM, or Random Access Memory, is a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly, allowing your computer to access information quickly. As a general rule, the more RAM you have, the better it is for you if you want to perform a number of tasks simultaneously. Look for at least 8GB of RAM, but 12GB or 16GB is obviously better.

You’ll probably want a screen that has a resolution of 1920x1080, which may be also called 1080p. Some manufacturers say their screens are High Definition, or HD, even if those screens only go to 1280x720.

Larger resolutions will make your fonts smaller on a typically sized laptop screen, which is something to be aware of, although you can increase the size of the fonts etc. via the settings page.

Which Laptop is Best for Playing Online Poker in 2016?

One man’s meat is another man’s poison, so it is difficult to say which laptop is best for playing poker online. The highest spec machines will be total overkill for most poker players, while the laptops at the bottom of the spectrum may struggle. With that in mind, we’ve added a few machines below, so you can see the difference that an extra few bucks here and there can do to the laptop you’ll be playing on.

HP Stream 11: from $199.99 / £179.99

Coming in at under $200 is the HP Stream 11. The 11 in its name stems from its 11.6-inch screen, which for this writer would be far too small for anything other than one table (or tiling multiple tables). The screen resolution is 1366x768, and the laptop comes with 2GB of RAM, Windows 8.1, and a battery that lasts for six hours under heavy strain.

Asus Zenbook UX305: from $663.99 / £535

This 13.3-inch, 1080p laptop is only 12.3mm at its widest point, meaning it is one of the most portable laptops on our list. It also has three USB 3.0 ports, a full-size SD card reader, and a microHDMI slot for great connectivity.

Its relatively small screen aside, the Zenbook’s weak point is its weak processors, which managed to handle general office tasks, watching movies, and web browsing, but can struggle with more intensive applications, so probably isn’t suited to those of you who play a dozen poker tables with PokerTracker running.

12-inch Apple Macbook (2015): from $1079 / £822.99

Apple laptops are superb machines that are well suited to playing online poker, that is if the site you’re playing on has a Mac client or you are running an emulator to allow you to run Windows-based software.

This particular model has a 12-inch 2304x1440 “Retina” display which is more than adequate to put several tiled tables on (although the fonts will likely be tiny), and while this model’s power and speed has been downgraded to that of a Macbook Air from three years ago, its nine-hour battery life is excellent.

Dell XPS 13 2015: from $883 / £749

The Dell XPS 13 2015 is excellent value for the money and comes with a 13-inch, 1920x1080 screen, and 11-hour battery life. You can choose from an Intel Core i5-5200U or Core i7-550U processor, the latter is much faster, but the former will still handle all of your virtual poker needs with ease.

If you really want to push the boat out, Dell makes a version that has a 3200x1800 touchscreen, although this is not going to be needed for winning online poker tournaments.

Apple 2015 13-inch Macbook Pro: from $1079 / £894

Another Apple laptop makes it onto our list, this time, the 2015 edition of the Macbook pro. Its 13.3-inch 2560x1600 IPS screen is nothing short of exceptional, while the entry-level 2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor should be more than enough for your to bluff and outwit your opponents at the table.

Apple offers several different models, each more expensive than the next, but the entry-level Macbook Pro is more than capable of being your primary machine, just make sure your online poker site has a Mac client.

Asus Zenbook Pro UX501VW: from $1499 / £1389

This laptop is a complete beast and total overkill if you're only looking to use it for poker. However, if you play a lot of video game, this Core i7-6700HQ powered monster, with its 3840x2160 resolution will give you a lot to love.

Battery life is surprisingly good at seven hours despite its powerful components meaning you can easily run deep in a slate of tournaments without charging it up. It may be expensive, but you could easily ditch your desktop machine and have this powerhouse as your one and only computer if you wanted to.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4: from $915 / £816.99

Technically not a laptop, the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is a hugely popular hybrid that allows you to detach the screen and use it as a tablet. Powered by Windows, it should run online poker sites, and gives you great flexibility for if you need an unplanned visit to the bathroom before the synchronized break kicks in!

What laptop do you use for playing online poker, and which laptop would you love to own? Let us know in the comments box below.

Be sure to complete your PokerNews experience by checking out an overview of our mobile and tablet apps here. Stay on top of the poker world from your phone with our mobile iOS and Android app, or fire up our iPad app on your tablet. You can also update your own chip counts from poker tournaments around the world with MyStack on both Android and iOS.

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There are plenty of excellent online casino sites to choose from, which is undoubtedly one of the consequences of the ever-growing popularity of the casino games they offer. Below, you will find a list of licensed online casinos that are 100% safe to play on, while simultaneously offering amazing game selection, splendid visuals, generous promotions and, more importantly, timely cash outs. Check back as we’ll be posting in-depth reviews of these online casinos soon.

Our Top Picks for Online Casinos in

Playing Games for Real Money

Playing real money casino games is very different from playing for free. Obviously, putting your hard earned cash on the line is more exciting and makes winning all the more rewarding. However, beating the games is not the only challenge you will have to face. Quite the contrary, choosing the right bonus, picking the most advantageous payment methods and making sure that your withdrawal won’t take too long may also prove to be a rather difficult task, particularly for an inexperienced gambler. Furthermore, you’ll have to ensure that you follow all of your local gambling regulations, as failure to do so might actually put you in a lot of trouble in numerous jurisdictions.

Online Casinos by Region

Unfortunately, even the countries that have lenient regulations pertaining to online sports betting or bingo tend to be somewhat stricter when it comes to online casino games. As a result, online casino enthusiasts should definitely consult their local gambling laws before registering at an online casino site to avoid unnecessary headaches or even possible jail time. As you’d expect, this also means that many of the top casino sites prefer not to accept players hailing from certain countries, especially since most regulators focus on punishing illegal gambling operators instead of the participants of the games.

United States

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 makes it illegal to transfer money from banking institutions to online gambling sites. As a result, most of the Europe-facing casino sites refuse to accept American players. What’s more, you have to remember that each state has its own set of gambling laws, which means that playing on one of the US-friendly casino sites might be perfectly legal in one state and might actually put you in jail in another. Consequently, US players should be very careful about following their local regulations.

Australia

Despite the fact that the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 makes it unlawful to offer real money casino games to Australian citizens, there are no regulations that make it illegal for Australians to join the games. Consequently, residents of Australia are free to play at any offshore casino site without risking any legal repercussions.

France

Even though the French Gambling Act of 2010 opened the online gambling market in France, the only forms of online gambling that can be licensed in the country are online sports betting, online horse race betting and online poker games. Casino games are not licensed and thus not allowed, because the lawmakers consider them to be too addictive.

Germany

The German Interstate Treaty on Gaming of 2008 introduced a blanket ban on online gambling with the exception of horse race betting. Even though Schleswig Holstein joined the ISTG in 2013 and a few websites still hold a valid license issued by the state, the number of casino sites available to Schleswig Holstein residents is rather limited.

India

Online casino gaming is illegal in Maharashtra due to the Bombay Wager Act. However, the remaining states lack any specific online gambling regulations. As a result, the only thing that could stop you from playing at an online casino is the fact that the Federal Information Technology Rules allow Indian Internet Service Providers to block known gambling websites from being accessed.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a very casino-friendly country and has exceptionally liberal gambling laws, which means that UK residents have no reason to worry about joining any of the numerous online casino sites.

Depositing & Withdrawing

Major online casinos are well known for supporting multiple ways of funding your casino accounts, but the most reliable and fastest way of going about your deposit is to use an e-wallet service similar to PayPal – like Neteller or Moneybookers/Skrill.

Credit card payments are also an excellent choice, but keep in mind that your card has to be cleared for international transactions in order for the money to go through. Other popular options include the traditional bank wire transfer, as well as Western Union and MoneyGram money orders. However, you should keep in mind that those methods are generally somewhat time-consuming and might require you to cover additional transaction fees.

Payouts are usually handled via a bank wire transfer or an e-wallet payment. Furthermore, many sites will allow you to cash out via a check by courier, depending on your area of residence. If you used a Western Union/MoneyGram money order to fund your casino account, you’ll generally be allowed to request a withdrawal using this method.

Finally, please note that the Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act makes it impossible for online casinos to offer e-wallet transactions for United States-based customers.

Bonuses and Promotions

Online casino sites are well known for the generous promotions they offer. In fact, many bonuses allow you to grab up to $5,000 of free money. However, there is a catch, as online casinos won’t allow you to withdraw this money immediately – generally, you’ll be required to wager your deposit and the promotional money between 20 and 40 times before you’ll be allowed to make a withdrawal. Furthermore, many bonuses have additional wagering requirements and have to be cleared by playing a limited selection of casino games. A few casinos also prohibit placing “safe” bets when clearing a bonus, which means that you won’t be allowed to bet both red and black in roulette or pass and don’t pass in craps. Breaking the terms and conditions of the bonus usually means that you lose the money you received from the casino, so it’s always a good idea to take a look at the rules before opting in and joining the games.

First Deposit Bonuses

First deposit bonuses are available exclusively on your first payment. Usually, a bonus of this kind will be exceptionally generous, allowing you to claim a few thousand dollars with a 300% or 400% match on your deposit. Some sites prefer to offer a welcome package instead, which means that you’ll be able to grab a few smaller bonuses over the first three or four deposits you make. Furthermore, many sites allow you to choose one out of several first deposit promotions. In such a case, the rule of thumb is that the more restrictive the wagering requirements are, the more lucrative the bonus will be.

Reload Bonuses

Reload bonuses work pretty much just like first deposit bonuses, as they allow you to claim some additional money, with the exact amount depending on the size of your payment. However, please note that these promotions are much lower than the ones available with a welcome package, but usually share the same strict wagering requirements.

Free Spins/Games

In addition to promotional money, some casinos like to include free games in their welcome package. Usually, you’ll get between 100 and 500 free spins that you can use at one of the available slot games. All things considered, you should definitely prioritize getting the bonus money instead of free spins where possible, as you’ll be able to spend it on whatever games you want – as long as it doesn’t violate the wagering requirements.

Why Play for Real Money at Online Casinos?

It’s obvious why many players prefer to play at live casinos. It’s more exciting, social, and meals and rooms can be comped – making the trip an affordable vacation (sometimes). But there are also a lot of good reasons to play online instead. Here are a few of the benefits of playing at online casinos.

1. Online casinos have better stakes for players on a budget.

Online casino sites are an excellent place to enjoy low stakes gambling, as the minimum size of your wager is usually significantly lower than in the case of land-based casinos, due to the lower costs of operating an online casino site. For example, the lowest bet you can place on Blackjack is usually $1 in the case of a brick and mortar gambling establishment, but online casino sites might allow you to play for as little as $0.10 per game or even less.

Best Online Casino

High-rollers will also be able to find multiple games that allow them to wager $100 per bet or more, but unfortunately many casino sites restrict new customers from making deposits that exceed a certain limit (usually $2,000-$4,000) in order not to risk the consequences of a charge-back when dealing with problem gamblers.

Consequently, if you want to play high stakes casino games on a site that has payment limits, you’ll have to convince the casino staff that you’re a reliable player by making a number of deposits and playing the medium stakes for a few months.

2. You can play in your underwear.

One thing we’ve never liked about Vegas is that they want you to keep your clothes on, unless of course you’re a showgirl. On the other hand, online casinos don’t care what you’re wearing. If the mood to gamble hits you at weird times – like while your laying in bed or in the bathroom (don’t judge), online casinos are the perfect solution.

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3. Many online casinos now offer live dealers.

While most online casino games are nothing more than computer programs, many sites allow you to play three or four table games with a live croupier and authentic casino environment. In such a case, you’ll be able to connect to a live stream from a real casino or a studio with authentic casino equipment, which makes the overall experience very similar to what you’d expect from a land-based gambling establishment.

However, please note this means that the minimum wagers will also be more in line with brick and mortar casino games, as the costs of running a studio are significantly higher than running the costs of running 100% software-based games. Furthermore, the number of Live Casino table seats is always limited, so you might be required to wait if all the tables are crowded. The most popular Live Casino games include Roulette, Blackjack, Craps and Baccarat.

4. You can practice real casino games for FREE.

One of the major benefits of online casinos is free practice. Unlike live casinos where you to play to try new games, online you try different slots until you find the ones you like, test different betting strategies, and learn new games before you play for money.

Real online casinos have no qualms about allowing their customers to check out their games for free. Even better, many of them won’t even require you to sign up for an account. In such a case, each time you select a game, you’ll be asked whether you want to play for fun or for real money.