BetOnline/SportsBetting = Best and most stable software of the US friendly networks that have decent traffic. A big bad beat jackpot for 100NL+ as well as a smaller fast fold(Boost) bad beat jackpot. 8 table cap for regular cash games.

WPN sites = Easy to get rakeback. High volume rewards. Biggest MTT Guarantees for a US friendly network. New, but often glitchy software.

Ignition/Bovada = Anonymous games. You can use a HUD, but the tracking is limited to the time your opponent spends at that exact table or tournament. 4 table cap for cash games and SNGs.

Global Poker = HUDs are explicitly prohibited.

How is the anti-HUD rule enforced on Global? I feel like most poker sites including ACR also claim that HUDs are against the rules but there is no enforcement.

Are the micro cash games on BetOnline significantly lighter than WPN?

Does Ignition have lighter micro cash games than Global or the other way around?

Thank you for the info

Poker sites have detection methods which can allow them to identify programs running alongside connections to their site. How well it truly works is hard for anyone who isn't actively trying to get around it to say. There have been some reports from players of account suspensions for prohibited software use in the past.

None of the other 3 networks explicitly state that HUDs are prohibited the same way Global Poker does.

By lighter you mean softer, correct? I think on average games at BOL/SB will generally be softer than at the WPN sites, but certainly not every single game.

I haven't played the microstake games on any of the networks in a few years. I would imagine both Ignition/Bovada and Global Poker have similarly soft games at that level, but I can't say for certain.

How difficult is it to get money onto and off of Global compared to Ignition/BOL/ACR, given that you can't use bitcoin?

Is there a serious chance that I'll have problems if I try to deposit with a major bank like BOA or WF (or worse, the bank shutting my bank account down for even attempting to deposit on a poker site like Global?) Is that the best way to deposit on there? Or am I supposed to buy one of those disposable cash card green dot card types of things that you can buy at the supermarket to use to deposit or something like that?

Are the withdrawal fees higher with them than the crypto sites (by how much? And, while we're at it, how big are the withdrawal fees in general for any of these 4 main sites? Is it percentage based, or a flat fee?)

Is ACR in its own special league of its own when it comes to this botting/RTA stuff everyone keeps mentioning about it, or at micro/low stakes does it in reality feel like it plays pretty similar on avg to Global and BOL and Ignition on avg? (And also does it make a difference whether it's reg cash tables, zoom, sngs, or mtts, in regards to this?)

Also, what about in terms of software reliability and smoothness? Are they all about the same? Ignition was having some reliability issues recently with freezing or what have you. How do sites like Global and ACR compare, when it comes to this kind of stuff?

Edit: Oh, and also, if I have HUD software on my computer (Drivehud) to use on the other three sites other than Global Poker, and I don't use it when playing on Global, since it isn't allowed on there, but the program is merely installed (not opened) on my computer, will I get in trouble with Global poker for merely even just having the software installed on my computer? Or is it fine as long as I don't open the program? Like, do I have to use a whole separate computer with no hud/tracker software on it solely just to play on Global with, or can I use the same computer for all the sites?

Thanks

KatanaSoul

You would probably find out some of the Global stuff by searching and reading in their sub-forum: https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/252/global-poker/

Thanks.

But, I also want to ask about these four main sites in comparison to one another, rather than just relative to themselves. So, maybe since this thread is neutral relative to the four sites, I'd get better answers in here than in a thread that is about just Global poker in and of itself.

That reminds me: would you guys say that Seals with Clubs is more or less a "major" U.S.-facing site by this point, to where I should be referring to it as the "five main U.S.-facing sites" instead of "four main U.S.-facing sites"? I saw a few pages back where they did the run-down it got relegated to a secondary category, but not sure if it has been growing between then and now, or how good its reputation is in terms of reliability or security or what have you. Do they seem to be better at banning bots or cheaters than the four main sites? Are they a strictly cash game site or do they run tourneys too? How do they seem to compare to the four main U.S.-facing sites?

That's true, but you might want to do a little research and reading about each site, and narrow your questions down to the ones you can't easily find the answers for. Posts with 15-20 questions in them aren't usually going to give you good results.

I'm not sure where you got the info/idea that SwC had grown exponentially, but it wasn't the best source.

PokerScout isn't as good a site as it once was for checking traffic, but it's still a good starting point, and according to their info, Chico (the smallest of the 4, I think) has more than 12x the traffic of SwC.

Ah, alright, good to know. Thx

Mike gave you some good advice above. You shouldn't have much issue getting your money off, but you'd be better off asking those specific questions in their dedicated withdrawal thread.
***Prize Redemption/Account Verification thread***

Every site has had issues with prohibited software users. It's hard to say with absolute certainty if any one of these sites does a much better job than the other, especially when you can't track long-term player statistics at Bovada/Ignition and Global Poker. On the plus side they both have more location restrictions than the other 2 networks, Global Poker even more than Bovada/Ignition.

Bots have been found to be playing almost every format. From what I've heard the least likely formats to find them in these days are games like Stud, O8 and mixed games.

BetOnline is by far the best of the bunch in terms of software, especially reliability and smoothness.

Ignition/Bovada has always had annoying little bugs that pop up and semi-occasional connection issues. This has been the case for many years.

The WPN sites recently moved to new software and they've had tons of issues. Connection issues don't seem to be too much of an issue anymore, but there are several bugs being brought up regularly in their dedicated thread.

Global Poker seems to have the 2nd most stable software of those 4, but even they have some issues from time to time.

I doubt you'll have issues doing that. I think there are several players in this forum that do that, but it would be best to ask in Global Poker's dedicated forum that Mike linked above.

Most of your questions seemed pretty Global Poker specific. I bet less players who play on multiple sites, including Global Poker, visit this thread versus visit that forum. That is to say I think you'd be more likely to get good answers to your most of your questions in there versus here.

Bobo was spot on. While SwC is a good site for some unique poker variants that you won't find on the other 4 networks, their traffic can't compare with the others. If you're looking to put in volume in the more popular variants you'll probably want to play at at least one of those other networks in addition to SwC.

Like Bobo, I'm not sure how good PokerScout is these days, and they don't even list Global Poker for some reason, but it probably can at least provide a decent estimate of the average traffic on most poker networks.
PokerScout

Wow, thanks for the in-depth reply man, I really appreciate it.

I guess I will probably try the remaining two major ones (ACR and Global) out, in that case.

I just wanted to make sure in advance that the response wasn't going to be something like "Ignition, BOL and Global are fine, but ACR is NOT!!! WATCH OUT!" followed by some long list of reasons to veer clear of that one compared to the other 3 (or the other way around but in regards to Global or something).

But, if they are at least roughly in the same ballpark as one another in terms of quality when you average it all out, and not like 1 or 2 of them being orders of magnitude worse than the others to where it's super terrible and scary, then I'm not too picky as an American who experienced Black Friday, and am basically just happy to have found out that there even are any somewhat decent options to play right now. I remember I tried Cake Poker or something like that I think a couple years or so after Black Friday, and put some tiny amount on there and barely played any on there, maybe like a thousand hands total or something silly, and then it morphed into Juicy and I just wasn't feeling it and don't even remember what my sn was on there or if I still had 50 bucks on there I left there and forgot about, lol. But, compared to that crap, Ignition and BOL seem a lot better already by comparison. (Still a far cry from 2005 era online poker boom stuff. That **** was ****ing insane, lol. But that's life).

I am playing on the Winning network, Black Chip/ America's cardroom. I have to wait 2 months to withdraw and am told if I don't cash the check within 60 days of receipt the money is forfeit. I am not a Bitcoin user.

I also had a two week string of incredible bad beats after a withdrawal. I know, variance, but what is so odd is I keep flopping the complete nuts and get beat by running low out cards.

It just seems like the Eagles tune "Hotel California", you can check in but you can never leave.

Are they the best option for we US players who can't play the US regulated sites? Thanks for the help all!!

First, learn to bitcoin.

Second, no such thing as withdrawal doomswitch.

I agree with a dewd about learning to use Bitcoin. Whatever your hesitation is I can assure you that it's not that hard to learn and it's very simple to use once you know how. You will regret not having not learned how to use it sooner once you start.

Read the last few pages from the thread linked below. If you still have questions then make a post in there.

Where can US players play?

Softest games by far are on global poker.

Indeed. It's the only site I have ever been profitable playing on.

Hi all,

I'm looking for good online sites in NJ. I've been playing Borgata, but the site is empty. It has very few cash games, and it's only really good for tourney's.

So what sites are good for cash games (and actually has people playing them)?

What other sites are good, and why?

See this thread and https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/2...hread-1379357/

I have played on both acr and Brookline, I think the micros are equal in toughness!

Do any of the app sites offer SNGs?

Why do you think that is? Just the softness?

And some of the most complaints, because require agent, or some just take over and keep money.

No, they are not mentioned in first post, and it has been stated throughout this thread, you have to assume your relative comfort with risk.

Maybe post some more so you get a little credence with your suggestion. Are the apps losing volume? Might have to do with some apps have problems, and the current economy taking a slight nosedive (gotta have some money for kids Tonka Toys with Kung Fu grip).

As to BTC taking nosedive, I think it is due to folks needing money from losses in stock market. BTC should not be affected, since everyone is at their computer, and there is no product/service growth cycle as other usual investments. Even if the credit market goes boom, that should not affect BTC. The problem is more folks need to use it as opposed to just investing in it.

Great post and agree with basically everything.

As far as the agents go, yeah, have to be careful. I've gotten people so anxious to olay but from bad experiences they are terrified they'll be ripped off again.

There are lots of fund managers hedge with bitcoin, former hedge fund manager here. They'll sell to cut losses in volatility. It looks better to sell and rebuy than ride out big dips.

There is some mention of the agent sites along with some advice if you choose that route found in the post linked below.

#6702

PokerBros didn't start gaining popularity until after that post was made. I'm sure it would be included if/when that post is edited again. There are quite of few of those agent app clubs around these days. New ones pop up all of the time. It would be difficult to recommend any one of them until they've been around for a decent amount of time and only after several players here can vouch for the legitimacy of the clubs. It wouldn't be very responsible to constantly list each new one. There has already been plenty of horror stories that came to light from players who signed up to play at the first iterations of those app clubs.

Hi, I am relatively new here. I’ve read through a few threads but this is my first post. I am a micro/small stakes player from the United States where I do not have access to major sites. Because of that I am limited to Global Poker, America’s Cardroom, Ignition, and BetOnline. I could use a club app but I don’t really like to multi table on my phone. I have about two years of study and play under my belt so I understand the basic fundamentals. I’d consider myself a decent player. No terrible, not amazing.

My question is, do you think it is better to play on a site the has less bots but does not allow you to use a HUD, or to play on a site that has more bots but does allow you to use a HUD???

This is more for cash games than tournaments, but I do play some donkamen.... I mean tournaments.

Lemme know what you think.

It all depends on your personal preferences.

Personally, I like the stability and features of the Chico Network software and the ability to use a HUD.
Some people prefer games where no HUDs are allowed.
Some people prefer anonymous games.
Some people prefer playing MTTs with the biggest guarantees and high volume rewards.
Some people will only play at sites with a good amount of traffic so that they can get in lots of volume.
Some people prefer strict location restrictions.
Some people prefer playing the less popular variants of poker.
Some people prefer playing in low rake games in a BTC currency.
Some people seek out the softest games while understanding that there are increased risks associated with it.
Some people are only comfortable playing on regulated sites.

Decide which of those factors will make your experience playing poker the most enjoyable for you. Fortunately for us, there are several different options for all types of poker players to choose from.