If you were around during the very first online poker boom – which ran for approximately five years from 2003 to 2008 – you’ll understand just how important this game was in establishing online gambling as the lucrative market that it is today.
While the popularity of poker may have declined slightly in the UK since 2010, however, it retains a loyal base of players on these shores.
At the same time, a whole host of poker iterations are currently playing a key role in the burgeoning U.S. marketplace, which has yet to fully embrace online casino games such as slots.
If you are going to play online poker in the UK in 2022, however, you need to identify the best sites with the most rewarding bonuses.
Fortunately, we’ve done this here for you…
Microgaming Poker Sites List
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There’s no doubt that Microgaming’s own network of poker sites is one of the most sought-after in the world; not least because this bears the name of a truly exceptional software house.
But what else sets this network of sites apart? And, most importantly, what do you need to know as a player?
To find out we need to start from the beginning.
Online Poker Basics – What You Must Know
Before we understand the functionality of a poker network and what sets Microgaming apart from their rivals, it’s important that we explore the basics of the game and precisely what new players can expect.
Make no mistake; poker remains the quintessential gambling activity, and a genuine game of skill where strategy and psychology play a key role in determining individual outcomes.
However, poker is also an often-misunderstood discipline, while the shift towards online game-play and misconceptions about the complexity of the game have also contributed to it becoming slightly less popular over the course of the last few years.
In simple and broad terms, there are two types of this game; namely Stud Poker and Draw Poker (Right image: Live Microgaming Poker in action). The rules for these games are almost identical, with the ultimate aim being to either deploy a strong hand or bluff your opponent and claim the final pot.
In both of these poker variations, players are dealt five initial cards (although this may increase to seven in some iterations of stud poker.
Players can then assess their hands and wager accordingly, although in draw poker they’ll also have the opportunity to trade as many as three cards following the first round of betting.
During each round of betting, players have several options available to them. If they have a strong hand (or at least want to give this impression to others), for example, they can ‘raise’ the existing bet level and force others to match this.
Players may also ‘check’ at this time and pass on their option to bet, in order to assess their options further as the betting unfolds.
If a game develops unfavourably or you’re unable to convince your rivals that you have a strong hand, you may eventually choose to ‘fold’.
This means that you withdraw from the hand and any subsequent betting, although you’ll lose any chips that you’ve wagered so far.
As the game reaches a conclusion, players who remain in contention for the pot must decide whether to raise the stakes again or ‘call’.
The latter means to equal the amount wagered by the last player who raised, before the cards are laid down and the outcome revealed.
Of course, there are numerous variations of poker on offer across networks nationwide, and the rules of each will vary.
However, having this broad understanding of poker will stand you in good stead when you begin to play competitive and search for the best poker sites online, and ultimately compete in tournament with skilled rivals!
What is a Poker Network?
In simple terms, a poker network contains a group of online poker rooms that share the same software, player database and (in some instances) branding.
Regardless of the overarching branding, each of these poker rooms will boast its own unique skin, which is defined by a uniquely designed logo and colour scheme.
Of course, not every poker network has been created equal, but the most successful (such as Microgaming) tend to draw in new and recently revamped brands to create a diverse selection of popular sites.
This helps to build both an audience and a reputation for excellence, while creating a seamless and exciting poker experience across multiple tables.
We’ll delver further into Microgaming’s own poker network below, but it’s worth noting that this entity is one of the longest-standing of its type in the world.
It’s also interesting to observe that Microgaming has focused on creating a broad network of largely unheralded and unfamiliar poker sites.
There are numerous benefits to this from a player perspective, particularly if you’re a seasoned and experience exponent with a solid track record.
What is Microgaming’s Poker Network?
Even if you’ve never tapped into Microgaming’s poker network, we’d wager that you’ve at least heard of the UK most famous and longest-standing software provider.
Make no mistake; you can chart the history of Microgaming all the way back to 1994, when online gambling was little more than an intriguing concept.
At this time, the brand developed the world’s first true online casino software, featuring many of the key verticals that remain popular to this very day!
It’s this longevity and legacy that has partially helped Microgaming to become one of the most dominant development teams on the market, with its growing network of more than 100 casinos and 800 games the envy of most software houses.
Microgaming was also one of the first developers to expand into online poker, at the beginning of the aforementioned boom in 2003.
Since then, the brand has built one of the largest and most impressive online poker networks around, with more than 40 interactive rooms providing an immersive (and often rewarding) experience.
Initially known as the Prima Network and then rebranded with the iconic Microgaming name in order to connect a disparate and relatively obscure selection of poker sites, this is arguably the best poker network around.
It’s widely regarded as the best option out there for experienced players who are looking to increase their take.
What to Consider When Choosing A Poker Network
What’s interesting about the Microgaming poker network is that none of its individual rooms would survive by themselves, but together they contribute to create a collaborative and interconnected space in which players can thrive.
However, the lack of a single well-known poker room brings us neatly onto one of the most important considerations when choosing a viable site at which to play, which is the percentage of fish who play regularly there.
In poker terms, a ‘fish’ is someone who is new to the game and doesn’t really understand how to play consistently well, with this fundamental lack of skill making them prone to poor decision-making and unable to play good or inadequate hands with any great success.
Of course, fish can also be hard to read and less likely to fold when the stakes are high (affording them an opportunity to win big by luck rather than judgement), but over time experienced players should be able to dominate games and optimise their returns.
So, by targeting one of Microgaming’s well-connected but relatively unknown poker rooms, you can leverage your existing skill and experience and become a winner in no time at all!
It’s also important to play at poker rooms that are fully licensed and well-regulated, and there’s no doubt that Microgaming fits this bill.
Microgaming is fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), for example, while it also benefits from an increasingly stringent regulatory and legislative climate in Britain.
These factors, allied with the size of the Microgaming casinos operation and the resources behind it, contribute to a reliable and stable poker network that takes consummate care of your bankroll.
From a gameplay perspective, it’s also important to identify poker networks that are powered by cutting-edge software.
Once again, Microgaming is one of the leaders in this respect, with its simple and balanced poker rooms striking the optimal balance between performance and playability.
The pace of each poker room is neither too quick or too slow, for example, while the quality of graphics helps to create an immersive and authentic experience that replicates offline gameplay.
Of course, it can be argued that Microgaming has a distinct advantage over their rivals when developing poker software, having blazed a trail for others to follow since their launch back in 1994.
However, it’s the attention to detail that really enables Microgaming’s software to shine, with a noticeable absence of lag and disconnect when playing at one of the brand’s online poker rooms crucial for players.
OK, So What Bonuses Can I Expect?
As you’d expect from such a disparate selection of poker rooms, none of the Microgaming bonus & free spin offers you can find online have been created equal.
This means that bonus values will vary from one site to another, but as a general rule there’s some lucrative jackpot promotions on offer to new players across the board!
The Betsafe Poker room is one of the flagship skins within the Microgaming poker network, and currently offers an impressive 100% deposit match up to the value of £1,000.
VIP players can also receive a fixed rakeback of 30% at this poker room, with this calculated according to contributed terms.
The rakeback refers to the commission that each poker room within a network removes from each players’ bet. In most instances, the rake meets at the end of each hand, at which point a poker room may afford winning players a percentage of this fund.
This is an additional and often lucrative bonus, and one that can really sway experienced and so-called ‘VIPs’ when choosing a viable poker network.
This type of fixed rakeback is both competitive and commonplace in Microgaming’s poker rooms, while players can typically bank deposit matches of between 100% and 200% when registering.
The biggest variant here is the value of the bonus, however, with popular poker rooms such as Betsson offering a 100% match up to £2,000 to its players. Many new Microgaming casinos also offer excellent value for first time depositors in order to remain competitive.
Ultimately, it’s important to review individual bonus terms and compare the market in detail before making an informed choice. That said, there’s no doubt that the poker rooms in Microgaming’s network offer some of the most competitive promotions around.
When appraising your available options, we’d recommend paying particular attention to the value of the deposit match and the percentage of any rakeback that you’re likely to be offered, while factoring in your bankroll and likely contribution at all times.
Why Is Microgaming’s Poker Offering So Popular?
Not only is Microgaming’s poker network one of the oldest and most iconic in the UK, but it’s also constantly being improved for the benefit of players.
This is central to the Microgaming brand, which has been a true trail-blazer for all online gambling verticals for 26 years now.
2018 saw the network undergo its biggest software update in history, for example creating a series of platforms that are amongst the most user-friendly and immersive around.
This is just one of the numerous reasons you should consider playing at one of Microgaming’s excellent poker sites in 2022, particularly if you have some experience of the game and want to increase your rake over time.