Free Online Poker Browser Game

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Poker is the ultimate social game. A huge part of the fun for most poker players is getting together with friends to throw some cards around and get into it with some animated table talk.

Play the best free games, deluxe downloads, puzzle games, word and trivia games, multiplayer card and board games, action and arcade games, poker and casino games, pop culture games and more. This page aims to help poker players find the best places to play poker online for free. Here you will find information on Poker games and Freeroll tournaments, where players can win real prizes without risking money, and answer the most frequently asked questions.

With the advancement of modern technology and online poker software, friends don’t have to meet at an actual table anymore. And those that can’t always meet up for their local home game now have several options for taking their weekly game online.

You can now set up easy and free online poker with friends on a poker site in just a few minutes.

Chat features and video conference software like Zoom can enhance the experience with that much-adored trash talk. You can even tailor your game to your specific preferences including poker variation (Hold’em, Omaha etc.), cash games, tournaments, or even a turbo Sit & Go.

There are a couple of really solid online poker sites you can use which let you play for real money or play money, depending on your location. Here’s all the info you need to play multiplayer poker online with friends.

Best Sites to Play Online Poker with Friends

Site/AppDownload/Register (Free)AvailableReal Money/Play MoneyGame Options
PokerStarsGet $30 free play & set up account in NJ, PA or MINJ, PA, MI, InternationallyYes/YesPrivate clubs/tables for cash games, tournaments, sit & go, play money or real money
888pokerClaim $20 free & set up account in NJ or DENJ, DE, InternationallyYes/YesPrivate games and tables among friends; cash game and tournaments
Global PokerClaim $20 free package & set up account in USUS (excl. WA), Canada (except Quebec)Yes/YesFree cash games for Gold Coins (play money) and Sweep Coins (real money)

Best Poker App to Play Online with Friends

Neither the PokerStars or 888poker apps have “play with friends” options yet. If you want to take advantage of PokerStars’ excellent Home Games feature to play with only your friends, you all need to download the desktop poker client.

Like the PokerStars app, 888poker doesn’t yet offer the play with friends feature on the poker app. An additional challenge with 888 is that players using a Mac won’t find this feature either. As of 2021, players needed to use a Windows-based system to play online poker with friends.

Play Poker Online with Friends in the US

Whether you’re separated from friends by geography or just looking to string together a quick event while your friends are at home, US players will find a couple of good options to play against friends online.

Here are the best to keep in mind when you’re ready to set a home game up:

Set Up a Home Game on PokerStars

The biggest name in poker offers its highly rated Home Games feature that lets you play poker online with friends remotely. Players in US states with access to PokerStars for regulated real money online poker, which include Pennsylvania,New Jersey and Michigan, can meet up with friends online to play poker in private cash games and tournaments.

Anyone in other states across the USA can use the Home Games feature at PokerStars.net to play for virtual currency. You can also, of course, use play money at the tables but exchange real money among your friends.

Setting up a home poker game with friends online at PokerStars is pretty easy but requires some initial coordination and effort.

All players will need to register an account and download the software client to get started:

Setting up an account via any of our links ensures you a $30 free play bonus or an up to $600 deposit match bonus. After setting up an account, follow these steps:

  • Log in and look to the right side of the lobby.
  • Click on the image of three dots at the bottom offering more options.
  • Once selected, click on “Home Games.” You can then click on the option to create a poker club.
  • Give your poker club a name and set the invitation code for players who you plan on inviting. This is a password so your friends can get in the club.
  • Once that’s complete, your new poker club is ready to go. Invite your friends with the name of the club and invitation code.

Here’s how it looks as you go through the sign-up process:

PokerStars will send you an email invitation you can forward to other players so they can easily find your club and join. As club manager, you’ll need to approve them to let them in the game.

At PokerStars Home Games, you can add specific colors and images to customize your club as well. When your players are approved and ready for action you can then schedule tournaments and cash games as you like.

In cash games, you can set the stakes for the tables. What’s also great about Home Games is that you can select any number of games beyond online Texas Holdem, from Seven Card Stud to Badugi to Eight-Game Mix.

For tournament players, all of those games are available and players can specify their own settings including:

  • Buy-in
  • Number of seats per table
  • Game type (regular, rebuy, knockout)
  • Blind levels
  • Game speed

You can also:

  • Make announcements on your club site
  • Set up leaderboards
  • Track event results

How to Set up a Play-Money Game with Real Money on the Side

As noted earlier, players can only buy in and play a private game online with friends for real money in a legal jurisdiction. So players would all need to be located within that jurisdiction – such as all in Pennsylvania, Michigan or New Jersey.

That doesn’t mean there can’t be a little skin in the game elsewhere, though. It’s easy to collect buy-ins for your online poker game with PayPal or an app like Venmo or Zelle. Players simply transfer a few bucks using their online accounts or mobile app.

Wsop Free Online Poker Game

One player can act as the banker just like in a home game, and then pay out winners at the end of the night. Online payment platforms make this an easy process just like in a live home game.

How to Play Free Online Poker with Friends on PokerStars

PokerStars Home Games is really set up for all types of players and, much like the process for playing a real-money home game, the steps for setting up private games in the play money software are easy to follow. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:

  • Install the desktop client software. (Remember, the app doesn’t offer this feature).
  • Register an account with your name, email, and other details
  • After downloading, open the software client and log in.
  • Click on the three buttons at the bottom offering more options.
  • Click on Home Games and the option to create a poker club.
  • Give your club a name and set the invitation code.
  • Set up a time for your tournament or cash game with details like stakes, number of players per table, etc.
  • Once that’s completed, forward an invitation with poker club name and password to friends.
  • Players can then join the club at the appointed time and get ready to play cards.

How to Set Up a Private Poker Game at 888poker

On Sign Up
100% up to $1,500 Deposit Bonus Offer

888poker currently offers legal real money online poker in New Jersey and Delaware, and friends can also meet up virtually to play for real money. Those outside NJ and DE can also set up an online poker game with just their friends using play money at the virtual tables.

The 888 software is user friendly and it’s easy to create your own poker game with friends. Here’s how to get started:

  • Claim your bonus, create an account and download the 888poker software.
  • Click on “Extra Games” from the middle top of the pull-down menu.
  • Select “Play with Friends” to get started. This is also how players will join your “home game.”
  • Click on “Create a New Game” to begin setting up your own game.

No Poker Club Required!

Unlike PokerStars, at 888 you can set up an individual cash game or tournament without creating a club. Players can easily create a game name and password to share with friends. You can then set the

  • Start date
  • Start time
  • Number of seats
  • Buy-in

Players will then simply provide that game name and password to join after you’ve emailed them the information. An easy 888 invitation option is provided. Simply email it to yourself and then forward that to friends.

When it’s time to play, those players simply join up using the name and password.

Which is better for poker with friends: PokerStars or 888poker?

For multiplayer poker online with friends, and especially for tournaments and different game variations, PokerStars Home Games is the best option available. Players have numerous options and it’s easy for all players to jump online and play.

That being said, the simplicity and ease which you can just set up a private table and jump in at 888poker is also great. 888poker also currently has a very good free no deposit bonus for opening a new poker account. Here’s a look at some aspects of the available sites mentioned here.

Poker SiteCash GamesTournamentsAdditional Notes
PokerStarsYesYes• Play money option available anywhere
• Real money option in NJ and PA
• Numerous game options & customizations
888pokerYesYes• Only available on international .com site for play money
• Numerous game options
• No club required
Global PokerYes (limited to meeting up at tables with few or no players)No• No real home game option, but available with some coordination for cash games
• Real money Sweeps Coin play allowed

Advantages to Playing Poker Online with Friends

Obviously playing online offers a great way to keep the action going when you’re away from your friends.

Players located in different parts of the world can reconnect and communicate. Here are some other positives:

  • Complete control over the game
  • Easy dealing, splitting pots, and game management
  • Several game variations to choose from
  • Tournaments are easy to set up and run
  • Players can be located anywhere

Another great advantage is that you can play with any number of players. If you have a lot of friends, a multi-table tournament is possible with the promise of a nice payout for the winner.

Only have a handful of players looking for action? You can play three- or four-handed. It’s even possible to simply play some poker with just one friend to work on your heads-up skills.

What Games Can You Set Up for Online Poker with Friends?

What’s great about playing online with friends is the number of games possible online. It makes for a great way to add some new games to the mix in your home game. You don’t have to worry about the intricacies involved with dealing a new game yourself at the table. Some poker variations to choose from include:

  • Texas Hold’em
  • Omaha
  • Seven Card Stud
  • 5-Card Omaha
  • 2-7 Lowball (Single or Triple Draw)
  • HORSE
  • 8-Game Mix
  • Badugi

Cash Games vs. Tournaments – Pros and Cons

Setting up an online cash game or tournament among friends is easy. Here’s a look at a few things to keep in mind when getting started.

Tournaments

Pros

  • Simple to set up and meet friends online.
  • Easy for budgeting and paying out winners.
  • Can be set up for any number of players.
  • Players know exactly what to budget for an event.

Cons

  • May need to be a bit more organized than a cash game.
  • When playing with multiple tables, may not allow for as much interaction as a single table.

Cash Games

Pros

  • Easy to set up with your own game and stakes.
  • Several game options available.
  • Players can come and go as they like.

Cons

  • Players looking for real money play will have to settle up offline. This is pretty simple however.
  • May not always produce a full table. Players could have a short-handed table on occasion, depending on turnout.

Online Poker with Friends at Global Poker

This option may not be quite as simple (and isn’t conducive to tournaments), but players spread across the country can still get together for some cards at Global Poker.

Global Poker is a sweepstakes poker and casino site that allows you to play for virtual currency, called Gold Coins, or a separate currency called Sweeps Coins. Sweeps Coin are accumulated when you buy Gold Coins or win them in Sweeps Coin poker games or tournaments. Sweeps Coins can then be redeemed for real money.

Setting up a real money poker game with friends on Global Poker isn’t quite as easy but it can be done. Just have everyone come to an agreement on the stakes and find an empty table. It may take a bit of coordination, but might be worth it.

Each table is named, which allows players to find where everyone will be at a certain time. Be aware that these tables won’t be exclusive, however, and other players may jump in if there are empty seats.

For example, a few friends may all be up for some SC0.25/SC0.50 No Limit Texas Hold’em. A Sweeps Coin table named “Naples” offers those stakes and no one is playing there at the moment. You and your friends will simply have to jump on the table and get started. There should be several six-handed and nine-handed tables at any one time.

Global Poker doesn’t offer a downloadable app yet but its quick-play browser-based platform makes it easy for players with a phone or tablet to jump on. The functionality is also surprisingly good. On your phone you’ll still find everything that the traditional desktop version offers – including the ability to meet up with friends at a poker table.

With a Verified Account. PLUS get a $40 Gold Coin Package for $20 on purchase
Daily FREE Sweeps Coins Just For Logging In
Redeemable For Cash Prizes

Poker with Friends Online FAQ

Are there any other apps for poker with friends online?

Some players make use of free social gaming poker apps to play with friends. There are numerous options that allow players to play for virtual money. Many players use these and settle up with real money via online transfers using PayPal, Venmo, or another option. Real money poker apps are available in legalized US states, although none currently have the built-in Home Games with Friends feature.

Can I play poker with friends on my iPhone/Android?

PokerStars and 888poker don’t offer an option to play with friends on their mobile apps. Players will need to use a traditional desktop computer or laptop.

Players using Global Poker to meet friends at a Gold Coin or Sweeps Coin table can easily use its browser-based poker option to play on a mobile phone or tablet.

Are online poker games with friends safe?

You can feel good about playing online games at PokerStars and 888poker. They are among the safest poker sites you can find online and use intricate and cutting edge security measures to keep player information and any online funds safe.

When playing for a bit of cash on the side, however, that requires all parties willing to pony up. Make sure your friends aren’t scofflaws if they plan on getting in on the action.

Do I need to deposit any money to play online with friends?

Only if all your players who are all located in a legal jurisdiction can play for real money online. Those poker games with players who may be located around the country will have to make use of play money features.

Free

Global Poker players meeting for ring games can use Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins. GC is a virtual currency and SC is an alternate virtual currency on the site that players can redeem for real cash and prizes.

Can I play poker with friends online entirely free?

Video Poker Games Online

Players can indeed battle it out for play money with friends on PokerStars, 888poker and Global Poker without depositing any real money.

The best no download poker rooms.

RoomReviewRatingNetworkJavaFlashHTML5
Ignition PokerA+PWL
SwC PokerAIndependent
Nitrogen PokerBIndependent
888 PokerDIndependent

What are no-download / in-browser poker sites?

No download poker sites are poker rooms that allow you to play online poker for free or for real money in your browser.

So instead of having to download and install the standard poker software, you can just sign in and start playing online poker from within your browser window. It really is that straightforward.

Why play online poker in your browser?

Because it's quicker and easier.

Plus, there may be times where you'd prefer not to install a poker room client on your computer. For example; if you're using a shared computer, or if you're trying to get a few hands in whilst you're at work. For situations like these, no download poker sites are perfect.

Furthermore, these in-browser poker rooms are also handy for Mac and Linux users (e.g. Ubuntu poker players) that can't install the .exe files of the standard poker clients offered by poker rooms. There are sites that offer Mac poker apps that you can be installed on Macs (through .dmg files), but the no-download poker rooms are always a handy alternative.

How do they work?

Browser-based poker rooms are delivered in one of two ways:

  1. Flash

Java and Flash are simply two different programming languages that allow poker rooms to develop web-based poker software. You may have heard of these two languages before, as they are commonly used for games on free games websites. For example, ArmorGames.com (my fave) offers flash based games.

Surprisingly, one programming language isn't more popular than another when it comes to providing web-based poker software -- it's pretty much an even split. I guess that's a good indication that both methods are on par with each other for this sort of stuff. When playing at these no download rooms you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two types anyway.

Best Online Poker Games Free

So if you're playing online poker from within your browser, it's running on either Java or Flash, and they're both as good as each other.

Poker Games Free Play

Will these work in my browser?

Should do. It's not necessarily your browser that's the issue though; it's whether you've got (or an up to date) version of Java or Flash. If you haven't, you can always grab the latest version of Java or the latest version of Flash for free.

Note: The poker room will usually prompt you beforehand if you're not up to date, so I'd just go ahead and try them out first and see what happens.

Nonetheless, I went ahead and tried all the instant play poker rooms in the table above, and they all worked well in these browsers:

  • Chrome (my favourite browser)

What's the difference between download and no-download poker sites?

Seeing as the no download poker rooms have to load up and run from within your browser, they need to be lightweight and fast. As a result, these 'instant play' rooms often have fewer features and simpler graphics than their downloadable counterparts.

Common features that may be missing/different from an instant play poker room are:

  • Table resizing.
  • Maximum number of tables open at one time is smaller.
  • Instant hand replay feature.

These are just examples though of course. Some no download rooms are almost identical to the full version.

On the whole though, I've always been impressed with the browser-based poker sites. It's not like you're getting a completely stripped down service -- it's more like a 'lite' alternative to the full-version.

The pros and cons.

I'm guessing that you've already figured out whether or not an instant play poker site is the ideal option for you. If not, here's a quick summary of the good stuff and the not-so-good stuff.

Pros.

  • No need to download or install anything. Play from within your browser.

Cons.

  • Fewer features than the full version.
  • There aren't as many options out there for browser-based poker sites.

If you're a serious poker player, I'd recommend looking in to a downloading a full poker room client. The extra features and stability that comes with the full poker software more than makes up for the time it takes to download and install the program.

There's no harm in trying out an in-browser poker room first though to see how it works out -- you can switch around whenever you like.

No download poker rooms FAQ.

Will these poker rooms leave any evidence that I've been playing poker on my computer?

Yes, they'll leave evidence in your browser history.

Playing at a poker room in your browser will leave the same sort of history as any other website that you may want to keep hidden. You can clean up the evidence by either deleting your history, or using the 'incognito' mode (or the equivalent of that) in your browser.

Some poker rooms require that you download a tiny .jnlp file to get the browser-version up and running, so you'll want to delete that from your downloads folder too. You'll know if you've downloaded one of these though.

Which no-download poker room is the best?

Honestly, they're all very good. It all depends on what you want from your poker room, so check out the reviews and go for the one that looks the most ideal.

Can I play for real money?

Yep, just make a deposit through the web cashier and you can play real money cash games and tournaments as normal. You'll be playing against both the real money players using the no download room and the players using the downloadable client.

Can I play for free?

Yes. Playing for cash is more exciting though. Get some NLHE strategy under your belt and you might win some money.

Are they safe?

Yes.

Security is of the utmost importance when it comes to playing poker online, so the poker rooms have ensured that everything is safe and secure. I've been playing at web-based poker rooms for a while and I've never had any problems.

Will these rooms work on my mobile?

Probably not.

Although these no-download poker sites allow you to play within a browser, it doesn't mean that they're also going to work on your mobile's browser. It's worth a try, but these rooms aren't the answer just yet.

If you have more general questions about playing poker online, check out my Texas Hold'em FAQ.

Go back to the Texas Hold'em rooms.