Poker players have been playing poker for cash stakes for hundreds of years but today, poker competitors tour the world, playing at tournaments as their main source of income. The excitement of an in-person competition continues to enthrall poker enthusiasts but today, poker pros can win real money online instantly when they play online.

Competing online offers many benefits over in-person competitions. There's no need to leave your home so travel and accommodations expenses are eliminated. Online poker removes a great deal of psychological stress since when you play online, you don't need to bluff or "read" the other player's faces. The common factor in in-person poker tournament play and online poker competition involves the real money prizes that await the winners!

Pro Poker

Poker first appeared as the game that we know today during America's expansion into the western territories of the United States. Early poker games involved gatherings in taverns and salons where groups of men would play over drinks and cigars. Stakes were low but meaningful to these rough pioneers and fights could break out at any minute over charges of cheating or unfair practices.

Poker became a favored form of entertainment in the early settlements in and around New Orleans. It spread along the Mississippi River via gambling steamboats. The "professional players" were often itinerant travelers who relied on marked cards and sleight of hand to swindle unsuspecting travelers. By 1834, the game had shifted from the original 20-card deck (which contained only Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, and Tens) to the 52-card deck that we use today. The "flush" was introduced and the game became more complex with other ranked hands that took into account the wider decks.

Texas Road Gamblers like Doyle Brunson and Johnny Moss travelled across Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, looking for high-stakes games. During this era, poker was illegal in most places so being a "pro" meant not only knowing how to win but also how to get out of town safely with the winnings.

Poker became a featured game at Vegas casinos when they began to open in the 1930s but it wasn't until the 1970s that the casinos started to offer tournament play. Casino owner Benny Binion invited the seven best players in the world to his Horseshoe Casino in 1970 to determine a world champion. That event birthed the WSOP and launched a new era where poker tournaments became a new and exciting form of entertainment for poker fans.

Today, poker tournaments are as popular as ever. A hold-card camera allows viewers to see players' hidden cards which deepens the sense of "you are there" for people watching the tournament. And online casinos make it easy for anyone to compete, on any level, and win lucrative payout prizes without ever leaving their living room couch.

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Playing Poker For Real Money Online

To play poker online as a professional today, you must transition from a recreational mindset to a business-oriented approach that focuses on volume, discipline, and data-driven strategy. It's less about "gambling" and more about running a high-stakes, data-analysis business. The game is tougher than ever, but the tools and infrastructure have also evolved to give everyone a chance to succeed.

To play pro poker online you need to prepare by creating:

  1. A technical infrastructure that allows you to minimize lag time and maximize your efficiency. You'll need top tech equipment including, at a minimum, dual 27-inch 4K monitors or a single 49-inch Ultrawide monitor so that you can view 12+ tables without overlapping. 

    The best mouse for this activity is a vertical mouse (i.e. the Logitech Life) that will allow you to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. You'll also need a mechanical keyboard for fast hotkey response. 

    Your internet connection should be top-notch – a primary fiber connection is best – plus a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) so that your PC and router stay alive during any outages.

  2. Seed money to get started. You are the CEO of your own bankroll. Make sure that you have Cash Games: 50–100 buy-ins for your primary stake, 100-300 buy-ins for tournaments and enough life expenses (in a separate account) for your living expenses for 6-12 months to support you while you get started. Make sure that you register appropriately with tax authorities.

  3. A strategy. The "math" of poker is effectively solved for many common scenarios. Your job is to internalize these solutions so that you build an effective strategy for your play. Purchase GTO solvers (i.e. GTO Wizard or PioSolver) to study before your poker tournament. 

    Make sure that you never have any of these tools open on any device while your poker game is running – AI is being used by online tournament operators to detect the presence of Real Time Assistance tools and you'll be banned if they detect such assistance tools.

Hints for Online Poker Play

Top poker pros share their tips for achieving the best results in poker play:

  • Poker is sedentary. Top pros emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes high-protein diets, daily exercise, and strictly avoiding blue light before bed to ensure deep recovery between "grinds."
  • Most pros join "stables" or private study groups that provide access to the latest strategic breakthroughs
  • Play fewer hands, but play them aggressively (betting and raising instead of calling).
  • Dedicate 25%–50% of your daily poker time to studying hand histories, watching training videos, or working with a coach.
  • Use tools like the WSOP Poker App or Replay Poker to test new strategies without financial risk or play your preferred poker variation in the online casino's free mode.

In today's world, you can play poker online as a pro and enjoy real money gaming entertainment with high-stakes cash prizes.

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