The current online poker apps for NJ all do their best to mimic the desktop versions of NJ’s regulated online poker rooms. For the most part they succeed in this quite well, though the selection of available tables and tournaments is far more limited.

Playing on multiple tables simultaneously is now an option, but only on one poker application. The touch interface is perfectly useful for poker play, but if you intend to use any kind of chat options you will miss having a keyboard.

This page covers mobile poker apps. Get the rundown on NJ online casino mobile apps here. Check out NJ mobile sportsbook apps here.

Once you’ve found a mobile poker site (or app) that meets your needs, we recommend vetting for payment & bonus logistics. The online poker site space is a buyer’s market, so be sure to find a site that offers a generous bonus. Never miss an online poker game! With the 888poker mobile app you can play cash games or tournaments everywhere you go. This player-friendly mobile poker app is ideally suited to all mobile smartphones and tablets; Android and iOS platforms. Get full access to the tournament tickets and bonuses in your account. As far as real-money games, No Limit Hold’em games are the bread and butter of all NJ online poker mobile apps. Other games are offered, but the selection is even sparser than it is on desktop clients. PokerStars is the only app that offers Pot Limit Omaha games. The Bovada mobile poker app performs great and looks amazing on any device. The Ignition Poker App is another perfect example of a modern application that adds a lot of style and functionality for.

Best NJ online poker apps

NJ mobile poker overview: iOS and Android

NJ mobile poker apps: available games

Although all six apps allow for free money play, the only one that seems to get “fun” games off on a somewhat consistent basis is PokerStars. And even then, players will have much better luck finding a free play cash game than a tournament or sit & go.

As far as real-money games, No Limit Hold’em games are the bread and butter of all NJ online poker mobile apps. Other games are offered, but the selection is even sparser than it is on desktop clients.

PokerStars is the only app that offers Pot Limit Omaha games. Borgata/Party offers limit games but they rarely get off.

Other mixed games like Omaha Hi/Lo and Stud games do not appear to be fully integrated into NJ-based online poker apps.

Best mobile poker app for NJ players

Prior to PokerStars’ official launch in New Jersey, WSOP.com held a narrow edge over Borgata Poker for the state’s best online poker app. Now, it’s the PokerStars NJ app that wins out, by more than a little.

PokerStars has integrated its online casino and poker offerings into one comprehensive application, with poker taking center stage.

Not only does the app provide the most robust selection of account management features – which includes access to the cashier, VIP Store, and settings page – but the PokerStars NJ mobile app simply feels more polished than what the competition has to offer.

It’s also the only app that has integrated multi-tabling, non-hold’em variants and lottery sit & go’s. And thanks to the large lobby icons and sliders, finding a game of preference rarely takes more than a couple of swipes.

As for gameplay, PokerStars NJ comes closer than any other NJ operator to simulating the desktop experience on mobile. It also usually features the most traffic for non-guaranteed tournaments.

PokerStars is partnered with Resorts Casino in New Jersey.

NJ mobile poker app snapshots

WSOP poker app overview

Of all the poker apps this was probably the second most fun to play on, but mainly because WSOP/888 possesses inherent advantages in liquidity compared to Borgata/Party. This more than makes up for the missing features in the software, of which there are a few notables.

While mobile poker functions identically between 888 and WSOP, the WSOP app has the better tournament selection of the two (although this could vary from day to day). No complaints about the tournament lobby — it may not be the prettiest layout but it’s more than efficient.

On the other hand:

While the cash game and sit-and-go sliders work fine, it would have been nice if WSOP incorporated functionality that allowed players to see these lobbies. As is, players have to just hope a game of their preference is running.

This is a pretty severe oversight and may cause some players to run away in frustration.

888 Poker app overview

The nearly identical software that 888 Poker and WSOP use is a little less functional than the apps for Borgata and Party.

Rather than seeing the tables by name (and the number of people there) you have to just specify the type of game you are looking for with a number of sliding bars. This makes getting a good cash game tricky at times. Also, 888 and WSOP do not have any kind of fast-fold game options on mobile.

Though there is a wide range of Sit & Go options, you may have trouble finding one that is viable. As with the cash games, you must choose parameters and then hope there is someone else interested, and many of the sit-and-go tournaments that are more popular on the site don’t seem to be available on the app.

Regular multi-table tournaments, on the other hand, work perfectly and are excellent.

PartyPoker app overview

The app built for the mobile Party Poker room is the same program as Borgata. Since they share liquidity across the board, players will have a similar experience with both programs.

PartyPoker recently revamped its interface, and the result was a better user experience. Party’s app is solid, and we’d recommend that players who wrote it off when it was plagued by connection errors (especially on iOS) give it another go.

Be warned, however: Players who aren’t a fan of hold’em cash games or multi-table tournaments won’t find much to their liking. This is more a byproduct of the network’s low liquidity than the app itself.

If anything, the app supports a fair number of game formats, including fast-fold and fixed limit. Too bad its dedicated sub-menus and advanced filtering options are virtually wasted.

Borgata Poker app overview

As with the NJ online casinos, the choice between Borgata and Party will mostly come down to which rewards program you are already in.

At one point, registering for tournaments was unreliable, but it appears the operator has ironed out most of the kinks.

More good news: Borgata’s numerous daily freeroll tournaments now appear on the mobile tournament list. This will come as a pleasant surprise to those who may have disregarded the app when they couldn’t sign up for the freebies.

PokerStars App Overview

As solid as other New Jersey poker apps have become, the PokerStars NJ mobile offering still blows them out of the water. That’s not to say the app is a model of perfection, as server lag and unresponsiveness are still minor issues. But in terms of overall game selection, account management, design and aesthetics, PokerStars NJ wins out.

Currently, the app offers cash games (no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha), tournaments, sit-and-go’s and the widely popular (and mobile friendly) Spin & Go’s. Zoom Poker is listed in the app lobby, but games tend to only run when there is a “play [x] amount of cash game hands” promotion running.

The PokerStars’ app features a smart feature that recommends games to players based on their playing tendencies. Players can easily bypass these recommendations by clicking on the large icons and using the sliders and filters instead. We did find it a bit odd that players aren’t permitted to specify an exact buy-in for cash games, but otherwise, the ring game sliders fit the bill.

Tournament registration was a breeze. The app lists buy-in, prize pool, format and date info for multiple tournaments right from the main tournament page. All players have to do is find something they like and click “Register.” If the tournament lobby proves too cluttered (which is often the case during the evening) players can weed out tournaments via nine different filters.

Players can also register for and participate in freerolls from their mobile devices.

Pala Poker App Overview

Pala Poker’s mobile application is available for Android and iOS devices. The Apple version is available from the App Store, while the Android version can be accessed by following the download link on Pala’s website under the “download & play” page.

At around 80 megabytes, the iOS version is fairly bulky and takes a few moments to download, depending on internet connection speed. The Android version is around half that size.

Expect to wait between 10 and 20 seconds for the application to load, with the iOS version being slightly faster than the Android one.

Game offering is identical to what can be found on the desktop application: cash games include no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha, with stakes ranging from $0.10/$0.25 to $1/$2. Unfortunately, there are no micro or high-limit stakes. Six-handed SnG tournaments are available, with buy-ins from $5 to $20.

There are also a number of scheduled multi-table tournaments available on any given day, most with a guaranteed prize pool between $50 and $250 and buy-ins in the $0.50 to $10 range. A few freerolls are available, too. Almost all tournaments start at 4 p.m. or later.

Overall, the application is responsive, functional, and does not lag behind its desktop counterpart.

What are the best iPhone / iPad apps for poker?

Poker has come a long way since the early days of Windows-only downloads. You can now enjoy browser-based games and even find dedicated apps for poker on iPhones and iPads. These are reserved for the biggest international brands – which have the development teams and number of players using Apple devices to make this worthwhile.

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This page covers all you need to know to play poker for real money on devices running oSX. Here is what you will find:

• Compatibility: Practical steps to getting a poker game running on your iPhone or iPad.
• Pros and Cons: What are the benefits of mobile poker, and what drawbacks should you be aware of before you start?
• Apps or Instant-Play: Where you have a choice, which option should you go for?
• Limited US Poker Room Options: Players using iPhones or iPads have limited choices of offshore poker rooms with mobile-compatible games, you’ll find the main options here.
• International iPhone Poker Sites: Which of the giant international brands caters to Apple users the best?
• Apple Pay Poker Rooms: Which online poker rooms let you load your account with Apple Pay? This section also covers the alternatives.

Compatibility: Flash and iPhones / iPads Don’t Mix!

Many of the earliest browser-based online poker games used Adobe Flash as the base software. While this has come a long way since the earliest, laggy versions – it is still not compatible with Apple devices. This was a deliberate choice by the late Steve Jobs.

Fortunately, the best iPhone online poker sites have evolved. Many now use a mix of Java code and HTML5 to power their instant-play functionality. If you prefer an old Flash site, then you also have the option of installing the Chrome browser on your iPhone – along with a plugin to enable Flash.

Some of the earlier iPhone models are no longer capable of handling the poker room apps or instant play. If you have anything earlier than a 5S, then you will almost certainly need a hardware upgrade before you play poker for real money.

Pros and Cons of iPhone / iPad Poker

Today’s real money poker environment is very much optimised for desktops (preferably with multiple monitors). Multi-tabling, software tools and note taking all need space. When it comes to mobile poker – there are many options – the big question is whether poker is suited to this format.

Best Online Poker Mobile App

Here are the pros and cons of iPhone / iPad poker:

Pros:

• Play on the move: Whenever you have a moment, simply pop out your phone and have a quick session.
• Watch the TV: This might seem like a strange positive, though with an iPad you can enjoy poker games alongside your family in the evenings – with no need to shut yourself off, alone in a study.
• Enjoy the fastest games: Games like Zone Poker / Zoom are entertaining variants, which are perfect for mobile devices.

Cons:

• One Game at a Time: A few sites allow extra tables, though these are not easy to manage on a smaller screen. Mostly, you’ll need to play just 1 game at a time.
• Disconnection Risk: If you are out and about, there is a risk you’ll lose connection, and your pocket aces will be automatically folded!
• Limited Choice: Many poker rooms only offer a sub-set of their game selection on apps or instant-play clients.

Should You Download a Casino’s iPhone / iPad App?

Where poker sites have downloadable apps, I’d recommend you take it. This is a much better overall experience, and in the case of PokerStars, will allow you to multi-table. The big advantage is that you download the graphics and animations onto your phone – so you don’t need to initialize these from the network each time you play.

Apps usually come direct from the poker site’s website – rather than via the app store. If you go to the site with your iPhone or iPad, you’ll be directed to download (where available).

Unfortunately, apps are the exception and not the rule. Many more poker sites (including the big offshore US brands) use instant play and do not have apps at all. Most smaller rooms can’t justify the expense, and others believe that the browser-based gaming is sufficient. While this may be true in some cases, I feel there is a lot of work to be done before many smaller sites are truly compatible with mobile Apple devices.

US Poker Sites Which Work on iPhones / iPads

There are not too many choices, and no download apps for iPhones or iPads. You will find games to enjoy in your browser. I see these are extensions of the main sites to enjoy while you are on the move – and not replacements for the old download clients.

BetOnline.ag / Sportsbetting Poker: These sites have an instant play client which works for Apple devices. You can get started by scanning a QR code on the main ‘mobile poker’ page. This will give you a choice of the (cash game heavy) game selection at these sites. While up to 4 tables can be played at once, this software may not be stable enough (yet) to cope with multi-tabling.

Bovada: Bovada also offer an instant play client which will work on iPhones (4 and up) and compatible iPads. This will allow you to reach the ‘Zone Poker’ games, which is the biggest US fast-fold poker format – or the regular cash game tables. Tournaments are not available via Instant Play at Bovada.

International Poker Sites Which Are iPhone / iPad Compatible

When you check out the biggest sites, you’ll find apps as well as instant play clients that work with Apple devices. Only the top brands have apps. You will find these for PokerStars, 888 Poker and Bet365. All require download and installation – and will let you reach a lot of different game formats – multi-tabling up to 4 tables in the case of PokerStars or Bet365.

As with the US sites, Instant-play clients have their limitations for iPhone and iPad users. You’ll find these work (using HTML5 instead of Flash). At the same time the play can involve lags, and multi-tabling is difficult.

Apps Compatible with iPhones and iPads in 2020

Can I Play Real Money Poker on my iPhone Using Apple Pay?

At the moment, only one poker brand – 888 Poker – accept Apple Pay for deposits. This makes the process of installing the app and depositing to play for real money completely within the Apple infrastructure. At the time of writing this option is only available in selected countries. I hope to see more sites (especially those which have already developed iPhone apps) to join this list in the near future.

What Other Deposit Methods Can I use at iPhone or iPad Poker Sites?

While we wait for Apple Pay to take off as a mainstream poker deposit option, there are plenty of established options. The biggest factor in what is available to you is your location. US players are restricted by laws covering banking transactions with offshore poker rooms – and Canadians are affected by these laws too. Outside of the US, things are very easy – it is more a case of which deposit and withdrawal methods suit you the best here.

Popular US Deposit Methods for iPhone Poker Rooms:

• Credit Card: Even with the banking restrictions, cards which can make international payments are the single most common deposit method. Visa and MasterCard are the most frequently accepted brands, with Amex sometimes taken.
• Prepaid Visa: If your card gets declined, a prepaid Visa will often work (you need to contact your iPad / iPhone poker room to ask which brands to buy).
• Bitcoin: Fast becoming the go-to deposit method for US players, this is easy to set up and completely secure. The sites work in dollars, so you’ll only need to hold the Bitcoin for as long as it takes to deposit or withdraw.
• Person to Person Transfers: This option uses established international wiring companies, for example MoneyGram. You send cash to a representative of the iPhone poker room.
• Bank Wires: These are sometimes possible, though generally reserved for high roller players.

More Options for International Players

• PayPal: The biggest iPhone poker sites like Bet365 and 888 will accept PayPal deposits.
• Alternative eWallets: There are many brands providing similar services to PayPal which will let you deposit via your mobile device. These include Trustly, Skrill and Neteller.
• Local Bank Transfers: A popular choice, where banking is restricted (for example in Canada) you can use gateway services like iDebit.
• Vouchers and Virtual Cards: Prepaid services in these categories include PaySafeCard, EcoPayz and Click2Pay.

Wrapping Up: Your iPhone / iPad Poker Options

As you will see above, International players currently have a lot bigger choice of poker sites to enjoy on iPhones and iPads. The biggest brands are the place to head for downloadable apps with full functionality.

At the moment the offshore US sites have instant-play options, which will work on your Apple devices. These are limited in game selection, and in the ability to effectively multi-table. The best of these is the Bovada instant-play option – which features their speedy ‘Zone Poker’ game.

Watch this space – I hope to be bringing US readers news on new iPhone / iPad poker developments in the not too distant future.