Mac Poker Sites

Estimates vary about how many people actually have computers with Mac operating systems. Some claim that more than 15% of all desktop computers use a Mac operating system, while others suggest fewer than 10% choose Macs for their personal use.

When it comes to playing online poker on a Mac, most poker sites make some provision for Mac users – either by way of a native Mac downloadable client or an “Instant Play” browser option. Sadly some fail to consider Mac poker players at all. If you want to play on one of these sites, you will need to use a Windows emulator.

Poker Sites Where You Can Play on a Mac

The following is a list of sites where you can play online poker on a Mac. The sites either have a native Mac client that you can download, offer an “Instant Play” browser version of the software, or you can use a Windows emulator to play the full version of the software with access to all the games and features. Please note that the options may differ according to your country of residence.

The Pros and Cons of Native Mac Poker Sites

There are indisputable benefits of playing online poker on a downloadable Mac client. The client will always be one click away, and you will usually be able to enjoy the same range of games and features as are available to Windows users.

There is hardly any downside to playing on Mac friendly poker sites – provided that the software is stable and bug-free. Some people claim that downloadable Mac poker software is resource-intensive and takes up a lot of space on a Mac OS. Inasmuch as that is true in some circumstances, most modern Mac computers should be more than capable of handling the requirements.

The Pros and Cons of “Instant Play” Browsers

“Instant Play” options are convenient inasmuch as you do not have to use up any space on your computer to play online poker on a Mac. You have the freedom to log into your favourite poker site from any computer and the games are just as secure as when playing on the downloadable Mac poker software.

What I do not like about playing poker on “Instant Play” browsers is that they generally do not tend to have the same range of games and features as the downloadable version of the software. The visual experience is usually disappointing and – if you are playing in an Internet café or other public area – you are unlikely to get the same connection speed as you would enjoy at home.

The Pros and Cons of Windows Emulators

The pros of using a Windows emulator to play online poker on a Mac are that you get the full Windows experience without having to buy a Windows computer! Most players who have to use a Windows emulator to play online poker on a Mac choose Boot Camp – Apple´s own Windows emulator specifically designed for Mac OS 10.6 or later.

You can download Boot Camp from Cnet for free, but please bear in mind that the Boot Camp program takes up extra space and resources on your Mac computer. Some players have complained that emulators lag on occasions. My opinion is that going through the process of downloading and installing the emulator software is worthwhile to get a better poker experience.