Written by admin on Friday, March 11th, 2011

Ubuntu is a Linux-based operating system with more than 12 million users worldwide. It has quickly become the most popular Linux-based OS for desktop users, and it has only become more popular as newer versions with more features have been released.

Thanks to the popularity of Ubuntu, there are numerous Ubuntu poker sites have gone out of their way to make sure Ubuntu users can play in their rooms. While there are no dedicated Ubuntu poker sites with downloadable software that we know of, many sites have found ways to let users who run Ubuntu and other operating systems to play in their poker rooms.

Sites For Playing Online Poker In United States Using Ubuntu

Can I Play Poker With Ubuntu?

The drawback in any non-Windows based operating system is that almost all of the software in the world isn’t written for open source programs like Ubuntu. While there is a growing collection of software for Ubuntu, when it comes to things like poker rooms and other software that’s directed toward the masses, there simply isn’t enough demand yet for poker rooms to release Ubuntu downloads.

However, if Ubuntu was just limited to their own software releases, there would be a great many things that you couldn’t do with it, so users also download another program called Wine which allows them to run Windows based software. This allows you to play at any poker room in the world, since they all have Windows download versions.

As well, users can use non download versions which many poker sites offer, which allows them to play poker purely in Ubuntu without the need for a third party software program like Wine. If you run Ubuntu though, you probably have Wine as well, or something similar, as it’s pretty much needed, or if you don’t, you should definitely look to add this free program.

So in the end, people can enjoy all the benefits of running Ubuntu as their operating software without having to compromise as far as being able to play online poker, or even be limited to where they can play it.

So while Ubuntu users can play pretty much wherever they want, it’s still very important to choose your Ubuntu poker sites carefully. There is quite a bit of variation in terms of the quality of the different online poker sites out there, and you definitely don’t want to learn your lessons the hard way.

So we’ve provided a list for you of our top recommended Ubuntu poker sites, based upon our experience playing at them. It’s far better to benefit from the experiences and advise of experts rather than wander the online poker world yourself without anywhere near the knowledge that you need and perhaps even place yourself in jeopardy.

Is It Safe To Play Poker Using Ubuntu?

One of the main appeals with running Ubuntu is the increased level of security that users enjoy. It’s not that Windows isn’t secure, and to be honest I’ve never heard of a poker player being subject to security risks at poker rooms running Windows, although it’s certainly true that your computer in general can be subject to attacks through things such as viruses, trojans, keyloggers, and other malicious software modifiers.

However, some players enjoy the added peace of mind of running Ubuntu, which has plenty of security features but is pretty much ignored by the criminals. It’s not really worth their while to attack Ubuntu users since their numbers are so small, and the software is so robust.

The safety concerns here for Ubuntu online poker players are the same ones that all poker players have to deal with, which are things like is the poker site’s software fair and secure, are there a bunch of cheaters that play there, is the company solid or are they at risk of going out of business, and so on.

As you may know, the history of online poker is full of examples of shady operations, and hundreds of thousands of players have been burned for hundreds of millions of dollars by not knowing enough to stay away from these sites.

I stopped recommending Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker way back when they were caught cheating their players, and that was a real no brainer as far as I was concerned. So many players failed to take heed, and finally everyone got cheated out of all of their money in the end.

As far as Poker Stars and Full Tilt, I’ve been steering players away from these sites for years, and although it’s mostly been due to these sites having way too tough competition there, making it much harder to make money there, and even if you do, the amount you make is far less.

However, that wasn’t the only reason, and while they were both big targets of the U.S. government, Full Tilt Poker in particular had been operating on the shadier side, where Poker Stars had always been a lot more up front and trustworthy. So it wasn’t any big surprise to me that Full Tilt got taken down and it came out that they were accused of taking millions of players’ money while the operation went down the toilet, and this was even before they got shut down.

So we take all of these things very seriously as far as looking to direct you away from risky situations, and there are plenty of safe sites to play at that no one really needs to be subject to this nonsense. So by following our recommendations you will be assured that you will be playing online poker in a very safe and secure setting.

How Do I Set Up Poker With Ubuntu?

Provided that you have software which allows you to run Windows based programs, you will be able to download software from online poker rooms the same way that Windows users would.

If you do not, there is another option which is to go with poker sites that offer no download versions of their software, which simply run in your web browser. As a general rule, download versions tend to be better, but if you don’t want to bother doing that, no download versions are perfectly fine.

So what you need to decide first of all is whether or not you want to use the download version or not. If so, you will first need to download their software. All you need to do in order to do that is click on the download link and just follow along with the prompts, as you would when you download any software to your computer.

Then you will be taken to the registration page where you will enter in your personal information, set up a username and password, select a screen name, and so on. If you choose the no download version, then you are taken directly to this area.

Once you are finished registering, then all you need to do in order to start playing for real money is to make your first deposit. All of our top recommended Ubuntu poker sites, including both the download ones and those offering instant play, all are ready and willing to pay you to try them out, so there’s some nice bonus money in store for you no matter which of our top picks you end up going with.

Ubuntu Download Poker Sites

Having the ability to run Windows programs with software like Wine or other emulator type programs opens up the whole world of online poker to Ubuntu users. You can now play wherever you want, which will ensure that you aren’t kept out of the very best online poker sites out there.

It’s important though that you know which of the hundreds of online poker sites are best to play at though, so it wouldn’t be very helpful to you at all if we just told you to go out and play wherever you want. So this is why we’re providing you with our top recommendations for Ubuntu users, so that you are pointed in the right direction.

Ubuntu Instant Play Poker

More and more online poker sites are offering instant play options, where there is no need at all to download any software to play at these poker sites. There are also situations where you can’t download software, such as at work and at public locations such as libraries, and no download poker software allows you to still play your chosen game.

So while at one time there were only a few online poker sites who offered this feature, there are now a multitude of good poker sites offering instant play, so we’ve had no trouble at all finding some great ones for you.

More Information On Selecting Ubuntu Poker Sites

What we have found over the years though is that simply describing the features of various online poker sites like other people have done wasn’t really providing players with the service that they needed. A lot of these players really lack the experience to make the decisions they need to make merely by being given this information, and even experienced players look for more help than this sort of thing provides.

So what people really need is not so much information as advice, sound advise based upon years of experience not only playing online poker but also making recommendations and getting feedback from players. I play the higher stakes myself and it’s been years since I’ve played at the smaller stakes that most players play, but I listen closely to what these players have to say about playing at this or that poker site and this information is invaluable.

In the end, it’s our responsibility as the experts to take all of this information, compile it, put it together with our own experiences at these poker sites and everything else we know about them, and then digest them into some usable advice that less experienced players or anyone looking for some top level guidance can rely upon.

So it’s like going to a fine restaurant and asking the waiter what is good there, and having him list off a bunch of ingredients of several dishes, versus just plain telling you what is good. So that’s what we prefer to do.

So have a look at our menu of top Ubuntu poker sites and just order up whatever delicious dish you wish, as they are all scrumptious.

Best Ubuntu Poker Site For USA: Bodog

UB （www.bodog.com): Like the other Ubuntu poker sites on this list, there’s no dedicated Ubuntu poker client to be found at Bodog. However, Bodog does offer an excellent browser-based, no download version of their software that can be used with any operating system, including Ubuntu. Just load up the site in your favorite browser, and you’ll be ready to play!

For people who like to play several tables at the same time or want the fully featured software client, you’ll need to use Wine or a similar Windows emulator. By using any windows emulator you can play the fully functional version of Bodog at any time as well as having access to all it’s standard Windows software features.

Bodog, our favorite Ubuntu poker site is also known for their awesome bonus package. Sign up for a Bodog account, and you can take advantage of a 100% first deposit bonus of up to $1,100 as well as having instant access to their no download software and their industry topping VIP program.

>> Click here to play poker at Bodog<<

888 Poker On Ubuntu

At 888　Poker (www.888.com), you’ll have to use a program like Wine in order to play on an Ubuntu system, if you want to use the full software package.

For those looking for a more convenient option, 888 have provided for Ubuntu users by providing a simple to use instant play version that can be played in any of the most widely used internet browsers such as Opera, Firefox or Safari.

888 not only has one of the best loyalty programs in online poker, but they also have great customer service to match. Best of all, their bonus for new players clears quickly so if you take advantage of their full signup bonus of $600, you can double your bankroll in no time!

>> Click here to visit 888 Poker <<

William Hill Poker Using Wine For Ubuntu

William Hill Poker (www.williamhill.com) is another great choice for Ubuntu users. William Hill Poker has a no-download, instant play poker client that is browser-based. That means you won’t have to install anything on your computer, and you’ll be able to play on William Hill using nearly any web browser you can think of.

As long as you can connect to the Internet, you should be able to open an account and start playing at the tables. Simply register a new poker account, login to the website and click the instant play button to start using the Flash based software.

One of the great things about the William Hill browser-based version is that it retains most of the functions found in the downloadable client, including ring games, Texas Hold’em tournaments, and casino games. If you sign up for a William Hill Poker account today, you’ll also be able to take advantage of a 100% first deposit bonus of up to $600!

>> Click here to play at William Hill Poker <<

What Is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is a Linux based operating system which has really caught on in popularity in recent years. It provides an opportunity for those who wish to get away from the popular Windows environment, and is estimated to now have about 13 million users worldwide.

As far as why people would want to use Ubuntu, it’s a free open source program that provides an alternative to those whose Windows system on their machine has become outdated or too problematic and they are looking to avoid having to pay for a Windows upgrade. So although all PCs come with Windows, this can be a cost effective solution.

A lot of people see Ubuntu as a superior operating system in its own right, and strongly prefer it over Windows, particularly since it isn’t constantly under attack and to date there isn’t anywhere enough users for hackers and other malware and virus designers to bother with.

It is true that Windows does have a plethora of security features which have become necessary, in addition to the third party programs that you have to have running like anti-virus software, and the combination of all of this does slow down your machine. So with Ubuntu, since you don’t really have to worry about any of this stuff, your computer will run faster and without the usual concerns or worries.

Since Ubuntu is an open source program, it draws upon the experiences and resources of its users, with many of them contributing to the development of the platform. This wealth of input has allowed it to develop to be an extremely user friendly operating system.

As well, there are a lot of people who object in principle to Microsoft’s domination of the operating system market, and see using an open source program such as Ubuntu as a way to strike back.

Ubuntu is more of a socialist style program as opposed to the capitalistic based Microsoft, where users from all over the world share their input and ideas with Ubuntu, and it’s not only free, all of the upgrades are free as well. So a lot of folks find all of this appealing.