Mac Poker Rooms

Macintosh computer users are a tough, loyal bunch of people. You put up with incompatible software programs, long delays in Mac-compliant software releases and difficulties in transferring files across computers just so you can continue that turbulent affair with your beloved Mac. But even the most patient Mac users have grown sick of waiting for the online poker industry to catch up the rest of the world when it comes to compatibility.

People are switching to Macs in record numbers and it’s more important than ever for poker sites to provide Mac-friendly software solutions. And until recently, the online poker industry was missing out on the party.  With Macs now overtaking PC’s as the #1 notebook on U.S. college campuses and growing even faster among businesses and family households, it really is no strange coincidence that poker rooms have been gearing their software transitions to fit the needs of Macintosh computers.

Over the last few years, the owners and developers have finally caught on to this phenomenon and several large-scale rooms (and a few mid-size rooms) now offer Mac Poker versions of their software. In addition, many more poker sites also offer web-based poker applications (no-download) that allow Mac users to join in on the fun just by using a regular internet browser.

Mac-Friendly Poker Rooms

The easiest way to play poker on your Mac is to just find poker rooms that already have Mac compatible software available for download. This is the simplest process because all you have to do is visit the poker site, click the Mac download link and you’ll be good to go.  In this case, you can easily download Gambling101.org’s top Mac picks straight from this page or by simple checking out any of the reviews we have written up for these Apple-friendly poker rooms.

Instant-Download Macintosh Poker Sites:

PokerStars – This is the biggest online poker site in the world and they have worked relentlessly had to attract even more new players through unique software upgrades and adding some of the best mixed games to their arsenal. PokerStars recently just released the full Mac version of their software after being criticized for a numerous amount of time for not catering to the rising popularity of Macintosh poker players. It looks, feels and works the same as the PC software – and is quite possibly the BEST Mac Poker Sites out there at the moment.

Full Tilt Poker – Full Tilt is the second largest poker site on the net and it has also created a special version of its software just for Mac players. It gained a valuable following when it became one of the first rooms of its size to release Mac-compliant poker client for its customers.  The software itself runs great and functions the same as the PC download, and looks visually sharp on a Macintosh monitor.

No-Download Mac Poker Sites:

These poker rooms don’t offer a Mac version of the software but they do let Mac users play using a web-based no-download option. The only drawback is that the poker tables at these sites must be accessed through your internet browser. Some work better than others.

Party Poker – Look for the “instant play” link on the Party Poker home page and you’ll be taken right to the web client. This one actually works just as nicely as the Full Tilt Mac software, and quite honestly, it’s hard to tell whether you’re using a PC or a Macintosh in the first place!

Hollywood Poker – Hollywood also has a web-based version of its poker software designed with Mac players in mind. It doesn’t run as quickly as the actual download software but it’s worth dealing with for Hollywood’s massive sign up bonus.

Mac PC Emulators

PC emulators are programs that let Mac users run programs that were made for PC’s. Most emulators cost money but once they get up and running they are very reliable. I know the last thing you want to do is turn your Mac into a PC.  However, there’s absolutely no need to worry – emulators only let your Mac impersonate the PC for as long as you need to run PC programs.

All you need to do is download the emulator and run it and then you can use the software from any poker site on the net! Once you get your emulator configured, this is the easiest way to deal with the whole Mac vs. PC poker mess. It makes users who are more familiar with PC’s feel comfortable when transitioning over to a Macintosh.

Below is a screenshot of a Mac PC with an Emulator program – notice how the Windows system is integrated onto the Macintosh screen (Click to ENLARGE).

There are a few emulators out there but one of the most popular is iEmulator. At a price of just under $24, this is one of the cheapest high-quality emulators you’ll find. It has won a few awards and the company behind it has a good reputation on the internet. If you have any problems with the emulator itself, their support team should take care of it for you immediately, as well as many other emulator support teams for other companies.