Mac Online Poker
Mac poker players used to have access to online poker games only through a poker room's instant play no download software. While the majority of poker rooms offer Java or Flash play versions as a Mac online poker site, the best Macintosh poker sites have developed Mac native poker clients in full download versions. Mac poker is now available in free, downloadable software that is compatible with the Mac operating system. Mac poker sites offer real money poker clients as well as play money poker software for Mac online poker players.
Best Mac Online Poker Sites
The selection of the best Mac online poker sites is growing as more poker rooms take note of Mac poker players. Designers have created Mac native software that match the intuitive Mac OS X environment, rich graphical capabilities and ease of use. At the best Mac compatible online poker sites, the downloadable Mac poker client is free for players to install and use to access tournaments, cash ring games and the full features of the Mac poker room. For Mac poker players who prefer web-based play, these top Mac online poker sites also offer instant play games for Mac that are of similar high quality to the download versions.
There are four main ways to play poker on a Mac at one of these top Mac online poker sites. Players register a poker account and choose to play real money Mac poker or play money poker games. To start Mac poker games, players may:
- download and install Mac poker client software to access poker games
- choose instant play Mac poker games through browser-based Java or Flash versions
- use PC emulators like Wine 1.0, Boot Camp or Parallels to install and run the full version PC poker software at sites without a Mac poker client software
- play using non-commercial poker client software for play money Mac online poker games
Download Mac Online Poker Software
Mac poker players have many more options than they previously did in terms of downloadable Mac online poker software. With the best international Mac poker rooms offering full version downloadable Mac poker clients, players at these Mac online poker sites have access to the best selection of games, promotions, tournaments and features. Mac online poker players may simply download and install the free poker software to begin playing.
Some Mac poker players still have favorite poker rooms that do not yet offer Mac native poker software. In this case, the best way to download Mac online poker software is to use a PC emulator with a stable platform for poker games. Mac supplies Boot Camp on all new computers as a Windows program emulator. Mac players can also purchase Parallels in order to run full version PC poker software. The most recommended PC emulator for Mac poker players is Wine 1.0, a free/donation-ware PC emulator that runs most poker room software programs and all of their features with ease. Mac poker players download and install Wine 1.0 and then open the PC poker client to run from within Wine for Mac compatible online poker games.
Non-commercial poker clients have Mac poker software for playing poker against live opponents or the computer's automated opponents. These Mac poker clients are usually limited to Texas Hold'em games. For a wider game selection, Mac poker players have better options with full version downloads and instant play games, even in play money versions.
