Poker is one of the simplest games to play. As long as you've got a pack of cards, a couple of other players and something to use as poker chips, there are few games as easy and quick to learn. But there are going to be occasions when you don't have any of those three essential things, and that's where mobile poker steps in to save the day. While the social aspect of live poker games is undoubtedly fun, the truth is there is a host of benefits to playing poker online rather than live. And with smartphones now better equipped than ever for gaming and allowing us to access all sorts of games from wherever we are, if you're a poker fan who hasn't explored the mobile world, you're really missing out. 

Here are some of the biggest benefits of playing poker on the go.

Accessibility

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of mobile gaming as a whole is accessibility. This is certainly the case when it comes to mobile poker. While some will be fans of the number of games on offer from mobile poker sites and apps or the expert poker strategy tips available, being able to pick up a phone and access a number of tables within seconds is what really sets mobile poker apart from the way people have traditionally played the game. And if you want to change games or move to another table, this can be done almost instantly, as can accessing your winnings and making a withdrawal - no more waiting to cash in your chips and then having to pay them into your bank.

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Options

We all like options, whether it comes to consumer items such as phones and cars or entertainment like TV series and games. This is the same with mobile poker: from the cost to buy into a game to the type of poker being played, gambling on the go gives you plenty of options. Whether you're looking to enter into a tournament or just join a sit-and-go table, play Texas Hold'em or Omaha, with mobile poker you can take your pick from the same range of games as you'd get on your desktop. There is also the option of playing with real money or practising with play money, which allows you to get confident with a game before committing real cash to it.

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Security

While in the early days of mobile poker, some may have questioned the safety and security involved, making a transaction with the most established mobile poker sites is now viewed as being more secure than ordering a pizza or paying for petrol. Utilising sophisticated RSA public/private key encryption technology helps ensure sensitive data is transferred securely over the internet, with all card details stored on the cloud by the most cutting-edge firewall system. From making deposits to placing bets and ultimately withdrawing winnings, the whole process is both simple and secure with mobile poker - giving you peace of mind when playing a hand while waiting for the bus.

"System Lock" (CC BY 2.0) by Yu. Samoilov

Poker is without a doubt the most popular card game in the world today, outranking blackjack which comes in at a close second top-grossing international casino table game. While blackjack used to be king of all card games, recent years have seen a change, mainly thanks to global coverage of huge poker events like the WSOP or World Series of Poker. While the popularity of poker continues to grow, not everyone can afford the time or money to win a seat at WSOP and other major global poker tournaments. In addition to this, not everyone wants to take poker that seriously.

This is where online poker rooms come in to the picture, allowing more people around the world to play all sorts of poker games on new casino sites whenever they like - on their computers and right at home. This convenience is hard to beat as poker newbies and experienced players can pick and choose the type of poker game that best suits their needs. Further to this, the rise in mobile phone technology has also made it possible to play great poker games on the go, adding another element of convenience to the plethora of choices available to the modern poker player.

Of course, not all poker apps are created equal and for every solid poker app out there, there are about a dozen that should be avoided at all costs. The trouble is choosing how to spot a great poker app for your Android mobile phone or tablet. Finding great poker apps can soak up a lot of your free time so it may be a good idea to start off with a few recommendations. With that in mind, check out our top three Android poker apps for 2018. These are available right now for download from Androids Play Store and include plenty of freebies and other cool features.

1.      Poker Heat

Poker Heat can be downloaded for free from Google Play although it does include some in-app purchases. The game is classified as a ‘freemium' option and features an interesting league-based platform. Once you've downloaded and installed the app, you can join one of seven different poker leagues. The game includes an online multiplayer option, free coins to power your game and more.

2.      Governor of Poker 3

Enjoy six different poker styles on this third addition to the Governor of Poker series, including everyone's favourite, Texas Hold'em. Governor of Poker 3 is not as intensive as other poker apps but it is a lot of fun and covers a fair amount of ground, and even includes a free blackjack game. The good features of this app include online multiplayer support, cross-platform support, free chips every four hours and options to play via Facebook, Android, iOS and even Steam.

3.      Appeak

Available for free download on Google Play, Appeak is a fairly new poker app that already has well over 100,000 active players onboard. This gives you a great variety of online gaming options, along with an easy to use interface, a variety of in-game challenges and activities and up to 7000 free coins each day that you play.