Shouldn't online gambling sites be able to out-compete land based casinos?

Something I was just wondering about. Isn't there almost no overhead, at least as compared to a land based casinos?

So if an online poker room doesn't offer you ridiculous opportunities, aren't you just being plain robbed? The rake should be teeny compared to a Vegas poker room.

Am I wrong, or am I missing something?

(disclaimer: I don't online gamble AT ALL and never even tried it, for the reason, I just don't need to create a new habit which might not be profitable)

The rake is pretty teeny compared to B&M rooms. Usually 5%-10% with a $2 or $3 max. I play $25/$50 NLHE and $100/$200 PLO on Poker Stars and Full Tilt and the rake is capped at $2. On the big tables some guys sit down with $100,000 or more and they're playing for pots in excess of half a million at times and the rake is... $2. That's pretty teeny.

Nightfly, I am intrigued.. What is the most you have won/lost playing $100/200 in any one session? My brain can't get around risking thousands of dollars on cards generated by a computer playing against people I think exist mediated by a company that I have no jurisdiction over, hoping my internet access doesn't go on the Fritz. If you choose to answer, thanks...

The most I've lost in any one session is $20,000 - my max buy-in. The most I've won is just under $55,000. I don't often play at those stakes but it depends on the players I find (notes are a must online). If I do play at those stakes I go in with the idea of making anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 and if I find myself in a big multi-way hand and pick up a huge pot then I have no trouble getting the heck out of Dodge with a very nice profit. My friends call me GEICO because it's usually a hit and run.

I have had my internet drop but in a ring game it's usually not a big deal (unless I'm on the river and get timed out). It really drives me nuts when I'm deep into a tournament and after 7 hours of play my internet crashes and I get blinded out, which has happened a few times. It's just something I know may happen and I accept the risk.

I know that there is always the chance that something "funny" is going on (AP and UB come to mind...) but having played as much as I have, having won as much as I've won and having been paid out without any issues as often as I have I have little reason to believe in all the conspiracy theories. Sure, I've see runner-runner or a one-outer beat me more often than I'd like but that's poker, live or online.

By the way, I built my bankroll by finding an amazing AP situation about 10 years ago and by playing 3CP to the point where now I just play poker, live and online and make a pretty good living at it. I don't risk more than my bankroll dictates and I don't play for fun or to pass the time. I take the game seriously and know the math.

Thanks for your other answer, btw, Nightfly.

Based on my casual observation of pros playing, and how even those with years and years of experience still take a beating once in awhile, it would seem to be real hard to judge the fairness or unfairness of an Internet site. However, if I had been playing and winning more than losing so far, it would be hard to call it a day and give it up.

What screen name do you play under TheNightfly? Wouldn't mind railing you some time.

Once I did a survey on online poker rakes, which are pretty low. However, I think the caliber of play is softer in live games. Personally, I'm on a six-month leave from online poker, which I wrote about in a blog entry. Too many sharks.

Quote: Wizard

Once I did a survey on online poker rakes, which are pretty low. However, I think the caliber of play is softer in live games. Personally, I'm on a six-month leave from online poker, which I wrote about in a blog entry. Too many sharks.

Security/cheating issues aside, I vastly prefer live poker because it enables me to use skills that aren't available in online poker: tells, body language, conversation, as well as the simple visual clues available from a person's sex, age, manner of dress, posture, how they play with their chips, etc.

It's especially important nowadays to play the player, since Hold' Em is the tic-tac-toe of poker, and consequently, just about everybody plays at least halfway decently these days. Gone is the player who called your raise with A6, and then gave you his stack when an Ace flopped and you had AK. An effect of natural selection.

Another reason why the online tables are so shark-infested is that many live poker venues charge prohibitive rake. Just about every poker room in California, for example, rakes every pot the maximum amount, regardless of the size of that pot--even, in many cases, raking the ENTIRE pot. Many European live cardrooms are similarly confiscatory. This drives more players to go online rather than getting bent over.

Quote: mkl654321

Quote: Wizard

Once I did a survey on online poker rakes, which are pretty low. However, I think the caliber of play is softer in live games. Personally, I'm on a six-month leave from online poker, which I wrote about in a blog entry. Too many sharks.

Security/cheating issues aside, I vastly prefer live poker because it enables me to use skills that aren't available in online poker: tells, body language, conversation, as well as the simple visual clues available from a person's sex, age, manner of dress, posture, how they play with their chips, etc.

It's especially important nowadays to play the player, since Hold' Em is the tic-tac-toe of poker, and consequently, just about everybody plays at least halfway decently these days. Gone is the player who called your raise with A6, and then gave you his stack when an Ace flopped and you had AK. An effect of natural selection.

Another reason why the online tables are so shark-infested is that many live poker venues charge prohibitive rake. Just about every poker room in California, for example, rakes every pot the maximum amount, regardless of the size of that pot--even, in many cases, raking the ENTIRE pot. Many European live cardrooms are similarly confiscatory. This drives more players to go online rather than getting bent over.

Europe....California....the WORLD?? And a poker sharpie/security expert/on-line polymath to boot? I was wondering where James Bond (the teacher) retired to.