Ever since the fist online poker room came into existence, there have been doubts about the legitimacy of the same. It is common to come across claims of poker players – usually those who have lost of course – that online poker sites are rigged and that there are greater chances of suffering a “bad beat” online than in regular casino poker game.

Well, though the later part of this statement is true, it is not because the online poker sites are rigged. It is simply because playing online poker is quite different from regular poker and it takes time and a specific skill set to master this genre of the game. Thus, even a regular poker champion can suffer a bad beat online.

In addition to that, the absence of visual clues in online poker leads to more probe bets and higher probe raises that put a lot of money in the pot. Since people keep holding on to their hand in an attempt to judge others hands, they are likely to bet more on worse hands online than in a casino.

It is quite common to see online poker players betting on every hand and bluffing for the sake of it. With players reluctant to fold since they have already put some money on the table, they are more likely to play all the way to the end and see a flop. Therefore, the issue here is not about rigging of online poker sites but of players playing loosely and not trusting their instincts.

Moreover, it is quite improbable that the major online poker rooms are rigged. The online poker industry earns millions every year. Since they net heavy profits anyways, there is no need for them to indulge in rigging. If claims of online poker sites being rigged were ever proven conclusively beyond doubt, the entire industry would come crashing down like a pack of cards.