Online Poker » Best Poker Sites » Best Flash Poker Sites

Almost every online poker site on the Internet offers both a downloadable version of their software and a no download version of their software. The best Flash poker sites focus on providing the most features and games possible without requiring players to perform a software download before playing. Flash is actually a program owned by Adobe Systems that was originally developed by Macromedia in 1996. Flash revolutionized online graphics and applications as the precursor - SmartSketch - was not capable of the graphical capabilities of Flash. The name Flash is actually a contraction of the further update of SmartSketch called FutureSplash and does not refer to a graphical effect.

Flash Poker Site - Bodog Poker

Added to their downloadable version in 2009, Bodog offers a Flash no download version of their software to players using almost any operating system like Linux, Macintosh and, of course, Windows. When playing at the Flash version of Bodog Poker, you are permitted to play at a single Texas Holdem table at a time but have access to many of the features that downloadable software players can access such as re sizeable windows and chat.

Flash Poker Site - Sportsbook.com Poker

Powered on the Merge network, Sportsbook Poker offers a Flash version of their software for all real money poker players that include many of the same features as the download version. No download Flash poker players at Sportsbook Poker can play as many as 90 hands per hour although they only have access to one cash game at a time.

Flash Poker Site - Absolute Poker

As a member of the Cereus poker network, Absolute Poker provides one of the best Flash poker sites on the Internet with multiple table views, play statistics and multi table tools. Each Flash real money poker players can receive the same $550 deposit bonus as downloaded software players. Macintosh, Windows and Linux users can all play at Absolute Poker using the Flash instant play software application.

What is Flash Poker?

When considering no download online poker for real money, it is important to understand that the software is typically provided by either Flash or Java. If you attempt to access a no download poker site, the software type that they use must be the most current - they are not complimentary. However, a great deal of videos and animations on the Internet are created using Flash so you likely will already have the most current version if you spend any amount of time online. In addition, Flash and Java are often automatically updated during web browser updates so you will not have to update each of the popular graphics engines as well.

Flash poker provides real money Internet poker players with a way to quickly access their poker account without needing to download any additional poker software. The only things that players need to play at the best Flash poker sites is a Windows, Macintosh or Linux computer, an Internet connection and the most current version of Adobe Flash. Of course, if you would like to play online poker for real money, you will also need to make a deposit directly through the Flash version of the poker software. When you first access the Flash version of software at a no download poker site, you will often notice a small download taking place. This is not the poker software but, rather, an updated version of Flash, if necessary.

Finding the Best Flash Poker Sites

The best Flash poker sites offer no download poker software with the best features and game variety possible when compared to the downloaded version of their software. Although Flash software can never compare to downloadable software in features and games, players should have access to enough games to justify creating an account and making a real money deposit - at least stake and limit variety of Texas Holdem and some tournament offerings. This is especially important for players that might not have a great deal of choices for playing online poker such as Macintosh and Linux users. However, some Windows players with older operating systems and a low amount of hard drive space will also use the best Flash poker sites and need a comparable amount of features like hand history, table and lobby customization, auto re buys and some strategy features.

The best Flash poker sites also support multiple browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari. They will also provide an instant Adobe Flash update in the event that your browser is not current enough to support the most recent version of the Flash no download software.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Flash Poker Sites

One of the key advantages of the best Flash poker sites is that they allow computer users with almost every operating system to participate in real money online poker. There are also often issues with older computers running software from poker sites. The best Flash poker sites offer Flash software that can run on Windows systems as old as Windows 95. With the downloadable software, your Windows operating system must normally be at least Windows 2000 for the software to run properly. Another advantage of Flash poker sites is that you do not have to be at your home computer to play real money poker online.

One disadvantage of Flash poker sites is that you will not have access to as many games or features as players that download the poker room software. This is because of bandwidth issues that prevent such a great deal of information from being provided online. However, the best Flash poker sites will allow you to access some features when not playing the no download feature as a small download or browser based application. Finally, if you use both the downloaded version of the software on your home computer and a Flash version when not at your home computer, you will not be able to log into your account with both versions at the same time. This is for security reasons and bandwidth protection to prevent Flash software multi tabling.