As an online gambling lover, there are some limitations to what you and cannot do in Malaysia. While some forms of gambling, such as offline variants — horse racing and lotteries are allowed; online gambling is restricted.
You’re only able to go about it when using offshore platforms like BetOnline and Americas Cardroom. In this article, I will show you the two most popular poker sites available to Malaysians and the types of services they offer.
Getting Started
Online poker is a card-based game played over the Internet. With your smartphone and stable internet connection, you’ll be able to play it and make some money in the process. Here is additional information:
- Gameplay
Online poker is just like every other traditional game, including normal poker. The major difference is the medium — which is playing the game over the Internet.
- Players
It is common for two players to compete with each other in this game. However, there are instances where one player is set up to play against the computer.
Poker Site 1. BetOnline Poker
We introduce you to one of the popular poker sites available to Malaysian players. The name is BetOnline.
History of BetOnline
BetOnline is an online gaming and poker sports book launched in 1991 to provide exceptional service to gamers from different parts of the world. With lightning-fast payouts and streams of promotions and bonuses, the platform provides the best service to online poker lovers in Malaysia.
Different Poker Games Available
They say variety is the spice of life and BetOnline has a wide range of that in store for the users.It mainly offers Omaha poker and texas holdem poker.
Omaha Poker
Previously known as Nugget Hold’em, Omaha was later renamed and has become one of the most popular poker games available to Malaysians.
You can be sure that the BetOnline platform provides a conducive environment to play the game, as well as compete favorably with others. To stand a chance to play better hands, do these:
- Be selective of the “starting hands” you play in Omaha Poker.
- Play a few hands to monitor the situation and when you see an advantage (a flop); play more aggressively.
Texas Holdem Poker
Unarguably one of the best and most played online poker games, Texas Hold’em has come a long way to become a popular variation of poker all over the world.
Even players from Malaysia can play their hands via BetOnline. Besides the ease of learning, the poker also has a fair gameplay:
- Players are dealt two cards once the blinds are posted.
- Choose from any of the three options of raising the bet, folding or matching an amount of the big blind.
- The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the round.
Different Tournaments Available
Besides playing your hands on either the Omaha Poker or Texas Hold’em (or the two); there is also a chance to play the two concurrently.
BetOnline spices things up by introducing four different tournaments:
- Week Days: this tournament involves starting re-buys at half past the hour and re-entries starting on the hour.
- Tourney Money Builders: here is an online poker tournament offering an extended late registration period, and unlimited re-buys.
- Sunday Majors: seize this opportunity to make an extra buck at the start of the week.
- Progressive Bounties: confident in your skills? If you’ve got what it takes to beat other players and play a hand to show them the way out of the tournament; then the Progressive Bounties tournament is meant for you. Extra cash will be added to your balance for each of the players you knock out of the tournament.
Poker Bonus Available
Stand a chance to WIN amazing gifts and cash prizes when you meet the criteria. BetOnline has a cross-section of 7 poker deposit promotions.
- 100% First-time Crypto Bonus: this promotion offer doubles your money, provided that the deposit was made via cryptocurrency. Use the promo code “CRYPTO100.”
- 100% Poker Welcome Bonus: make a minimum deposit of $50 with the promo code “POKER1000” to get a 100% match deposit bonus. The bonus money is up to $1,000 and is paid out in $5 every time you earn up to $50 in rake.
Cashouts and Withdrawals
Now that you’ve raked in a lot of money, how do you get it out of BetOnline? Fast and reliable withdrawals or cash outs are enabled on the sports book. The payout options include:
- Bitcoin: you can withdraw a minimum of $200 and a maximum of $100,000.
- Person to Person: use this international money transfer system to receive your payout from a trusted party, physically. The minimum payout is $50, while the maximum is $400.
- Wire Transfer: BetOnline processes a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $25,000 via Bank Wire Transfer payouts.
BetOnline & ACR Bonuses
- BetOnline $1k Bonus – Claim Here
- ACR $1k Bonus – Claim Here
Poker Site 2 — Americas Cardroom
Formerly known as Americas Cardroom, the site is now called ACR Poker. It is so named following the significant transformation and rebranding of Americas Cardroom in July 2023.
History of Americas Cardroom
The history dates back to 2001 when Americas Cardroom was founded as a US-themed online poker site established and headquartered in San José, Costa Rica. As a subsidiary of the Winning Poker Network (WPN), it offers online poker services to users from some parts of the United States, Latin America, Canada and some other countries, including Malaysia.
Different Poker Games Available
ACR Poker offers an extensive library of poker games, including Jackpot Poker and Texas Hold’em.
Jackpot Poker
This is a winner-takes-all poker that allows the player to go home with the prize money. However, if it turns out that any of the three multipliers of 100, 200 or 500 appears; the cash will be distributed in the following way:
- 75% for the 1st
- 15% for the 2nd and;
- 10% for the 3rd.
Texas Hold’em
The popular Texas Hold’em poker is available on ACR Poker and comes with variants, such as Fixed Limit Hold’em Games and No Limit Hold’em Blinds.
Blitz Poker
This was a new poker variant that became available on ACR Poker in 2019.
The gameplay includes:
- Fast fold game requires the pace of the action to be quicker. Once a fold is made, new hole cards are introduced to bring players to new tables.
- A six-seat table and;
- Stakes ranging between $0.10/$0.25 and $5/$10.
Americas Cardroom Seven Card Stud
This poker variant is not as popular and active as the others are, but when available, is limited to a Fixed Limit. Other types of online poker games available are:
- ACR Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo
- All-in or Fold
- 7-Day No Rathole Table and;
- Sit & Go
Different Tournaments Available
ACR Poker also holds tournaments to ginger the players to be more active — and stand a chance of having more money added to their balance. Notable among the tournaments are:
Sunday Special
This tournament hands out up to $150,000 in prizes every week with a $215 buy-in.
Pot Limit Omaha
Also called the PLO, the Pot Limit Omaha is a regular tournament with a guaranteed $30,000. It costs $600 + $30 to be a part of this tournament.
Poker Bonus Available
ACR Poker also offers free money especially when deposits are made.
Welcome Bonus
There is a Welcome Bonus of 100% of up to $2,000 to “supercharge your bankroll.” This bonus is available on first deposits and comes with these rules:
- It is activated when you play real money poker games.
- The sum of $1 is added to your balance every time you earn 5 Award Points.
- A minimum deposit of $25 is required.
- This Welcome Bonus is exclusive to new players.
- The bonus is only valid for 60 days from the time of activation.
Jackpot Poker
Stand a chance to win up to $100,000 when you:
- Choose a buy-in amount.
- Choose how many simultaneous tournaments you’d like to play.
- Dealing your best hands to win.
While Jackpot Poker is a winner-takes-all poker game, it does create a default distribution if one of the three highest prize tiers hits.
Cashouts & Withdrawals
The array of deposit and withdrawal options on ACR Poker cut across cryptocurrencies, peer-based transfers and e-wallets.
- e-wallets: payments are processed via Neteller, Skrill and EcoPayz. The minimum payout is $10 and a maximum of $10,000.
- Cryptocurrencies: payouts are made through Bitcoin and Tether USD (USDT). A minimum of $50 and a maximum of $10,000.
- Checks: payouts made via Checks require a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $3,000. This service is limited to the United States and Canada.
Benefits of Playing Online Poker
In this section, we talk about some of the motivating reasons why Malaysians love playing poker games online.
1. Easy Access
With the restrictions to most forms of online gambling activities in Malaysia, players now have a chance to play poker online. The low barrier to entry also makes it easier as what you’d need are an Internet-enabled device and bankroll. Keep in mind that some online poker sites may have different requirements for this:
2. Computer Access
Some sites may require a computer and internet access to make the gameplay available.
3. Take the Game with You
Gone are the days when players have to be within the range of a television to catch a glimpse of the game or miss a hand because they stepped out to get something.
Now, you can play all your hands at a place, thanks to the convenience online poker brings. With just a smartphone and internet connection, you’d be allowed to play the game at any time.
4. Receive Bonus Money
Worried about your bankroll reducing with each game? Provided you are playing at recommended online poker sites like BetOnline; be assured of “free money.”
New users are often entitled to several benefits, such as a deposit bonus and welcome bonus. For the existing members, loyalty and promotion offers are given to encourage and thank them for their loyalty. You could even get a no-deposit bonus on sign-up; allowing you to play without adding a bankroll.
5. Play Different Hands
Looking for something out of the regular? Online poker sites offer a variety of card games. You can choose to play Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz or 7 Card Stud. Never miss out on a hand but go for the variety you are most comfortable playing.
6. Play Online Poker with Less Expenses
If you were to play traditional poker games, the expenses usually hit the roof. Besides the higher buy-in and the fact that you would tip the dealer on winning; extra expenses include having to up the stakes to compete favorably.
On online poker sites, the reverse is the case. With a lower buy-in and affordable stakes; one can start playing hands almost immediately. Besides, you’ll practice how to manage your bankroll and grow it over time by trying varieties of the game and leveraging the bonuses.
7. Ditch OTC
Things changed for the better following the continuous improvements in payment systems. Over-the-counter payments are now being replaced by digitalized and faster payment systems, such as payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe, as well as cryptocurrencies and debit cards.
The possibility of funding your bankroll in more ways than one gives the impression of gambling on online poker even on offshore sites.
8. Playing More Hands Per Hour
Except you had a shot at becoming an athlete but didn’t follow it up; keeping up with running around sourcing for more hands can be difficult.
This time, you’re not running from table to table to gauge your opponents and find more openings to play a hand. Instead, open more tabs or windows on your Internet-enabled device and play as many hands as possible.
9. Online Poker is Organized
Fights are likely to break out in the land-based poker rooms — causing more hands to leave the cards and grab at faces. With the launch of offshore sites available to Malaysians, it is now possible to reduce the chances of such ugly experiences. Online poker sites are organized, providing personalized service to the users and resolving issues amicably.
Final Thoughts
Online poker services are limited in Malaysia but players who are passionate about this have explored the options from both ACR Poker and BetOnline to keep playing and winning.
Be sure to read the Terms and Conditions of any of these sites and fulfill every other requirement before playing.
