It might have never occurred to you that poker is by far the most popular gaming platform online.  This is quite easy to explain when you think about it:  poker is a game of skill, which is quite rare in the online (or offline) world of casino games and new online casino.  But there is another reason for its popularity among gamers, and that is the social element involved.

People enjoy the company of other people, and enjoy interacting with one another.  A great example of this, which I often think of, is the ending scene of Into the Wild (which you should run and see if you have seen it yet) in which Emile Hirsch (as Chris McCandless) realizes being completely ostracized from society doesn’t work, and then dies alone in the wilderness.

Back to the point, online casino games cannot compete with poker sites, which allow you to play with real live people from around the world.  Some big casino sites have tried to make other games more interactive and social by intruding live gaming platforms like live roulette, blackjack and others.  This has been quite a success so far, though it does not appear these games will opposed a real threat to the dominance of poker in the online gaming world.

Personally, I like playing poker with friends, and prefer to stick to other games when I gamble online (blackjack and roulette definitely being my favorites slot machine), but I guess I am not the average gamer.

What about you?  Do you play just for money or do you also look for a social experience when you’re gambling online?  Write to us and let us know, and we might include your comments in one of our future posts.