Online Poker » Best Poker Sites » Best Poker Sites with Side Games

Many of the best poker sites on the Internet did not start out as poker sites but built their reputation as an online casino or sportsbook before adding a full poker room to their roster. The best side game poker sites either offer games that you can play while in the poker room (Blackjack, for example) or offer several other sections of their web site where you can place a wager on an upcoming sporting event and then play some poker while you wait for the event to end. The best side game poker sites offer you the most value for your bankroll and allow players to get the full online gambling experience in addition to playing online poker for real money.

Best Side Game Poker Site - Sportsbook Poker

Sportsbook.com has been the major player in sports betting since it opened in 1997. Their poker room was launched in 2006 to add to their already successful offering including a race book and full real money casino. Transfers between the different sections of Sportsbook.com are performed instantly and free and any money deposited at any section of the web site can be transferred to any other section. Casino games available at Sportsbook.com include 7 different varieties of Blackjack, Video Poker, slot based games, Baccarat and Craps.

Best Side Game Poker Site - Bodog Poker

Bodog has long been a name in sports betting and poker. However, Bodog also offers a full casino with popular games like Blackjack, Caribbean Stud and Holdem, Pai Gow Poker and Three Card Rummy. When Bodog began accepting Canadian players in 2009, their casino traffic significantly boosted - contributing to an additional traffic boost to both the poker room and sportsbook.

Best Side Game Poker Site - Party Poker

Party Poker has the advantage of providing their own vast network of gambling sites that everyone with a real money account can access using the same username, password and bankroll. For example, Party Poker offers a full casino, Bingo room, sports betting web site, financial trading web site and Backgammon gambling site where poker players can take a break from the daily grind.

Types of Side Game Poker Sites

There are several different types of side game poker sites - each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Some side game poker sites offer a single game within their poker room - frequently Blackjack. One of the advantages of this type of poker site is that you can have both the Blackjack and poker game window open at the same time. If you are not interested in multi tabling but want to continue gambling while waiting for players to respond or during a particularly slow game, you can place wagers on Blackjack instantly without having to worry about slowing down play on either table. These side game poker sites typically only offer the single casino game but do not require you to maintain separate bankrolls to play casino games and poker.

Another type of side game poker site offers a fully functional casino or sportsbook in addition to their full poker room. On these sites, you may have to transfer money to the different sections of the site in order to play but this is a free and fast process at the best side game poker sites. The best side game poker sites are fully functioning gambling hubs with a poker room, casino, sportsbook and racebook all offered through the same web site. Typically, loyalty points that you earn in any section of the web site can be used to unlock your bonus at any other section of the site. However, some side game poker sites offer different bonuses for different sections and set specific rules on how you can use the different section's points to unlock your bonus.

Why Choose the Best Side Game Poker Sites?

One of the most important aspects of the psychology of poker is knowing when it is time to take a break and focus your thoughts - particularly after a bad beat or costly mistake. Rather than continuing to play poker with the mistake on your mind, potentially costing you even more money, you can still satisfy your gambling itch with a few games of Blackjack or Craps while you cool off. Some players might find that they enjoy playing a certain casino game that they never thought to try before and can build their bankroll quickly when compared to how play is going at the poker tables. With a game like Blackjack, there is still a sizeable skill level required to be successful - which is why many poker rooms include the game in their poker room as opposed to luck based games like Roulette or Craps.

Another reason to choose one of the best side game poker sites as opposed to poker sites with no side games is to provide yourself with the most flexibility that you can. Another type of skill based gambling is betting on sports. Many poker players enjoy the edge that studying their favorite sports teams and their opponents gives them with online sports books - similar to studying the aspects of poker but with variables that cannot be predicted. Just as in poker, the underdog can always defeat the professional with hard work and a little bit of luck. The best side game poker sites still specialize in their poker room but choose side games that mimic or compliment the primary aspects of the game.