Poker has seen a huge surge in popularity over the last couple of decades. Much of this growth is thanks to the introduction of online poker in the late 1990s. Rather than having to visit a casino or organized home game, you can now fire up your computer and play poker within minutes.
Is Ladbrokes a good poker site? That’s a question many poker players ask when looking for a new online poker room to play in. With so many options out there today, it can be tough to know which sites are worth your time and money.
In this post, we’ll take an in-depth look at Ladbrokes poker and see how it stacks up against the competition. Ladbrokes is one of the biggest gambling operators in Europe. But does its online poker product live up to the brand name? Can you find good games, tournaments, and promotions at Ladbrokes? Or are you better off playing elsewhere?
Overview of Ladbrokes Poker
Ladbrokes expanded into online poker in 2004, the same year that amateur player Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker Main Event after qualifying through an online satellite. That victory sparked a surge of interest in internet poker.
By choosing to offer real money poker games in 2004, Ladbrokes established itself as one of the early adopters of the online poker boom.
Now with nearly two decades of experience under its belt, Ladbrokes poker targets recreational players in Europe. In recent years, Ladbrokes poker has shared player pools with Microgaming Poker Network (MPN). However, Ladbrokes still handles all branding and marketing for its poker product.
Some key facts about Ladbrokes poker:
- Part of Ladbrokes Coral Group, which has over 3000 betting shops in the UK and Ireland. The parent company was purchased by GVC Holdings in 2018.
- Ladbrokes holds licenses to offer online poker and other gaming from the UK Gambling Commission. They are heavily regulated.
- Uses Microgaming software and shares MPN player pools for most games and tournaments. Ladbrokes brands the poker product as its own.
- Focuses on casual poker players with an emphasis on Texas hold’em, Omaha, and fastfold poker. Regular tournaments and sit and go’s round out the offering.
- Available on desktop or through iOS and Android apps. The poker software is perfectly functional but looks dated compared to the slicker design of many newer sites.
- Features a loyalty program where players earn points (Ladbrokes Cards) that can be converted into various rewards.
Can you Play Poker on Ladbrokes?
Yes, Ladbrokes offers an online poker room that is part of the iPoker Network. This gives it a shared player pool with other iPoker sites. It offers play on desktop and mobile devices. The Ladbrokes poker app is available for iOS and Android.
What Time do Ladbrokes Pay Out?
Ladbrokes has different payout times depending on the type of bet or game:
- Sports bets pay out within 24 hours
- Horse racing bets usually within 1-2 hours
- Online casino and poker winnings instant
- Withdrawals from account 1-5 days
- Retail shop bets about an hour
Is Ladbrokes a Good Poker Site?
Yes, Ladbrokes Poker is highly recommended and, despite some dated graphics, let’s dive into more detail on whether it’s a good poker site for you.
1. Ladbrokes Poker Software & Graphics
As mentioned above, Ladbrokes relies on MPN to power its online poker software. The client works fine on a technical level but has a rather dated aesthetic compared to newer poker sites.
The lobby lists available ring games, tournaments, and sit and go’s. You can filter the display to see only games matching your stakes and poker variant preferences. The design is perfectly functional but looks antiquated.
Game tables follow a standard design with player avatars occupying each seat. You have options to control table themes and deck designs. Table layouts also look rather basic but give you access to all necessary game features.
Some newer sites have flashier graphics and sleeker interfaces, but the Ladbrokes software gets the job done. It allows you to easily find the games and formats you want to play with a minimal learning curve.
The mobile poker apps also employ a simple design. While not visually stunning, the hand histories and lobby are cleanly laid out. You can play multiple tables and adjust sizing effectively. The mobile software is quick and reliable.
While not as refined as some newer online poker sites, the Ladbrokes poker software is perfectly adequate in terms of features and performance.
2. Ladbrokes Poker Games & Tournaments
One area where Ladbrokes poker excels is in offering a wide variety of games and tournament formats. This diversity of options caters well to recreational players.
For cash games, you can play all major poker variants including:
- Texas hold’em (limit, pot-limit, no-limit)
- Omaha (high, hi-lo, all varieties)
- Seven-card stud (high, RAZZ low)
- Fastfold/Zoom poker
Blinds range from 1¢/2¢ up to £10/£20 for hold’em and Omaha. Stud games are available from 10p up to £2/£4 limits. Fastfold poker is spread at blinds from 5¢/10¢ up to $1/$2.
This good selection of cash game formats and stakes will appeal to most casual poker players. The only limitation is a lack of heads-up tables.
Tournaments are where Ladbrokes poker really shines. You can find tournaments running around the clock with guarantees ranging from £500 up to £150,000 for special events. These include:
- Multi-table tournaments in a variety of buy-in levels and sizes
- Satellites awarding seats into bigger events
- Jackpot sit & go’s with randomized prize pools
- Twister fast poker tournaments
- Regular guaranteed tournaments
- Major tournament series like Ladbrokes Open
Ladbrokes does an excellent job offering tournaments for all bankrolls and play styles. The variety of MTT formats is ideal for recreational players that enjoy poker tournaments.
The available games and tournaments are very good for a poker site catering to casual players. Ladbrokes spreads all the popular variants and provides daily guarantees to keep the action going.
Also Read: Betting Odds Explained: How To Calculate Winning Odds
3. Bonuses & Player Rewards
Ladbrokes runs promotions, bonuses, and rewards designed to appeal to recreational players. These include:
- £20 free bonus on your first deposit
- Opportunity to win tickets into Ladbrokes Open tournaments
- Jackpot Sit & Go’s with randomized prize pools up to £1 million
- Missions offering rake rebates for completing daily challenges
- Bad Beat Jackpot for losing with very strong hands
- Ladbrokes Cards loyalty rewards program
The Ladbrokes Cards program awards you with loyalty points based on the amount of rake and fees generated. Collect enough points and you can redeem them for bonuses and prizes.
While experienced poker pros may find some of these promotions rather basic, they hold a lot of appeal for novice and casual players. Ladbrokes effectively tailors the rewards to match their target demographic.
The bonuses and promotions won’t make pros go out of their way to play on Ladbrokes. But recreational players should be pleased with the value provided.
4. Banking Options
Offering fast and convenient banking options is crucial for any poker site. Depositing and withdrawing needs to be an easy process so players can get funds on and off the site.
Ladbrokes offers a full range of payment methods:
Deposit Options
- Debit and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro)
- e-Wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller)
- Bank transfer
- Paysafecard
Withdrawal Options
- Debit cards
- e-Wallets
- Bank transfer
- Check by mail
Most payouts take between 1-3 business days to hit your account. VIP players receive priority processing on withdrawals.
Is Ladbrokes Poker Reliable?
Yes, Ladbrokes poker is a reliable online poker site for recreational players. Here are some key points that support Ladbrokes’ reliability:
- Established brand – Ladbrokes has over 130 years of history as a bookmaker and added online poker in 2004. Their longevity speaks to being a stable brand.
- UK licensing – Ladbrokes holds licenses from the UK Gambling Commission, one of the most respected regulatory bodies. They adhere to strict standards on player funds segregation and responsible gambling.
- Part of a major company – Ladbrokes is owned by GVC Holdings, a leading sports betting and gaming group. This provides additional financial backing.
- Use of Microgaming network – By joining forces with MPN, Ladbrokes offers dependable poker software and shares player pools to maintain action.
- Responsive customer support – Player reviews indicate Ladbrokes’ support team is helpful and quick responding to requests.
- Secure transactions – Ladbrokes processes banking securely using trusted payment methods and SSL encryption.
Conclusion
Ladbrokes is worth considering for casual and recreational poker players, especially those looking for lots of tournaments and ongoing promotions. More serious players may want to evaluate other poker sites that cater more directly to their needs.
But overall, Ladbrokes provides a good experience, and its European focus gives it a unique feel compared to other online poker rooms. Trying it out is easy, given the no-deposit required welcome bonuses. So give Ladbrokes Poker a shot to see if it fits your poker-playing needs.