World Poker Exchange achieves your goal by charging standard rakes but then giving 75% to 80% rakeback (depending how you sign up). That makes them the cheapest out there. 1,854 words on how to avoid sharks and only play at online poker sites without HUDs. Find out who has banned the best poker HUD software tools.

So, you're interested in online poker, but you don't want to risk too much money just yet. Where's the best place to play small stakes online poker for real money?

Below is a table of what I think are the best sites for low limit online poker.

Best small stakes poker rooms.

Note: The SNG column indicates the lowest stakes single-table (STT), non-turbo SNGs on offer.

How I've rated these sites.

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These poker rooms have primarily been ranked based on players looking to play no limit Texas Hold'em poker online for small stakes, whether that be in cash games or tournaments (i.e. SNGs and MTTs).

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Here are the 4 main factors I took in to account when ranking these sites:

1. The lowest stakes games on offer.
2. The number of players frequently active at these limits.
3. How bad the players at these stakes are.
4. The general overall quality of the poker room based on software, traffic and support.

Clearly the level of the absolute lowest stakes cash games and SNGs on offer at a poker room is one of the biggest factors. It's not much use signing up to a poker room that doesn't offer SNG games under $5, or cash games under $10NL if you have a $30 bankroll. Even if you intend on playing at slightly higher limits anyway, it's always good to have the flexibility there to move down if needs be.

I've also taken in to account the quality of the competition. The softer the competition, the more money you will win – it's as simple as that. Therefore, I've included my rating of the 'softness' of the poker sites in the table to help you make the best choice.

Lastly, player traffic and my rating of the poker room overall has been considered. I'm sure I don't need to explain why on those two counts.

Summary of the smallest stakes games on offer.

Here's a quick summary of the most common limits of micro stakes games available at the majority of online poker sites.

• 1c/2c (this is the absolutely lowest level available online)
• 2c/5c
• 5c/10c
• 10c/25c (you can occasionally find 10c/20c games at places like the iPoker network)
• 25c/50c

• $1 + 20c
• $2 + 25c
• $5 + 50c
• $10 + $1

Playing micro limit online poker for the first time?

We've all played low stakes online poker; even the best players had to start somewhere. It all starts with grinding it out in the micro stakes cash games or low level tournaments, building a bankroll and moving up to higher limits when you get the chance.

There are two key things to remember:

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1. Take your time and play within your limits.
2. Keep playing and learning.

1) Take your time and play within your limits.

Good bankroll management is essential. And no, I don't mean that in the 'flossing is essential' or 'remembering your relatives' birthdays is essential' way. I mean it as in 'not turning the gas cooker off before you go to sleep is essential' and 'not starting fights with bears is essential'.

Seriously, treat your bankroll with ultimate respect. Without it, you can't play poker and you can't win money. Don't get careless and fritter your earnings away because you're on tilt.

Here are the basic rules of bankroll management that you should always stick to:

• Cash games - always have at least 20 buy-ins for the stakes you're playing at.
• SNGs - always have at least 40 buy-ins (including fees) for the level you want to play at.

If Chris ferguson can do it, so can you.

2) Keep playing and learning.

The more you play and the more you learn, the better you will get. The better you get, the more money you'll win. It's the cycle that every successful poker player has taken and continues to take.

Read strategy articles, read books, watch strategy videos, join a training site.

The information on how to win money from poker is out there, it's just up to you whether or not you take advantage of it.

How the stakes of online poker are categorized.

Technically, $50NL cash games and lower are referred to as the 'micro stakes' and not 'small stakes'. Seems quite strange considering that I'd hardly call $50 (or even $10 for that matter) a micro amount of money. But that's just how it is.

I decided to go ahead and call this page a guide to the best 'small stakes sites' anyway as I know that's what most people are searching for when they use that phrase.

For the sake of education and being thorough, here's how the different levels/limits of NLHE cash games and SNGs are categorized:

Note: I've used shorthand for the cash game levels in the table above. Stakes written like $50NL indicate the standard maximum 100bb buy-in for that level. So for example, $50NL is the same as writing 25c/50c, and $400NL is the same as writing $2/$4.
This is a common way of writing the varying limits in NLHE cash games. The cool thing about this notation is that it saves you having to try and type that pesky forward slash.

You may also notice that the term 'low limit' or 'low stakes' poker hasn't been used here. That term is more commonly used when referring to playing live poker in casinos, with anything up to $3/$5 being considered low limit (crazy I know). It's just another one of those things in poker.

A few extra tips.

• Use good bankroll management. I've told you about this before, but it's so important it's worth mentioning at least one more time.
• Don't get too fancy against micro stakes players. You only need to think one level above a poker player to beat them, and small stakes Texas Hold'em players are thinking on a low level for the most part.
• Avoid paying more than 10% in tournament fees. Paying 20% in fees for SNGs is just going to kill your winrate. 10% fees are standard at most levels, but in the micro levels at some rooms the fees are bumped up. Either avoid these rooms, or play at a slightly higher level where the fees are more friendly.
• Take your time. It's not about doubling your bankroll in each session. Poker is a marathon, not a sprint. If you want quick and easy winnings, play roulette.

After that, it's all about time, effort and persistence. Just make sure you give me a shout out when you win your first WSOP main event.

Useful links.

Go back to the Texas Hold'em rooms.

Our team of experts have found the top no deposit poker sites. Whether you want to make a €5 minimum deposit or make a €1 deposit in a mobile casino, these are the best places to play.

To rate top poker sites with minimum deposits of €1, we review each site using a range of criteria. These assessments include:

• Licensing and security: Whether you're playing for pennies or millions, the site should be reputable. This means it must be licensed with the relevant certification bodies and protected with the latest encryption technology.
• Software: Sites must be stable whether you download software or play instantly in your browser.
• Games: The reason why you visit online poker sites to begin with, there need to be plenty of varieties to choose from for low-stakes players.
• Banking methods: While an online casino might tout their low deposit minimums, they might only accept payments from banking methods with higher transfer minimums. That's why we always check between the two to help you find the best banking methods for low deposit poker online.
• Customer support: Whether you're a high-roller or a low-stakes gambler, the customer support needs to be readily available across a variety of communication channels to answer questions or resolve issues.

What are Minimum Deposits?

When you're ready to deposit real money at a top casino online, you'll notice that there are some limitations involved. Some online casinos will only give you a bonus if you deposit a minimum of €10, while others can even be as high as €20, €50 or more.

Low deposits let new players gamble with a small deposit, especially if they don't have a lot of money on their credit card/eWallet/PayPal, etc at the current moment. These poker rooms let you play $5 minimum deposit poker. There are even some poker sites with a minimum deposit of €1.

Low minimum deposit poker rooms cater primarily to beginning players that prefer to play at lower stakes than high rollers. If you plan to try out multiple poker sites before making a substantial deposit, it is very important to choose the lowest first deposit online poker sites to keep your testing investment as low as possible.

Most poker websites will enforce expiration dates on any money in your poker site account after a period of inactivity (often 180 days). If you make a deposit at a poker room and decide that you do not enjoy playing there, it is much less of a financial hit to make the small deposit at poker websites or play only long enough to clear the bonus that was awarded with your deposit.

Where to Find Minimum Deposit Amounts on Poker Sites

We've already done the research and found the best no deposit poker sites, as well as those accepting a €1 deposit. Casino fans from Australia all the way to the States can enjoy a wide range of excellent poker sites with low minimum deposits. Just click on our top lists of casinos to find the one that's right for you.

If you happen to land on a new casino online and you're not sure how much you'll be required to deposit, it's best to check their help or FAQ section. It should be clearly stated what their minimum deposits might be.

Alternatively, you could contact the customer support team. If they aren't able to give you a friendly, helpful response quickly and easily, it's probably a bad sign about the casino in general.

When you visit US poker sites with low minimum deposit thresholds, you might wonder if it's harder to deposit your real money into your casino account. Not to fear, it's still quick and easy to make a deposit.

• Check out our reviews to find the online casino that's right for you
• Register a username and confirm your email address
• Click or tap on cashier or banking
• Select your desired banking method
• Input your deposit amount and confirm
• Start playing real money poker with a low deposit minimum

No Deposit Poker Sites

When you visit no deposit poker sites, you'll be given real money with zero deposit. Poker sites will often do this to let players experience the games and casino online, giving you a taste of what you can expect.

Most no deposit poker works as a no deposit bonus, giving you bonus real money to play with. These bonuses will still require that you play through a certain amount before you can withdraw.

There are also no deposit poker sites that let you play with fake money. These are great for playing free poker for fun. Plus, if you play at these sites enough, you can get entry into freerolls and other tournaments.

Banking Methods at Top Poker Sites

One of the often overlooked aspects of choosing the best low minimum deposit poker sites is the payment options that they accept. For example, a poker site may list a low minimum deposit requirement of €10 cash but not accept any payment methods that allow transfers under €20.

The best low minimum deposit limit poker sites accept payment options that coincide with their minimum deposit limit to give you the most options. These are the minimum transfer amounts from some popular banking methods, although the minimums might be different to what you'll find as the online casino's minimum deposit.

Deposit Real Money on Mobile Devices

You can make a €1 deposit at a mobile casino online. When you use your smartphone or tablet, you can visit no deposit poker sites or make a low minimum deposit, all with the tap and swipe of your fingertips.

Because all our recommended casinos online have excellent mobile integration using apps and instant play, you can use any modern mobile device. This includes iOS, Android, Windows, Kindle Fire and BlackBerry devices.

Conclusion

Whether you're looking to win big at no deposit poker sites, or enjoy some €5 minimum deposit poker games, we've got you covered. Our experts only recommend the best online poker sites for low-stakes players, so you can enjoy excellent poker online, no matter what your bankroll.

Visit one of our recommended online poker sites today and start winning real money in 2021.