For most people, playing online poker is as easy as click, download, and login. But for Macintosh users, it's a different story. Those interested in playing Mac online poker are challenged by obstacles such as file type conflict, graphics overload, and incompatibility of the most popular sites.
First, Macintosh Poker players are not able to download .exe files. .exe was specifically created for the Microsoft Windows operating system and therefore Mac users cannot download .exe online poker rooms. There are several Macintosh Poker Sites that provide Mac users with a native download and obviously their clients are not .exe files. Instead, these native download Mac online poker rooms use .bin files that are directly compatible with the Macintosh Operating system.
Second, Mac computers are not able to handle the heavy graphics load that Windows based computers can in terms of Java based poker rooms. Mac online poker players cannot play graphics intensive games at sites such as Stacks Poker. Instead, they must play no-download poker games that are run by a browser based version of either Java or Flash. Such Macintosh Poker Sites include that of PacificPoker, PokerRoom, and EuroPoker.
Finally, Mac users have been neglected by most of the popular / major poker sites. The largest online poker sites such as Party Poker and PokerStars have neglected to create either a native Mac Online Poker client or a no-download Macintosh Poker client. The only major Mac online poker room to have done this is PokerRoom. Of course, other solutions to this problem have been presented. A popular poker site has written a useful guide to playing mac online poker at the major online poker sites using software known as a PC Emulator. Information on how to use a PC emulator to play poker for Mac can be found at http://www.imaconlinepoker.com/pc-emulator-poker/
So as you can see, Mac Online Poker players have been neglected. However, more Macintosh Poker Sites are unearthing valuable information for Mac online poker players. The hurdles might be high and long, but there certainly is hope for Mac Online Poker.
Macintosh Poker Sites have demonstrated how Mac online poker players can download native poker client software, play no download online poker, and play poker at the most popular online poker rooms using a Mac. For more information on how to play online poker for Mac go to one of the sites listed above.