First Real Money Online Poker Site Launches for iPad

With the popularity of Apple’s mobile products, it was only a matter of time before someone made a real money online poker site that was playable on their products. That eventuality finally became a reality today, as Switchpoker.com opened for business and allowed users to connect from their iPhone, iPad or iPad Touch.

After three years of development, the web-based Switchpoker.com doesn’t require a downloaded software client to be used. Players only have to sign up for an account and can begin playing immediately.

“As online poker players we were greatly frustrated by our inability to play real money poker using our Apple mobile devices,” said Conor McCarthy, the co-founder of Switchpoker.com. “The solution proved deceptively simple – why not develop our own site compatible with Apple devices but not beholden to them.”

Currently, the site is rather limited in scope. As is the case for many online poker sites, Switchpoker.com is not available to American players at present. However, there are also limitations on what games can be played. At launch, the site only supports six-max no limit hold’em poker. However, tournament play, limit poker, and both heads up and nine-player cash games are all in development, as is Omaha play.

Switchpoker.com was developed by SawadeeSoft Limited, an Irish-based company. Because the games are played on the Switchpoker site rather than with a dedicated app, it can get around the Apple prohibition on real money poker apps being sold in their online store.

McCarthy added that they hope to further develop the site to keep it on the cutting edge of the mobile poker world.

“We are thrilled to be setting the pace and look forward to making our site the gold standard of mobile poker,” he said.