It can be difficult to find a poker site that supports your Mac. Why? Because internet gambling software is often installed through executable (.exe) files that are not compatible with your Mac OS. But there are sites out there that still want your business! We've done the research for you and found that there are four different options to play online poker with your Mac: download, no download, PC emulator and dual booting.
There aren't many sites that offer installable Mac poker clients. An installable poker client may appeal to some as it offers good stability and connectivity. However, because so few sites offer a downloadable Mac poker client, those that do can lack in other areas such as game availability, bonuses, and customer support. Proceed with caution!
Several online poker sites offer a "no download" poker client that runs with Java or Flash. Mac and Linux users can simply open up the poker room in their internet browser (Safari, FireFox, etc.) and play. This option is quick, easy and most importantly - free! However some poker sites offer limited features through their java/flash client, so it is important to do your research. Note that if you are running OS X, then you already have Java included on your Mac. But if you are running OS 9 or earlier, you will need Macintosh Runtime for Java 2.0 or better, which you can download from the Apple website.
Some sites such as PartyPoker and PokerStars do not offer either of the above and your only option is to use a PC emulator. A PC emulator such as Virtual PC allows Mac users to execute any program that was exclusively designed for Microsoft Windows. Apple.com shows the latest version of Virtual PC (including Windows XP) listed for $249.95. This option is not recommended as the software can be costly and it significantly slows down your connectivity.
The newest option for playing online poker on your Mac is dual booting, which allows you to run both Windows and OS X from the same computer. The beta named "Boot Camp" is free, but you need your own copy of Windows XP. Microsoft.com lists the latest version of Windows XP Professional for $299.00 USD. Note also that dual booting is only possible on the new Intel processors. After dual booting, when you start your Mac a screen will pop up giving you a choice between Windows or Mac OS X. This dual boot will allow you to download and install Windows based online poker software.
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