If you are on the hunt for the best poker sites for multi tabling, I absolutely get it. Playing more hands per hour can often lead to more profit when you increase volume.
Quick Verdict: Ignition Poker Is Amazing for Multi Tabling
Best for dedicated poker players who want softer games, anonymous tables, and poker-focused promotions.
If your main goal is playing online poker, I recommend Ignition for multi tabling.
Better overall poker experience Anonymous tables Softer games for recreational players Poker-focused promotions
What Is Multi Tabling in Online Poker?
It’s when you play more than one table at a time so that you can increase hands seen per hour and hopefully make more money. For example, if you were to play 1 table you might see 60 hands per hour, but if you stack 4 tables at a time you could see 240 hands per hour. This doesn’t necessarily mean you will make more money, but in theory if you are a winning player at the stake, you are playing it’s possible. More on this later.
Which Poker Site is Best for Playing 4+ Tables?
Ignition Poker
I have 3 recommendations, but I must stick with my top pick Ignition Poker. The thing about Ignition is that it’s one of the highest traffic sites in the world with over 10,000 plus players at peak times, and consistent traffic at all hours for cash games and tournaments.
The competition on this network is relatively soft compared to a lot of other sites. I say this from experience. You can multi table up to 4 tables at a time so there is a cap, however the ROI for the time you put in playing here is what makes it such a good opportunity. I regularly play 2 tables at a time at mid stakes 500nl and 1000nl and have no problems getting and edge on the players here. This is also cryptocurrency friendly site with close to instant withdrawals that take less than 15 minutes at most for getting paid.
Bovada Poker
Bovada is a close second for me mainly because it uses the same software as Ignition and shares the same player pool. These two sites have been connected for years with the main difference being that Bovada also has sports as an option if you are into that. But multi tabling here is the same. One other difference is that the tournaments that run throughout the year on Bovada are slightly different. Meaning more specialty options if you enjoy big multi table tournaments.
The options for getting paid are also mainly cryptocurrency which I’ve come to prefer. Once again pay outs are near instant with Bitcoin, USDT, and a few other options to choose from.
BetOnline Poker
It’s almost weird to me that BetOnline Poker isn’t talked about as much as it should be. This brand has been around for over two decades, and the poker software for multi tabling is awesome. The nice thing about BetOnline is that there is no cap on how many tables you can play at a time. However, I wouldn’t recommend overdoing it because that’s what leads to poor play and burnout.
Some of the features for BetOnline in terms of the software are custom avatars, a player chat box, auto mucking, and changing the color of tables and card decks. This stuff is also available in Ignition and Bovada, but it feels a bit more polished on BetOnline when you are using it. Overall, it’s another solid poker site for multi tabling.
How Many Tables Should You Play at Once?
I’ve had a lot of time to try different things in my online poker career. There was a time when I would try and play 8-12 tables at a time and looking back at that time, I laughed at myself. When you try to play that many tables you go straight into robot mode. The issue with robot mode is that it just doesn’t work. You time out a lot at each table because the time bank goes so quickly and if you turn your head for a second you miss a hand.
The sweet spot at least for me personally has been 2 tables at a time playing mid stakes. There are times when I will scale up to 4 tables, but when I do that, I like to keep my sessions on the shorter side. When you are constantly processing all this information so quickly it tends to burn you out faster. So, my belief is that 2 tables are the perfect amount for multi tabling unless you are confident about 4 for shorter sessions.
Does Multi-Tabling Increase Your Hourly Win Rate?
Multi-tabling is one of the most effective ways for online poker players to increase their hourly win rate, but it comes with trade-offs. By playing more tables at the same time, you can see more hands per hour and generate more profit opportunities. Even if your win rate per table decreases slightly, the additional volume can often result in higher overall earnings.
For example, a player who wins at 8 big blinds per 100 hands on one table may earn less overall than a player who wins at 5 big blinds per 100 hands while playing four tables simultaneously. The increased number of hands compensates for the lower win rate.
However, there is a point where adding more tables becomes counterproductive. As the number of tables increases, decision-making becomes more rushed, reads on opponents become less accurate, and costly mistakes become more common. Many players find that their profitability peaks at a certain number of tables before starting to decline.
The key is finding the right balance between volume and performance. Start by adding one table at a time and track your results over a meaningful sample size. If your hourly profit continues to rise without a significant drop in decision quality, multi-tabling can be a powerful tool for increasing long-term poker earnings.
Final Thoughts
The thing about multi tabling is that you don’t want to overdo it. Even if you decide to play low-stake games and really stack up the tables making poor decisions and losing instead of consistently winning is the likely outcome. Some people may be able to play 12 tables at a time, but I’ve never met anyone who could do it successfully. And believe me, I’ve done this long enough now that if there was some magical way to just stack tables and print money I’d have figured it out.
The sweet spot tends to be 2 tables at a time which allows you to really focus on what’s going on. At this amount you can spot little details in a hand like hesitation or throwing in a bluff that has a high chance of getting through. And what’s even more interesting is that playing less tables have become an advantage over trying to scale to the moon. Bottom line is that if you think about this logically poker is a game of making good decisions. I’ve found making the best decisions while playing usually means 2 tables max. I’ve also done okay with 4 but my win rate does decline. And if you don’t believe me, you can always give it a try yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is multi-tabling profitable in online poker?
Yes, multi-tabling can be highly profitable because it allows players to play more hands per hour. While your win rate on individual tables may decrease slightly, the increased volume often leads to greater overall profits.
How many tables should a beginner play online poker?
Most beginners should start with one or two tables. This allows players to focus on learning optimal strategy, reading opponents, and avoiding costly mistakes before increasing their table count.
Does multi-tabling reduce your poker win rate?
In many cases, yes. As you add more tables, you have less time to make decisions and gather information on opponents. However, a small decrease in win rate can still result in a higher hourly profit if you’re playing significantly more hands.
What is the best number of tables to play online poker?
The ideal number varies by player experience and game type. Many regular players find that four to eight tables provide a good balance between volume and decision-making quality.
Is multi-tabling better for cash games or tournaments?
Multi-tabling works well in both formats, but cash game players often find it easier to manage multiple tables because stack sizes and blind levels remain consistent throughout the session.
How can I improve at multi-tabling?
Gradually increase the number of tables you play, use a clean table layout, minimize distractions, and review your results regularly. Tracking your hourly win rate can help determine the optimal number of tables for your skill level.
Can multi-tabling increase poker rakeback earnings?
Yes. Since multi-tabling increases the number of hands played, it can also increase rake generation, leading to higher rakeback rewards and loyalty program benefits on many online poker sites.
Edward Pao is an online poker and casino affiliate marketer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He has referred over 30,000 players to major poker platforms and specializes in reviewing the best online poker sites and casino bonuses.