Blockchain Poker: Revolutionizing Online Poker with Blockchain

Many players mistakenly think that if a poker room accepts cryptocurrencies, then it automatically is "blockchain poker." That is not the case.

Crypto poker rooms allow transactions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrencies but are still centralized, meaning players must trust that the operators managing the games and transactions are honest, as they would with other sites dealing strictly in fiat.

In sharp contrast, blockchain poker is entirely decentralized. Each hand dealt, every bet made, and each transaction are recorded on a public, unchangable blockchain ledger just to make everything fair and open. Players do not need to trust any central operator, as the very technology of blockchain itself makes sure all processes are verifiable and secure.

What this means is that crypto-only poker rooms provide modern options of making payments, but they do not provide the same high level of transparency, fairness, and security provided by blockchain poker. A difference is everything: blockchain poker relies on trust in technology while crypto poker rooms still rely on trusting in the operators.

Think of it like this: Every move that anyone makes in the course of a poker game is simultaneously recorded by all players on a large whiteboard, in permanent ink marker. No one can go back and edit anything without the others' noticing.

With blockchain, that whiteboard is not in one room, but thousands of other rooms around the world are duplicating and checking it. So, if someone tries to mess with the game, that is immediately obvious, and the system won't allow it. The result of such a game is fair and secure; thus, anyone can trust it.

Since a transaction is recorded on the blockchain, it is permanent; it cannot be altered or deleted by any person, not even by the system's administrators.

This makes it secure because to change one block requires changing all of the subsequent blocks on the whole network, which practically is impossible due to how the system has been designed. This essentially would mean that through blockchain, there is a kind of public record created that gets unchanged, therefore making it trustworthy for everyone.

• Improved security and confidence: Blockchain poker allows each transaction and the result of every game to be written on an immutable ledger; no manipulation of data is possible.

• Fairness and Transparency: Transparency via blockchain means that one can be guaranteed there are no rigged games, and funds are secure.

• Fast payouts: The possibility of cryptocurrency processing means that all deposits and withdrawals are dealt with instantly, without any waiting at all, therefore returning the control over the funds to the player.

• Global accessibility: Blockchain poker tears down geographical barriers and, therefore, can enable the world's players to enter cross-border tournaments and games with peers.

Before getting into the transparency ratings, let me first lead by saying that discussing transparency does not offend in any way traditional poker platforms of cheating or pulling underhanded manoeuvres; it's more a case of poker moving into crypto and blockchain, thus changing what is considered the norm in terms of transparency.

Traditional online poker websites are usually done on a level of trust: players have to take a leap of faith and simply assume the website is on the level and its dealing isn't crooked.

Blockchain can enable complete openness: every transaction, every hand dealt, and every outcome is publicly visible to all. One day, this transparency will remove any kind of doubt over the 'fairness' aspect, so players can be sure the games are run fairly.

Let's now compare the level of transparency across traditional, crypto, and completely decentralized blockchain poker sites concerning openness, verifiability, and mechanics ensuring fairness