SWC Poker Review - The Original Bitcoin Poker Site: Get Rakeback!
SWCPoker (formerly named Seals With Clubs) was the first online poker room using exclusively Bitcoin for deposits and withdrawals. This rapidly growing currency has also led to a rapidly growing poker room. The games here are exceptionally soft, the payouts are often under 12 hours, and the rake is the lowest in the online poker industry.
There used to only be a downloadable PC client available, but developers have since deployed an Android app so that you can play while mobile, a Mac client for Apple fans, and an HTML5 webapp that works with a broad range of systems! Gameplay is completely anonymous, you do not need to provide identification. This is, as SWC describes, the "Wild Wild West of online poker."
Micro-Stakes NL Hold'em Cash Table on Mobile DeviceBe sure to check out ProfRB.com's review of SWCPoker regarding US state restrictions here. (spoiler alert - SWC is available in all 50 US states and all US territories!)
SWC Poker has the most game types available of any online poker site. The games offered include no limit hold'em, pot limit Omaha, Omaha 8s or better, PL Big O, PL Big O/8, Open Faced Chinese, Pineapple, Badeucy, Deuce to Seven Triple Draw, and mixed games all the way from HOSE up to 12-game mixed! Unfortunately, there isn't always a game running in the more obscure types, but if you sit down at an empty table, games typically start up relatively quickly. You can also use the chat feature in the software to find other interested players before you even sit down at the tables.
There is, of course, more than just ring games at SwC. Sit-n-goes and a full complement of tournaments beckon. Many of these tourneys are freerolls held in quite a wide array of variants, allowing you to sample for free the myriad types of poker available. Within the past couple of years, SwCPoker has started to run occasional series of tournaments, sometimes with added prizes and/or overlays present.
We here at ProfRB.com have scoured the internet to bring you a comprehensive "how-to" bitcoin guide for those not familiar with navigating the bitcoin waters. And while it may seem on the outset to be a confusing endeavor, through our own experience, we hope to simplify the process as described below - playing with bitcoins on SWC Poker is easier than you might think! First, set up an account:
Step 1: Clear your cookies - this is mandatory for proper tracking! Click the links below for instructions.
Step 2: 
Click the SWC logo. If you use ad blocking software the SWC Logo may not be visible. Try clicking this direct link instead!
Step 3: If you've previously installed the software, you must uninstall it now before continuing.
Step 4: Press the yellow “Play Now” button on the top-right of the window.
Step 5: Click the "Sign Up" button.
Step 6: Create a new SWC poker account - make sure to input “ProfRB” as the account who referred you.
Step 7: Skype or Email us your username and registered email address so that we can confirm your account is properly set up. Also feel free to contact us if you'd like to purchase some bitcoins or SWC chips directly from us!
How To Acquire Bitcoin For Use On SWCPoker
Bitcoins are the currency of SWC Poker. Once you've set up your SWC account, it's time to get yourself some bitcoins. Once you deposit those bitcoins onto SWC, you receive chips that you can use to play in SWC tournaments, sit-n-go's, or cash games. 1 bitcoin is equal to 1,000,000 SWC chips at all times. The price of bitcoin does not affect the amount of chips received from deposits or withdrawals. Thus, if you buy 1 bitcoin at $40,000 USD per bitcoin and deposit it, you will receive 1,000,000 SWC chips. If bitcoin prices rise to $50,000 by the time you cash out your 1,000,000 chips, you will receive 1 bitcoin, which you can then sell for $50,000 USD on an exchange.
We highly recommend reading below and / or using our more thorough step-by-step bitcoin gambling guide with pictures in order to set up your bitcoin holding and trading accounts.
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First step in Acquiring bitcoins: Choose your wallet
A bitcoin wallet basically is an online version of a real wallet and is similar to a bank account, where your bitcoins are stored and can be used to purchase, trade, or sell. ProfRB.com recommends using Coinbase for their easy-to-use software, straightforward approach, and ease in buying bitcoins that can be used to deposit on SwC. There are other wallets available with similar features to Coinbase, so you'll have options even if Coinbase in unavailable in your geographic region. However, it seems that most reputable methods will still initially require waiting periods for purchases - more on that below.
Step A: Sign up for an account at Coinbase. Once you do, verify your email address, and agree to their Terms of Service.
Step B: You will arrive at your Coinbase account page. Click "buy your first Bitcoin" to begin.
Step C: Coinbase gives you two options here: "Verify Bank" or "Verify Phone Number." We recommend verifying your bank information for quicker service.
Step D: Verify your bank information by linking your bank account and filling in the information required.
Step E: You can choose two ways to verify your bank information: "Instant" or "Deposit" verification. Instant verification securely logs into your bank account to confirm your info right then, while deposit verification makes two small deposits and one debit on your account that will appear in 2-3 days. You enter the amounts once you see them hit your bank account to continue.
Step F: Once you are verified, you will be able to purchase your first Bitcoin.
Second step: Purchase your bitcoins
Now that you are ready to buy some bitcoins, click "buy/sell" on your left-hand links in your Coinbase page.
KEEP IN MIND!!! One bitcoin will always net you 1,000,000 chips on SWC Poker. This never changes: for example, you can purchase 0.5 bitcoins and you will receive 500,000 chips on SWC. Chips are used to buy into tournaments or sit-n-go's as well as for cash games.
Step A: Simply enter the amount of bitcoins you wish to purchase, and your payment method will already appear in the drop down menu.
Step B: Once you enter the amount you wish to purchase, Coinbase will automatically list the final cost before continuing on. Coinbase charges a "purchasing fee" of 1% on all transactions - as well, there will be a $0.15 bank fee charged (this amount may vary, but is typically no more than 15 cents).
Step C: If you haven't already, Coinbase will instruct you to verify your phone number before completing the purchase. They simply send you a verification code via text that you enter, and this will complete the process.
**BEFORE YOU CLICK "BUY BITCOIN" - PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!!!** For your first purchase of over one (1) bitcoin using Coinbase, it will take approximately one week to process before the bitcoin is in your account. Typically, your bank account will not be charged until two days or so before the processing is complete. Once this process is complete and you have your bitcoin(s) in your account, subsequent transactions will take about an hour to process from start to finish.
Third step: Create a blockchain.com wallet
It's best not to send BTC directly from Coinbase to any online gambling site. Coinbase is a fully regulated entity in the United States, and thus, it must comply with all banking regulations and federal guidelines. Playing online poker from the U.S.A. is a perfectly legitimate endeavor, but it's easy to see how the higher-ups at Coinbase might view it askance and opt to take a conservative route. We strongly advise all our readers to open up an account at blockchain.com. This is a Bitcoin wallet that can serve as an intermediary between Coinbase and your internet poker rooms of choice. By routing all your transactions through blockchain.com, you enhance your security and preserve a relatively high degree of anonymity.
After you create your blockchain.com wallet, we recommend that you go to the security section of the dashboard and initiate the backup recovery phrase. This will show you 12 words, which you should write down and keep in a safe place. This phrase will allow you to recreate your wallet in the event that you misplace your login credentials. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO RECOVER AN INACCESSIBLE BLOCKCHAIN.COM ACCOUNT. This is why we view this step as indispensable.
Now, click “Receive” toward the top of your web browser, and copy the address. Next, open up your wallet in Coinbase, and click “Send.” Paste the blockchain receive address into Coinbase, and send your transaction when ready. It may take some time for the BTC to actually reach blockchain.info because you'll have to wait for the Bitcoin network to confirm your transaction.
Fourth step: Depositing bitcoins for SWC chips
Go to the SWC website, sign in, and click on "Cashier" toward the top-right of the lobby. Have your blockchain wallet account open as well.
Step A: Within the deposit tab of the SWC cashier, there will be a line of text that says "Deposit Bitcoin to this address," and you will see a long string of letters and numbers beneath it. This is your unique SWC account address that is used to receive your bitcoin deposit. Highlight this and copy it to a notepad file.
Step B: On the main page of your blockchain.info account, click "Send."
Step C: Copy the long string of letters and numbers in your notepad file. Paste it in the "to" field of the "Send" window that opens on your blockchain page.
Step D: Enter the amount of bitcoins you wish to send to your SWC account. Remember, 1 bitcoin = 1,000,000 chips on SWC, 0.5 bitcoins = 500,000 chips, 0.25 bitcoins = 250,000 chips, etc.
Step E: Make 100% certain that the deposit address (long string of letters and numbers) in the blockchain "to" field is exactly as it's listed in your SWC account.
Step F: Click "Send Money". The process generally takes 10-60 minutes before the chips appear in your SWC account.
You can visit blockchain.info to watch the process of your bitcoin being verified. Simply paste your SWC cash-in address in the "Search" field and hit enter. Typically, once the transaction has been confirmed six times, your chips will appear in your SWC account.
Once the chips are in your SWC account, you are ready to play!
SwCPoker now supports Bitcoin Cash (BCH) in addition to normal Bitcoin (BTC). Bitcoin Cash chips are worth 1/1,000,000 of a full BCH coin: the same ratio as with Bitcoin chips. Games in the lobby that use BTC are indicated by an orange Bitcoin logo whereas those that employ BCH display a green logo.
When making a deposit or cashing out, you will see these two logos and will be able to select the one that you want to use. BE CAREFUL NOT TO SEND ONE TYPE OF CRYPTO COIN TO AN ADDRESS MEANT FOR THE OTHER. If you screw this up, you might lose your coins altogether without having any way of retrieving them.
Yes, there is at least one popular HUD package that's compatible with SwCPoker. For a while, there were no mainstream tracking programs that worked with SwC because it transitioned over to new software in 2015. However, PokerTracker 4 now supports this site as of May 2021.
SwC rakeback is basically a tiered poker VIP program in which those customers who are loyal and play lots of hands, over time, rise to higher tiers and accumulate ever higher rakeback percentages. The cashback starts at 5% and works its way up to 50% rakeback equivalent! There are also ever-increasing bitcoin freerolls tournaments that players gain access to as they raise in levels.
The name SwCPoker is an abbreviation of Seals With Clubs, which was the forerunner of the current room and the first online poker site to ever spread games denominated in bitcoins. Seals With Clubs was itself a bizarre name for a card site. Due to legal troubles, the site had to shut down and reopen, and with the new platform came a new name, SwCPoker.
Why, yes, they do offer bitcoin poker freerolls, both to players who have not deposited yet and as one of the perks of their bitcoin VIP program. The tournament schedule at SWC is growing rapidly, offering hourly tournaments. There's even a Sunday Major tournament with 0.2 bitcoin prize pool guarantee!
American players from the United States of America [USA] are more than welcome to play at SwC Bitcoin poker site. US player, European player, Asian player, Australian player, it doesn't matter, SWC accepts ALL POKER PLAYERS!
Bitcoins are a peer-to-peer digital currency that has been in use since 2009. Bitcoin is an electronic cash system based on open-source, peer-to-peer internet protocol. There is no centralized issuer; instead, individual users volunteer computing power, attempting to solve difficult math problems in exchange for processing rewards - in effect, executing and recording the network’s transactions in a decentralized way. SwC only transacts business in Bitcoin. The best research site out there to familiarize yourself with bitcoins is Bitcoin.org (and you can track trades and values at blockchain.com). We recommend to our players to have a general familiarity with bitcoins before they begin play.
No. SWCPoker flatly rejects the idea that an online poker room should require your personal information. They believe the online poker experience should be similar to a live cardroom, whereby players can buy chips, play, and cash out anonymously. By using Bitcoin, SwC can securely, anonymously and quickly process chip transactions without requiring any documentation on their part. Anonymous online poker, in the tradition and spirit of BTC, is a reality thanks to SwC.
The rake at SwC varies between 1% and 4% depending on the specific games you play. The rake caps vary between 1 chip and 200 chips, equivalent to $0.03 - $6.50 as of July 8, 2021. Both the rake percentage and rake cap are extremely competitive compared to most other poker sites except at the very highest stakes offered. The Krill rakeback system and other promotions make the effective rake on SwC very low versus the industry standard.
Yes there is, up to 50% rakeback | cashback levels can be achieved via the Krill (Bitcoin poker) VIP program.
Write down this referral code ProfRB, click this sign up referral link, click the yellow "Play Now" button in the upper-right corner of screen and create an SwCPoker account - make sure to input "ProfRB" as the account who referred you! It costs you nothing, the site compensates us for your referral, and we thank you!
The good news is that you do not need a bonus or promotional code. The bad news is that they do not offer a deposit bonus of any kind. They figure they offer enough freerolls to players already, and since they use an anonymous system with players, it would be too easy for unscrupulous types to abuse a poker deposit bonus system.
Direct from their website it states "If a tournament is interrupted and cannot be completed, management will return buy-ins or distribute the prize pool at its discretion."