How to Run Your Home Poker Game From a Laptop
Updated Oct 22, 2026
To run a home poker game from a laptop, open the HG Poker web app at play.hgpoker.io and sign in with Apple or Google, the same account as the phone app. Start a cash game, record each buy-in and rebuy as it happens, put Game Display on a TV, enter the final chip counts, and HG Poker shows who owes who.
Why run poker night from a laptop?
A phone works fine for one host at a busy table. A laptop is better when:
- The laptop is already on the table for music, a blind timer or a spreadsheet you're trying to retire.
- You want the game on the TV. A laptop plugged into the TV puts the game where everyone can see it, so fewer people ask "what am I in for?"
- You want a bigger view afterward. Results, player history and who owes who are easier to read on a big screen.
How to run a home cash game from a laptop, step by step
https://play.hgpoker.io- Open the web app and sign in. Go to play.hgpoker.io and sign in with Apple or Google. It's the same account as the phone app; if you're new, signing in creates your account.
- Start a cash game. Open Games in the sidebar, start a cash game and add your players. Saved players from earlier games are ready to pick.
- Put the game on the TV. Open Game Display on a TV or second screen so the table can see the game. It's part of Host Pro, and a free Pro night includes it.
- Record every buy-in and rebuy. Tap each buy-in and rebuy when it happens, not from memory at the end of the night.
- Enter the final chip counts. Count each stack and enter it. HG Poker compares the chips with the money in play and shows any difference before you finish.
- Settle up. Open Settle to see who owes who. Your group pays each other outside the app, and you mark each payment as it arrives.
What's in the sidebar
On a laptop, desktop or iPad, the web app keeps a sidebar on the left and your game on the right.
Scroll table horizontally →
| Sidebar | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Home | Your next game and your latest results |
| Games | Start, run and look back at cash games and tournaments |
| Players | Your saved players and each one's history |
| Insights | Your group's stats and trends over time |
| Settle | Who owes who, and what's been paid |
| Schedule | Plan the next poker night |
Running a tournament from a laptop
Start a tournament from Games instead of a cash game. Put Room Display on the TV (part of Host Pro) so the room can follow the tournament. If you're still working out blinds and payouts, start with the home poker tournament setup guide.
Laptop, phone or both?
It's one account, so you don't have to choose. Many hosts set the game up on the laptop and keep the phone in a pocket. The phone app is still the place for game alerts, and plans are bought in the iPhone or Android app. In the web app, choose Get the phone app and scan the QR code with your phone's camera.
Settling up at the end of the night
HG Poker is a scorekeeping app: it records buy-ins and results and shows who owes who, but it never holds or moves money. Your group pays each other by cash, Venmo or Zelle. For the full method, including what to do when the chips don't add up, read how to settle up a home poker game.
Ask your AI about the night
The same account connects to Claude and ChatGPT as a custom connector. After the game, ask for tonight's group text or your season Wrapped. See how to track a home poker game with ChatGPT or Claude.
Get started
Open the HG Poker web app on your laptop, or download HG Poker on the App Store or Google Play. Learn more on the HG Poker on the web page.