If you’re interested in playing online poker, it’s important to find a site that you can trust. The best sites have safe and secure practices, and are known for fair play. They also offer a wide variety of promotions and bonuses to attract new players. These can include free slots and video poker, as well as rakeback, which is basically free money.
Before you decide which site to use, you need to check their licensing and make sure they have a third party security firm. You can look for reviews to get a feel for a particular site’s reputation. Also, if you want to deposit and withdraw your funds, read the terms and conditions carefully. Some poker sites have wagering requirements, so you need to be certain you are comfortable with them.
In addition to choosing a site that is trusted, you should also consider how reliable their software is. It should be easy to use and should offer a mobile version. Most top online poker sites offer a fast, simple app that is compatible with most smartphones. Likewise, you should be sure the site is licensed in a reputable jurisdiction.
A good sign of a reputable site is a large number of players. Ideally, this means a large number of active players. This creates a pool of players with a wide range of skill levels. Moreover, it gives you more opportunities to play against softer players, which can translate into bigger short-term gains.
Additionally, you should be able to use a hand history tracker to record the hands you’ve played. Professional poker players often use these tools to analyze their play.
Despite the uncertainty over multi-state poker, there are currently several states that have regulated online poker. The first two states to do so were Nevada and Delaware. Eventually, they joined the Multi-state Internet Gaming Agreement, or MSIGA, a network of regulated online poker sites that allow for players from all states to play against each other.
Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2013, several more states have passed legislation authorizing online poker. Alaska is one such state, but its economy is relatively small and it doesn’t have many residents. As such, it would be impossible for a company to serve its market alone. For this reason, it would have to partner with other states to form a regulated online poker industry.
Other states that have enacted legislation are Pennsylvania and Michigan. Those states are now the third and fourth regulated markets for online poker in the United States. But even then, the situation is far from resolved.
While you can always check out your local laws to see if they allow online poker, you should be wary of small operators that may try to cheat to win. Even if the games are fair, there’s a risk of a rogue employee winning by cheating.
Another factor to consider is the quality of the poker site’s customer service. Online poker can be fun, but it’s still a business, and the smallest operators can be desperate. Therefore, it’s important to choose a site that offers excellent customer service.