Online poker in the United States has been a reality for decades, but until recently, it wasn’t regulated. The first online poker sites popped up in the late 1990s. After Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker in 2003, the unregulated online poker industry flourished. After that, however, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) forced many online poker sites out of the U.S. market. However, some sites, such as PokerStars, remain open to U.S. players and are now regulated.
Online poker is a fun game, often played against complete strangers, and requires skill and bluffing. This online version of the game has become immensely popular, with millions of players playing online for real money. With so many options, online poker allows you to play at many tables simultaneously – some sites have 40 or more – unlike offline games. The games offered vary – you can choose from cash games, tournaments, holdem, omaha, and more. With a large variety of games, you can always find a poker game to join.
To play poker online, you first need to download the poker software onto your computer. This software requires very little memory and shouldn’t take long to download, even on slow internet connections. Then, you can sign up for an account on the site, which is free. However, be warned, no download versions of poker games don’t include all the features of full download versions.
In 2013, Nevada lawmakers pushed for online poker to be regulated for real money. Governor Brian Sandoval signed the bill AB114 to allow the activity. After that, they looked for options to expand online gambling. Ultimately, they signed multi-state agreements allowing online poker to operate in the state. In the following years, more states are expected to join the MSIGA.
A number of people find playing poker online more convenient. Rather than interacting with a crowd, online poker websites notify players when their turn comes. As a result, the pace of a game is much faster than that of live play. In addition, online poker sites allow players to deal more hands in a single hour.
If you’re just starting out playing poker online, it’s best to start with low stakes games. This is the best way to learn the game and learn tactics. You can find these games for free on many sites. You can also take advantage of beginner-only tables on many sites. These tables are usually available to new customers for 30 to 90 days after they create an account.
When playing poker online, you should also consider installing poker software. Some of these programs come with hand database programs that save online poker hand histories. They also display historical statistics on known players. In addition, these programs offer quizzes and scan hands for mistakes.