Online poker is a great way to play poker for real money without having to leave your home. It allows you to play against other people from all around the world and can be a very fun and rewarding way to spend some time. But you need to find the best online poker site for your needs and preferences.
Licensed Sites
One of the first things you should look for when choosing an online poker site is whether or not it holds a gambling license. Having a license is an important way to ensure you are playing at a safe and secure site where your personal information is well protected. You will also want to make sure that you choose a site that offers a range of different deposit and withdrawal methods. This will help to keep your money secure and allow you to withdraw your winnings quickly.
Software
You will need to decide which type of software you want to use before you play at any poker site, this will depend on your own preferences and the games you want to play. You can either download a poker client onto your computer or you can opt for a no download version of the software that will allow you to play from anywhere in the world using your mobile phone. The poker software that you choose should give you the maximum range of options for how you can play, so make sure you check out the website before making your decision.
The Games You Can Play
There are a variety of different poker games available to play at online poker sites, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Stud. All of these games are available in both cash and tournament versions. These variations are very popular and can be a great way to try something new while also getting some practice in.
How to Deposit and Withdraw Your Winnings
Unlike the old days of online poker where it was often difficult to get your money onto a site, nowadays you can make deposits and withdrawals very easily at most poker sites. These can include credit cards, debit cards, pre-paid vouchers, bank transfers and even third party eWallets. The sites we recommend all offer a range of deposit and withdrawal methods so you should be able to find a method that works for you and suits your playing style.
Interstate Poker
After Black Friday the US online poker industry was in a bit of a doldrums, with many large operators being indicted for breaking various laws, most notably the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act). It wasn’t until 2013 that legislation was passed and online poker was finally legalised again, but this was on a state by state basis and only Nevada and Delaware were permitted to run regulated poker rooms.
The good news is that since then, states have been signing agreements to allow regulated online poker and this is starting to make an impact on the US poker market. This is because some regulated poker sites can now combine player pools from more than one state, giving players across the country the chance to play against each other in a more competitive environment.