Online poker is a fun, easy-to-play game that rewards actual skill unlike slots or the lottery. It can be played from any computer, mobile phone or tablet and for stakes as low as pennies. Players can even compete for satellite entries into the biggest live tournaments in the world. It’s no wonder that millions of people play this popular game each year.
The best online poker sites have reliable software that’s easy to use and offer customization options so you can set up the game exactly how you like it. Whether you want to adjust the color of the cards or table layout, a top-rated site will have a wide variety of settings to choose from.
Another thing to look for is a poker site with plenty of banking credit card options. You should be able to select your preferred method of deposit and withdrawal when you sign up. This ensures you’ll be able to enjoy your poker experience without having to worry about your financial security.
Aside from offering convenient payment methods, the top-rated poker sites also have a solid customer service team that’s always happy to help. You can reach them through email, Facebook, or Twitter and get answers to your questions in no time at all. Some even have dedicated poker chatrooms where you can interact with other players.
The first step in learning how to play poker is to read up on the rules. There are a lot of different resources available, from books to online articles to full courses on the subject. These are great for beginners because they can help teach the fundamentals of poker strategy, and most of these resources will cover both online and live game strategy.
Once you’ve learned the basics of poker, it’s time to start playing. You can practice for free or with virtual money to test the waters, but it’s always best to stick to low stakes until you’re confident in your abilities. It’s also a good idea to keep track of your results, especially your win-rate and number of flops seen, as this will give you an idea of how well you’re doing at the tables.
In the not-too-distant past, there was a distinct distinction between “live” and “online” poker players, with many of the latter complaining that their games weren’t as ‘real’ as those of the live pros. But today, this distinction is much less stark, with most top-level players playing both online and live poker.
After a lengthy delay, New Jersey finally legalized online poker in 2013. This allowed it to join the MSIGA (Multi-State Internet Gaming Association) with Delaware and Nevada, allowing it to share its player pool with both markets. This was a major boost for the industry, and it seemed that other regulated states would follow suit soon enough. But then the Department of Justice moved in to try and enforce the Wire Act against interstate gambling, and things started to go downhill from there.
