Online poker is a game that can be played from just about any device with an internet connection. It takes the traditional notion of playing cards in a casino or home and cranks it up a massive notch by offering players a wide range of options to choose from that include the ability to play poker for free or for the lowest stakes in the world (literally pennies). They can also compete in large tournaments and earn satellite entries into amazing live poker events. The best online poker sites offer a variety of bonuses and promotions to attract new customers but be careful – many of these come with stipulations such as having to play a certain number of hands to release them.
While online poker has been around for decades, it really exploded into the mainstream consciousness when Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 World Series of Poker and brought the game to the masses. The industry was booming and a large number of unregulated online poker rooms operated in the United States, but the UIGEA of 2006 put a damper on things and forced some major operators out of the market.
The US market remained a bit of a mess until 2012 when Nevada and Delaware passed laws allowing for the creation of regulated online poker sites within their respective borders. This opened the door for players in those states to compete against each other and allowed for larger player pools. In the fall of 2013, New Jersey joined this growing group and established itself as a regulated online poker market.
As the number of regulated online poker sites in the United States continues to grow, more and more people are looking to get involved in the game. The game is still not available in all states but the big sites have been working hard to ensure that they can open their doors to players in as many regions as possible. The same goes for the smaller regional poker sites which are often a little more tight-knit and can be great places to learn the ropes of the game.
Getting money on and off an online poker site is now much easier than ever before. There are a huge range of options available depending on your location and you can use credit or debit cards, e-checks, third-party eWallets, bank transfers or even cash from an ATM. The biggest and most popular poker sites have a wide range of payment methods which means that you are almost sure to find an option that works for you.
There are a few other things to keep in mind when it comes to legal online poker in the United States. The most important thing is to make sure that you are in a state that allows it. After that, you should look into the specific laws in your state and make sure that you understand what to expect. From there, you can start to look into the different options and choose which ones are right for you.