Online poker is a great way to play for real money from your computer, mobile device or tablet. You can even win big prizes and satellite entries to live poker tournaments. But before you start playing, it’s important to know the rules of the game and where to play safely.
Legality & Regulations
There are four states that allow US players to access regulated online poker: New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Other states are likely to follow suit in the future, but for now, they haven’t passed any laws regulating online poker.
Alaska has never regulated online poker, and it’s one of the least likely to do so. This has to do with the state’s history as a strict anti-gambling jurisdiction, as well as its small population.
Fortunately, many states are looking to bring the benefits of online poker to their residents by establishing state-regulated networks with a shared player pool. This would give players from a number of states the opportunity to take part in tournaments and cash games at a single location.
The best poker sites offer a wide variety of deposit and payout methods, including BTC, e-wallets, credit cards, and check by courier. They also offer free-play and no-deposit options, which can help you test the waters before depositing any real money.
Rakeback is a great way to get rewarded for your loyalty. Most poker sites will reward loyal players with a portion of the rake they collect, which is a percentage that online poker rooms take from each pot.
In addition to rakeback, some poker rooms will offer other types of bonuses that can be worth a lot of cash. These bonuses can range from cash back to exclusive rewards like VIP treatment and trips to major poker tournaments.
Database Software
Online poker is a serious game, and you need to be able to track your progress and learn from your mistakes. The right poker database software can make it easy to analyze your stats and discover leaks in your strategy.
It can also calculate your and your opponents’ statistics to spot trends in your play or theirs. It’s a good idea to try out a trial version of any poker database software before making a commitment.
Poker Software for Android and iOS
If you play poker on your smartphone or tablet, it’s vital to find an app that’s fast and easy to use. You can also look for features that allow you to customize your experience with hotkeys and overlays.
Anonymous Tables
If you’re a beginner, playing poker anonymously is a great way to protect yourself from sharks. Most poker sites will not allow you to play under a fake name, so you’ll need to use a username that makes it difficult for your opponents to track your play.
Social Poker Sites
There are a few social poker sites that welcome players from New York, including Global Poker and Juicy Stakes. These sites accept virtual currencies, such as Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, and allow you to play for a number of different stakes.