How to Find the Best Online Poker Sites

How to Find the Best Online Poker Sites

Online poker is an exciting, easy-to-play intellectual game that rewards real skill unlike slots and the lottery. Players can play for pennies or satellite entries into the world’s greatest live tournaments.

Various software applications are used to aid players while playing online poker. These include hand databases that save, sort and recall all played hands. They can also scan active tables for known players and display statistics next to their names.

Banking options

One of the biggest factors that determines how easy it is to play poker online is the deposit options offered by the site. These include bank wires, credit and debit cards, prepaid cards and e-wallets. In addition to being fast and secure, e-wallets also provide players with an added level of privacy and security.

Many players don’t want to hand over their credit card details to a poker site deposit processor, so an e-wallet is the best option for them. Some of the most popular e-wallet options include PayPal, Skrill and Neteller. These offer a high level of security and are widely accepted.

Software

Online poker offers players the chance to play a variety of games for real money. The rules are the same as at your local casino or cardroom and the odds of winning a hand are calculated using random number generator software.

Licensed and regulated online poker sites have strict security measures to protect player data. They also offer quick payouts. Depending on your location, you may choose to use a credit or debit card to make deposits and withdrawals. Many operators allow players to deposit and withdraw funds for low or no fees. They also offer a mobile app for convenience and a more compact version of the poker client.

Rules

Online poker is a complex game with many rules and regulations. While some of these are specific to the game itself, others are related to responsible gambling and anti-money laundering. In addition, some countries have additional regulations that apply to players and operators.

After a brief flurry that saw three states regulate online poker in 2013, things stalled. The Obama administration’s reinterpretation of the Wire Act cut off these regulated sites from their larger US player pool.

In the wake of this development, Pennsylvania and Michigan passed legislation authorizing regulated online poker, but the first virtual hands have yet to be dealt. Other states are considering legalizing this activity as well, but their paths will be different from the three original pioneers.

Legality

The legality of online poker varies by state, with each regulating the activity within their borders. While the Federal Wire Act of 1961 prohibits moving money for gambling activities across state lines, individual states have the right to make their own decisions.

In the US, California is by far the biggest card room market. It brings in north of $1 billion in revenue each year, and that doesn’t even include tribal casino card rooms.

New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware are currently the only regulated markets for online poker in the United States, but Michigan and Pennsylvania promise to be sizable markets once they launch.

Sites to play

The best online poker sites offer a variety of games and bonuses. They also have a large player pool that makes it easy to find other players. This helps you improve your skills against softer opponents, and it provides you with more opportunities to win money.

Reliable sites meet strict licensing and regulatory requirements to provide a safe environment for playing. This includes using geolocation software to ensure that players are in a legal jurisdiction.

Moreover, the best poker sites are regulated and provide many ways to help players with their questions and concerns. These include email and phone support. Some even have a dedicated support team to answer players’ questions and solve any problems.