Online Poker in the US
It used to be that playing online poker in the US was a federal crime, but that has changed with the passage of time. In 2011, a new interpretation of the Wire Act was imposed, reopening the possibility of legal online poker in the US. This is great news for players and operators alike, but it also poses a set of challenges for operators. Let’s examine a few of the most pressing issues surrounding online poker.
The first issue is age. Players must be at least eighteen years old, or the age of majority in their jurisdiction, in order to play online poker. To receive bonuses, players must play as many hands as possible in the first few weeks. A sign-up bonus is not an instant reward. It is earned by accumulating frequent player points. This means that if you win the game, you can take home a nice sum of money.
Online poker operators also keep track of the devices of their players. These devices are installed with geolocation software by the site’s operators. In addition, legal online poker apps will require you to give your consent to install this software on your device. This software tracks your location to ensure that you play within the law. It’s important to know that you can always opt out of this type of tracking if you choose to play online poker in the United States.
To prevent losing control of your emotions and playing aggressively, always remember that your cards have cash values. In online poker, different colored chips represent different denominations of cash. Hence, it is important to learn and understand how these values are calculated. By understanding how the poker hand rankings work, you’ll be better able to implement a more effective online poker strategy. This is essential for gaining an edge over your opponents. And, to win in this game, you need to know the odds of each situation.
Some states have taken the lead in legalizing online poker. Michigan, Delaware, and New Jersey have all regulated online poker in their states. The first legal online poker websites launched in Michigan in 2018. In 2019, Connecticut and West Virginia are expected to approve the regulation of online poker, but as of yet, no US-based online poker sites are operating in these states. Nevertheless, they are regulated and will begin operating in the US in the future. If the federal government doesn’t approve these states’ proposals, you can always expect legal online poker sites to hit the market soon.
As of May 2017, only four states in the United States have regulated online poker. Delaware was one of the first states to legalize the game, offering the first licensed poker sites in the United States. WSOP.com and BetMGM.com are two of the biggest operators of online poker in the state. WSOP/888 US is currently the largest US online poker site in terms of traffic. So, in the US, you can now play legal online poker in Delaware.