Online poker has come a long way since the heyday of the smoky bars and chat rooms. Not only has technology advanced, but the number of licensed sites has increased. Now, you can play online anywhere you have a computer or smartphone. The process to get started is simple. Once you sign up, you’ll be asked to provide your name, social security number and date of birth. You’ll be notified when it’s your turn to act.
Until recently, regulated online poker wasn’t available in the US. However, in 2013, a few states, including Nevada and Delaware, passed legislation. This made it possible for players in those states to play against players from other states. It also hinted at the possibility of a nationwide online poker network.
Several other states, like New Jersey and California, have signed multi-state agreements. These agreements are designed to share players across state lines to create a more robust player pool. For instance, the Nevada-Delaware compact allows for players from both states to play against players from other states. Similarly, the Multi-state Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) permits shared player pools among three states.
Despite the name, multi-state poker is still in its infancy. It was only in 2017 that New Jersey joined the fray. In the past, California and Nevada were the only states with regulated online poker. And, it took some time for them to join the MSIGA.
There are several reasons why it’s not the best idea to play online poker at an unregulated site. First and foremost, if you aren’t regulated, you could wind up getting banned from the site. Second, you could wind up a victim of identity theft. Third, there’s too much at stake for any online poker operator to risk rigging games.
To make your poker experience more fun, there are several things you can do to improve your chances of winning. One of the best ways to do this is to learn more about the game. Another is to sign up for free poker training sites. If you can afford it, there are even websites that provide videos from the poker pros themselves. While these might be a bit pricey, they’re worth it for the sheer amount of information you’ll be able to get from them.
Lastly, the best way to improve your results is to pay attention to what you’re seeing. When you play, you’ll need to look at the number of flops you see, the number of times you go to a showdown and where you’re winning money. By tracking these numbers, you’ll have a better chance of winning.
If you’re new to online poker, the best thing you can do is to join an online poker training site. Many of these sites are free, but you may want to spend a few dollars to upgrade to a video database.
After signing up, you’ll need to download the software. Most sites only require a few minutes of your time to install. Depending on the site, you may need to provide additional documentation in order to verify your identity.