In 2011, there were few legal options for US citizens to play online poker. The Department of Justice effectively shut down all but two of the global giants, forcing players to use offshore sites or to use their credit card to make a deposit. However, online poker has come a long way since that time. Now, four states have legalized online poker.
The state of Delaware already has online poker, though it is only limited by the size of the state’s population. Nevada is another state with legalized online poker. This state has seen the opening of a WSOP-branded poker room using the 888 Poker software. Initially, Nevada had two competing online poker sites, but both failed to gain traction and closed in 2014. The new Nevada poker room is owned by South Point Casino, which offers real money online poker.
Once you’ve chosen an online poker site, the next step is to download the poker software, which should only take a few minutes to download. Once the software has been downloaded, you’ll need to register an account. Remember to only create one account, as multiple-accounting is illegal in online poker and will likely result in a ban from the site.
Bovada is one of the most popular sites for American players. It offers a variety of poker games, from NLHE to PLO, and features more than $1.5 million in weekly online poker tournament guarantees. In addition to this, it offers crypto benefits and an online casino. Bovada has a long history as an online poker site serving the US market. It offers anonymous tables and is mobile-compatible, so that US players can enjoy online poker on the go.
Withdrawals are easy, and can be made through ACH transfer, e-wallet services, or paper checks. However, withdrawal requests can take a few days to process, as online poker sites will need to verify your identity. In some cases, you may be asked to provide a copy of your ID.
US laws have not always been friendly to online poker. Although poker is legal in most states, the law in some states has prohibited it. However, many avid players have managed to get around the law by using foreign-based platforms. The only downside of using foreign-based poker sites is that residents of those states don’t get prosecuted for deposits.
Play money poker games are fun and easy to learn, but the game of poker can become a mental battle when you start playing for real money. Playing every hand and hoping that it’s a winning one is a losing strategy. Likewise, playing too few hands makes you predictable and easy to exploit. Understanding math is crucial when playing for real money.
Poker has a long history, and while the original game may have originated in the Middle East, poker as we know it today was developed in the United States. In fact, it was in New Orleans that the game was introduced to other parts of the country. It soon spread across the country.