While playing online poker is legal in all 50 states, some restrictions apply. First, you must be at least 18 years old, or the minimum age required to play in your jurisdiction. Some sites also require age verification. If you’re not sure if you’re old enough to play, check with your local poker room or state’s government.
In the United States, online poker has been around for a few decades. The first sites started popping up in the late 1990s. After Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 win at the World Series of Poker, the unregulated online poker industry boomed. However, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) forced many sites to leave the U.S. market, but a few major operators like PokerStars have remained open to U.S. players for several years.
Besides offering a wide range of poker games, some sites also have freerolls for loyal customers. These freerolls usually feature small prize money but give players the chance to win real cash. Some of the larger online poker sites offer freerolls every day. You can also enter a sit-n-go tournament, which will start once all seats are filled. These are usually one-table tournaments, but some sites offer multiple tables.
However, it is important to note that gambling laws do apply to online poker in California, which means that you should avoid gambling online. If you live in California, you’ll need to register with a poker site that is licensed in your state. In the meantime, you can play online poker at a social site.
In the United States, you can play legal online poker in Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada. Besides these states, several other states have legalized online poker. Connecticut, Michigan, and West Virginia have also made it legal for players to play online. In addition, Florida has more than two dozen live poker rooms and several retail casinos.
Among the best sites for US players is Ignition Poker. This site offers most of the popular cash game variants and online poker tournaments. This site has the largest US network in terms of traffic, and a balanced mix of professional and recreational players. Additionally, Ignition Poker accepts Bitcoin and doesn’t charge any fees for deposits.