The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a huge increase in online poker traffic, which isn’t surprising given the fact that most live gaming venues are closed for the rest of the year due to the virus. Not only have many live venues closed, but also unlicensed venues have stopped operating altogether, leaving many people without a viable alternative for a night out. Because of this, many casual players have turned to online poker as a substitute, and many operators have reported double or even triple the traffic before the pandemic.
However, there are some sites that are designed to accommodate all levels of poker players, such as Full Tilt and PokerStars. Others are more accessible for recreational players, like Bovada and Bet365. These sites offer low-stakes tables to beginners and prevent better players from taking up too many of their seats. So, if you aren’t quite a pro yet, then you should sign up with these poker sites and try your hand at these games.
Other states are beginning to legalize online poker. Delaware regulated online poker in 2013 and New Jersey followed suit. Both of these states are expected to approve online poker sites in the coming years. However, the federal government has so far succeeded in keeping the largest online poker site operators out of the US market. However, several offshore online poker sites continue to accept players from the US. For now, these are the only two states that have legalized online poker.
The DOJ’s 2018 Wire Act interpretation was ultimately overturned by the Court of Appeals, but not before the DOJ issued warnings and threats. The new administration has seemed less interested in pursuing this case. This leaves the MSIGA, which is the only active multi-state online poker compact in the US, as a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling. The decision has left the question of regulation of online poker in the US open for debate.
The major online poker sites have added special features to attract new players. These include video poker tournament software. Some sites even offer special satellite tournaments, allowing winners to win entry into real-life poker tournaments. A famous example of this is Chris Moneymaker’s entry to the 2003 World Series of Poker. That shock caused a poker boom that saw three times the number of players in the tournament. In fact, four players at the final table of the 2004 World Series of Poker won their entry through online cardrooms, including the winner, Greg Raymer.
Besides paying high taxes on their revenue, many US online poker operators are also committed to giving back to the communities they serve. This means that the profits made by these poker websites go towards helping schools and improving social programs. In addition to these benefits, US online poker sites offer some of the largest bonuses in the world. In competition for player traffic, they also offer valuable promotions and reload bonuses for new and existing members. The US online poker community has a diverse array of sites, so there is sure to be a poker room for you.