The recent COVID-19 pandemic, which has shut down a large portion of live gaming venues worldwide, has also fueled a massive increase in online poker traffic. As many of these unlicensed gaming venues closed, the sudden lack of live entertainment venues has spurred a large number of casual players to try their luck online. Consequently, many online poker operators reported double or triple the amount of traffic they were experiencing before the epidemic struck.
While some poker sites cater to all levels of players, such as PokerStars and Full Tilt, others are specifically designed for recreational players. Sites like Bovada and Bet365 offer lower stakes and beginner-friendly tables to attract casual players. Also, they prevent professionals from playing too many tables. Therefore, if you’re just getting started, it’s a good idea to join one of these sites instead of joining a high-stakes online poker room.
Before registering to play online poker, you’ll need to sign up at a poker room’s website. Most poker rooms have a “join now” link on their websites. This will allow you to make a deposit, but you may have to supply additional documentation to confirm your identity. Often, these sites will also ask for a utility bill and your address on file. After you’ve verified this information, you’ll be able to begin playing for real money.
If you’re a US player, you might wonder if online poker is legal in your state. The good news is that it’s legal in several states. However, legalization in the United States is still a hot topic, with the new administration hoping to make it a little easier for players to play online. The UK and India, for example, have regulated online poker. Meanwhile, Europe is only beginning to regulate online poker.
If you’re not a professional poker player, sign up for a training site and network with professionals to learn the game. Then, analyze your games brutally after each session. If you’re a beginner, you should start with the basic game: no-limit Texas Hold’em. There are no limits to the number of players, but a low buy-in is generally considered a good starting point. A good poker site will have free games so that you can practice before you play for money.
The margin of risk in online poker is lower than that of brick-and-mortar casinos. With online gambling, the marginal cost of setting up a table is negligible. You can play for as little as $10 per hundred hands at many online poker sites. Most brick-and-mortar casinos have minimum limits of $1-$2, which isn’t very high. This means that a player who has a 5% win rate can still earn nearly $24/hour.
While downloadable clients are preferred, instant play poker is another option for players who want to experience the benefits of online poker without a hassle. Because instant play poker is powered by Adobe Flash technology, it is compatible with most computers and mobile devices. It is a great option for players who want to play poker but are concerned about compatibility issues. In addition to being compatible with mobile devices, instant play poker is more user-friendly than downloadable poker clients.