While it is possible to play online poker legally in all fifty states, there are still some legal stumbling blocks to overcome. For example, if you live in the US, you can’t play poker if it’s illegal in your state. In addition, there are many regulatory hurdles to overcome before your favorite poker site can operate in your state. Here are some tips to help you decide if online poker is legal in your state:
First, you’ll need to find a payment method. Most poker sites don’t accept credit cards, so you’ll need to open a virtual bank account. You’ll need to choose a bank that has a large number of customers, and then deposit money into your poker account. You can fund your account with funds from this account if you win, or lose. The best option is to set up a recurring account in an online bank, as that way you don’t need to worry about money disappearing.
Second, you’ll need to consider the type of online poker you’re playing. Different sites have different games and different player pools. If you want to play in the United States, you’ll want to focus on sites with the biggest traffic. Many online poker operators will also offer promotions and bonuses to encourage you to play. Keeping track of your bankroll is essential to playing poker online safely. In fact, managing your bankroll is one of the easiest ways to prevent a financial catastrophe.
If you’re new to online poker, you’ll want to take advantage of the free money options. Many online poker rooms have special programs for beginners that help them learn the game. Some of these programs include a hand database program that keeps track of all the hands you’ve played online. You can also view previous statistics of known players. You can even scan your hands for mistakes. If you’re new to online poker, it’s best to check with the site before playing for real money.
You’ll also find a variety of different poker variations to play. There are tournaments and cash games with varying levels of blinds. Most poker games have at least one variation. Often, these games have higher blind levels than the standard ones. In a tournament, you can play with 3,000, 5,000, or even 10,000 chips, which are much faster and less intimidating than a normal 1,000-chip blind. But if you’re just beginning, you should choose low-stakes games in order to practice the basics and learn the tricks of the game.
Although online poker is legal in the US, there have been several legal battles involving US poker sites. While the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) made it illegal for US banks to deal with online poker sites, several sites continued to accept players in the US despite these legal hurdles. As a result, US players have had access to legal online poker sites until April 15, 2011.