How to Get Started in Online Poker
While most states have yet to enact legislation allowing online poker, a number of others have done so. West Virginia, Michigan and Pennsylvania have legalized online poker sites, and more are expected to follow suit. Although the federal government has been successful in keeping the largest global online poker operators out of the US market, several offshore online poker sites are now accepting US players.
Before you can begin playing, you’ll need to download the poker software. These downloads generally take just a few minutes and are virus-free. You’ll also need to sign up for an account. Creating more than one account is illegal, and it will get you banned from the site. You can also download poker games to your smart phone or tablet.
Once you’ve signed up for an online poker site, it’s important to keep track of your sessions’ stats. This will help you determine where you’re winning, and where you’re losing. Most online poker sites will provide these stats, so be sure to check them after each session. Pay special attention to your win rate, the number of flops you’ve seen, and how many times you’ve made it to showdown.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced most live gaming venues worldwide to shut down, resulting in a large increase in online poker traffic. Many unlicensed gaming venues also closed. In the wake of this, many casual players started turning to online poker to fill their void. As a result, many online poker websites reported double-digit traffic increases in the past year.
There are many ways to win money playing online poker. Some sites offer a variety of different options, ranging from free games to major tournaments. One way to get started is by joining an online poker site with a small stakes and learning the ropes. For instance, Ignition Poker allows players to play under anonymous usernames. That way, your opponents cannot track you.
Compared to live play, online poker games are incredibly fast and intense. In some cases, an online poker game will deal with up to 60 hands per hour. In a live casino, a typical player might see thirty or forty hands per hour. In online poker, players can see up to three times that number of hands per hour, particularly if they use a fast-fold format.
Online poker has a higher skill level than live poker. You’re less likely to encounter the same tough opponents in a $1/$2 NL cash game than you would in a live one. Online poker also allows for lower stakes, with stakes as low as pennies. If you’ve been a consistent live poker winner, you’re likely to have similar success playing online.