Whether you’re new to poker or an experienced player, online poker offers the same rules as live games. But it requires a different set of skills that don’t require reading physical ‘tells’ from opponents.
New players should start by playing tournaments before advancing to cash tables. This will give them a good feel for the game and allow them to work on their stack size.
Legality
The legality of playing poker online is a complex issue, but it can be summed up as “it depends”. While many states have outright bans on gambling, others have vague laws that do not explicitly prohibit it. However, it is important to understand the laws in your area before you play.
The law in West Virginia, for example, is ambiguous and could be interpreted to prohibit online poker if it were not authorized by the state. In addition, the state’s penalties for gambling are severe (class B misdemeanor).
Other states have passed laws to make online poker legal, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Those laws require that the sites be licensed by brick-and-mortar casinos. Global Poker, a site that started accepting US players in December 2016, is another example of a legalized site. It uses a sweepstakes model and avoids the banking issues created by the UIGEA. This has helped it stay in the United States.
Signing up
Online poker games are similar to those played in brick-and-mortar casinos but have some additional features. These include the ability to create rooms for gaming, as well as tournaments that can pit players against one another. Players must have a computer that supports Windows and the latest versions of Adobe Flash, Java, and HTML5 to play online. The software can be downloaded from the website of a poker room and then run to install. Once installed, the poker site will ask users to sign in with a username and password or click on a link to verify their account.
Many US online poker sites require ID verification to prevent fraud and comply with laws against money laundering and other forms of illicit activity. These sites use software-as-a-service solutions to validate identities, check that wager call amounts are adequate, and identify and geolocate players. While this does add some friction to the poker playing experience, it also protects the integrity of the game and its player base.
Depositing money
Most poker sites allow players to deposit money into their account using a number of methods. The process is usually straightforward and quick. Most sites offer a “cashier” option that can be accessed from the main lobby or homepage. The cashier will then guide players through the process of funding their accounts. Credit cards are popular for online poker deposits and are widely accepted by most major sites. Visa and Mastercard are the top choices with most sites also offering Visa debit options such as Electron and Maestro. American Express is less common but is still available at a few poker sites.
Online payment services like Neteller, PayPal, or Skrill are more modern alternatives to traditional credit card processing. They use a digital wallet to hold your funds and transfer them quickly. These are great for those seeking anonymity as they don’t require you to disclose your banking information to the poker site. Fees for ewallet deposits vary, but are generally lower than those associated with direct bank transfers.
Withdrawing money
There are many different ways to withdraw money from an online poker account. Some are instant, while others may take a few days to process. Regardless of which method you choose, it’s important to review the available banking methods for each site to determine which ones are the fastest and most convenient.
eWallet withdrawals are typically the fastest way to cash out, as they do not require you to share your financial details with the poker room. Moreover, they are highly secure and use state-of-the-art security measures to ensure the safety of your funds.
Withdrawals from eWallets are usually processed the next business day after the request is received. However, the processing period may vary depending on the poker room. During this time, the poker site verifies that you are of legal age and that your identity is genuine. In order to do this, it will request a photo ID or proof of address from you.