The popularity of online poker increased when Chris Moneymaker qualified for the World Series of Poker Main Event and won $2.5 million for the win. His performance single-handedly changed the landscape of the poker world. ESPN and online gaming websites began showing clips of poker tournaments and hundreds of thousands of new players flocked to online poker rooms. Nowadays, online poker is one of the most popular forms of gambling, with millions of players worldwide. But how is the game played? What are the benefits and disadvantages?
When playing online poker, players first download a poker software to their computer. This software only needs a small amount of memory and should not take long to download even on archaic Internet connections. Beginner tables are available on most poker websites, but do not have the same features as full download versions. It is best to play in a low-stakes game at first before moving up to a higher stakes one. Nonetheless, you can practice before stepping out of your comfort zone.
While most of the online poker sites are operated offshore, if you live in the United States, you have several options. There are illegal and legal offshore sites to choose from. Licensed offshore poker sites offer a variety of benefits. They are regulated and licensed in every state. Additionally, they accept players from the United States without any preselection. These poker sites are fully regulated and as safe as their US counterparts. The good news is that only five states have made online poker illegal.
Moreover, legal online poker sites in the US ask for consent to install geolocation software on their players’ devices. These tracking features help ensure that players are playing in a legal jurisdiction. However, some players may be concerned that their geolocation information is exposed. For this reason, it is crucial to use a legal online poker app. In addition, it is important to ensure that the app is based in the United States. To ensure that it is safe for US players, the app must be licensed and operate under strict US laws.
Despite the legal status of online poker in the US, several states are working on legislations that will make it easier for online poker to grow. The first legalized state to make it legal was Delaware. Today, players can play at sites operated by Delaware Park, Harrington Raceway, and Dover Downs. PokerStars and WSOP.com have also entered the market in Delaware. In addition, Pennsylvania passed a bill in October 2017 to allow online poker.
While there are several states that have regulated online poker, only three have legalized the practice in their jurisdiction. Despite the legality of online poker in the US, many players in the US will still face legal issues when gambling online. This is why the federal government has attempted to shut out the largest global online poker site operators from the US market. In the meantime, several offshore operators are still accepting US players. The key to the success of US online poker is a legal market in every state.