The US has been home to online poker for decades, with the first sites appearing in the late 1990s. Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 victory sparked an unregulated market. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) forced many sites to close their doors, but some, such as PokerStars, remain open to U.S. players. In fact, many Americans have benefited from online poker because of its accessibility.
In order to play online, players must first download poker software onto their computers. This software takes up a small amount of memory and should not take long even on an ancient connection. There are no-download poker games available at any poker site, but they do not offer all of the features of the download version. This is an important consideration before playing online poker. Ensure that your PC has enough memory and a reliable internet connection to support the software.
Once you start playing, you should set aside a modest bankroll. At the bare minimum, you should keep 20-30 buy-ins set aside for cash games, and 50 for tournaments. This amount will allow you to weather the ups and downs of your bankroll, while also being aggressive enough to call out bluffs when necessary. When learning how to play poker, it’s essential to understand the various poker hand rankings.
Nevada was the first state to legalize online poker in 2012. Delaware followed suit in 2013 and is now the latest state to legalize the game. In addition, West Virginia passed legislation that authorizes online poker, though virtual hands have not yet been dealt. The United States has no federal regulatory system for online poker. Fortunately, the US has a multi-state poker network that makes online poker legal in most states. For now, the US is home to PokerStars and other major online casinos.
Moreover, playing online is faster than playing in a live casino. The speed at which hands are dealt is much quicker than with live games. Furthermore, you can play multiple games at once without having to deal with a single opponent. However, the rake in a live casino is typically much higher than that of online poker. The difference is only a few percentage points. But the advantage of online poker over live poker is clear – it’s faster, more convenient, and much cheaper!
If you’re looking for a place to play online poker for real money, Ignition Poker is a great choice. Its daily and weekly tournaments are second to none, and their Sunday major is one of the largest in the US. The $100K Guaranteed tournament happens every Sunday at 4 PM ET and pays out at least $17,000. This tournament is the top US major. You’ll need to win the $100K Guaranteed to take home the top prize.
US online poker may never regain the popularity levels of the mid-2000s. The growth of top online poker sites was unprecedented, thanks to a global boom in the internet poker market. Chris Moneymaker, an online player who had won the World Series of Poker Main Event via a discount online satellite tournament, ushered in an era of heightened interest and popularity for online poker. If US online poker isn’t legalized, it may never reach the global levels seen in the last decade.