If you live in a state where online poker is illegal, then you probably know that the federal government has been trying to crack down on the industry for years. While the federal government has managed to push the largest online poker sites out of the US market, several offshore operators continue to accept players from the US. However, the likelihood of regulated online poker in the near future remains small. In the meantime, you can play poker online for fun and for real money in most states.
There are a few things to keep in mind when managing your bankroll. First, you must determine how much money you want to spend, and then find a network that allows you to play for the amount you have. It can be a good idea to check out the traffic in your chosen network, as some networks have a higher percentage of good players than others. While the majority of online poker networks allow for tracking software, not all of them offer this feature.
You should make sure to verify your identity and address before you can play online. Make sure that you have a valid driver’s license, utility bill, or ID handy. A valid email address is a good way to verify that you’re who you say you are. Having a valid email address is a must when playing real money poker. In addition, you should also keep your social security number, date of birth, and tax return information secure. These are all crucial details to protect yourself from being scammed and cheating.
After the UIGEA was passed, more states are legislating legal online poker. First was Nevada, where Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker in 2002. He had to spend only $80 to qualify for the $10,000 buy-in WSOP Main Event and then turned that into $2 million. Then, New Jersey followed suit and legalized online poker. New Jersey, too, could have been the first state to pass legal online poker legislation, but Gov. Chris Christie was not supportive of the idea. Meanwhile, Delaware and Michigan have also passed similar legislation.
There are also benefits to playing online. Unlike live poker, online poker is easier to learn and understand. The website will automatically notify you when it is your turn to act. A major advantage over live poker is that there are no other players yelling or taunting you for holding up the game. You can also take notes on other players’ hands and compare their hands with yours, which can help you win big pots and improve your odds of winning.
Online poker also has the advantage of playing fast. Live games tend to play looser, with fewer true poker players. Also, live games are often more difficult to beat, as the players tend to put their money in the pot regardless of their hole cards. However, online poker websites have improved their security measures. Now, many of them use a computer IP address to verify player computer identities. This way, if multiple players from the same location are playing the same hand, they will cancel the logins of those players who are suspected of collusion.