Playing online poker can be easy, fun, and even lucrative. Most online poker sites are very generous with newcomers and offer sign-up bonuses. The bonus amounts vary by site and are usually doubling or tripling your first deposit. Some poker sites offer special holiday themed bonuses to entice new players. However, a full download version of the software is recommended. To get started with online poker, you must first download the software from the appropriate poker site.
Legitimate online poker sites operate under state regulation. They must prove that they can process payments in a timely fashion and have secure systems for holding funds. Their licenses are also tied to an actual brick-and-mortar casino or lottery program. This ensures that a legitimate transaction will be honored and you won’t lose your money by paying a black market site. If you’re concerned about playing online poker because you think it’s rigged, simply withdraw your money and don’t play at that site again.
The UIGEA was attached to the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006, which was passed by both the House and the Senate in a bipartisan vote. As a result, online poker is now legal in many states. Nevada passed its online poker legislation on Feb. 13, 2013, and New Jersey followed suit shortly after. Although it was not the first state to legalize online poker, New Jersey was a step in the right direction and Gov. Chris Christie signed the law. Meanwhile, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Michigan approved legislation for online gambling.
If you’d like to cash out your winnings quickly, you can use an e-wallet service, an ACH transfer, or a paper check. In most cases, however, you’ll need to wait a day or two for the money to process. The fees can vary from a few dollars to as much as $30-60 per cash-out. The most common options for cashing out funds are bank wires, money transfers, and checks.
One of the first things you should do when playing online poker is monitor your results. By monitoring your results, you’ll be able to identify your patterns in winning and losing. Many online poker sites offer this feature. To get started, visit the site’s statistics page and check your session’s stats. Pay special attention to your win rate, the number of flops you’ve seen, and how many times you’ve gone to showdown.
If you’re looking to play online poker for real money, you’ll need to check with your local laws. For instance, a state like Pennsylvania has regulated online poker. And another state, Michigan, has passed legislation that allows online poker sites to operate. These states are just the first ones to legalize online poker. The next state to legalize online poker is West Virginia, although the virtual hands have not been dealt yet. There are still some other states where online poker is legal, but the chances of it being regulated is slim.