Online poker is an electronic version of the card game that can be played from home or on mobile devices. Players can play real money games or practice for fun in a safe environment. To start playing you need to open a player account. Once you have an account you can deposit funds for wagering by choosing a payment method. Once you have funds in your account you can select the game you want to play. Once you have a good grasp on the rules you can begin winning real money.
The game of poker has been around for decades but it really took off in 2003 when a Tennessee accountant named Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker Main Event. This victory made the game popular with millions of American TV watchers who thought they too could win big.
In the United States the legality of online poker varies on a state by state basis. Some states have made it illegal for their citizens to gamble on online poker while others have passed legislation allowing for the operation of regulated sites. The most recent states to allow for the play of online poker include New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware. Pennsylvania is in the process of regulating its sites as well and may soon join the growing pool of legal states to offer the game.
The biggest draw for most players to any online poker site is the availability of a large number of tables. The top poker sites feature thousands of players logged on at any given time making it easy for anyone to find a table to join. These sites also feature a variety of tournaments including the monthly Milly.
One thing to remember about online poker is that it can seem to have more bad beats than live games. This is largely due to the faster pace of online play. You will play a lot more hands when you play online and the faster speed of the game can give you the impression that you are seeing more bad beats than you would in a live setting.
Another important aspect of any online poker site is the ability to track your results. This will help you determine how much you are winning and losing and will make it easier to identify patterns in your play. Most top poker sites will have their own built in tracking software but there are also third-party options available if you prefer to use them.
The most popular form of online poker is Texas Hold’em but you can find other varieties as well including Omaha and Seven Card Stud. The game is usually paced much faster than it is in person and multi-tabling is possible with most sites. This means that you can play several tables at the same time and manage your chips across each one. This can be a little intimidating for the first-time player but is very doable once you get the hang of it.