The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a massive increase in traffic to online poker websites. The virus has forced the closure of most live gaming venues worldwide. This includes unlicensed venues. As a result, online poker has become a popular alternative for many casual players. In fact, many operators have reported double or more traffic than before.
However, not all online poker sites offer the same games. There are some sites that cater to all levels of players, such as PokerStars, Full Tilt, and Bovada. These sites also have lower stakes and beginner tables, which makes them a great choice for recreational players. However, if you are more of a professional, you might not want to sign up for a site like Bovada.
If you’re a US resident looking to play online poker, you’ll need to know about US laws that govern online gambling. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 was signed into law. While there are many interpretations of the law, its intent was to outlaw all forms of online gambling, including online poker.
Once you’ve chosen a site, you’ll need to find a link that allows you to deposit money. Most sites offer deposit bonuses of up to 100% of your first deposit. These bonuses can range anywhere from $10 to hundreds of dollars. The time it takes for a deposit to clear also varies. Some sites let you make deposits immediately, while others take several hours or days.
Some states have banned online poker, but it isn’t illegal in all. Pennsylvania, for example, regulated online poker in 2017 and went live in November. In addition, West Virginia has recently passed legislation allowing the use of online poker sites in the state. It’s still premature though, as players in those states have not yet dealt a single virtual poker hand.
Online poker offers many advantages over live poker. In addition to lower overhead costs, players can access high stakes at the touch of a button. Furthermore, online poker venues allow low-stakes games. These games are often popular among beginners and those who cannot afford expensive live poker venues. You can play free online poker games and qualify for satellite entries in live poker tournaments.
Another benefit to playing online is that the variance of hands is significantly higher compared to live play. This means that online poker players are more likely to make big postflop calls when they have weak or medium-strength hands. In addition, big river bluffs are more likely to be successful if they’re a weak hand. And unlike live poker, there’s no embarrassment associated with calling with weaker hands.
Of course, qualifying for major tournaments and winning millions of dollars is a dream of every poker player. As a result, many sites offer low buy-in satellites that start at just $1 and lead to seats in the $10k WSOP Main Event. Assuming you’re able to qualify for these high stakes events, you can easily make extra money by eliminating your competitors.
