Online poker is a game that can be played at home or from the office on your laptop, desktop computer or mobile device. It takes the traditional card game that was once only found in smoky bars or casinos and turns it into an interactive, social game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It can be played for the smallest stakes imaginable or for satellite entries into some of the largest live tournaments around the world.
Before online poker was regulated in the US players had to play poker in chat rooms that were usually run by amateurs and where cheating was a big problem. Now online poker is regulated and has become very popular in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Nevada. There are hundreds of regulated poker sites that offer real money games to players. Many of these sites offer Texas Hold’em and Omaha games in a variety of formats including cash games Sit ‘N Go events and tournament play.
The first step in playing poker online is to open an account at a regulated online poker site. To do this you will need to provide your user ID and password and verify that you are over the minimum age required in your jurisdiction. Once your account is open you can then make a deposit using your credit card or other e-wallet service. Most reputable poker sites also offer play money games so you can practice before making a deposit.
A good poker player will always be looking for ways to improve their game. There are many different online poker sites that offer courses and training to help you get better. These are usually delivered via video format and are taught by experienced instructors. They will walk you through the basics of the game, taking you through sample hands and explaining the statistics behind them. These online poker courses can be free or they may cost a small fee.
When you’re ready to start playing online for real money the process is quick and easy. Most regulated poker sites accept a wide variety of major credit cards and even some prepaid options. In addition to that most sites have a number of e-wallet services that you can use to deposit and withdraw funds.
The game of online poker is very fast paced so your gains and losses can be more extreme than in live play. This is called variance and can affect your short term results but it will even out in the long run if you’re consistent. Another thing that can contribute to bigger swings is that you will be playing more hands online than in live play. This can artificially skew the statistics that you use to track your progress over time. For this reason you’ll want to take the time to study your results and look at trends over longer periods of time. This will give you a more accurate picture of your success or failure at the poker table.