Until recently poker was only played in the back of smoky bars or casinos but thanks to the advent of online technology and the Internet Poker Association it is now available for everyone to play. There are numerous poker sites on the web offering real money cash games and tournaments. Those that are licensed and regulated are held to high standards and can offer players peace of mind when it comes to the security of their funds. A trusted and reliable poker site will also have fast and secure withdrawal options including e-wallets and bank transfers. Some sites even offer a paper check option that can be deposited at local casino partners.
In order to play poker online a player will need to download the poker software from the poker site of their choice. This software is quite small and shouldn’t take too long to download on even the most archaic of computers. The table software is usually easy to use and should be visually appealing without getting in the way of the game itself. Ideally the player should be able to choose their stakes and the number of tables they wish to play at once.
If a player is new to poker online they should look for a poker site that offers free money or sign up bonuses to get started. These promotions are offered to players who register for a new account and can be redeemed for real money once they meet certain criteria. These can be very profitable for a new player as they can use the money to test out different poker rooms and strategies before putting any of their own money down.
A good poker site will also allow their players to track their results and analyze the results of their opponents. The two basic tools that pros will use are a hand history tracker and a heads-up display (HUD). A HUD shows all the information a player needs at the table while playing and can help them improve their game by studying their own results and those of their competition.
While a HUD can be expensive a good poker site will offer this for their players as part of their software package. A HUD can greatly improve a player’s profitability and should be considered an investment in their poker career.
In addition to having a well designed and easy to navigate poker interface a trustworthy poker site will also be able to deliver on their promises when it comes to deposits and withdrawals. The most important factor for US players is to make sure that a poker site is fully regulated and is offering a legal game. This can be done by looking for signs that the site is endorsed by a state gambling regulatory body and only accepting players from states where online gaming is legal.
Bovada is a great example of a legally operating US based poker site with a well-rounded list of deposit and withdrawal options. They accept a variety of cards, Bitcoin and several cryptocurrencies along with the popular e-wallet Neteller. They also do not charge payout fees which is a huge bonus for players.