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Gambling

Online Poker Sites

The best online poker sites offer a mix of cash games, tournaments and Sit & Gos. They also offer fast-fold cash games and lottery sit & gos.

All of the major online poker sites have a desktop software client that is available for Windows and Mac. Many also have mobile apps for Android and iOS devices.

History

The earliest online poker was played in the late 1990’s, using an early Internet communication development known as IRC. However, it took years before the game gained traction as a real money game and players began to play online.

The first real-money online poker site was Planet Poker, which began operations in 1998. The company was able to attract top players like Mike Caro and quickly became the market leader.

Those were halcyon days of booming player liquidity and plenty of choice. Unfortunately, things were about to change. In 2006, Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) which made it illegal to process payments that are related to online gambling. This drove a lot of sites out of the market, although some managed to remain in operation.

Rules

Online poker is a game of strategy that is fun and thrilling. Players can win vast sums of money from this game if they make astute decisions under pressure. Players use the relative worth of different combinations of cards to determine how much they should bet on each hand.

In addition to the usual methods of payment, most online poker sites also accept prepaid debit cards such as PaySafeCard. Many of these cards have codes that can be entered on the poker site to fund a player’s account.

While it is not common to see insider cheating in online poker, players should be aware of the potential risks. It is important to protect your hand by covering it with something, such as a stack of chips.

Variations

In the world of poker, there are many different variations of the game. Some are very similar to the standard draw and lowball variants, while others are quite unique. Badugi falls into the latter category. Players are dealt a single five-card hand, and they must create the highest possible ranking hand in order to win. As such, bluffing is not as big of a factor as in other types of poker games.

Pineapple is another variation that uses the same basic rules as Texas Hold’em but differs in that it allows players to use all four of their cards for a poker hand. While it hasn’t gained the same level of popularity as other poker games, it is still an exciting and enjoyable poker game to play.

Sites that offer it

Online poker sites offer a wide range of games, from beginner-friendly freeroll tournaments to huge multi-table events. They also feature a variety of buy-ins to accommodate all skill levels and provide players with large guaranteed prize pools. They also offer bonuses to lure new players and reward existing ones.

These poker sites accept deposits from credit cards, e-wallets, and even Bitcoin. They use digital device fingerprinting to verify player identity and prevent fraud. The best ones also offer 24/7 customer support.

Some offer multiple languages and have chat options. They also have a wide selection of games, including no-limit hold’em and Omaha. Other games include stud, 2-7 lowball, and Badugi. They also host frequent satellites for large multi-million dollar tournaments with guaranteed prize pools.

Legality

After a long hiatus, regulated online poker returned to the United States in 2012 when Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey passed legislation. However, a snag with UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act) threatened the industry’s resurgence by making it illegal to process payments related to online gambling.

Despite this hurdle, New Jersey and Pennsylvania launched their own regulated poker sites in 2019. This was the first time that US states joined a multistate online poker compact, allowing players to compete against each other across state lines.

A similar move in New Hampshire is in the works, though lawmakers there have a vested interest in brick-and-mortar casinos. As such, New Hampshire may not join MSIGA anytime soon. Connecticut, meanwhile, has legalized online poker at its two land-based tribal casinos.