What You Need to Know About Online Poker
Online poker is a growing industry with many new players looking to try their hand at the game. It’s easy to find a great place to play online, with games available 24/7 and all sorts of limits. But before you jump in, you need to understand a few key things about the game.
Licensed Sites
Licensed online poker sites offer the safest way to play online poker for real money. They are regulated by leading gambling jurisdictions and ensure your account funds are secure. They also have customer support to answer your questions, and can help you navigate the complicated world of online poker.
Poker Software
There are many different types of poker software out there, with a variety of features to suit every player’s needs. Some are more comprehensive than others, and will allow you to analyse your own and other players’ stats, as well as calculating their hand histories.
The best poker software will also be able to provide you with information on how other players at the table are betting. This can help you to make more informed decisions and can improve your overall strategy.
Bonuses and Promotions
The most successful online poker sites will always offer a range of promotions to attract new players. These can range from free tournaments – freerolls – to bonus cash. These are a great way to build your bankroll and can be a good place to start when you’re deciding which poker site is the best for you.
Deposit Options
Almost all legal online poker sites accept deposits via Visa or Mastercard, e-wallets and even Bitcoin. This makes it easy to transfer your money between accounts and instantly put it into play at the table.
Multitabling
Online poker allows you to play several tables at once, which can be very useful if you’re a strong player. But it can also be frustrating if you’re new to the game. This is why you should choose a poker site that offers the widest range of tabling options so that you’ll never be stuck playing one table.
Heads-up Display (HUD)
HUDs are a vital part of poker, allowing you to see your opponent’s cards without taking any actions yourself. They are essential for tracking your hand histories and identifying any leaks in your opponents’ game.
Database Software
Poker database software is a must-have for any serious online poker player, providing the framework to track your play and your opponents’ statistics. It can calculate your own and other players’ hand histories, and will even give you a heads-up display of the opponents’ stats.
If you’re a serious online poker player, it’s worth investing in a quality tracking tool such as PokerSnowie or Poker Copilot. Both offer a trial version so you can get a feel for them before making a decision.
The US market for online poker has been resurged in recent years as state legislatures have considered various forms of legislation that would allow online poker to be played legally. Currently, online poker is legal in Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey. However, some other states such as Massachusetts and Michigan have yet to officially legalize the game. This could have an impact on the US poker market in the future, with many people hoping that it will encourage more Americans to gamble online.