Several states have regulated online poker, including Delaware and New Jersey. In 2013, Nevada became the second state to legalize online poker. West Virginia also enacted legislation to allow online poker. In November of 2017, West Virginia legalized online poker, but virtual hands have not yet been dealt. Despite this hurdle, more states are considering online poker legislation.
Online poker rooms allow players to deposit money and withdraw it easily. Most offer deposit limits of $5 to $20, although they can vary from site to site. Depending on the poker room, these deposits can take minutes or hours to clear, and may take days if you want to deposit with a check. To learn more about how to deposit money at online poker sites, read on.
The first step is to download the poker software on the site. Most sites are virus-free, and the download shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. Once the software is installed, players will need to create an account. It’s recommended to create one account per poker website, as multi-accounting is prohibited and will result in a permanent ban.
While online poker has been around for decades, it first gained popularity during the late 1990s. After Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 World Series of Poker victory, the unregulated market began to explode. However, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in 2006, effectively pushing many offshore online poker sites out of the U.S. market.
Many states have legalized online poker in some capacity. Pennsylvania joined on Nov. 4, 2019. BetMGM and PokerStars are two of the sites that are already legal in the US. Among these, WSOP/888 US is the largest US online poker site by traffic. PokerStars offers an attractive welcome bonus, offering $50 free play after a single hand. If you want to play for real money, you can also play for big prizes and tournaments.
Some legal online poker sites will require you to provide ID and other documentation to verify your identity. These documents may include your social security number, address, and date of birth. These documents are used to verify your identity and help prevent fraudulent activity. Once you’ve verified your identity, you can begin playing for real money at an online poker site.
Online poker in the US is legal but regulated differently than brick-and-mortar poker. While the UIGEA is controversial, offshore sites continue to find innovative ways to circumvent its laws. As of 2016, four states have passed laws to legalize online poker in fenced markets, and three others have signed agreements to share player pools. One online poker website that accepts US customers is Global Poker, which uses a virtual currency online poker model.
Regardless of the way you choose to access the games, you should choose a poker room with a good VIP program. This will allow you to get cash back for winning, get entry into tournaments, and get expedited support. In addition to bonuses, look for fair game play. Many players choose to play at lower tier poker rooms, relying on their better bonuses, but they often stiff players.