The game of poker has been around for ages, but only recently has it become legal for Americans to play in online casinos and poker rooms. Poker began as a recreational activity in bars and casinos and was catapulted into the spotlight when the internet was introduced. Up until about a decade ago, most Internet poker games took place in chat rooms, and were often purely for recreational purposes. However, advances in technology allowed for secure online poker sites to be launched, where players could safely deposit and wager on their games against other players.
In the US, the question of shared liquidity continues to dominate the scene. Currently, only forty online poker networks have detectable traffic levels, but there are over 600 doorways into these networks. This means that the vast majority of online poker traffic originates from a few major networks. In a bid to attract more players to online poker, many states have passed laws requiring online poker sites to share traffic between their jurisdictions. This trend will only continue to grow as more states pass legislation that makes the game legal and attractive.
When playing online poker, a person must first download a poker software. This software requires very little memory, and shouldn’t take long, even on an archaic connection. No-download poker games are also available on any online poker site, but they lack all the features of the full download versions. However, if you don’t feel comfortable with a download, you can always choose to play no-download poker games. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of playing without having to worry about the software on your computer.
A good online poker site should have a stable software platform. Without it, playing poker will become frustrating, especially during bad luck runs. Although these problems were common in the early days of online poker, they are now rare in modern downloadable poker sites. However, there are still problems with mobile software and instant play. So, it’s essential to read reviews about online poker software before playing at a site. And keep in mind that the software you choose to play on must be reliable and virus-free.
To play legally, make sure to choose a poker site that is licensed in your state. The big international brands have to set up a company in the US to operate their online poker operations. This way, they’re legally responsible for all actions in the US. When you play online poker, make sure you choose a site that has a high number of players. If you can’t find a regulated poker site in the US, you can always look for an offshore poker site.
In the last few years, the federal government has repeatedly made it clear that it’s not interested in banning online poker. However, there has been a recent upsurge in online poker traffic, largely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the majority of live gaming venues in the US were closed for the time being due to the outbreak, many unlicensed venues remained open, and the lack of live entertainment options forced casual players to turn to online poker. Online poker sites reported doubling or even triple the number of players they had previously experienced.