Online poker has been around for decades, but the market for it has been largely unregulated. This was the case until the advent of regulated online poker in the US in 2013. However, a few states, including Nevada and Delaware, have passed legislation to regulate the industry. Several “live” poker pros had complaints about playing the game. In the past, many players would be required to travel to Las Vegas to participate in tournaments. During the late 1990s, a handful of websites emerged.
These sites, such as Poker Spot, were among the first to offer online poker in the U.S. Poker Spot was shut down in 2001 after owing players $480,000. The company never recovered its debts.
After the unregulated market soared after Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 World Series of Poker, more sites began appearing on the Internet. Although some of these sites were not safe, many escaped prosecution for illegal activities. Eventually, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) forced some of these sites out of the United States, leaving the online poker industry to become unregulated.
But in 2013, the US Supreme Court gave the green light for interstate online poker in the United States. Nevada and Delaware signed a multi-state poker agreement, allowing their player pools to cross state boundaries. New Jersey also joined the agreement, and California and Michigan followed in 2017.
While some of these sites are trustworthy, others do not. It is important to research a site thoroughly before putting your personal information in their hands. Make sure that the site has a valid license and is certified by a third-party security firm. You also want to find out about the site’s privacy policies and terms and conditions. Some of these sites have wagering requirements, so you should check these before depositing money.
You also want to find a site that has a variety of games and promotions for newcomers. Check to see if the site is SSL encrypted, so you don’t worry about hackers stealing your information. If you are on a smartphone, look for a mobile app that is fast and easy to use.
Finally, you want to choose a poker site that has a variety of ways to play. For example, you may want to play Seven-Card Stud, Caribbean Stud, or Omaha Hold ‘Em. There are also video poker variants. And you may want to make the most of the site’s rakeback program. A rakeback program is a way for online poker rooms to redistribute the rakeback they collect to their players.
When you decide to sign up with a poker site, be sure to read the terms and conditions of the site. The best poker sites have resources to help you learn the game, a wide range of promotions to draw you in, and anti-money laundering measures to ensure you are playing on a legitimate site. Lastly, find a site that has a high volume of traffic and regular multi-table tournaments.