There was a time when poker was quite a different game online than live. There were a handful of poker forums worth visiting, a few pieces of poker software to try out and a limited number of books that deserved a read. Nowadays the landscape is a whole lot different. There is a near infinite amount of poker learning resources available, including a huge array of Poker Stacks to choose from, Discord channels and Facebook groups to talk about the game in, a myriad of poker software programs to train on and, of course, a host of books that can be read and studied.
Poker players can also learn the game by analyzing their own play and that of their opponents with the help of poker tracking software. This kind of post-game analysis is impossible in live games but is an invaluable tool for a beginner to improve their game. As players progress they can start to apply these techniques in live games too but it will take a lot of practice to master these strategies.
It’s important for all players to be aware of the safety and security measures in place to keep their money secure when playing poker online. Reputable poker sites will not cheat their customers and while there may be rogue operators out there it is in the best interest of the reputable brands to ensure that the game remains fair and safe.
Once a player has found a reputable poker site they can deposit money using a variety of methods. Many poker sites will accept credit cards, debit cards and prepaid cards as well as e-checks or bank transfers. Withdrawals can be done with the same types of methods plus a few other options like wire transfers.
As an added bonus some of the bigger poker sites offer VIP programs where their top customers get cashback, tournament entry tickets and more. Players can usually sign up for a VIP program once they have deposited with the poker site and they can earn points towards their next reward level each month that they play.
While some states have legalized online poker there is still a tug of war between the federal government and individual states over which one should regulate the industry. As it stands most state legislatures are stalled when it comes to pushing forward with online poker legislation but this is something that could change in the future.