Online poker is a popular game for many reasons: It’s a fun, social game; it rewards actual skill unlike slots or the lottery; and it’s accessible to anyone with a computer or smartphone. Online poker sites are a great choice for players of all ages and experience levels because they offer real money games for any stakes you want to play from anywhere in the world at any time of day.
The first thing to do to start playing is register an account with a recommended cardroom. You’ll be asked to provide a real name, email address and a password, which you should keep safe as it will be required to verify your identity when depositing or withdrawing funds.
Next you need to find a game to play. Most poker rooms will have a lobby that is categorized by cash games, tournaments, Sit & Go’s and any special format the site may run. It’s a good idea to filter the lobby by beginner tables as this will ensure you are only seated with players that have self-classified themselves as beginners, which levels the playing field for newcomers.
Once you’ve found a table to play at it’s worth taking the time to read up on the game rules and strategy. There are plenty of great resources out there from online poker schools to YouTube videos and forums that are run by actual poker pros. This is important because different poker games have unique rules and strategies that can give you a significant edge over the median player pool.
You should also look at the banking options available to you at the poker site and be sure to pick one that can be used both to add and remove funds. You should also check out any fees associated with each transaction and the minimum and maximum withdrawal amounts. Finally, make sure the poker site is licensed and registered in your jurisdiction.
While some states have banned online gambling, there are still a number that allow it. Many of these state-licensed sites are regulated by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and offer fair games that are fair to everyone. They are often also staffed by trained customer service representatives to help answer any questions you may have. In addition, they are required to have policies in place to prevent underage gambling and to protect your personal information. The best way to know if an online poker site is legitimate is to visit it and read its terms of service and other policy documents. You should also check out online reviews, forums and social media to get a feel for the community. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a massive increase in the number of players playing poker online, as people move away from live casinos and other entertainment venues in order to play at home. This has caused online poker traffic to double or even triple in some cases. This is likely to continue for some time to come.