Online poker takes the game of poker and cranks it up a few notches. It is legal and highly regulated in the states that offer it.
Getting started with online poker is fairly easy. First you need to download the software. This shouldn’t take very long if your device has enough processing power.
Getting Started
The best online poker sites have a simple sign up process that is efficient and easy to understand. In most cases, this involves downloading software that is virus-free and registering a screen name. Once you have an account, you can play for money at any time. Just remember that multi-accounting is not allowed and can lead to a permanent ban from the site.
One of the main reasons that people play poker is because it rewards actual skill unlike slots or lottery games. Getting access to your winnings quickly is crucial. Fortunately, most of the top online poker sites provide fast cashouts through multiple methods. The average withdrawal time falls within a couple of hours to about a week depending on the method and the site.
Many of the best poker sites also have free play tables, so you can try out the game before making any real money investments. It’s also a good way to get familiar with the game’s controls and avoid mistakes such as misclicks or poor handling of cards.
Depositing
Many of today’s top online poker sites offer a wide variety of ways for players to fund their accounts. These deposit methods are commonly displayed in the cashier section of a site, affording players easy access and confidence that their funds will be handled quickly and securely.
Some of the most popular methods include debit cards, online payment services like Neteller and PayPal or prepaid options like Entropay. These e-wallet solutions offer a secure, fast way to move money to an online poker site without having to disclose your credit card or banking details directly to the poker operator.
Other, more traditional options like direct bank transfers and cheques can also be found at some regulated poker sites but these typically take a bit longer to clear. Regardless of the deposit method chosen all regulated poker sites are required to keep player funds separate from their operating capital at all times and this includes keeping all transactions logged and monitored.
Withdrawing
As with depositing online poker sites will offer a number of ways for players to withdraw funds from their accounts. These options vary by site and method. Many of these methods have minimum withdrawal amounts that will apply and many have fees associated with them as well.
Credit cards are the most popular and fastest way to transfer money to an online poker account. The majority of regulated markets offer this option as do some gray area operators.
Wire or bank transfers are another popular option. These are more hassle free than a credit card but can take some time to process. Some poker sites will also allow players to cash out via check. This is typically done once a player has cleared a minimum withdrawal level at the poker site and must be verified with proof of ID and address.
Training
If you are serious about improving your poker skills, there are a wide variety of online training courses that offer tips and tricks from professional players. Some of these sites are free, and others require a subscription fee. These sites cover topics such as spotting tells, masking your tell and useful table talk. They also teach you tournament strategies, cash game tactics and even bankroll management.
There are many free options available to you, but some of the best are Pokercode, Run It Once and BlufftheSpot. These sites provide world-class training videos and a tight community of learners. They also have a comprehensive database of training videos and lessons from top pros at different stakes levels.
These training courses are designed for beginners and help them develop a strong understanding of basic poker fundamentals such as odds and probability. More advanced students can opt for a paid subscription to access more in-depth learning resources like analyses of preflop ranges and advanced concepts like metagame, table image and player types.
