The online poker industry has evolved a lot over the past several years. The first hand was dealt in 1998 and there are now millions of hands being played every day. The growth of online poker in the United States has been volatile and there have been several setbacks and hits to the industry. However, more states are legalizing online poker. Some states have had great success with the new laws and are offering online poker to players.
Online poker is legal in 5 states in the US. Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and Nevada have legalized online poker. PokerStars went live in Pennsylvania on Nov. 4, 2019 and BetMGM is slated to start offering online poker in those states in January and March of 2021. Currently, the only online poker site in the US that shares players between the five legal states is WSOP/888 US. As of this writing, WSOP/888 US is the leading US online poker site by traffic.
Poker sites that have been licensed to operate in these jurisdictions must comply with strict laws and operating standards. The most popular jurisdictions for online poker include Curacao, Panama, Malta, and Kahnawake in Canada. Payment methods are widely accepted, including credit cards. Although prepaid credit cards are convenient, banks can block your card. Another option is to use a cryptocurrency wallet such as Bitcoin.
Although the game is a game of chance, there are strategies that will increase your chances of winning. However, it is important to remember that playing poker requires commitment. A typical game requires hours of play. It is important to monitor how much time and money you spend on online poker. In addition, you should be conscious of your health and avoid becoming addicted to the game.
Some states may not yet be ready to legalize online poker. However, some states are moving forward with legalizing sports betting. Massachusetts and Connecticut are still far from the final stages. However, a potential legalization of online poker could turn heads in Massachusetts. There are plenty of poker sites in the state that offer services to residents of Massachusetts.
Some websites use digital device fingerprinting to identify banned players and prevent them from accessing the site. Digital device fingerprinting also helps poker sites identify new accounts that attempt to circumvent bans or account closures. Despite these limitations, many players have reported increased traffic in online poker in recent months. That is because of the lack of available live entertainment venues in most areas.
Some sites allow players to play under their real name. This prevents opponents from tracking players’ activities and protects newer players from the shark-ridden waters of online poker.
