Online poker has become a popular pastime among casual players. There are a variety of reasons for this. Among them, there is the possibility of real money prizes. Some sites accept payments in various currencies. Others require players to convert their funds before depositing. In most cases, withdrawals are processed quickly.
For years, the best way to enjoy online poker in the US was to travel to a licensed and regulated venue. This could be a costly endeavor. Then in 2013, a small group of states enacted legislation that made it possible to play for real money at home. As a result, a number of operators began to notice double or even triple traffic levels.
Not long after that, the state of Michigan became the latest state to authorize online poker. Several other states have passed similar bills since, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania. These statewide legalizations have helped to revitalize the online poker market in the U.S. It is still early days, though.
Despite the recent legalizations, there are still a few lingering questions. One question remains: how do we tax this new revenue stream? Should online poker players be subject to income tax? If so, how much should the revenue be? Another is whether or not states will be able to sign agreements that allow them to share player traffic with other states?
A statewide licensing entity would be the first step toward making the burgeoning market viable. Other states with a similar population would need to be enticed to join the fun. Thankfully, that isn’t as hard as it may seem. Companies that serve the state’s relatively small demographic have to be swayed.
However, that does not mean that poker is easy to play. Players need to download software, which is usually a one- or two-minute process. In most cases, the software can handle a few tables at once. To make the most of your game, however, you need to understand the basics.
Most online poker sites offer free or low-cost training courses. Moreover, there are a number of sites that cater to the non-U.S. dollar gaming public. Many of them also offer “membership” cardrooms, which cost a monthly fee and do not charge rake.
With all the excitement surrounding online poker, it is easy to forget that the game is also one of the most expensive. For example, it is a fact that the average casino player can win only $4 an hour, while the online poker room pro can win an average of $24 an hour. Thus, the average poker enthusiast will need to keep the money at the table for at least a couple of hours to break even.
Fortunately, the poker industry has responded by offering free software, which enables players to save hand histories and other data for later review. Using this software, players can also see the odds of winning a hand, along with a variety of other interesting facts and figures.