Online Poker takes the game of poker and cranks it up a notch by giving players the ability to play anywhere in the world, at any time. Players can play for free or compete for satellite entries into major live tournaments across the globe. They can play in cash games for stakes as small as pennies or for millions of dollars. They can play at home on their desktop, laptop or mobile phone and they can even win real money!
A wide range of software programs are available to help players improve their chances of winning. These include hand database programs which save, sort and recall all hands played online. They can also scan active tables and display previous statistics from past hands with each player next to their name (known as a heads up display or HUD). Many online poker sites prohibit the use of these programs but they are available to download for players who wish to take advantage of them.
Most poker sites employ a variety of methods to verify the location and age of a player. They often look at the player’s IP address and triangulate using cell phone towers to determine their approximate location. Some also use software that can detect patterns in playing style and provide the player with a scorecard of their overall performance.
Most online poker sites accept deposits and withdrawals in multiple currencies. However, they generally deal in U.S. dollars, which allows them to invest the money that their players deposit with a relatively low interest rate. This investment of players’ funds is a significant source of revenue for most online poker sites.