Online Poker is a game of chance and skill, played over the internet. It has grown into a huge industry, and is responsible for massive increases in players worldwide.
Online poker was invented in 1994, and was the first virtual game that allowed real money play. The first real money hand was dealt on 1 January 1998 at Planet Poker, and this site quickly became a hit amongst players. However, the software used by this site often caused problems and it was soon replaced with more modern sites that looked more professional and offered better stability.
While there are many benefits to playing online poker, players must be aware of the risks involved. Players should only use regulated sites that are licensed in their country. These sites will have strong firewalls and encryption to keep players safe, and are covered by US consumer protection laws.
Unlike live poker, where the player can read physical ‘tells’, online poker requires a slightly different set of skills. Online players must be able to read the betting patterns of their opponents, and size them up by observing how they have played previous hands. This also means that it can take longer for a good player to realize a profit, than in a live game.
Regulated online poker returned to the US in 2013, with states passing legislation and licensing operators, but this was a state-by-state affair. It wasn’t until 2017 that New Jersey joined the MSIGA with Nevada and Delaware, which enabled players to join a single player pool.