Poker Online takes the traditional card game of poker and cranks it up a notch. You can play for the smallest stakes (literally pennies) or compete in satellite entries into some of the biggest live tournaments in the world. You can do all of this from the comfort of your home, on a computer or on a smartphone or tablet.
If you are new to the world of online poker it can be a bit confusing but there are a lot of online tools that can help you get up to speed and understand how things work. These tools include Which Hand Wins calculators that can explain what a winning hand is and how it is determined. They can also show you what hands are the best in a given situation and how much to bet in order to maximize your chances of winning.
Online poker is a highly regulated game in the states that allow it. This means your funds are not intermingled with operator or casino funds and your account information is kept securely. This is a major difference from offshore sites that operate without basic consumer safeguards and can shut down at any time.
Getting money on to and off of poker sites is very easy these days compared to the old days when you had to send in a paper check. Most reputable poker sites offer a variety of deposit options including credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, e-wallets and wire transfers. In addition to these options most reputable poker sites don’t charge any fees for withdrawals.
Most poker sites have their own unique set of rules but the basics are pretty universal. The first step is to sign up for a poker account and fill in some basic personal information such as your name and address. Then you’ll be prompted to create a username and password. From there you can access your poker games and cash out when you’re ready.
Bonuses are a huge part of online poker. They can be a great way to increase your bankroll and give you an edge at the tables. However, a lot of these bonuses come with requirements such as playing a certain number of hands to unlock them.
Loyalty bonuses are another common type of poker bonus and are designed to reward long-term players. These can be awarded as a percentage of your total deposits or in the form of loyalty points that can be redeemed for additional funds, tournament entry tickets or other exclusive perks. Refer-a-Friend bonuses are another type of poker bonus offered by many sites and are awarded when you refer a friend who joins the site and makes a qualifying deposit. These bonuses can be quite lucrative if you are able to refer a few friends and earn enough points to unlock them. The most important thing to remember when it comes to poker bonuses is to read the terms and conditions carefully.