How to Find the Best Online Poker Sites
Online poker takes the classic card game that you play at home or in your local casino and cranks it up a notch. You can play for free or for the smallest stakes in existence (like pennies) all the way up to satellite entries into the biggest live tournaments in the world. And you can do it on your laptop, desktop computer or even your phone or tablet.
In the US, regulated online poker came back in a big way in 2013 when Nevada and Delaware passed laws licensing and operating online poker sites. But this was a state-by-state affair and players outside those states were cut off from the action.
Since then, some states have joined in to form a multi-state poker compact that allows players in signatory states to compete against one another. And new technologies have helped make online poker more accessible and understandable for the average player. The rise of Twitch and other video platforms have facilitated connections between players, fans and top players.
Whether you are an avid poker player or just looking for a fun way to pass the time during a lockdown, online poker can be a great choice. With a little bit of research, you can find the best real money poker site for your needs.
The most important feature to look for in an online poker room is player traffic. This is a key factor that will influence the games you can find and the overall experience. A popular poker site has thousands of players logging on at any given moment and you can usually find a table to join in minutes.
Some poker websites have separate tabs for cash games, Sit & Go’s and tournaments. But most have a lobby that’s sorted by game type and stakes and you can filter by the games you prefer to play. In addition, most poker sites offer beginner tables that will automatically seat you with other players who have classified themselves as beginners. This dramatically levels the playing field for new players and makes it easy to learn the game.
Tracking your poker results is a must for any serious player and most online poker sites have their own stats tracking software built in. But there are also third party programs like PokerTracker that offer a heads-up display of your and your opponents’ statistics at the table.
There’s no doubt that online poker has a bright future, but it is important to keep an eye on major news and legislative progress. The good news is that the momentum is clearly on the side of proponents of a multi-state compact. As a result, it is likely that this will be the eventual outcome and the growth of the poker market will continue. It will just take a little more patience to get there.