Online poker is a multibillion-dollar industry with its own share of setbacks. Starting out in the late 90s, and spurred forward by Chris Moneymaker’s victory at the 2003 World Series of Poker tournament, its growth took off quickly; but as internet use became widespread and lawmakers scrambled to regulate it adequately.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 forced many sites to pull out of the US market immediately; others, however, took a more measured approach and continued operating as before – with players betting against each other using tokens of value (chips).
Poker remains the flagship attraction on most gambling websites, drawing in players of all types with its multiple forms of gameplay and exciting rewards system. Played either against real people or the computer, winning hands results in cash that can either be withdrawn from the site or used for further wagers. Poker has proven incredibly popular – an estimated 100 million+ individuals around the globe play it online!
Regulated online poker is legal in Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania – while legislation to legalise it in other states may be considered; whether or not a particular state passes such legislation will depend on factors including political climate and existing gambling regulations in each jurisdiction.
One factor governing the legality of any state’s online poker market is how federal gambling law intersects with it. The 1961 Federal Wire Act restricts interstate transmissions related to sports betting but doesn’t specifically mention poker – as determined by the Supreme Court in 2014. Therefore, online poker in states where it’s legal can proceed.
One key factor when choosing an online casino is the diversity of choices it offers players. Traditional brick and mortar casinos typically limit the number of people at each table to around 10, whereas online casinos can accommodate more. This enables them to offer games to suit players of various skill levels and spread a wider range of limits across tables. Furthermore, each regulated casino will offer their own version of Texas hold’em which may vary.
At most regulated online casinos, additional games to poker such as razz, 2-7 triple draw and badugi will also be featured alongside traditional forms like no-limit and pot-limit hold’em can also be found such as Pai Gow Poker (which combines elements from both no-limit and pot-limit hold’em). It is expected that other regulated casino platforms will join these networks, making the selection even larger. No matter what form of poker you prefer to play online poker sites should provide excellent security features as well as high standards regarding player identification/geolocation so as to guarantee fairness among all participants while keeping personal data out of reach of any potential risks – protecting all parties involved and ensures your personal data stays protected at all times.
