Online poker has been around for decades in the United States. The first sites were launched during the late 1990s. The popularity of online poker rose after the 2003 victory of Chris Moneymaker at the World Series of Poker. After that, the unregulated online poker market flourished. However, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act forced several sites out of the market. A few sites remained, such as PokerStars.
Before you can begin playing online poker, you need to download the appropriate poker software. This software is relatively small and shouldn’t take long to download. You can also play poker games without downloading the software. However, you will not get the same features as the full download. For this reason, it is advisable to download the software first.
Legal online poker in the United States is not yet widespread, but several states have legalized the sport. Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware have legalized online poker in their respective states. Other states are considering legislation to legalize the game. Despite the regulatory hurdles, there are many online poker sites that accept US players.
Although the United States doesn’t have strict laws against online poker, the federal law doesn’t specifically regulate the activity. Offshore sites continue to find ways to circumvent the UIGEA. In addition, four states have passed bills allowing online poker in their fenced markets and three have signed agreements to share player pools. Global Poker, for example, recently started accepting US customers. This site employs the virtual currency online poker model, which isn’t technically online gambling.
Online poker is becoming increasingly popular. The popularity of the game has led to a rise in the number of players. In addition, online poker is becoming the preferred venue for beginners as it offers many benefits over traditional poker venues. For example, online poker doesn’t require the travel time or gas money that a live poker room would require.
Some online poker sites also offer freerolls that are available to customers. These free tournaments require no entry fees, and you can win real money. If you’re looking for an online poker site that offers freerolls, you can also check out the PokerListings website. The site provides a weekly schedule of free tournaments and gives members access to exclusive freebies every week.
Texas is a huge state, with many residents interested in playing Texas online poker. But Texas is not known for gambling, and the history of cowboys makes it unlikely that the state will ever make online poker legal. The current political climate in Texas also makes legalizing online poker a long shot. However, the possibility of legalizing online poker in Texas is still alive, and it’s best to get started before the political climate changes.