If you’re a newbie to online poker, the best place to start is by playing at a low stakes table. These games are typically free and are soft enough to learn the tactics you need to play poker effectively. Most poker sites have beginner-only tables available to new customers for thirty to ninety days after they create an account. This allows you to play poker free from the distraction of other, better players. Here are a few tips to help you get started playing poker.
First, play in a legal state. Online poker is still illegal in many states, but is being regulated in states like Michigan. As of this writing, West Virginia has passed legislation that will make online poker legal. No virtual hands have yet been dealt in West Virginia, but the legislation is in place. While the regulations in West Virginia and Pennsylvania are different from those in Nevada, many players consider it the best option. In addition to Pennsylvania, four other states have legalized online poker.
Online poker in the US is legal in several states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Delaware has a multi-state liquidity-sharing agreement with Nevada, and its three casinos operate branded skins on the 888 Poker network. In March 2019, West Virginia became the fifth US state to legalize online poker. The law also includes provisions for casino-style online gambling. Sports betting in the state is already legal, but online poker is a new form of gambling.
However, the US Senate has been aware of the popularity of online poker and has introduced the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. Unfortunately, the bill failed to become law. As a result, new sites and online poker software were launched all over the world. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that online gambling was illegal under the Federal Wire Act. However, the Department of Justice disagrees. So far, online poker is a legal option in many states.
Legalization is important for online poker. The US has a number of regulatory hurdles. West Virginia’s law permits online gambling, but the state has a small population that makes it difficult to attract operators. In addition, the legislation does not allow for interstate liquidity sharing. Nonetheless, West Virginia and Illinois are prime candidates for legal online poker in 2021. These states are expected to pass online gambling legislation this year and begin offering online poker in the year following.
Legalization of online poker in West Virginia came in 2019, but the state’s regulators were not ready to implement the rules until 2021. West Virginia has a small population, and it may be difficult to launch an online poker room without a shared liquidity pool. Litigation regarding the federal Wire Act is a potential hurdle that may delay the launch of an online poker room in the state. Alternatively, Global Poker offers a sweepstakes-style online poker experience in all states.