While a number of states have passed legislation allowing online poker, many others are considering doing the same. These laws govern the activity at a state level, so operators must apply for licenses in all states that wish to offer poker online. These states also regulate which sites can accept players from their jurisdiction. The best way to ensure that you can play poker for real money in a state that regulates online poker is to register for an account with a regulated site. In most states, you can sign up for an account and play real money poker if you live in the state where the online poker website is licensed.
After choosing a poker site, you must download the required software. The software is usually virus-free, and will take just a few minutes to download. Once you have the software installed, you must create an account. Make sure that you only create one account. Multi-accounting is against the rules of online poker and will lead to a permanent ban. However, if you are a skilled player, you may want to create more than one account if you’re serious about playing poker.
In addition to online poker sites licensed in every state, some of the offshore sites are also legal and regulated. These websites are safer than those that are not licensed and operate illegally. Many of the big international brands also have US-based operations, so you can trust them. They’re regulated and have the backing of a state’s regulators. And don’t forget to check the licensing status before you sign up. You’ll be glad you did.
In 2013 the state of Nevada legalized online poker. This allowed players to play at online sites that operate under the authority of local casinos. After this, New Jersey and Pennsylvania followed. These states all made it possible for online poker to become legal in the US. Despite the regulations, there are still several offshore online poker sites that accept US players. They’re just not regulated by the federal government yet, but more will follow in the future. So, it’s important to keep this in mind when looking for an online poker site.
In the US, the laws regarding online poker are different from those that govern brick-and-mortar poker. Despite the UIGEA, financial transactions to online gambling sites within the US are not allowed. In most cases, the poker sites we recommend are legal and regulated in their host countries. In addition, they’re also open to players from anywhere in the world. Luckily, this means that the UIGEA isn’t an issue for American players.