Online poker takes the concept of playing poker at a real casino or card room and cranks it up to a whole new level. Players can play for real money on desktop computers, laptops and mobile devices. They can choose from the smallest stakes possible up to massive tournaments that award satellite entries into some of the world’s top live events. And they can do it from the comfort of their own homes, on the go or even at their favorite coffee shop.
In the United States, online poker is currently under state jurisdiction. While many of the country’s top poker sites were banned by federal authorities following Black Friday in 2011, several states quickly moved to fill the void by legalizing online poker. Among these, New Jersey is currently the largest market for the game with an estimated $1 billion in annual revenue, with Michigan and Pennsylvania both promising to be sizable markets once they launch.
The emergence of video poker machines at casinos and on cruise ships has also contributed to the growth of online poker. Unlike traditional poker, video poker machines use random number generators to generate combinations of cards that will form a winning hand. The randomness of the machine’s output makes these games less predictable than traditional poker, allowing players to make better decisions and improve their odds of success.
While the rules of online poker are the same as those for live games, there is a different skill set required to succeed at the game. In addition to the ability to read physical tells, players must learn to read the online game’s betting tendencies and adjust their own strategy accordingly. This type of game requires an extra element of planning and execution – not to mention a lot of patience!
Many of today’s top players have forged their reputations through online play. Whether they started out by simply playing at their local card club, or by qualifying for a World Series of Poker event through an online tournament (like Chris Moneymaker), the world’s best poker players have proven that the right online environment can turn anyone into a winner.
The landscape of the game has changed dramatically since Moneymaker’s breakthrough, and it is still evolving. There are now a huge number of poker forums, Discord channels and Facebook groups to join, and hundreds of poker programs that can be used to train, analyze and tweak the game. Some of these are free, but there are also a large number of paid courses that offer in-depth instruction on how to play. Taking one of these courses can give you the confidence and knowledge to bet, raise and fold at the tables with confidence.