For years poker was a pastime played in the back of smoky bars and casinos but thanks to an accountant from Tennessee and the internet poker has grown into a fun and potentially profitable game that can be enjoyed by people from all over the world. There are now thousands of ring games available at all levels of skill and tens of thousands of tournaments with buy-ins from free up to the thousands of dollars.
There are many variations of poker but most online sites will offer No-Limit Texas Hold’em as the primary game to play. This game is simple to learn but very difficult to master making it the perfect intro to the game for new players.
When you first sign up for an account with an online poker site you’ll need to provide some basic personal information like your name, address and email address to verify your identity. Most poker sites will also require that you scan your ID and sometimes a utility bill to make sure that you’re over 18 and have the financial means to play the game.
Once you’ve signed up for an account with an online poker site and funded your account you’ll be ready to begin playing real money poker hands. Most sites will automatically deposit your winnings into your poker account but they’ll typically deduct your losing wagers. If you’re not happy with the way that an online poker site is treating your funds it’s best to find a different one to play at.
A key thing to remember when playing poker online is that the cards are dealt much faster than in a live casino or casino/poker room. This is because the online poker rooms have a lot more servers dealing the cards than they would in a live casino. This faster deal speed can lead to a lot more bad beats for beginners who are not used to it.
Another thing to keep in mind when playing poker online is that the game is incredibly competitive. This is because online poker rooms have to earn money from the players through rakes and tournament entry fees. As a result, they have to offer players attractive bonuses in order to attract and retain them.
The most common poker bonus offered by online poker rooms is a reload bonus. This bonus is offered to players who play poker regularly at an online poker room and often times it’s a percentage of the player’s total buy-ins in a certain amount of poker hands. The amount of the reload bonus will depend on the poker site and can vary widely from site to site.
A poker reload bonus is a great way to give your bankroll a boost after you’ve spent some time at an online poker site. However, it is important to note that most reload bonuses are only given out once you’ve earned a certain amount of frequent player points at the poker site.