Online poker is an enormously popular game today. There are a number of legal sites available for players in many states, including Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey. However, it’s important to understand how the legality of online poker differs from that of brick-and-mortar casinos.
Some of the largest online poker networks are owned by companies based outside of the United States. Several other countries, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, also offer legal online poker. Depending on the regulations in your country, you can choose to play at any of these legal sites.
One of the biggest benefits of playing online is that it’s a faster, more convenient way to play. It’s possible to log as many as 100 hands per hour. You can also choose to play multiple tables at the same time, giving you a greater variety of opponents to play against. In a live setting, you’d likely play only one table at a time. With multiple tables, you can switch tables or even enter a different game in the middle of the same hand. This is especially useful if you are in a hurry.
Although the legality of online poker has not been ruled out, there are still plenty of questions about whether or not the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) is actually enforceable. This law has been a hot topic since it was passed in 2006. Many believe it will be reformed, and the new administration could be the one to push it into action.
Online poker players are also more skilled than their live counterparts. For example, online players are much more likely to make a big call postflop with weak hands, while live players are more likely to fold. Likewise, they tend to be looser on preflop calls. Regardless of how a player’s actions are viewed, cheating is unacceptable.
Poker sites have also been known to cheat, particularly when there are disgruntled employees on the payroll. An example of this is the UltimateBet scandal, which involved the unauthorized use of software code to feed hole-card information to other players. Russ Hamilton, an extremely successful professional poker player, was found to be the primary cheater. His actions are estimated to have cost players over 20 million dollars.
However, these types of cheating scams are virtually impossible with reputable, licensed sites. If an employee is suspected of using illegal software to steal the identities of other players, the site will pay for it. Similarly, if the site is hacked or compromised, the site will take steps to fix the problem.
Some of the best players in the world are playing both live and online. These players are on the lookout for rogue employees and websites that may try to steal their identity. The Internet provides the opportunity for them to track opponents and prevent themselves from being caught by sharks.
Whether you’re interested in joining an online poker site or just want to see what they have to offer, you can find several options in the Massachusetts area. As more states begin to legalize online poker, the industry is expected to grow.
