Playing poker online is a lot like playing live, except you can play any time of the day or night and from any computer. A dealer displays the cards on a computer screen and players click to make their betting decisions. There are no smoky casino lobbies or wait for the shuffle or collection of discards (known as the “muck”). Online poker is fast, fair and fun.
The first step is choosing a reputable online poker site that’s safe and secure for real money play. A good site will be regulated in the states that allow it, and has strict consumer protections to keep your personal information safe. It will also offer a variety of payment methods to deposit and withdraw funds.
Once you’ve signed up for a new player account, the site will require some documentation to verify your identity. Most sites will accept a scan of your driver’s license and will ask for the name, address and phone number associated with that document. If the site has any doubts they may request additional documentation such as a utility bill or bank statement with your name at the current address.
Most reputable online poker sites will offer software that helps you improve your game. This includes tools for tracking your results and analyzing the previous stats of known players. Some programs even help you determine pot odds, which are the ratio of the current size of the pot to the cost of calling a bet.