The first hand of online poker was dealt in 1998, and there are now millions of hands dealt daily. In the 23 years since, online poker has undergone many changes and controversies. The UIGEA and Black Friday were two of the biggest setbacks to the industry, but today more states are legalizing it. And there are a number of successful state legalized poker sites.
Before playing real money games, make sure you have a bankroll that can cover any losses you might incur. Typically, a bankroll of $30 buy-ins is the recommended starting point. It’s also a good idea to master one poker game and get a feel for it before committing to a bigger bankroll. No-Limit Texas Hold’em is the most basic poker game to learn.
Another important feature of online poker is that it’s much simpler than live poker. Most sites will alert you when it’s your turn to act. This is one major advantage over live poker, where players may yell at each other if they’re holding up the game. Fortunately, online poker websites have developed several anti-fraud measures. These include checking player IP addresses, which helps identify multiple players from a single location. If a player is found to be cheating, the site will cancel their account and remove any information they have on you.
Keeping track of your poker results is an important part of poker strategy. It helps you see where you’re winning and where you’re losing. Most online poker sites allow you to track your session results, so it’s a good idea to look at them after each session. Pay special attention to your win-rate, the number of flops you’ve seen, and how often you’ve gone to showdown.