The recent COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a massive increase in traffic to online poker rooms. As many unlicensed gaming venues have closed down, many casual players have been looking to online poker for a quick fix. As a result, many operators have reported double or even triple the amount of traffic that they were experiencing prior to the pandemic. While the number of casual players is certainly still small, it is clear that online poker is here to stay.
Legality of playing online poker with real money
Despite its legal uncertainty, the Internet has made playing poker online easier than ever. The popularity of online poker was first seen in the late 90s, and it grew exponentially during this time. In fact, there were attempts to ban online gaming by passing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which was included in the SAFE Port Act of 2006. However, no senator read the final text of the bill, so it was not enacted.
Benefits of playing online poker compared to live poker
There are many benefits of playing online poker compared to live poker, but the main advantage of online play is convenience. Online poker is available from anywhere, and there are no dress codes or noise levels to worry about. Furthermore, online players can play more hands per hour than live players. There are also several tracking tools that make online play more convenient. As a result, online poker is harder to beat than live poker.
Rigging of the RNG
Online poker sites are not able to rig the Random Number Generator (RNG), as all card rooms use this system. Such tampering involves changing small codes within the system, rendering the whole mechanism useless. Most reputable online poker sites have a third party screening process, and they are regularly inspected by a third party to ensure they are fair. As such, it is highly unlikely that any online poker site would rig the RNG.
Reputable online poker sites
While there are no license requirements for offshore online poker rooms, players should still look for certifications from the site. A reputable online poker room will display its license information on the homepage. Also, look for a number of payment options and the absence of long cooling off periods. A reputable online poker room will have smooth gameplay and plenty of real money poker games for low-stakes players. And most importantly, a reputable online poker room will always respond to support queries in a timely manner.
Requirements for operating an online poker site
There are several licensing bodies for online poker sites. Some are stricter than others. In the UK, for example, there is a gambling commission, and others are not. But all sites that support real money must obtain licensing. There are also different types of licensing, depending on the jurisdiction. Without a license, an online poker site is illegal gambling. Some of these bodies regulate advertising, bonus offers, and disclaimers.