The first state to respond to the Black Friday scandal was Nevada, which in 2011 created the first interstate compact for online poker. However, that progress did not come quickly enough. It took until 2013 before Nevada finally passed bill AB114 and signed it by Governor Brian Sandoval. Then the rest of the country followed. But, there is still a long way to go. The Nevada Gaming Control Board hopes to have online poker licensed in their state by the end of this year.
Many online gambling sites also host impressive live festivals and events. The partypoker US Online Poker Series, Bounty Blitz, and End Boss series are all held at the Borgata, making it an excellent choice for players looking to dip their toe into online poker. PokerStars also holds its own tournament series, such as the Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker. It offers a generous welcome bonus of up to $500. The wagering requirements are low, making it an excellent choice for poker players.
Online poker is different from traditional poker in many ways. Unlike live poker, it is played against complete strangers, so bluffing skills are necessary to succeed. Live poker used to be played in smoky bars, but as technology improved, online poker became more serious. With online poker, players no longer have to worry about yelling at each other or sacrificing their own game to other players. Moreover, playing against strangers on the internet means a less intimidating atmosphere.
To play online poker, players must first download the software to their computers. The software should not take long even on an archaic connection. If you have a slow connection, you can choose a no-download version of the poker software. However, these versions of online poker do not provide the same features as the full download version. Once you have downloaded the software, you can play the poker game online. You’ll need to sign up for an account with a poker site in order to get started.
While the legality of online poker in the US is still a big question mark, it remains clear that the industry is thriving in other countries. States like New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania have already legalized online poker. As the online poker industry recovers from the black Friday incident, these states are now considering the possibility of legalizing online poker in their states. In the meantime, offshore poker sites continue to find innovative ways to get around the UIGEA and still accept US customers.
The growth of online poker has been fueled by the popularity of famous online poker players. Chris Moneymaker, who won the $2.5 million Main Event tournament through an online satellite, has single-handedly changed the game for millions of people around the world. Because of this, many major online poker rooms have teams of ambassadors who work for them and promote their rooms. For example, PokerStars has two sponsored pro tracks: one track for top players and another for lower-profile players.