Online Poker Legalization in the US

While online poker has been illegal in some states since its inception, more states are legislating the game. Nevada was the first to legalize the game in 2013, and Delaware and New Jersey followed suit in the following year. Today, there are more states attempting to legalize online poker as the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling has made it possible for states to regulate online gaming and sports betting. Despite the legal challenges of online poker, states are embracing the game as a viable economic and social benefit.

The first step to playing online poker is to download poker software. This software requires a small amount of memory, and shouldn’t take too long to download, even on archaic connections. You can also play no-download poker games, but these games do not have the same features as the full download version. Hence, it’s important to check the minimum requirement of your internet connection and choose a site that offers this option. This will save your time and money.

Currently, only 5 states offer legal online poker for real money. On Nov. 4, 2019, Pennsylvania became one of those states. BetMGM and Michigan are set to join the fray in 2021. Currently, the only legal online poker site in the US that shares players among the three states is WSOP/888 US. This makes it the most popular poker site in the US. There are a number of other states in which you can play poker for real money, but only a handful of sites offer regulated games.

In addition to collusion, some people say that online poker is rigged. This is unlikely because online poker companies are financially motivated to remain honest. In addition, modern-era players have access to hand histories and poker database software. Legitimate online poker sites will offer such hand histories for players to check the legitimacy of the game. However, these sites aren’t without problems. This is why players should use caution while playing online poker. You should never deposit money on a shady website.

In the US, West Virginia has legalized online poker, but the state doesn’t expect it to be fully operational until 2021. As West Virginia has a small population, a state-specific online poker room may face challenges launching. In the meantime, legal challenges surrounding the federal Wire Act may prevent the launch of an online poker room. Global Poker has a sweepstakes model and is legal in all 50 states. If you’re looking to play real money online, try one of these sites or download an app to your smartphone.