Internet poker

The game of poker has been growing exponentially in popularity over the past few years, and shows no signs of stopping. Players continue flock to their favorite casinos and online poker rooms day and night to pursue their favorite pastime. This surge in popularity can largely be attributed to two factors: first, widespread poker coverage on television, and second, the increasing availability of games online, 24/7. According to PokerScout.com, there are over 64,000 cash game players raking hands online at any given time, and hundreds of thousands of tournament players duking it out for prize money day and night. Party Poker has gone from a tiny underground cardroom, to a massive, publicly listed company traded on the European stock market, all in the span of just a few years. Online poker is here to stay.

Although some players only play on the web, some feel that playing on the computer just doesn’t offer the same experience as playing live in a card room or casino. They miss the flashing lights, the sounds of the slot machines, the cheers of players winning at a table across the floor… It’s true- online poker is an entirely different game when compared to brick and mortar. That said, many online poker players love playing on the net, because it forces them focus intensely on opponents betting patterns, reaction time, and other player behaviors that are not physical in nature. Most online players feel that exercising these skills makes them better all-around players than their live counterparts. Since poker is a game that requires adaptability, successful online players learn to master new and unusual surroundings very quickly. A good internet player can often walk into a casino and outplay the live regulars right off the bat.

Online poker players can be classified as one of two types: play money players, and real money players. If you are new to poker, we recommend that you first signup as a play money player. Play money will give you a feel for what poker is all about, and when you are ready to make some money, you can play for real cash.

Before depositing into a real money account, the first consideration that usually pops into a player’s head is the integrity of the different poker rooms. Many online poker sites are certified by watchdog organizations, such as the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and major internal auditing companies such as PriceWaterhouse Coopers often run investigations to ensure the legitimacy of most reputable sites.