What is online or internet poker

Poker is one of the most interesting and widely played games today. Poker can be played either in the casinos or on online venues. Online poker definitely refers to the game of poker played over the internet. It has been responsible for a remarkable increase in the numbers of poker players worldwide. According to PokerPages.com the live poker industry grew 40 percent over last April, attracting a record $42.3 Million in buy-ins and total live poker buy-ins to date in 2006 are over $140.9 Million. The research group River City believes some 1.5 million people play poker online regularly for real money and that the number is growing by 100,000 a month.

Some poker players find playing in online poker rooms just not the same experience as home games or playing in a casino. Indeed online poker can be seen an entirely new variation on the traditional game of poker. At the same time, online poker players learn to more keenly focus on betting patterns, reaction time and other behavior tells that are not physical in nature. Since poker is a game that requires adaptability, successful online players learn to master the new frontiers of their surroundings.

Players are classified as real money players or play money players. If you are new to poker then we recommend to first signup as a play money player. It will give you a feel of what poker is all about and when you are ready you can play for real money. When real money is involved the first question is integrity of the websites. Hence, many online poker sites are certified by bodies such as the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and major auditing firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers.