Regulatory bodies have begun to regulate online poker in many countries, including France, Italy, and Spain. These governments have begun requiring online poker operators to acquire licenses from state regulators and only permit players who reside in their jurisdictions to play real money poker. While these efforts have been largely successful, many other countries are still grappling with their own licensing regimes and restrictions. The United Kingdom and many other countries in South America are currently in the process of regulating their online poker markets.
When choosing a website to play at, look for one that caters to players of all skill levels and interests. Online poker lobbys are usually divided into Cash Games, Tournaments, Sit & Go’s, and special formats. Generally speaking, the biggest sites in the United States tend to have the most traffic, and as such offer the most variety. Many of these sites also offer beginner tables, allowing new players to compete on an equal footing with veterans.
New Jersey was one of the first states to consider legalizing online poker. In 2011, the state legislature approved legislation allowing online gambling in the state, but Governor Chris Christie vetoed the legislation. Since then, the state legislature passed a different bill allowing the industry to operate for ten years. In the future, the bill will be reviewed to determine if it should be extended. This is a significant step in the legalization of online poker.
Bovada Poker is one of the oldest online poker sites to serve the U.S. market. It offers anonymous tables, a mobile-optimized interface, and more than $1.5 million in weekly guaranteed prizes. In addition to offering a variety of cash games and tournaments, Bovada offers a variety of deposit options, including Bitcoin. Bitcoin has zero transaction fees and is also faster than credit cards. The Bovada Poker site is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
While there are no regulations specific to online poker in the United States, most states allow it. If the poker site is not legal in your state, it is not a legal site to play at. It’s important to check that the site you are playing at is indeed operated by a company in the US. All big international brands must also set up a subsidiary in the US, which means they’re legally responsible for any action they take in the US.
New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware have already legalized online poker, and Pennsylvania is likely to follow suit soon. The combined player pool of the three states has a combined total of more than two million people. If all of these states start legalizing online poker in Pennsylvania, it won’t take long before more sites are licensed in the state. However, if the state’s regulations aren’t changed soon, the online poker industry may be thriving in Pennsylvania by 2022.