Online Poker in the US
As more states begin to legalize online poker, the question of regulation arises. While most states are in favor of the activity, some are adamantly opposed. In the United States, New Jersey has led the way, spearheading a path toward safe, legal online poker. Its lottery sales could be adversely affected, but a judge has ruled in favor of allowing online poker. Until then, there is no definitive answer as to how the legislation will affect American poker players.
Although the rules of the game are the same for both, online poker sites invest players’ money. Since these investments are not considered high-risk, the operators do not have to pay interest on the funds invested by their clients. In fact, such investments are a significant source of revenue for online poker sites. However, these sites must ask for consent before installing the software on players’ devices. Ultimately, the online poker operator must keep all of this information private.
US state regulation of online poker is in its early stages. Only six states currently allow poker sites to operate in their jurisdictions, though more states are expected to follow suit in the near future. Many of these states have already passed laws on online gambling, while others are in the process of regulating the industry. For now, however, the legality of online poker in the US depends on the regulations that govern it. Regardless of the laws, online poker remains a popular way for people in the country to play poker.
The history of online poker in the United States is as long as that of the game worldwide. In fact, some of the first operators began operating in the US. Planet Poker and partypoker were among the first sites to offer their services to US players. While these operators did not have a license to operate in the US, they were nevertheless accessible to US players. Eventually, these sites gained popularity in the US, with many operators reporting double or more traffic compared to the previous years.
Another factor to consider when choosing an online poker site is the currency. Some sites will require players to convert funds when they deposit while others will accept payments in various currencies. These sites will typically convert your funds at a lower rate than your bank would. While these differences are minor, they can add up to a significant portion of your poker bankroll when you play regularly. For example, some sites only accept U.S. dollars. To avoid the rounding issues, you should try using the currency conversion calculator when choosing your poker site.
Michigan is the sixth US state to legalize online poker. However, it is not clear how long the sites will be up and running. Although Michigan is the sixth state in the US, it may not begin operating online poker sites until the year 2022. Delaware and Nevada were the first two states to enter an interstate poker agreement in February 2014, restricting their online casino games to Delaware residents only. This allowed for more liquidity between time zones and a larger overall player pool.