The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a dramatic rise in the number of people playing online poker. The virus has forced the closure of many unlicensed gaming venues worldwide, leaving a large number of casual players with no alternative to online poker. In the wake of the disease, many operators have reported double or even triple the number of players as compared to the previous year. A significant rise in traffic was observed across all online poker websites.
Online poker is currently regulated in many states, with more contemplating the regulation of the industry. In each state, online poker operators must acquire licenses to operate, and only players from that state are allowed to play for real money. In regulated states, any American citizen or resident can open a new account and play real-money poker if they are physically in the state. Regulatory states often provide a list of approved online poker sites.
When first starting out, players should consider playing poker for low stakes. This is the most appropriate way to learn the game, because the stakes are low and beginners are able to gain experience without breaking the bank. Several poker websites provide beginner-only tables, which are free for new customers for the first thirty to ninety days after creating an account. The beginners tables are typically free of players who are better than average. Therefore, novices should consider playing poker at such sites if they are new to the game.
Once you have chosen the game you want to play, you can then move on to higher stakes. In cash games, the table is usually smaller than a standard 100bb table. You can also choose a variation that suits your preference. For example, you can play a standard version of Video Poker. You can also try a special version of Caribbean Stud Poker, known as Casino Hold’em. In this variation, players must make the best five-card hand in order to beat the dealer’s.
Despite the larger number of online players, bad beats still exist. The average number of bad beats is higher in online poker than in live games, as the players are playing more hands per hour. The higher the variance, the higher the chances of a bad beat. In addition, the higher the number of hands played means more variance, which translates to bigger short-term gains and losses. Furthermore, the increased frequency of bad beats allows an insider to cheat without the knowledge of the site managers.
Ignition Poker has one of the best online poker tournament experiences. It offers a variety of daily and weekly tournaments and even a top-rated Sunday major in the US. On Sundays at 4 PM ET, a special $100K Guaranteed tournament is held. Players can win at least $17,000 in this tournament. And the games never get boring. With Ignition, you can find a poker game for every taste and budget.