The difference between play money and real money online poker is the level of skill you need to succeed. In the former, all you need to do is see the flop and hit your hands. This will give you light entertainment, while the latter will require you to master the art of poker math and understand the concepts involved. You also need to network with other players who are already successful in the game and brutally analyze your play after every session.
When you sign up for an online poker account, you need to provide some personal information such as your full name, date of birth, social security number, and address. You should always protect your information from fraudulent websites. In addition, you should remember that multi-accounting is illegal in online poker and will result in your permanent ban from the site.
Some poker rooms offer incentives to new depositors, like free tournament entries. Others offer loyalty bonus schemes that allow you to earn points that move you up tiers. These bonuses can be cash or even a matched deposit. Reload bonuses are also available to replenish your bankroll. While these bonuses can be less generous than those offered by the poker room, they can help you replenish your bankroll. Some also offer one-off promotions, like satellite qualifiers for major live events.
Some sites allow you to play under a pseudonym, which will protect you from being tracked by opponents. This can protect newer players, as you won’t have to worry about your opponents being able to track your movements. However, there are some disadvantages to playing online poker anonymously. For one, you won’t be able to use Heads-Up Displays, which can help your opponents monitor your movements.
There are also some states that have not yet regulated online poker. Although West Virginia and Michigan have both passed online poker legislation, they are yet to launch their first sites. Regardless, the path for interstate online poker in Connecticut is still open. There is a good chance that the state will join the MSIGA soon, and that could help it become a regulated online poker hub. If this happens, Connecticut will be able to offer its first legalized online poker site.
While California is one of the most popular destinations for online poker, it is one of the few states that does not have legal online poker. However, some California lawmakers have attempted to pass legislation to legalize online poker in their state. In the meantime, Californians can play on sweepstakes sites and social sites.
The speed of play in online poker is faster than in live poker, which is why some players prefer it. Playing live can be slow and tiresome. With online poker, tables can deal up to 60 hands per hour and even more in shorthanded games. Online games also allow you to play more than one table in a single game.