Online Poker in the US – Where Can I Play Poker Online Legally?

Poker continues to be one of the most popular games played on the planet. Whether playing in a home game for pennies or in a casino for millions of dollars, the game has something for everyone, from the novice player to the full-time professional. The introduction of online poker games brought the world together in a way that had never been seen before in the gambling industry and likely won’t be seen again.

We have compiled a series of articles, guides, and reviews in one comprehensive poker section of GamblingSites.us. The United States has seen the lion’s share of the changes in the overall poker climate since the first online poker event took place. Our poker section gives you all the information you need to be the best player you can be, no matter what your level of stakes.

Poker is a game that is very easy to learn but very hard to master. If you want to improve your game, then this is an excellent place to start.

What You Will Find in This Section

There is so much information about poker that is available today that it can seem somewhat overwhelming to sort through it all. Our team of experts has built a poker section that takes the best of everything that is offered, and we have added our own take on the game and everything that surrounds it. Here are some of the things you will find in this section.

This can be in box format if that helps break up the page.

Beginner’s Guide to Poker

Even though the game is more popular than any other gambling game today, there is still a significant amount of the population that has either never played poker or has barely given it a try. Our Beginner’s guide to poker breaks the game down to its basics. Topics include:

• Poker Hand Rankings
• Basic Rules of Poker
• Poker Tournaments, Cash Games, and Sit and Go Tournaments
• Playing Online Versus Playing Live
• Common Mistakes by Beginners
• Basic Playing Strategy

Playing Poker Online

In the early 2000s, online poker sites were starting to launch and grow in size. Then, an online qualifier by the name of Chris Moneymaker turned his PokerStars satellite into the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event crown, and the rest is history! Our online poker guide covers many topics relating to playing the game from the comfort of your own, including:

• Setting Up an Online Poker Account
• Online Tournaments
• Online Poker Promotions and Bonuses
• Online Satellite Tournaments
• Freerolls and Play Money Games

Poker Strategy

There is no question that poker strategy could be a section all on its own. There are dozens of books dedicated to learning to play the game, but what we wanted to do is create a more consolidated look at strategy. Our section includes pieces that are good for beginner to advanced players, including topics such as:

• Tournament Strategy
• Cash Game Strategy
• Playing on the Bubble
• Bankroll Management
• Controlling Your Emotions
• Beginner Basic Strategies
• Types of Players at a Poker Table

Poker Game Guides

Most players know how to play Texas Hold’em, as it is by far the most popular game on the planet. However, many players may not realize how many different variants of poker exist, most of which were invented long before Hold’em took over the industry. Our poker game guides give you the basics of each type of game available today, including an overview of the rules, hand rankings, and how to play the game in its basic form.

• Texas Hold’em Game Guide
• Omaha Game Guide
• Stud Game Guide
• Draw Game Guide
• Specialty Games Guide

The Widespread Appeal of Poker

As we mentioned, poker has been part of the gambling fabric for a long time. However, it moved from the back rooms of bars and smoky casinos to becoming one of the most common things to do at a house party, and playing online poker went from something people did in their basements to a source of pride.

One of the appeals of playing poker is that it is a game that anyone can play. There is no limit to your age, physical ability, or experience that will stop you from making it to a poker tournament. One of the greatest spectacles in poker is the World Series of Poker Main Event – winning it is a life-changing experience. The great thing about poker is that it doesn’t matter who you are. Your money is all worth the same. If you can find the $10,000 to enter the WSOP Main Event, you can be seated next to the best professional poker players in the world.

There is no other competitive sport today that gives amateurs an equal chance to play against the sport’s best, and as a result, we have seen everyday people like Chris Moneymaker take down the professionals and change his life forever.

Playing Poker Online

Setting aside Chris Moneymaker for a moment, the world of online poker was well on its way to significant growth around the world before he won the 2003 Main Event. Even though the poker boom can be credited to him in part, the fact is that online poker allowed millions of players who otherwise wouldn’t have played the game for real money to enter tournaments and win thousands of dollars from the comfort of their own homes.

For the first time, players could deposit a few dollars and enter tournaments that could grow their bankroll into tens of thousands. Online poker also gave players a chance to see significantly more hands per hour compared to playing in a land-based casino. Players who were playing every day could easily see every situation that could arise in only a few years that might take a lifetime for a land-based player to see.

Online poker allowed players from rural areas to be involved in massive global events, even though they themselves might live hundreds of miles or more from the nearest poker room. Despite its original fears of cannibalization, the land-based poker industry definitely reaped the rewards of players honing their craft online. Just one look at the sheer volume of land-based tournaments around the globe on a weekly basis shows just how much the game has grown, and allowing players the opportunity to learn and play online until they felt comfortable enough to sit down in a live game is one major reason for that growth.

Poker Laws

The United States has had a roller coaster of a lifespan with online poker. In the early 2000s, it seemed as though there was nothing that was going to stop the industry, with most sports channels airing both content and advertisements featuring the top online poker brands. Players had massive sponsorship deals with these firms, and the celebrity world was also jumping on board, with players like James Woods and Jennifer Tilly leading the crossover between the poker and entertainment worlds.

However, all this growth was taking place in a marketplace that was very undecided when it came to legislation. The online poker sites were all hosted outside of the US and at an arm’s length from the law, and these operators certainly weren’t paying any taxes. Finally, the government decided that they’d had enough and took measures to curtail the industry.

There have been changes to gambling laws around the world that have also impacted the online poker industry. Our poker laws page covers these instances in detail and provides a current state of affairs for online poker in the United States and around the world.

Poker Resources

We have compiled a group of pages that we feel make up an excellent library of information for any level of player. We think that this is a great reference guide if you need some more information above and beyond the strategy and game overviews. Here is what you will find in our poker resources section.

Poker Glossary

Sometimes you may be sitting at a table and find someone has referred a term that you don’t recognize. No need to feel embarrassed – there are a ton of poker terms out there that many players are not familiar with. Just click on our poker glossary, and you can find out the definition before you even leave the table!

Poker FAQ

Many poker players have the same basic questions about the game. This can range from the best place to play in Las Vegas to how to make a deposit at an online poker site. We have captured many of the most common questions and have provided answers to them in our frequently asked questions section. Here, you will find the answers to most of the generic questions you may have about poker.

Land-Based Poker Tournament Schedules

There are so many poker tournament series happening around the world that it can sometimes be difficult to know where to find them. We have collected the dates for the main poker series from across the globe and put them all in one easy-to-read section for you. This doesn’t include the smaller events that happen at local casinos, but it does give you hundreds of tournament options no matter where you live or where you may want to travel to get your poker fix.

Poker Books

There could be an entire wing of a library dedicated to poker books. We have reviewed many of the top books on the market today, and these reviews are all in the poker books section of our site. Here, you will find books for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players as well as poker biographies and memoirs that we think are worth a read.