The latest news from the legalization front is that West Virginia is the latest state to pass legislation to allow for online poker. However, launching an online poker room in the state may be difficult without a shared liquidity pool. This could potentially be resolved in court through litigation regarding the federal Wire Act.
The most obvious advantage of playing online poker is the convenience. It takes just minutes to log on and play 10 hands. Most websites also allow you to play multiple tables at once. You can play a hold’em tournament and an Omaha cash game simultaneously. Some sites even allow you to play side games against “the house” for real money.
Online poker was popular in the late 1990s with players playing for free in IRC poker rooms. The first real money poker game was dealt in January 1998. Although it is not legal to play in Massachusetts, there are several online casinos and poker sites that cater to Massachusetts residents. A quick Google search of the word “Massachusetts poker” will turn up many options.
For example, one of the most popular sites is BetMGM. They offer both traditional and non-traditional games, such as Omaha Hi/Lo and Pot Limit Omaha. As well, they offer a monthly million-dollar GTD. Another feature to note is the site’s satellites. These are tournaments that let you take home a share of a large cash prize if you are able to make a series of small bets.
Among other things, a site may offer a digital device fingerprinting feature, which helps the site recognize and block banned players. In the same vein, a quick seat option lets you select which poker game you’re looking to play.
On a more serious note, a site’s poker-themed software can be a valuable tool. These programs display hand histories, offer quizzes, and even display variance and odds. Using such programs can help you pick the right hand, and you can also keep a running tally of your hand-to-hand and pot-to-pot ratios.
While it is true that there are a number of ways to play poker, the real fun begins when you get into the act. When playing poker online, you are given an opportunity to play against other players around the globe, at different levels. Even more interesting is the fact that you are playing against opponents who have an eye on you. That is an opportunity you would not have with a live poker player.
One of the best features of playing an online poker tournament is the ability to play more than one game at a time. A typical brick-and-mortar casino will only permit you to play a single table at a time, which is a major limitation. By contrast, a site like Ignition Poker allows you to play up to 15 cash games and sit-and-go tournaments at once.
While the most efficient way to play poker is by sitting at a table and playing a single game, multitabling is not advisable for beginners. On the other hand, a good multitabling strategy can improve your chances of playing better poker.