Online Poker – The First State to Legalize Online Poker
Online poker is a fun, easy-to-play game that rewards actual skill unlike slots or the lottery. It is also convenient and accessible from a variety of devices. Players can sign up for a free account and start playing immediately.
The poker lobby is usually categorized by cash games, tournaments and Sit & Go’s. Many sites offer “beginner” tables which level the playing field for new players.
Legality
Online poker is a form of gambling where players wager real money on the outcome of a game. These games are regulated by state laws. However, online poker is not legal in all states. Players must live in a state where online poker is legal to play for real money.
After Chris Moneymaker’s 2002 World Series of Poker victory, online poker exploded into a global phenomenon. This fueled massive investments by companies and led to the creation of numerous televised poker shows. In addition, new software facilitated the growth of tournaments, making them more accessible than ever before.
While online poker has never been legal at the federal level, many states have made it legal. Michigan, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia have all regulated online poker. Michigan is the most recent state to launch a regulated site, and has since signed an interstate agreement with Pennsylvania to link their player pools. However, Alaska remains a black hole for igaming, and is unlikely to pass any legislation that would allow regulated poker anytime soon.
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Delaware
Known as the First State, Delaware led the way when it came to legalizing online poker. It was months ahead of other states like California and New York. The state’s legislature passed the online poker bill, and the industry has grown since then. Isaac Kempton, a resident of Newark, is the most notable player to have won big in this industry. He has secured top finishes at the 2023 Aria High Roller Series and PGT PokerGO Tour, earning a total of $270k in winnings.
The state’s online poker sites use geolocation technology to verify players’ ages and identities. This ensures that only residents of the state can play for real money. They also offer a variety of bonuses and tournaments.
Despite being a small market, Delaware’s regulated poker industry is going strong. Thanks to liquidity-sharing pacts, the state is able to compete with the larger markets of Nevada and New Jersey. Moreover, the sites are backed by solid business models. They feature low table limits, generous bonuses, and innovative tournaments such as BLAST.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a small state and it has struggled to generate enough players to sustain a standalone online poker site. The decision to join the MSIGA could encourage larger operators to seek a partnership with the Mountain State and benefit from its 1.8 million population in a shared liquidity pool.
In November, West Virginia joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association, joining New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada in an interstate network. This will significantly increase the size of the player pool and attract more participants to WV’s online poker sites.
While the state has yet to launch an online poker operator, it is possible that sweepstakes sites will offer a chance for residents to play for cash prizes. The top sweepstakes sites feature a range of games, including ring games and tournaments. They also have a range of payment methods, with PayPal and Skrill offering simple funds transfers within seconds. PayNearMe is another option, allowing users to make deposits at various retail locations across the US.