Playing real money poker online is fairly straightforward as long as the game is legal in your jurisdiction. To get started, you need to download the appropriate poker application to your device. In some cases, you will also need to download the necessary software from the poker operator’s website. Then, sign up with one or more sites and start playing.

There are various sites that cater to all levels of poker players. These sites include the likes of PokerStars, Full Tilt, and Bovada. They also offer lower stakes and beginner tables, making them good options for players who wish to get into online poker. They also prohibit professional players from playing too many tables at once.

Currently, online poker is legal in four states. California is the biggest market for card rooms, and it is estimated that the industry is worth north of $1 billion each year – excluding revenue from tribal casinos. The state is also one of the largest for online poker, with revenues exceeding $4 million each month. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are also slated to be huge markets once online poker is fully operational.

A recent case involving poker operators has led to an investigation into their practices. The US Department of Justice has accused several operators of money laundering and violating gambling laws, and it is suspected that some of the companies abused their power to manipulate the market. As a result, they are now under investigation by various law enforcement agencies.

Before you can play online poker, you need to register with a poker site. Most poker rooms have links to deposit money and fund your account. Deposit limits vary from site to site, but most allow deposits of $5 to $20. The time it takes for the money to clear can vary. In some cases, deposits take seconds to clear, while others may take hours or even days.

While playing online poker, you should consider playing low stakes to learn the game. The lowest stakes are often the best for beginners. Those playing higher stakes are likely to be the hardest to deal with, so it’s a good idea to start at the lowest stakes and practice your poker strategy. Once you’ve learned how to play online poker, you can move up to higher stakes.

Most poker rooms offer both cash and tournament games. You can choose from a variety of poker games, and find the one that is right for you. You can even decide which stakes to play. This is helpful when you don’t have a lot of time to commit to a live poker game. However, remember that you’ll have to commit to a substantial time commitment in order to win a poker tournament. It’s not a good idea to jump in and out of games because this is not good etiquette.

If you’re living in California and want to play online poker, you will have a few options. One option is to play on sweepstakes and social sites. One of the top sweepstakes sites is Global Poker. Global Poker allows players to play for virtual currency, which they can then exchange for cash prizes if they win. The site is also free to register and includes cash games and tournaments.