Online poker is a fun, social game that takes place on desktop computers, laptops, tablets and phones. It allows players to play for the smallest stakes possible (literally pennies) or for satellite entries into some of the most prestigious live tournaments in the world.

The rules of poker are the same whether you play in person or online, however, the mental aspects required for playing are quite different. Unlike live games, where players can read physical tells and make adjustments to their betting strategies, online players have to be mathematically competent and understand the odds of completing certain hands based on their own hole cards and the overall deck composition.

Regulatory conditions for online poker are constantly changing, but a growing number of states have chosen to regulate the game. Pennsylvania became the fourth state to do so in 2017, and virtual hands were dealt there in November of 2021. The most recent addition to the legal online poker arena is Michigan, which enacted legislation in 2022 and launched its first regulated sites in 2023.

When choosing an online poker site, it’s important to verify that the software is safe and secure and offers a wide range of deposit and withdrawal options. You should also look for a site that provides responsive customer support and has quick processing times for withdrawals. It’s also a good idea to sign up for an account with a poker site that offers rakeback, as this is a way to redistribute a portion of the money that poker rooms take from each real-money pot back to loyal players.