When it comes to online poker, state laws vary widely. While federal law prohibits online poker operations from operating in other states, many have chosen to remain in their home states. Fortunately, an ecosystem of software creators has emerged to meet application-specific requirements for online poker sites. Among them: age verification, identity verification, financial services, geolocation, responsible gambling advocacy, and cyber security. This article will review these requirements and provide a general guide to online poker in your state.
If you live in Pennsylvania, you can still play online poker. But there are other states that are considering legislation that will regulate online poker. Michigan recently approved a bill to allow online poker in its state, though virtual hands have yet to be dealt. While the federal government has been successful in driving the largest global online poker site operators out of the US market, several offshore online poker operators accept players from the United States. The state laws will help ensure that online poker remains a legitimate option for residents in the US.
In the event that you’re concerned that online poker sites are rigged, you can try playing live. The Internet is packed with hundreds of poker rooms. The largest of them can accommodate more than 50,000 players at one time. Just search for “online poker” on your favorite search engine. Thousands of sites will pop up. If you’re unsure of whether a particular online poker site is legitimate, withdraw your money and never play there again.
In the United States, the US Senate realized that online gambling was popular in the US and introduced the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, but this bill did not pass. New online poker sites popped up across the country. The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that online poker is illegal under the Federal Wire Act, but the Department of Justice disagreed, stating that sports betting and online gambling were not illegal. Eventually, a law passed that legalized online poker in several states.
Legal online poker is now legal in five states: Pennsylvania, Nevada, Delaware, and Michigan. The revenue generated by such sites in these states are impressive. As these new states come online, expect more states to follow suit. Soon, there will be a multi-state online poker network connecting online poker players in more states. And that’s just the beginning. Keep checking back. And don’t forget to play legal online poker if you live in one of these states!
The financial incentives of the poker sites also encourage players to maintain the integrity of the game. PokerStars, for example, made $877 million in revenue from poker in 2017, which is up 4% from 2016. These numbers prove that poker sites are the big winners – and real sharks. So, if online poker is rigged, players should withdraw their money and stay away from it. However, this doesn’t mean that online poker is completely free from problems.