How to Play Poker Online in 2024

Learn to Play Poker Online

Poker is one of those games where it is essential to have great grasp of how to play and a solid strategy if you want to consistently win. Poker combines elements of skill, strategy, and psychology with a dash of luck thrown in. We do not suggest relying purely on luck when playing poker as a seasoned player that is more knowledgeable will have an edge over you, resulting in more losses than wins.

Basic Poker Rules

Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, however, some variants of poker use multiple decks or add a few joker cards. The cards are ranked regardless of suit from high to low as follows: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Ace can both be high or low but it is usually high.

After the cards are dealt and the rounds of betting start, players can choose actions ranging from bet, fold, call, or raise depending on their hand and by reading their opponents. All hands in poker have five cards and the goal is to win chips by forming the best hand or convincing your opponents to fold.

Of course, this is an oversimplified explanation of how to play poker online. Mastering how to play poker takes time and dedication but you are on the right tract to start winning online poker games! To get a better understanding of what online poker is all about, check out our beginner’s guide.

Is Online Poker Legal in the US?

The legal status of online poker in the U.S. has been debated for years. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, does not explicitly prohibit online poker under federal law. Individual states however, have the authority to regulate or prohibit online gambling in their borders.

While it didn’t criminalize online poker and only brought restrictions on financial transactions, the UIGEA had a significant impact online poker. In 2011, the U.S. government indicted several major online poker sites and suspending their operations in the U.S. which is remembered as the infamous Black Friday event.

Years later, states like Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania legaled online poker within their borders, ushering in a new era for online poker sites.

As of now, the legality of online poker continues to be a state-by-state matter. While some states allow and regulate online poker, others do not. It is important for online poker players to keep up with the laws of their respective states and only play on licensed and regulated offshore casinos.

Offshore Poker Rooms

Offshore poker rooms refer to online poker sites that operate outside of the United States. In most states, offshore sites operate on a gray area of the law, allowing users to enjoy playing poker online even if they have no access to physical casinos. To date, no one has ever been prosecuted in America for playing on an offshore site, regardless of their home state.

Offshore gambling sites obtain licenses from governing bodies outside the US, and these agencies have strict rules around segregation of funds, anti-money laundering procedures, game fairness, and Know Your Customer compliance.

How You Play Poker Online Matters

There are various online poker modes you can choose from and your choice can impact your potential winnings. Different poker games offer specific advantages and disadvantages that will impact your success in the game.

It is important to be well-informed about the pros and cons of different poker modes so you can choose what suits your playstyle best.

RNG and video poker are the two most popular poker modes online, though you would not find them in conventional poker rooms. If you would like to give RNG poker and video poker a try, we recommend joining one of the reputable online casino sites.

Digital or RNG Poker

Digital or RNG poker provides convenient and accessible poker action 24/7 and allows multitabling with wide range of stakes along with a usually softer competition compared to live games. Poker games powered by random number generators are often single player games, or at least, against computers. This is a great way to practice your skills before you start playing live poker.

Live Dealer Poker

Compared to other poker modes, live dealer poker offers an immersive and social environment with real-time reads, psychological strategies, and bluffs. Live dealer poker requires a solid internet connection to participate, as the game is streamed from a casino studio. You won’t be able to see other players, but you will be able to use chat boxes and other features to interact with your opponents.

Video Poker

Video poker is a solitary game with poker and slot machines mixed together. Video poker often offers a high RTP (return to player), making it a worthwhile poker mode to try out despite the lack of social interaction involved. Many players who enjoy the strategic aspect of poker might find this poker mode to be not as intellectually stimulating.

Featured Poker Rooms

Our reviewers have identified a few of the best online poker rooms for players across the US (and the globe). These poker rooms offer all kinds of cash games and tournaments and are available on both mobile and desktop.

Ignition Casino

300% up to $3,000 Welcome Bonus

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Casino Games: Slots, Blackjack, Baccarat +2 more Live dealer, Keno.

Live Dealer: No

Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, American Express +8 more American Express, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Secure Voucher, Check, American Express.

Ignition Poker is one of the most premier online poker rooms that offers a user-friendly experience with a myriad of weekly tournaments and diverse range of features.

Ignition Poker boasts a versatile platform, available on your browser or via a downloadable poker app. Both versions of Ignition Poker offer great gameplay and seamless deposits and withdrawals.

Ignition Poker also offers anonymous tables. In other poker rooms, players will identify themselves with a screen name, allowing you to keep tabs on their playing tendencies by taking notes. Ignition eliminates this with the anonymous table feature, allowing players to start each game with a clean slate, ensuring no one has advantage over anyone.

• 300% welcome bonus up to $3,000
• Virtual sports betting option
• 300 + games available
• Hot Drop Jackpots
• Low withdrawal limits ($10)

• Not available in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Nevada, or New York
• Limited and slow customer service (only live chat, 10 minute wait)

Bovada

100% up to $750 Welcome Bonus

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Casino Games: Slots, Video poker, Blackjack +5 more Craps, Baccarat, Roulette, Keno, Live dealer.

Live Dealer: No

Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, Bitcoins +6 more Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Secure Voucher, Bank Transfer, Check.

Bovada features one of the best online sportsbooks in the industry, and has betting action for more than a dozen different sports and leagues.

• Multiple welcome bonuses to choose from, including sports, casino, and poker
• More than 300 slot machines from Rival Gaming
• Extensive sportsbook with props builder and live betting
• No fees for withdrawals

• Dedicated racebook for horse race betting on worldwide races
• Bitcoin Exclusive membership, regularly offering you more promotions such as 50% reload bonuses
• Lacks multiple bitcoin withdrawal options

BetOnline

100% up to $1,000 Welcome Bonus

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Casino Games: Slots, Video poker, Blackjack +5 more Craps, Baccarat, Roulette, Live dealer, Progressive jackpot.

Live Dealer: No

Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, American Express +14 more Bitcoins, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Interac e-Transfer, Person2Person Transfers, Money Order, Bank Transfer, Check, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ripple, Tether, Usdt.

BetOnline offers a very clean, easy-to-navigate poker site for players of all experience levels. The sign-up process is quick and simple with no shortage of deposit methods available. It is then easy to find poker cash games and tournaments, as the layout is very user-friendly.

You can download the software if you like, but it is not necessary, so you can start playing online immediately. There are helpful guides for newcomers, such as a poker hand rankings rundown. You can claim some appealing promos too, which will bolster your bankroll as a beginner.

BetOnline is primarily renowned for its world-class sportsbook. Many players come from the sports betting section, so the site attracts a more recreational player base than Ignition, and it can be easier to find fellow novices to compete against.

• All-in-one casino and sportsbook with excellent live poker rooms
• 100% welcome bonus up to $1000 can be claimed up to three times
• Excellent range of deposit methods including crypto, credit cards, and transfers
• Free deposits and withdrawals with Bitcoin and other cryptos
• Dedicated racebook with live betting
• Wide range of video poker and obscure/ specialty games
• Available to players in all 50 US states

• Bonus turnovers are as high as 45x
• Limited options for non-cryptocurrency withdrawals
• 9.75% charges on deposits made with cards

SportsBetting.ag

100% up to $3,000 Welcome Bonus

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Casino Games: Slots, Blackjack, Video poker +4 more Live dealer, Baccarat, Roulette, Craps.

Live Dealer: Yes

Payment Options: Bitcoins, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano +10 more Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Tether, MasterCard, American Express, Visa, Bank Transfer, Check.

Sportsbetting.ag is another terrific poker site. The name indicates its known for its sportsbook, but Sportsbetting.ag also features a quality array of poker titles.

You can download the Sportsbetting.ag software or play from your browser. It’s a great option for tournament players, as it runs a busy schedule of events. They include Sunday Majors, Progressive Bounties, Daily Dozens, Bare Knuckle Bounties, Wicked Weekends, Twisted Turbos, Rebuy Frenzy events, and Windfalls with prize pools of up to $1 million. There is even a “tournament request” feature, which allows you to create your own tournaments.

• Sports betting, casino games, online poker, and esports all in one place
• Wide range of promotions, including welcome bonuses, reload bonuses, free bets, and contests
• Access the site from your mobile browser or download the SportsBetting poker app
• Large variety of banking options, including a whopping 12 cryptocurrencies
• High deposit and withdrawal limits

• E-wallet banking methods not available
• While poker traffic is decent, it falls in the medium range
• Varied transaction fees for most payouts

How to Start Playing Poker Online

Playing your first hand of poker is a fairly easy process! Here are the steps you need to take to get your online poker adventure started:

Online Poker Tips

• Choose your starting hand carefully – You don’t have to commit to a hand you find weak, remember you can always change tables and start with a better hand.
• Recognize your opponent’s betting patterns – Take advantage of the notes feature in a poker room to keep tabs on your opponents and their betting tendencies.
• Understand hand rankings – A good understanding of hand rankings is crucial in online poker. You can keep a rankings guide handy on a different tab when you play online poker.
• Learn how to bluff but in moderation – Use the chat feature to bluff your opponents but make sure to keep it in moderation as bluffing is a double-edged sword.
• Start with playing single table – You can play online poker on multiple tables at once but we recommend starting with a single table until you get the hang of it.

Responsible Online Poker Gambling

Poker can evolve from just a hobby to an addiction if the thrill of the game and the adrenaline rush becomes consuming. Which in turn, leads to binge gambling and chasing losses. It is important to set strict limits for time and money spent on online poker. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, free and anonymous help is available 24/7.

• The Responsible Gambling Council provides tools to help you talk about responsible gambling practices, manage your own play, learn how to spot the signs of risky gambling behavior, and find out where you can turn to for help.
• The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health provides counselling for people who gamble and can link people to the support and resources they need.
• The American Gaming Association provides information about the gaming industry in the US.
• The National Council on Problem Gambling has compiled a list of resources on problem gambling issues, including links to other problem gambling-related websites and resources.

Online Poker Summary

You won’t improve your poker skills without practice. Because the top poker sites all run freeroll tournaments, you can hone your game without putting your hard-earned money on the line. Plus, you get to keep whatever you win, even without an entry fee.

Bovada, Ducky Luck, and BetOnline are three of the better online poker sites out there for both new and experienced players. Fast payouts, quick withdrawal speeds, a variety of banking options, and player safety and security are among the can’t-miss features shared by these top operators. So, what are you waiting for?