The history of online poker in the US is almost as long as that of online poker around the world. The first poker sites were launched in the 1990s and offered their services to anyone, including US players. Sites such as partypoker and Planet Poker were among the first to offer their services to US players. These sites operated without the need for a license in the US and were thus able to attract players from all over the world. Today, however, there are hundreds of millions of people who play online poker every year.

Online poker is a fun way to socialize with people who share similar interests. It can be played for free, for small stakes, or for satellite entries into live poker tournaments. It is also available on most devices, including desktops, laptops, and smartphones. This allows you to play poker anytime, anywhere. Online poker rooms are safe and reliable, and you can choose a site or app with a large amount of traffic. By using this strategy, you’ll be able to make the most of your time while having fun.

During your initial sessions, don’t forget to check your bankroll. You can usually find out how much money you can afford to spend by logging into your poker room’s website. You can then decide whether or not to play higher stakes once you’ve beaten your current stake level 10 or 20 times. Aside from your bankroll, online poker sites can also help you track your performance using tracking software and heads-up displays.

As online poker becomes more popular, more states are regulating the game. For example, Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia recently passed laws that made it legal for online poker sites. However, the federal government’s crackdown on online poker operators has succeeded in keeping the largest global online poker site operators out of the US market. In the meantime, several offshore poker sites continue to accept US players. There’s no limit to how many poker sites will open in the future.

Before you decide on which poker strategy to follow, it’s always a good idea to read up on poker basics. Harrington on Hold’em, Theory of Poker, and Super/System are some of the best-known poker books. But, if you’re looking for free information, stick to online strategy sites instead. They’re usually packed with free information. They also have advanced techniques and quizzes that can help you improve your poker game.

Multi-table play is another important advantage of online poker. If you’re not getting the kind of cards you’re hoping for, you can open a second table next to yours while you wait for your cards. This way, you can focus on a decent hand. If you’re playing for cash, a 5% win rate is worth at least $4/hour. But if you’re trying to play online poker for real money, you’ll need to win more than one game to earn even a dollar.