If you’re looking to play online poker, you should first download the poker software that you’ll need. This only requires a little memory, and downloading shouldn’t take too long – even on archaic connections. Many online poker sites also offer “no download” versions of their games. But these versions don’t have all the same features as a full download version. And if you’re still hesitant, there are plenty of reasons to wait until you download the software before playing.

While online poker has been around for decades, it wasn’t until the late 90s that Nevada legalized the industry. After Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker in 2003, the unregulated online poker industry flourished. However, after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed, many sites were forced to exit the U.S. market. PokerStars, however, remained open to U.S. players for several years.

Some online poker sites require additional documentation to verify your identity. These sites will ask for your ID, utility bill, and address on file. Once they’ve verified your identity, you can start playing real money online poker for real. But be aware that the privacy policies of these sites vary by country. If you’re not comfortable playing in your country, you should consider playing online poker on a regional website. These sites have a much tighter community and can be a lot of fun.

While playing online poker may require a high-end computer, the minimum requirements are low. A basic computer with decent processing power can be used, as is a laptop. A tablet or smart phone can also be used to play real money poker. Android devices, iPhones, and iPads are all compatible. In addition to these, online poker sites have many applications that make it easy for users to play for real money. It’s worth investing the time to learn more about the rules of online poker before you start playing.

An important factor to consider when choosing an online poker site is that live poker is more challenging than online poker. Many players report higher losses online than in live games. However, online players report higher levels of bad beats than their live counterparts. In addition, online poker players tend to play lower stakes, making bad beats more common. And while online players may have more opportunities to make bad calls than live ones, the faster pace of play can artificially increase your short-term gains and losses.

Online poker software helps players track their results. This allows players to see if there’s a pattern in their wins or losses. Most sites offer this feature. Check your session stats, such as win-rate, number of flops, and number of times you’ve reached showdown. These are all valuable pieces of information, and it’s easy to use them in your own online poker strategy. However, if you don’t follow these simple steps, you may wind up losing more than you win.