The first hand of online poker was played back in 1998, and there are now millions of hands dealt daily. Since then, the industry has undergone several changes, with the biggest blows coming from the UIGEA and Black Friday. Still, there’s still plenty of room for growth in this nascent industry, and more states are legalizing it.

First, it’s important to decide which games and stakes you wish to play. Once you’ve decided, it’s time to download the poker software. This usually takes just a few minutes and is virus-free. Next, you’ll need to create an account. Only create one account; if you create more than one, you’ll risk getting banned from the site.

Another key aspect of online poker is finding a poker network with good players. There are many online poker networks, and each has its own unique set of players. It’s important to understand the differences between them, and find a poker room that checks most of the boxes. A few networks are flooded with good players, while others lack them. Having a network with a large pool of players means you can challenge yourself to win a higher prize.

Real-money online poker sites are legal in most states, with the exception of West Virginia. This is due to a technicality allowing offshore poker sites to accept US players. These offshore poker sites are fully licensed and safe, and can accept players from anywhere in the world. And unlike online casinos, they’re not subject to UIGEA, which makes them the perfect alternative for American players.

Among the top poker sites is Bovada, which has been operating since 2004. It offers many games including poker, sports betting, and even horse betting. Bovada has a license from the Curacao Gaming Commission. It also has an excellent mobile client, and a world-class sportsbook, which features more than 100 racetracks.

Although online poker is legal in many US states, it is illegal in Massachusetts. If you find a site that claims otherwise, you should be aware that it is operating offshore. Further, it is unlikely to come to Massachusetts anytime soon. In the meantime, sports betting is an increasingly popular activity for states to legalize. And it’s not too late for the Bay State to join the fun.

Internet poker is legal in Alaska. There are no laws banning Internet poker in Alaska, and online gaming websites aren’t subject to UIGEA. They’re also not subject to the Wire Act, which was once believed to apply to poker wagers. However, the Wire Act now applies only to sports betting transactions, not poker transactions. And Alaskans have a wide variety of options in terms of internet poker sites.