Online poker is a game where players compete against one another using their computers and real money. The ultimate goal is to win a cash prize. To start playing, you need a valid credit card and an account with an online poker room. Once you’ve deposited money into your account, you can start playing and play until you reach the limit or you decide to quit. To end a game, simply close the browser window.

Online poker has become a regional game, with some major sites available only in certain regions. It’s important to determine which sites are available in your home country before you start playing. If a major poker room isn’t available, you may want to consider a smaller regional poker room. These sites can be a lot of fun, and they tend to have tighter communities.

Once you’ve found a poker site, you’ll need to download the necessary poker software. This software requires minimal memory and shouldn’t take too long to install. If you don’t want to download the software, many poker sites offer a “no download” version of their games. However, these games don’t offer the same features as the full download versions.

Before you start playing poker for real money, you should first familiarize yourself with the poker software. Most online poker sites have a quick start feature that allows you to choose a game, stakes, and number of players. By doing so, you can be seated in a game instantly. If you don’t have the time to play on a live table, beginners should spend time familiarizing themselves with the software and choosing features that will make playing poker more convenient.

There are many legal online poker sites available for US residents. While most of them are open to players from all over the country, the larger sites have larger prize pools and more variety in cash games. Additionally, a few states have passed legislation that regulates online poker, including Delaware and Nevada. If you’re interested in becoming a professional poker player, make sure you check out the laws in your area and make sure you’re legal.

The most popular poker game online is Texas Hold’em. Although not all sites offer all variations of this game, thousands of no-limit hold’em games are available around the clock. Some of the top online poker sites also feature other games, including Omaha and Caribbean Poker. However, if you’re just starting out, stick to free poker training sites for the time being.

There’s no guarantee that any of these games will ever launch in Connecticut, but the state is already a good candidate for online poker. In fact, the state’s small population could make it an interesting market for online poker.