Until 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice’s interpretation of the 1961 Wire Act effectively barred online poker from the country. However, at the urging of states like Illinois and New York, the Department’s Office of Legal Counsel has reexamined the Wire Act’s scope, making a federal ban of online poker less likely. It’s also important to note that there are many other legal hurdles facing online poker.
Generally, playing poker online is very easy to learn. Before you begin playing online, it’s important to download the necessary software. This software requires a small amount of memory and shouldn’t take long to install, even on a slow connection. If you don’t have a computer with an advanced processor, don’t fret, there are no-download versions of poker available at every site. However, these games do not offer the same features as the full download version.
The main disadvantage of online poker is that the minimum deposit is usually very low. In fact, many sites don’t even process payments. To avoid this, some charge a small fee. You can also opt for a free poker site with no deposit requirements, but make sure that you know how much you’re comfortable spending. To play safe, don’t risk more money than you have. It is also important to keep in mind that you can never lose more money than you have in your account when you enter the table.