If you’re looking to play poker but don’t want to leave the comfort of your home you can find all the games you need online. All you need is a computer or laptop and an internet connection. The software is free and usually doesn’t take up much memory, so it will run fine on even the most archaic of computers. Once you have the software downloaded you’ll need to create a user account and pass the age verification test. This is a necessary part of the process to ensure that only those over the legal age of 18 can play on the site.

There are many benefits to playing poker online, from the convenience to the softer games that are found on sites with more traffic. Online poker sites are also able to invest the money that players deposit, which helps them make more profit in the long run. This is a huge benefit for new players as it can help them build up their bankroll without risking too much of their own money.

The game of online poker became a lot more serious in the early 2000s when an accountant from Tennessee named Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker Main Event by qualifying through an online tournament. This brought the game out of the back of smoky bars and into the limelight. Since then, online poker has become a multi-billion dollar industry and continues to grow in popularity every year.

One of the most important things for any poker player is to have a fair and square game. This is especially important for online players who must rely on the integrity of the site to prevent collusion and other forms of fraud. Online poker sites are constantly improving their security measures to prevent these types of problems and they have dedicated personnel whose job it is to look at card, player and pattern history. They are also able to check a player’s computer IP address which can tell them if multiple accounts are being used from the same place or residence.

Although there are some cases of disgruntled employees using their access to online poker networks to cheat and steal, it’s generally understood that this type of behavior is not beneficial to the companies running the sites. It is basically professional suicide to knowingly commit such a crime because it will be quickly uncovered by other players who have a good understanding of the rules and are able to spot suspicious activity. As a result, the majority of online poker sites will only work with legitimate and reputable operators who have proven themselves to be honest. In addition, most major poker sites provide a free play money version of their software so that players can practice their skills without having to worry about losing any real money. This is a great way to get accustomed to the different software and learn how to use it. Eventually this will lead to better results when you start playing for real money.