Online poker has been around for decades, but it took a little while for regulated sites to get off the ground. After Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker in 2003 and ushered in a boom, online poker was poised for some serious growth. But when Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006, it sent a lot of poker sites packing.

Thankfully, the industry has recovered. Now, there are many reputable online casinos where you can play poker and enjoy great bonuses, a fair shake of the dice and a variety of stakes to choose from. Before you play, make sure to check to see that the casino is licensed and regulated by an independent gaming commission and that their software is regularly inspected for security and fairness. It’s also a good idea to read reviews to learn about the experiences of other players with the site in question.

To start playing poker online you will need to deposit funds into your player account. You can do this by clicking on the cashier tab on the poker site software. This will take you to a screen that walks you through the process. Most online poker sites offer instant deposits which means that your account is loaded with funds for you to begin playing within minutes.

If you are a newcomer to online poker it’s important to understand that the game is based on probability and strategy. When you’re starting out it can be tempting to play aggressively to get your chips in the middle but this is a surefire way to lose lots of money quickly. It’s better to be deliberate about which hands you play and to use tools like pot odds calculators to help you understand the odds of making a particular hand after the flop or turn.

Another thing to look for in an online poker site is a user interface that’s easy to navigate and has features that make the experience fun. This includes a large selection of tournaments, different types of cash games and bonuses that reward frequent play. It may take a bit of trial and error to find the right site for you but it’s well worth the effort!

If you prefer to play poker on your mobile device most sites have a dedicated app. This will generally have the same tournament schedule as the desktop version but it will be a slightly condensed layout. The advantage of a mobile app is that it’s easy to navigate on a smaller screen and you can bet and raise using a single tap. Some sites have even enhanced their mobile apps so that multi-tabling is easier than ever. This is especially helpful for those with older devices or poor Internet connections.