Many players have reported a significant increase in traffic to online poker sites following the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This virus has forced the closure of most live gaming venues around the world. This has left many casual poker players without any other option but to play online. As a result, many operators have reported double or triple the amount of traffic they experienced before the pandemic.
Many major online poker sites have added additional features to attract players. For example, some offer satellite tournaments, which give winners entry to real-life poker tournaments. A satellite tournament held at PokerStars in 2003 led to the entry of Chris Moneymaker, who went on to win the main event. This scandal caused quite a stir in the poker community. In 2004, the World Series of asikqq (WSOP) featured three times the number of participants as in 2003. In addition to Moneymaker, four other players in the final table had won entry through an online cardroom. One of them was eventual winner Greg Raymer.
While online poker websites have many benefits, they also expose players to more fraudsters. The internet makes collusion among players easier to arrange. However, despite these challenges, online poker websites are constantly improving their anti-fraud measures. One of these measures includes checking player computers’ IP addresses, which can reveal multiple players from the same location. In addition to this, these websites cancel logins if they detect any suspicious activity.
Another major benefit to playing poker online is the fact that it allows for multiple tables. When a player is waiting for good cards, it is advantageous to play multiple tables at the same time. By doing so, a player can double their profits. In addition, multi-table play can allow for more hands to be dealt per hour than live games.
Some online poker sites offer bonuses for new players. These bonuses are not instantly released and must be earned by playing on the site. Hence, players should play as many hands as possible during the first few weeks to make the most of the bonuses. Most of these bonuses are released according to the number of points accumulated by frequent players. So, the best way to get the most of online poker bonuses is to play as much as possible during these initial weeks.
Another option for players who wish to play poker online is through sweepstakes and social sites. Global Poker is one of the most popular sweepstakes sites online. Unlike real poker sites, these sites are free to register on. Additionally, they feature a wide variety of poker games, including tournaments and cash games.
In Massachusetts, online poker is not illegal, but it is on a long road to becoming legit. The state legislature has yet to pass an online gambling bill that specifically includes online poker. Thus, the likelihood that online poker in the state will be legal in Massachusetts is very remote. In contrast, sports betting is a more popular activity for state legislatures to approve.