Many poker sites have their own rules and regulations governing the play of online poker. The best place to play online is at a regulated online casino. These sites offer the same level of security and privacy as land-based casinos. However, in order to participate in a legal poker game, you must have a real account. This is not the case with online casinos. In addition to these restrictions, there are no minimum age requirements or payment limits.
In the United States, online poker has been around for decades. The first websites opened in the late 1990s and the unregulated market grew after Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 victory. In 2005, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) forced many sites out of the U.S. market, but sites such as PokerStars and 888poker continued to accept U.S. players. In fact, the online poker industry has exploded since the first legal sites opened.
While it’s true that online poker has become popular in the US, the issue of legitimacy remains. As a matter of fact, Illinois state law does not allow online poker sites to operate inside the state. Therefore, many unregulated and non-licensed sites operate outside the country, where the industry is not regulated. This makes them unregulated and unreliable places to put your money or personal information. As a result, it is not always easy to determine which site is legitimate.