Many people are now turning to online poker in order to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 virus has caused the indefinite closure of many live gaming venues worldwide, and a lot of unlicensed venues have also shut down, leaving players with very few options for entertainment. This has led to a large spike in the popularity of online poker, and many operators have reported that traffic is at least double what it was before the virus.

Before 2006, online poker was widely available in the USA. But the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which was passed to curb gambling sites, had the potential to restrict the growth of online poker in many states. This law consists of the 1961 Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. It is unclear exactly how the two laws will be interpreted, but they are intended to ban online gambling. However, more states are taking action to regulate online poker.

When it comes to learning how to play poker, beginners can begin with low stakes games, which are soft enough for a novice to practice tactics. Many sites offer beginners-only tables, free for new customers for up to 90 days after they create their accounts. These tables are completely free of better players, which means beginners will have a level playing field. However, there are still several things that novice players need to be aware of. As with any new game, you should know what to expect, and follow the guidelines of the site before playing real money games.