Online Poker in the US
While online poker is legal in many states, there are also many legal gray areas. Among them is the issue of shared liquidity. While all sites are single-state operations, some networks, such as the WSOP network, span more than one state. These networks share traffic between states, and the WSOP network currently consists of three sites: NJ, NV, and DE. By 2022, Michigan will join the compact. This means PokerStars and BetMGM will share traffic between NJ and MI. Other jurisdictions have adopted a ring-fenced traffic model, such as Ontario.
Some sites cater to all levels, such as PokerStars and Full Tilt. However, recreational players should also join sites like Bet365 and Bovada. Both of these websites have low-stake tables that allow beginners to play. This way, they won’t have to compete with professionals at too high a stake. Moreover, these sites will not allow you to play too many tables if you aren’t comfortable with the minimum or maximum limits.
Delaware is the smallest US state to legalize online poker. Delaware has a liquidity-sharing agreement with Nevada and its three casinos operate branded skins on the 888 Poker network. In March 2019, West Virginia became the fifth state to legalize online poker. It passed a law that includes provisions for casino-style online gambling. In addition to legal online poker, West Virginia also already allowed sports betting, making it a natural choice for the state to legalize the activity.
While there are a number of legal grey areas surrounding online poker, the United States remains an important market for the game. As with any other legal industry, online poker in the US is widely available, and the first legal sites in the US were launched in Delaware and Nevada in 2013. As more states legalize the game, there are more sites popping up in the US. With more players embracing online poker, the US market is poised to flourish.