The online poker game is played in a number of countries worldwide, and in many cases, a number of companies will offer it. Some will accept players from all over the world, while others will only deal with American dollars. However, most sites will require a player to provide some form of identification in order to sign up, and some may even require a utility bill before they will allow a new member to join.

One of the first states to pass a law governing online poker was Nevada. As a result of the enactment, the state is able to collect a 15% tax on online poker revenue. In addition, it is one of the few states in the country that has a comprehensive licensing and regulatory scheme for online gambling operations. Since the passing of the legislation in 2013, Nevada has been home to two of the largest poker tournaments in the nation, namely the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour. 888 Holdings is vying for the exclusive iGaming contract with the Delaware Lottery, and the company is planning to sign a contract with the Garden State as soon as it gets its hands on the necessary legislation.

While there are still plenty of unlicensed casinos and gaming venues in operation, the COVID-19 pandemic has rendered many of them obsolete. Many operators have reported that their traffic levels have doubled or more than before. This is because online poker has become a viable option for casual players who are tired of waiting weeks for a deposit to show up on their bankrolls.

There are also a number of new legislative proposals to legalize and regulate online poker as early as 2022. While the aforementioned New York state bills did not make it past the floor, Assemblymen Pretlow and Vanel have done a solid job of making a case for the regulated online poker market.

One of the most exciting things about online poker is the prospect of combining a number of smaller pools into a bigger network. This is one of the reasons that it is so important to establish a centralized licensing and regulatory system for the industry. If states were to sign multi-state deals, the game would become more accessible for millions of players from around the nation.

While the game isn’t exactly cheap, there are numerous benefits to playing it. For example, the tax rate is only a fraction of that of a live poker room, and withdrawals are typically processed within minutes. Plus, most operators will also accept a number of currencies, making it a great way to play for people from other countries.

Another advantage of playing the game online is that you can play from the comfort of your own home. While this might not be possible in most states, it’s possible for a limited number of players in certain locales, such as California or Hawaii. Likewise, some online poker rooms accept players from abroad, and some of these will let you buy-in to their real money games without converting any of your funds.