Several US states allow online poker, and there are a few poker platforms that cater to American players. There are even several foreign-based platforms that allow American poker players to play without having to be registered in a US state.
Connecticut is one of the states that has legal rights to provide poker sites. Its lawmakers have expressed an interest in the possibility of shared liquidity. This means that two poker operators could launch sites in Connecticut and combine players pools from other states. This would gather a larger pool of players and potentially increase interest in Connecticut. However, the state has yet to make a final ruling on whether or not online poker is regulated.
Online poker has a much smaller pool of players than live poker does. This means that a poker player who wins at a casino with a 5% win rate would earn less than $4 an hour, while an online poker player with a 5% win rate could earn more than $24 an hour. The same holds true for the most popular online tournaments. The biggest online tournaments draw a lot more attention than the live tournaments.
Online poker sites are regulated by a different set of laws than live casinos. This means that the poker sites have to limit the risks they take with their client money. In addition, most sites operate games in US dollars. However, the poker sites are permitted to accept payments in a variety of currencies. Some online poker sites also offer bonuses and promotions for their users.
Poker sites also use software to monitor the hands of their players. This includes hand histories and equity statistics. In addition, the software can scan hands for mistakes and errors. Using these tools helps players make better decisions, and it is also useful for assessing opponents.
Some poker sites also use digital device fingerprinting to recognize new accounts. This helps poker sites recognize players who have been banned from other sites. If a player is banned from a site, the software can block them from registering with that site. In some cases, the software can even identify players who are using the same computer as the website. These features allow poker sites to block players who try to circumvent prior account restrictions.
Several online poker sites allow players to pay using cryptocurrency. This is advantageous for users because they can use their own currency without having to go through a central financial institution. In addition, some sites allow players to withdraw funds using cryptocurrency. In many cases, these sites will convert funds at a lower premium than banks. This means that users can receive their funds more quickly and without having to pay a higher premium.
Connecticut will continue to wait for the final ruling on the Wire Act, but the path for interstate poker is now open. The state will be able to enter multi-state agreements with other states, and states will be free to create shared networks across state lines.