Online poker is a game of cards played over the Internet for real money by real people. It’s a fun, easy to play game that rewards actual skill unlike slots or the lottery and it can be done from any computer, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection. Online poker can be played for the smallest stakes possible (literally pennies) all the way up to satellite entries into the most prestigious live tournaments around the world.

Most of the best poker sites are highly regulated by governments that regulate gambling in their respective jurisdictions. These sites invest the funds that players deposit and they’re only required to pay back the player’s winnings if they break even or more. This low risk and investor protection is one of the main reasons why people are drawn to the game.

Online poker is also incredibly convenient to access and play from almost any country in the world as long as it’s legal there. Getting money on and off the site is also a breeze thanks to a wide variety of options like credit cards, debit cards, pre-paid cards, wire transfers or third-party eWallets. Lastly, online poker has a number of software programs that are designed to help players improve their games. These include hand database programs that save, sort and recall hands that have been played. These programs can also scan active tables and display past statistics for known players next to their name on the table (known as a heads up display or HUD).