While most states have legalized online poker, others are on the verge of doing so. These regulations govern the way operators are able to offer poker services, and require them to obtain licenses from the individual states. Only players in these states can play for real money. However, as long as they are physically present in the state, an American citizen can open an account at a site that operates in that state. If they live outside the US, they can play in an offshore site but can’t play for real money.

When playing for real money, you can also join beginner tables at poker websites. These tables are usually low-stakes, which make them easy to learn, but high enough to get your feet wet. Many poker websites even have beginner-only tables. These tables are open to new customers for 30 to 90 days after creating an account. Since these tables are void of more experienced players, they are ideal for those looking to learn the game. While you can always play at a higher stakes game later, you will find that you’ll be better off learning the game on a lower-stakes table to begin with.

While most online poker sites offer a sign-up bonus that doubles your money, you can find one with even higher sign-up bonuses. These bonuses typically match your deposits at 100%, up to a certain maximum. You’ll be able to choose from a number of bonuses from instant free $10s to massive $1,000s. The deposit period for each site can vary as well, but the process will take a few hours or even a few days.