In the United States, online poker has been around for decades. The first websites opened up in the late 1990s. Following Chris Moneymaker’s victory at the 2003 World Series of Poker, the unregulated online poker market flourished. However, in 2004 the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act forced several sites to shut down, but sites like PokerStars continued to accept US players.

To play poker online, you need to download poker software to your computer. This software will take up only a small amount of memory and should not take long to download. No download games can also be found on any poker website, but do not offer the same features as a full download. Therefore, it is advisable to download software before you start playing.

Online poker is legal in most countries, but some jurisdictions do not regulate it. Some states, such as Pennsylvania, are considering legalizing online poker, and others are exploring legislation to regulate it. While the United States remains an outlier, regulated markets like Canada and Europe have a relatively liberal gambling climate. In addition to California, New Jersey, and Nevada, many Caribbean Sea nations are also accepting online poker.

Some online poker sites also allow anonymous play. This is a good idea for new players who do not want their opponents to track their online actions. Using anonymous poker software protects newer players from shark-filled waters and enables them to play poker without fear of being identified by their opponents.