If you want to play online poker, you need to make sure that you pick a site that offers a good experience. These days, you can find a large selection of games, and you can even download apps for your iPhone or Android tablet. The best sites offer excellent support and security, and also give you the option of playing in a wide variety of different types of games.
To begin with, you need to be at least 18 years of age. Many sites will require you to complete an age verification form. Also, you may need to deposit money into your account to start playing. Some sites will allow you to use debit or credit cards to make a deposit.
You can also find games that are free to play. Aside from free online poker, you can also play in satellite tournaments that are held at live poker rooms. This is a great way to practice, and you can earn some cash along the way. However, the biggest difference between online poker and the real thing is that you can’t show your hand before folding.
When choosing an online poker site, you should also consider the rake. Rake is a fee that is usually capped at a certain maximum, and is often similar to the vig paid to bookies. It is normally calculated as a percentage of the pot.
Online poker sites can be found in many countries, but not all of them are the same. For example, if you are a resident of the United States, you can’t play at some of the most popular sites, including Full Tilt. Another downside is that you might need to convert your bankroll to another currency when you deposit. While this isn’t a huge problem, you might want to look for sites that accept a variety of payment methods, such as Paypal or bitcoin.
In addition to the rake, there are a number of other important features to look for when selecting a site. One is the security measures, which are usually based on digital device fingerprinting. This allows the site to recognize your new account, and prevent you from playing if you are a banned player.
You can also check out your rakeback rewards. Rakeback rewards are generally given to players in the form of loyalty points. However, you shouldn’t settle for less than 25% to 30%. Using a rakeback calculator can help you calculate what you should be earning.
Another feature to look for is real-time communication, such as telephone, or live chat. You might not be able to show your hand before you fold, but you can communicate with your support team in real time.
Lastly, you will need to get some hands-on experience before you can take on other players. For this reason, you might want to play in a micro-game, where you can muck bad hands. Depending on your skill level, you can make a lot of money playing these small stake games.