Online Poker

Is online poker safe, is the question that many, who want to play poker online, will want answered. Well, to answer that question, you need to delve a bit deeper into the overall online poker scene. Traditionally, poker playing was the domain of 'brick and mortar' establishments, where gambling houses and casinos hosted poker games. With the rise in competition, and low profitability margins, 'brick and mortar' casinos no longer think poker games as profitable. More casinos are shutting down poker rooms in favour of high-earning slot machines. With much lower overheads, and lower barriers to entry, online poker has therefore filled this void. For those who longed to play poker online, sites like Planet Poker hosted online poker games as early as the early 1990's. Thousands of online poker fans log on to sites like PokerStars and PartyGamong today so they can play online poker throughout the day.

And, as is invariably the case, a virtual parallel industry has sprung up where you can learn how to play poker online. Not sure where to start, take a look at this site and see if it fits your needs PokerStars When looking to play poker online, search for credible sites that have a track record of safe online poker practices. Toronto-based PokerStars is considered to be the industry's leading online poker game site. Boasting a market value of over $2 billion, PokerStars pulls the highest number of visitors who play online poker. While sites such as PokerStars have established themselves as market leaders in the online poker arena, you will stumble onto many lesser known names in your quest to play poker online.

Beware of illegitimate sites that promise big winnings for seemingly small or no fees. Not all online poker sites, like PokerStars,invest in fair-play technologies to thwart groups of players colluding to cheat unsuspecting visitors who go there to play online poker. Look for online poker playing sites that have a high volume of player traffic, as those sites will likely have vacant tables and a greater variety of games to suite your appetite. Understand the rules around rake and other fees and charges before you jump in on a game. Popular online poker sites such as PokerStars often offer great poker bonuses, be it for sign-up, deposit or reload.

Online poker promotional offers are another thing to compare when looking for sites at which to play poker online. When shopping for online poker sites, compare loyalty programs, especially searching for plans similar to PokerStar's industry recognized loyalty program. A final piece of advice - don't break the law! Some countries have banned online poker. So check your local laws before you play poker online. So, the answer to the question 'Can you safely play poker online' is - Yes. But you need to take all of the points mentioned above into consideration, if you want to have a truly legal, safe and pleasant experience with online poker.