Archive for the ‘Online Poker’ Category
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
For those of you who are following the introduction of various online poker and Internet gambling legslation in Congress, Representative Jim McDermott’s Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act was reintroduced last week.
This act serves as a companion to Barney Frank’s bill to overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006. The UIGEA has not outlawed online poker or gambling. However, it puts strict regulations on banks, credit card companies and online payment services, which has caused a lot of problems for online poker players in the United States.
Barney Frank’s bill has set guidelines for licensing and regulation of the online gambling industry, suggesting that online gambling operators will be required to collect certain fees and pay certain taxes. The Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act states what those fees and taxes will be. The new version, which was introduced last week, establishes not only a federal license fee but a state license fee as well. Additionally, it states that 25% of federal revenue gleaned from online gambling will go towards foster care programs, which is an issue that McDermott strongly supports.
McDermott hopes to gain more support for this bill after Frank’s bill is marked up in the coming months by the House Financial Services Committee. If these bills are passed, it should make things much easier for online poker players in the United States.
Tags: barney frank, Internet gambling, Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act, Jim McDermott, legislation, uigea
Posted in Online Poker, Poker News | Comments Off
Friday, March 26th, 2010
I’ve been playing real money poker for years. However, although I enjoy the rush I get from playing money games I still enjoy free poker. Sure, it’s a great way for newbies to learn the rules of the game, strategies and tricks of the trade. But free poker games can be fun for everyone.
There are a couple of situations that I think free poker games are great in. For starters, sometimes you are simply in a money crunch. Everyone has bills to pay and when you just can’t afford playing real money games playing for free can be a great way to still enjoy the game and keep your skills up until you can build your poker bankroll up once again.
I also like to play free poker games when I learn about new poker strategies. For instance, if you’ve just learned about continuation betting (also known as the c-bet) it’s better not to try it out for the first time when you have real money on the line. Playing for free gives you a chance to try out these new skills, practice them and decide if you want to use them when playing for money.
There are all sorts of free poker games on the Web. You can play a Flash game against the computer or compete for fun against other real poker players from all over the world. Free poker isn’t just for beginners anymore!
Tags: Free Poker, poker bankroll, poker games, poker strategies, real money poker
Posted in Online Poker, Poker Tips | Comments Off
Friday, March 12th, 2010
When it comes to playing poker online a lot of players just don’t seem to know how to behave. From making rude comments in chat to being inattentive during game play, it’s amazing how many online poker players don’t adhere to the rules of poker etiquette. If you are new to playing poker online then it is important to follow certain etiquette rules. By sticking to the following rules you can ensure the best possible online poker experience, whether you are playing free poker or playing for real money.
The first rule of poker etiquette concerns the chat box. Many players think that because their opponents can’t see them they can take extra liberties and be downright rude when chatting during a poker game. It is important to keep your language clean-no swearing! Additionally, don’t be rude or poke fun at the other players in the game and never comment on how another player should play a hand. In other words, treat the other players as you would want to be treated.
Pacing is also an important part of online poker etiquette. You should make all your moves in a timely fashion to keep the game moving. The longer it takes you to decide to bet, call, fold or raise the longer the other players will have to wait for the game to move forward. Make advance actions when you can and avoid slowing down the game.
If you adhere to these simple rules of poker etiquette then you can make the game more pleasant for yourself and your opponents.
Tags: chat, etiquette, Free Poker, Online Poker, poker
Posted in Online Poker, Poker Tips | Comments Off
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Today in Florida a bill was filed that will potentially legalize online gambling within the state. The bill, named the Internet Poker Consumer Protection and Revenue Generation Act of 2010 (HB 1441), would ensure the protection of consumers while recognizing and regulating intrastate Internet poker sites.
The bill was filed by Florida’s democratic State Representative Joseph Abruzzo. Abruzzo expects the bill will generate over $200 million per year, as over 900,000 Floridians are estimated to gamble online. An additional source of tax revenue is vital in Florida, as the state is currently facing a deficit worth more than $3.2 billion. The bill also states that Florida would collect a fee of $500,000 from Internet poker operators in the state, as well as 20 percent of the sites’ monthly revenues. Online poker players must be at least 21 years old as well as present in the state of Florida while playing.
If HB 1441 is passed it will go into effect on July 1 of this year. Florida is not the only state that is considering passing pro-online poker legislation. The states of New Jersey, California and Iowa, as well as a number of other states, are also considering opening up to the idea of intrastate poker. Legalizing online poker is proving to be a great way to increase revenues during the country’s current economic troubles. I, for one, am interested to see how long it will be before online poker is legalized and regulated throughout the entire United States.
Tags: Florida, HB 1441, intrastate poker, legislation, Online Poker, poker
Posted in Online Poker, Poker News | Comments Off
Friday, February 26th, 2010
If you are new to the world of online poker then it can be a little intimidating. For starters, there are a huge number of online poker sites to choose from and it can be hard for a beginner to differentiate from the good and the bad. Aside from that, even the most experienced offline poker player can find it overwhelming getting used to playing poker on a computer screen, rather than at a table of friends with a real deck of cards.
Free poker is one of the best ways to ease yourself into the world of online poker. For starters, a free game of poker is a great way to figure out how the online poker interface works. You can play free instant games against the computer to get used to playing online before you even have to download software or commit to any one online poker site.
If you are new to poker in general, as well as to playing online, then a free game is a great way to learn the rules as well. You can try out several different poker variations to find out which games you like best and practice to improve your skills.
Once you have tested out the waters with a free game you will find that choosing an online poker room will be much less intimidating. You’ll know how poker software works and be ready to choose a site with an interface, as well as game selection, that suits your needs.
Tags: Free Poker, Online Poker, poker software, poker variations
Posted in Online Poker, Poker Tips | Comments Off
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
One of the best ways that you can immerse yourself in the world of poker tournaments, especially when you are new to tournament style games, is by entering online poker freerolls. Freerolls are tournaments that you can enter for free, without paying an entry fee, but you can still win great prizes.
Freeroll tournaments are usually offered by online poker rooms as promotions in order to attract new players. In addition to welcome bonuses on first deposits, many online poker rooms give all new real money players the option to compete in a welcome freeroll tournament for cash and prizes. Poker rooms also offer special freerolls for VIPs, loyal players and other customers.
Why are freerolls so great? When you play in a freeroll you have the opportunity to get used to playing tournament style poker games without risking your own money. In non-freeroll tournaments you have to pay an entry fee and it can be scary paying money to play in a tournament if you have never competed in this way before. A freeroll is a great way to get used to tournament poker and who knows – you may even win!
If you decide you enjoy tournament style games after playing in a few freeroll tournaments you can start to enter real money poker tournaments. Start out with low limit tourneys and up your limits as you begin to win more and more. You can find freerolls at most online poker rooms.
Tags: Free Poker, freeroll, freerolls, Online Poker, poker, Poker Tournaments, tournament
Posted in Online Poker, Poker Tournaments | Comments Off
Friday, January 29th, 2010
A lot of players are discouraged from playing poker games online because they don’t want to download poker software. These players may be concerned with viruses, run an operating system such as Mac or Linux that does not support casino software, play games on other people’s computers or just not feel comfortable downloading computer software from the Internet. If you are one of these players then you don’t have to write off online poker entirely. You can still play download-free with instant Flash poker games.
Instant poker games can be played online directly from your Web browser, with no download necessary. This means that you can play poker on any computer that is connected to the Internet. To start playing instant games at an online poker room all you have to do is create an account user name and password and you can log in from any computer to play your favorite poker games. Play against a computer or play against other real live players and poker enthusiasts from all over the world.
A lot of players think that instant poker games can be played only for fun. However, you can play these games for real money as well. Make a deposit at the online poker room where you want to play and you can play real money poker games from any computer. Instant poker games work with a wide range of operating systems and Web browsers.
Tags: Flash poker, instant poker, no download poker, poker software
Posted in Online Poker | Comments Off
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
In the world of online poker one of the biggest perks is the opportunity to play free poker games. When you play free poker online you have the amazing chance to practice and improve your skills without having to spend a dime.
When I first started playing poker online I made the mistake of jumping right in to the real money games. From my experience I can tell you that you should always play free games first. When you are first starting out playing poker online you not only have to familiarize yourself with the rules of the game, if you don’t know them already, but also with the software interface and the rhythm of online poker game play. Playing for free gives you the opportunity not only to learn and practice the rules of different poker variations but also to improve your strategy so that you can prepare yourself for real money gaming.
Where can you play free poker games online? Virtually every online poker website allows free gaming as well as real money poker games. You simply have to download the site’s poker software and choose the free game option. There are also sites that allow free instant Flash poker games where you can practice without having to download any software or provide any information at all.
The best advice I can give to any new online poker player is to start out with a free game. Practice, improve your skills and when you are ready you can win big playing real money poker games.
Tags: Free Poker, poker, poker online, practice, real money poker
Posted in Online Poker | Comments Off
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
One of the most frequently overlooked factors about playing poker online is deciding which table you will play at. Contrary to popular belief, not all poker tables are created equal. Once you’ve determined which poker variation you want to play and the stakes you want to play at you still may have your pick of 20 or more different tables you can join. So how do you decide which is the “right” table?
The list of tables in the poker lobby at most poker sites gives you specific details about each table. You can usually find out how many players have been at each table, how long the table has been filled, the size of the players’ stacks at each table, average pot size, the percentage of players seeing the flop and more.
As a rule of thumb, a table at which most players have small stacks and at which a large majority of players are seeing the flop will have more non-skilled players than a table with huge stacks. You’ll want to choose this table. If you are looking for a table of aggressive players then choose one with a large average pot size. However, be prepared for a challenge! If you are a great heads up player then try starting your own game. As soon as one more player joins you you’ll have the opportunity to show off your heads up skills.
Remember as well that you can usually enter a room and watch before you sit down to play. Size up the competition and decide whether or not this is the table for you.
Tags: poker, poker online, poker table
Posted in Online Poker, Poker Tips | Comments Off