Many of the top poker sites offer a variety of promotions and bonuses, especially for new players. Some have stipulations like earning points through betting or playing a certain number of hands before you can cash out your bonus, so it’s important to read the terms and conditions carefully before you deposit any money.

Poker is a game of strategy and mathematics, not just luck. The best players invest a lot of time and money to improve their skills. They take online courses and enroll in the best poker training programs. Some of these are free, but paid courses offer the most valuable information.

Some people prefer to play live poker, but a huge percentage of the world’s poker players now play online. Winning real money is one of the main reasons why people choose to play poker. The game rewards actual skill unlike slots or the lottery, and it can be played anywhere with an Internet connection.

Regulation of online poker is constantly changing. After a flurry that saw three states (New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware) regulate the activity in 2013, it was all put on hold when the Obama administration’s DOJ tried to reinterpret the Wire Act.