Online poker is a fun and exciting game to play. It requires a little bit of skill, but it’s a great way to make some money. The best way to get started is to sign up with an online poker site. Most of the sites offer a large sign-up bonus. You can choose from a free bonus to one that’s as much as $1,000.

When you’re first signing up with an online poker site, you’ll need to provide your name, date of birth, and a social security number. Some sites will also require you to provide a utility bill or other document to prove your address. This verification is to protect the player’s account. If a site detects that you are using a fake name, you can be banned from the site.

Most poker sites will offer a free $10 to $500 sign-up bonus. To get the bonus, you must play at least a few hands. However, most bonuses are released based on how often you earn frequent player points. So, you’ll need to make sure you play a lot during the first few weeks of your new account.

There are two types of online poker cash games: “ring” and “Sit & Go.” Ring games are played for a certain amount of money. Depending on how many players are in the game, you can deal up to 60 hands per hour. Shorthanded games deal even more.

Another benefit of playing online poker is that you can make a deposit into your account instantly. You can use credit cards, debit cards, e-checks, bank transfers, and third-party eWallets. These deposits will be matched by the site at 100%, up to a maximum. And, most withdrawals are processed quickly.

Several states in the US allow legal online poker, including Nevada, Delaware, Washington, and California. Although Pennsylvania hasn’t passed a law yet, it’s expected to join the combined player pool when it becomes legal. In the meantime, there are third-party sites that operate in the state.

Online poker isn’t as taxing on the computer’s memory as some other gambling games, such as blackjack. It’s generally quicker to play than live poker, but your results may vary. A poker player with a 5% win rate can make $24 per hour, while a casino player with the same win rate can make under $4.

Poker software allows you to play in cash games and tournaments. It has hand histories stored, so you can view previous statistics for players you know. Also, it displays odds for each hand. For instance, if you’re dealt a flush, you can check to see whether you have a better or worse hand than someone else. Often, if you have a better hand, you will be able to steal more pots than you would if you had a bad hand.

If you’re interested in playing real money poker, there are a number of apps for iPhones, Android devices, and tablets. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll need to download the poker software. After you’ve done that, you’ll need to verify your identity by providing a utility bill, a government ID, or another document.