Online poker is a great way to play your favorite game from the comfort of your home. The rules of the game are easy to grasp, and you can practice your skills on free sites before you start playing for real money. Once you feel comfortable enough, you can move up to real-money games with confidence. However, it is important to manage your bankroll carefully and not go broke playing online poker. The best way to do this is to set a budget, understand poker as entertainment and not a money-making opportunity, monitor your wins and losses, and play within your means. This will allow you to enjoy the game without unnecessary financial stress.

When you’re ready to play for real money, you’ll need to create a user account on the poker site. This typically requires providing some personal information and a valid email address. Some sites may also require identification documents for verification purposes. Once you’ve successfully registered, you can deposit and withdraw funds with a variety of secure methods. Licensed operators frequently offer mobile poker applications for iOS and Android devices in states where online poker is legal.

You can play at a number of different online poker sites, including those owned by large corporations such as PartyPoker and PokerStars. You can also find small regional sites that offer more community-oriented games and tighter player communities. Regardless of the type of poker site you choose, make sure to read reviews and choose a site with a user-friendly interface and secure banking options.

Once you’ve created an account, you can start playing for real money by selecting a tournament or cash game. Some of these sites have a special section dedicated to this type of activity, while others have tournaments and cash games in their main lobby. Choosing the right online poker game for you will depend on your skill level and your preferences. Some people love to play high-stakes, while others prefer more casual tables.

The most important thing to remember when playing online poker is that it’s a game of ups and downs. It’s easy to get emotional about bad beats and lose a huge chunk of your bankroll, but it’s important to keep things in perspective. A good way to do this is to view your progress over months and years, rather than weeks or days.

In 2003, a 27-year-old accountant named Chris Moneymaker qualified for the World Series of Poker Main Event through a $40 satellite tournament, earning him $2.5 million. The story was a sensation and sparked an online poker boom. However, this growth has since stalled.

Online poker isn’t likely to be legalized on a federal level in the immediate future, but there are plenty of states that have made it legal to play. Nevada was the first to do so, and the first sites began launching in November 2013. New Jersey and Delaware have also passed laws that allow for their residents to play.