Online poker is gaining momentum in the United States. Connecticut and West Virginia have already legalized the practice. However, more states are considering legislation to regulate online poker. This means that despite their vehement opposition to online poker, more states could follow their lead and legalize the practice. If you’re in the market to play online poker, here are some things you should know about the legality of the game. Listed below are some of the pros and cons of online poker.

Speed: Online poker is faster than live poker. While live poker does not have a time limit, online games are much faster. Therefore, you’ll have more hands to play. Moreover, online poker is available on a variety of devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. You can play poker from the comfort of your own home, or even on the go. The main advantage of online poker is that it is available anytime and anywhere.

Age: To play poker, you should be at least 18 years old or the legal age in your jurisdiction. You might be required to verify your age with an identity verification process. To avoid getting caught, you should also know that online poker sites are not allowed to accept players who are under the age of 18.

Tools and programs: Some online poker sites have banned or restricted players from using software for tracking their play. Many of these tools include heads-up displays, situational hand charts, and hand history data software. Many players have been using such software for years. However, some sites are cracking down on this practice. You should know your rights and don’t be intimidated by the use of such software. It’s all about the safety of you and your money!

Laws and regulations: New York is unlikely to legalize online poker for real money until 2022. Online poker in NY is popular among state lawmakers, and legislations have been introduced year after year since 2014. In 2017, a bill was passed by the State Senate, but failed to get passed by the House. The DOJ’s position is that it is illegal to conduct sports betting on the Internet. Several legal experts dispute this assertion. The industry has continued to grow and evolve despite the threat of legislation.

Internet gaming: While Illinois has recently passed laws legalizing internet casino sites, the same cannot be said for online poker. Many unregulated online poker sites operate outside of Illinois. This means that they aren’t subject to the same standards as regulated online gambling in Illinois. There’s also no way to verify the legitimacy of the companies operating in the state. In the meantime, it’s important to keep in mind the legality of Illinois online poker sites before participating in the game.

Mobile Poker Apps: Many online poker sites offer apps for iOS and Android. To play real money, download the appropriate mobile poker app. Promotional sweepstakes websites generally don’t have mobile poker apps, but their sites do have an optimized version of their site for mobile devices. However, it’s important to keep in mind that online poker apps are graphics-intensive and can’t support multi-tabling. Thus, mobile devices are largely unsuitable for playing online poker.