Online Poker is a game of cards played over the Internet that allows players from different parts of the world to compete in real-time. The game is similar to live casino poker in that the players bet with real money and can win cash prizes. However, online poker is a lot more popular than traditional casino games because of its convenience and accessibility. It can be played on any computer with an internet connection.

The first virtual poker sites were launched in the late 1990s and exploded in popularity after Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 World Series of Poker. This victory shook the poker world and triggered the “poker boom”. The growth of unregulated online poker in the United States was not without setbacks, however. In 2006, Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which forced many of the larger sites to withdraw from the U.S market. Despite this setback, the industry continued to grow.

Many people have questions about the integrity of Online Poker, and some even claim that the game is rigged. However, if the games were rigged in some way, then players would never be able to make money from the game and it would no longer be enjoyable. This is why the integrity of online poker is so important to its success.

Online Poker sites differ from traditional casinos in that they allow players to play multiple tables at a time and to wager money using virtual chips instead of physical cash. These virtual chips can be purchased with real cash or through a virtual wallet, and players can swap them for their winnings at the end of the game. In addition, players can use the virtual wallet to make rebuys and add-ons to their existing bets.

Another difference between online and live poker is that online players can bet on more than one hand at a time, whereas in a live game this is typically prohibited. In addition, online poker rooms often have collusion detection features that are not present in brick and mortar casinos. These features can include examining the history of a player’s betting patterns and blocking players at known open proxy servers.

The limits of Online Poker are significantly lower than the table limits of a live casino, with some online cardrooms offering stakes as low as $.01-$.02. This is because the margin of profit for a cardroom is much smaller than that of a traditional casino.

In addition to these differences, Online Poker offers several additional features that are not found in a live casino, such as multi-way pots and the ability to use huds. Additionally, online cardrooms allow players to choose from a variety of different tournament formats and have a more diverse player base than live casinos.