Many online poker sites offer bonuses to new players. You should read the terms and conditions of the bonuses carefully before you deposit any money. Usually, these bonuses require you to play a certain number of hands or earn points. In addition, keep in mind that online poker regulation is evolving. In some states, online poker is still illegal.
First, you should make sure that you are of legal betting age. This is often done by verifying your age with an online service. You should also ensure that you have an active account with the online poker operator of your choice. To do this, you may need to provide your social security number and date of birth. After you provide this information, you can play real money online poker. However, you should be aware that playing real money online requires a steady flow of cash.
There are few regulated online poker sites in the US, but their number is growing. In addition to that, it is easier to deposit money on these sites than it used to be. You can also make withdrawals using cheques or wire transfers. However, the amount you can withdraw may vary, so make sure you read the terms and conditions of the site before you deposit money.
The next step in online poker is to download poker software. This software is usually small and does not take a long time to download. There are also no-download versions available for some sites, but these games do not provide the same features as the full download version.