Online poker is a game of strategy and chance. It’s not a game that is for everyone, but if you have the right mindset and are disciplined, you can earn real money by playing online poker for fun or for cash.

Getting started in online poker is easy. All you need to do is sign up for an account with a reputable poker site, verify your identity and provide some basic personal information. Once that is done, you can deposit using a credit card or other methods. Some poker sites also offer e-wallets, electronic banking apps and player-to-player transfers. These types of transactions can take longer than credit cards and may have limits that prevent large withdrawals.

The rules of online poker are the same as those at your local casino, but players use a different set of skills to compete online. This is because they are not able to read physical tells. This makes it important to use tools that help you analyze your opponents and identify leaks in your game.

Online poker isn’t legal in every state, but many of them have passed laws to regulate the industry. Nevada was the first to legalize it, and now New Jersey and Delaware are on the verge of doing so too. If these lawmakers — or an online poker lobbying organization like the now-defunct Poker Players Alliance — can educate other members of state legislatures and gambling regulators, more states could follow suit and allow legalized online poker.