When you play online poker, it is imperative that you protect your personal information. Some poker sites require you to submit your social security number, date of birth, and full name and address. The purpose of this is to ensure that you are who you say you are. Another good idea is to keep your IP PIN safe in case someone tries to impersonate you online.

Before playing for money, you should learn as much as you can about the game. Try playing different variations and games to determine what works best for you. Each type of poker has different strategies, different amounts of time required, and different stakes. If you are not yet comfortable playing for real money, join poker forums, such as the 2+2 forum. The best way to learn is to start with low stakes games. This will give you a feel for the different features and strategies.

Some online poker sites offer side games for real money. In these games, players can place side bets on poker hands to win real money. The odds of winning these side games are usually in the house’s favor. Some of these sites are associated with online casinos and integrate them into their software. These types of sites may offer more variety than you’d find at a brick-and-mortar casino.

Once you have found a poker site that suits your needs, you can register and fund your account. Most online poker sites allow deposit limits of $5 to $20. Some sites allow deposits as high as hundreds of dollars. You should also pay attention to the time it takes to clear your deposit. Some sites require minutes, while others can take weeks or months.