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Full Tilt PokerOnline poker is set up to simulate a real poker room. Players log in to their personal accounts and gain access to the poker lobby. From there they select a table to play at. Poker rooms split their lobby up between cash games and tournaments. Tables are broken down into specific poker games, and other than Texas Hold 'em, you will find Omaha, Stud and Razz poker games. Some poker websites feature a mixed tournament known as H.O.R.S.E that features all of the games combined into one and alternate every blind.
Players personalize their profile with a custom avatar. Avatars are usually a small icon that can represent them, but some poker websites feature advanced avatars. Full Tilt Poker allows players to choose human and animal characters that can express emotion. PKR's poker room is a full 3-D, where custom created players sit at tables and play. -
Online poker is played mostly with a mouse. Players can see their chip count, other players' chip counts and the amount of money that is in the pot. During hands, there are preset buttons that players can select to fold, raise or call a hand or they can wait until it is their turn. Poker programs keep stats for every player, so they can see how they are progressing and how many hands they have won and played. Extensive hand history is also logged for players to look back and study hands that they have played.
- There are dozens of online poker rooms available, but two of the most popular are Absolute Poker and Full Tilt Poker. Other popular poker programs include Bodog Life, PKR, Party Poker, Doyle's Room, PokerStars, Oddsmaker and Hollywood Poker. Most of the online poker programs feature the same basic functions but have different graphic layouts to suit players' needs. For example, Bodog Life uses a simple poker system that relies on quick play and less graphics. Oddsmaker uses animations so that players can interact during and in between hands.
- Offshore websites and companies are what have made online poker available to the United States public. Due to the location, United States players were enabled to gamble legally on the websites. After the 2003 World Series of Poker, online poker saw a huge jump in participation. In 2006, the United States government passed an Anti-Online Gambling Act to try and cut the use of online poker. Poker websites were affected for a while, but now they have found loopholes through the law and U.S. players are enabled to play again.
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Online poker features real gambling, so players have the potential to win hundreds and thousands of dollars. Players can deposit using a credit card, Echeck or by sending a check or money order directly to the company. The account is credited with the amount of money and players are free to gamble it for as little or as much as they would like. Players can cash out using the same methods that they cashed in with, and most poker websites offer instant payments.
Players can use online poker programs to play without depositing by using a "Play Money" poker table. These tables feature the same things that a real one does except no money is involved. You can also participate in "Free Roll" tournaments that are free to enter but feature cash prizes.
