Online poker is a fun, exciting, intellectual game that rewards real skill unlike slots or the lottery. It’s accessible to anyone from anywhere with a decent Internet connection and can be played for as long or low stakes as you want. It also offers a variety of different bonuses and promotions to attract new players.

The top online poker sites are trustworthy, have a large selection of games and tournaments and enjoy a good amount of traffic. They aren’t afraid to spend a lot of money on advertising and will often match your initial deposit with free bonus money which can help you get started playing. They also offer a safe and secure payout process with some offering paper checks for withdrawals.

Poker is a game of skill over the long haul and top pros spend as much time studying the game as they do playing it. While the game is difficult to master, if you sign up for training at poker coaching sites like Chip Leader Coaching or Upswing Poker, network with successful pros and brutally analyze your play after every session you will improve.

Aside from its fun and entertainment value online poker is a great way to earn some extra cash. There are numerous sites that offer online poker, but only the best offer a safe, secure and trusted gambling experience. These sites will often be regulated by a recognized gaming authority and the funds of their players won’t be intermingled with operator or casino funds.

Some of the top rated online poker websites offer rakeback, which is a percentage of the rake taken from each pot that a player contributes to the site’s bankroll. Typically, this is returned to the players as bonus points that can be used to purchase cash or additional rake. This is a popular incentive for new players and can add up quickly to significant money.

Another thing to keep in mind when choosing an online poker site is how many tables it supports. While it’s possible for 20+ people to play at a single table in theory, most casinos/online poker sites limit their tables to around 10. Any more than this and hands can take forever to complete as each player has to act on each one of their cards.

Is poker rigged? This is a question that pops up quite a bit and the short answer is no. All legitimate poker sites use random number generators that are tested and certified to be fair by third-party companies. In addition, most of the legal US poker sites use fenced-in markets so that only players from specific states can play, which makes them in compliance with state regulations. These factors make poker online a completely safe and fair game for players to enjoy.