"We will show you how to safely gamble, bet and play online."
B. Paul, Editor, Bonusgambler.com
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Which online poker sites are safe bets?
Almost 2 million people played online poker last month, translating to big money for the sites that host the virtual tables. Here's how to make sure the game is fair.
When Chris Moneymaker won the televised 2003 World Series of Poker after first wagering $39 in an online tournament, wannabe pro gamblers across the country turned to their own computers in hopes of repeating history. Greg "Fossilman" Raymer did just that in the 2004 championship game. Like Moneymaker, Raymer earned his ticket to the big time -- and millions in winnings -- by entering an online tournament. In fact, four of the top 10 finishers in the 2004 series were players from PokerStars.com.
If you play online, you could be going up against the likes of Moneymaker. Despite turning pro and writing a book about his experience, he says he still plays at least once a week at PokerStars. "I generally look for the games with the highest average pots and choose those", he says.
Luckily for you, more typical competitors are Darren and Hilary, online poker players who favor low-stakes games and have yet to score major winnings despite playing for a couple years: Hilary says she's about broken even, while Darren says he's lost all of the money he's wagered so far. But he considers it money well spent.
"I've probably logged a couple hundred hours and spent a couple hundred bucks", Darren says. "A buck an hour is pretty good entertainment for the money in my books".
A boost from televised poker
The fact that online gambling is generally considered illegal in the United States isn't dampening affection for the game among players like Hilary. Televised poker is now regularly broadcast during prime time on The Travel Channel, ESPN and Bravo, among other networks. An estimated 1.88 million people played online in February 2005 -- a 264% increase from a year earlier, according to Dennis Boyko, who tracks industry statistics at PokerPulse.com. And while growth seems to be leveling off, Boyko still thinks 100% year-over-year growth is possible from 2004 to 2005.
Like Darren, many players are drawn by the convenience of playing online. But the illegality and increasing number of sites to choose from have implications for the average player.
No guarantee
The poker Web sites are run from offshore locations such as Gibraltar or Costa Rica. Any regulation that does occur is mostly industry-driven, says Glenn McDonald, author of "Deal Me In! Online Cardrooms, Big Time Tournaments, and The New Poker". The trade organization Interactive Gaming Council (IGC), for example, has a code of conduct for member sites such as PartyPoker and Pacific Poker but it can do little more than yank a site's membership.
"For the new player, there's nothing much in the way of traditional guarantees", says McDonald. "When you (play) online, you're putting your trust in the capital markets system. But it's in (the poker sites') best interest to treat you right and they generally do, in my experience".
Source: BonusGambler.com Editors' Choice
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