The Poker Alliance is a non-profit lobby group that represents the interests of poker players in the United States. Founded in response to threats to ban online poker in the US, the Poker Alliance has grown to have more than one million members. Over the years, the Alliance has evolved its efforts to meet the evolving needs of the industry.
Legality of online poker in the United States
The legality of online poker in the United States is a hot topic in the gaming world. Many states have enacted laws to make online poker illegal, but the laws are not universal. While states are not required to ban poker, they may have specific requirements for allowing it. In some states, you may need to register to be allowed to play.
While there are some exceptions to the UIGEA, online poker is legal in most states. Because different states have different gambling laws, not all states allow online poker. In addition, US federal law prohibits the movement of funds for gambling across state lines, so in order to play poker online, players must be in the same state. Because of this, operators of online poker sites must make sure that all players are located within the same state to avoid violating the law.
Origins of online poker
The first versions of online poker games began in the early nineties during discussions on IRC (Internet Relay Chat). These games were played only with text, with the chatbot managing the game and players entering text commands to participate in the game. Later, the introduction of graphics-based clients made online poker games much more accessible, with graphical representations of cards, wagers, and player positions. Players played with play money, not real money.
While there are no reliable origins for the game, some historians speculate that online poker originated in China, where the game was known as “domino cards” during the eighth century. The game is closely related to the game of dominoes, and some historians believe that the first online poker games were played on Chinese New Year’s Eve.
Origins of Bovada Poker
Bovada Poker has a long and illustrious history in the online gambling industry. The online poker room was originally launched in 2004 and later expanded into other areas. In 2011, the company decided to cater to US players and added a casino. In the years since, the casino has grown dramatically, offering dozens of table games, slot machines, and specialty games. The casino portion of Bovada is owned by the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group. While the name of the founder, Calvin Ayre, is no longer attached to the site, the online poker site has remained open worldwide.
The gaming selection at Bovada is diverse, with more than 250 games, including blackjack, baccarat, and video poker. The casino’s software is from the well-established Realtime Gaming company. This allows for a variety of betting options, including no limit Texas Hold’em, and heads-up games. Bovada also offers a variety of special promotions and bonuses for high-volume depositors.
Legality of online poker in New Jersey
New Jersey legalized internet poker in 2013 when Governor Chris Christie signed a bill allowing land-based casinos to apply for an online gaming license. In order to obtain a gaming license, a land-based casino must partner with an operator or vendor that offers iGaming software, and it must pay a nonrefundable deposit of $100,000. These funds will be allocated toward the $400,000 cost of a gaming license.
New Jersey is one of five states that have approved online poker. At this point, there are six New Jersey-licensed online poker sites, which were among the first to open for business in November 2013. However, some of these sites have closed their doors in the past few months, and some new powerhouses have emerged.