Onlinepoker

Online poker is poker, which is played online over the Internet. In so-called online poker rooms registered players can either fictitious play money or even for real money play.

Legal

The legality of online poker is questionable because of the possibility of real- money gaming in many jurisdictions. As a result, many providers of online poker companies have their headquarters in countries where the legal situation is unique and effective for them.

• Germany: The German criminal law permits operation of gambling in principle only with an appropriate license. Both the provision ( § 284 StGB ) and the participation (§ 285 StGB) in a game not approved in principle punishable, this also applies to online casinos. Online gambling is generally prohibited by the State Treaty on Gambling: Gambling Treaty: § 4 Section 4 " The organization and intermediation of public games of chance on the Internet is prohibited. "

• Austria: In Austria win2day is currently only allowed through the portal to play. Otherwise, valid according to the Federal Ministry of Finance: " The competitions as well as offering foreign or otherwise illegal gambling in Austria, as well as participation in foreign games of chance is from within the country - even electronically - not allowed"

• USA: since 13 October 2006 Money transfers are forbidden to online gambling sites. U.S. President George W. Bush signed a law ( Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act ) which was passed by Congress in early October. The law prohibits credit card companies, banks and payment services to transfer money to the residents mostly outside the U.S. gambling operators. Thus, players can place their bets and betting no more place online. Some platforms such as Party Poker and Titan Poker have since no American player more on their platforms. On April 15, 2011, in the poker community known as "Black Friday", the FBI has the pages Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and Absolute Poker in the U.S. blocked and the person responsible, inter alia, Accused of money laundering.

• Switzerland: In Switzerland, the provider of online poker will be punished. The penalties of Article 56, Section 1 of SBG is not subject to the player though, but it has to be expected that he invested or funds derived based on Article 70 of the Swiss Penal Code of December 21, 1937 ( Criminal Code, SR 311.0 ) in be confiscated criminal proceedings against the provider.

Partial circumvention of the ban on advertising

Due to the complicated legal situation and usually associated advertising ban many poker sites operate their own play money pages. The play money pages serve to make potential players on the pages carefully, especially as the advertising is forbidden for real money sites. However, the difference is marginal. So usually the net pages are the play money versions, while it is the real money pages in the com pages..

Advantages over traditional poker

Previously, the traditional poker was played in casinos. For this it is hardly worth while, however, to offer poker, so the more profitable slot machines were frequently positioned. For an online casino, however, poker is more profitable because not incur high fixed costs for personnel and facilities and a larger number of gaming tables can be offered. Thus, the much lower minimum bets will be compensated.

For the players, the rules are easier to learn than in a casino because the software supports the players by indicating, for example, who must set next. Due to the faster flow at cards give and the allocation of the pot more games per hour are possible. The IP addresses can be checked whether players play together in a household.

The biggest poker rooms offer online tournaments in which you can qualify for poker tournaments in the real World Series of Poker or World Tour. In 2003, Chris Moneymaker qualified by such an online excretion to the " main event " of the WSOP, which he then won. At the final table were four players who had qualified through online poker rooms. Greg " Fossilman " Raymer, winner in 2004, also qualified online.

Special Dangers of Online Poker

The observation of the enemy, an essential part of traditional poker, is not possible in online casinos. This eliminates an essential component of the game, the game could be crucial.

On the Internet, a variety of analysis tools in the form of software are available. This can be parallel to the software clients of the best known providers install. The analysis programs have after installing the game play of running games and provide real-time example statistical analysis of the running game, to proposals for action to the current game situation. Internet players are unable to determine whether computer programs called bots participate in a relevant number at online poker. In human opponents is also the risk that they deny, for example, in chat.

Otherwise there are the same risks as in the classic poker, but due to the higher game speed and constant availability of online casinos to a greater extent. Then there is the lack of verification of the player's emotional or physical state as it would be visible in a traditional casino by the employees. The higher speed in online games can also tempt to ill actions.

The operators of online casinos can legally usually not be prosecuted because they often have their headquarters abroad. Both the provision ( § 284 StGB ) and the participation (§ 285 StGB ) to non-state- approved gambling is banned in Germany and can be tracked.

Influence on the proliferation of poker

The many online poker rooms have significantly contributed to the popularity of poker has increased worldwide and significantly more poker players are active today than at times when there was no online poker. In addition to spectacular successes such as effects from the success of Chris Moneymaker at the World Series of Poker 2003 on the boom. This poker boom ultimately led to the fact that the turnover of online poker rooms in 2003 already amounted to 34 million U.S. dollars a month. By December 2006, the profit to 100 million U.S. dollars is estimated month. Texas Hold'em is currently the most played form of poker online.

Rake

Poker rooms make money by it withheld from each pot played as in " real" casinos a certain amount (usually 5% to max. $ 5). This amount is called the "rake ". In some poker rooms it is sufficient for a " raked hand " if you get tickets while you have to be involved in the other pot.

Some providers pay a portion of the fees to the players back; This repayment is called rakeback.

Currency

By the year 2011, the common currency was the dollar in online poker. Even today, the dollar is the most common currency in the international providers. In addition, the euro has established in order to distinguish the players from Europe of the U.S. players can. This was necessary because the American players from many vendors due to the legal situation in the United States had to be excluded from the game.

Bonus

In order to attract new players to entice providers with bonuses. As a rule, the player gets an amount between 5 and 150 "real" dollars. This amount he must, however, free to play, which means that he can really have the money only when he hat.In in a similar level fees, the rake generated the golden era of online poker between 2004 and 2009 were enormous sums in put the players extraction and it was not paid attention to a sufficient repayment by the players. This was by many players - specifically exploited - so-called bonus whores. To this end, there have been errors in the bonus systems of providers, which allowed players to earn huge sums of bonus money.