When it comes to online poker, players have more choices than ever before. Real money games are regulated in a number of markets, and the best sites use random number generators to ensure that results are fair. Players can deposit and withdraw funds securely, and the top operators have great customer service and payouts.

But it’s important to understand that real money online poker is not for everyone. Especially if you’re just starting out, it’s not a good idea to invest too much capital in this game of chance – many players lose more than they win, so be sure to play within your bankroll limits.

There are also a number of ways to play online poker for free, including downloadable software and browser-based platforms. Most of these websites offer free play games that are indistinguishable from their real money counterparts, while some of them even run sweepstakes and club or app-based games that resemble private, real money clubs.

If you’re interested in playing for real money, the first step is to find a site that offers your preferred banking methods. Most operators accept credit and debit cards, while others support a variety of other digital payment options. These include eWallets like PayPal and Skrill, as well as mobile payment services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Some of these are convenient to use because they allow you to link a card to your web wallet, making it easy to make quick transactions from any device.

Regulated, white market real money online poker is available in a number of countries around the world. For example, Ontario, Canada has a regulated monopoly for its iGaming, but players can also access international gray market operators such as GGPoker and PokerStars. The benefit of white market real money online poker is that you can play against players from all over the world, which can give you a more diverse experience than simply playing in your home country.

In black market countries, where regulated real money online poker isn’t available, the landscape is more complicated. Some states have passed laws banning the game, while others have opted for partial legalization, leaving a grey market that’s rife with loopholes and ambiguity. For this reason, some of the biggest players have withdrawn from the industry altogether in black markets like the United States and Russia.

For those players, the best option is to stick with regulated, white market real money online poker. These sites will be licensed in your jurisdiction, use a random number generator to ensure that games are fair, and use reliable banking systems to keep player deposits and withdrawals safe. They’ll also use proper security measures to prevent hackers from breaching their servers and stealing player information. In addition, they’ll have to abide by strict betting and gambling age regulations. In contrast, gray market iGaming is unregulated and often illegal in some regions of the world, so players must take care to research any potential operator carefully.