Online Poker is a popular game of skill that can be highly addictive. Players can play for fun or for real money. Despite hiccups, such as the Black Friday incident of 2011, many players still see the future of online poker as bright.
Unlike disordered gambling, which often leads to financial and emotional problems, the dedicated focus on developing poker expertise in these participants did not lead to psychological harm (Newall 2018). Participants reported that the high levels of engagement with online poker were outweighed by the personal development opportunities it provided.
Another interesting aspect of online poker is that it does not have the same offline physical limitations as a live game. This means that it can be played around the world by players from different countries. This allows for a global competition where players are competing against each other, rather than their local peers.
Several studies have used qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate the nature of poker expertise. Qualitative analyses have found that poker expertise is a result of both experience and practice. Quantitative analyses have also found that poker expertise is a function of both knowledge and skill.
In the world of online poker, the main players are PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. There are also more than a dozen other poker sites that are part of larger networks. These independent doorways or “skins” are not as heavily trafficked as the major poker rooms. This is because most players prefer to play at a site that has a large player base and offers tournaments on a regular basis.