The recent COVID-19 pandemic, which has shut down most live gaming venues worldwide, has resulted in a significant spike in online poker traffic. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, unlicensed gaming establishments have ceased operations, leaving many people with limited options for live entertainment. As a result, casual players have flocked to online poker as an alternative. Online poker has increased in popularity and many operators have reported double-digit growth in their traffic, indicating an increase in the number of new players as well as their current player base.
In contrast to live games, players who play online poker see a lot more hands than they would in a live game. This means that they can observe improbable bad beats and large pots more often. Some players have claimed that the online poker games are prone to insider cheating, when a player has access to the system, without the knowledge of site administrators. As a result, players often suffer from bad beats that they could have easily avoided in a live game.
If you’re new to the game of online poker, the first step in mastering the basics is to try out different games. Start with low stakes and learn how to play various poker games. Practice games on low stakes, as they’re soft and you’ll be able to learn the game better without being dominated by more experienced players. Try different variants and forums to test your skills. Online poker training sites will also offer free games that you can play for practice.