Fans of online poker in the US have had a rough ride over the last few years when it comes to enjoying the game legally – but could that all be about to change?
By: John Woods
As it stands, online poker is only allowed in four of the fifty states of the US: Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, and, most recently, Pennsylvania. Unlike the former three, the legalization of this practice in the state of Pennsylvania marks a significant turning point for the industry.
With a population of around 13 million, the Keystone State has more residents than the other three states combined. Moreover, the development of video poker and virtual reality casino technology is transforming the industry, creating new ways for players to enjoy the game from the comfort of their homes.
With this in mind, 2020 is lining up to be an exciting year for real money online poker in the US, and fans of the game potentially have many things to look forward to.
Nationwide Online Poker Legalization
Conservative attitudes towards online poker and online gambling are the reason why so few states in the country have yet to legalize it. When compared to our tea-sipping friends in the UK who’ve been reaping the benefits of this practice offers for several years, the US is trailing behind by a considerable margin.
The revenues generated by the game are forcing many state members to question why prohibition has not yet been overturned. For example, New Jersey, a state of only 8 million people, last year generated $12.74 million from online poker alone.
We’ll have to wait for Pennsylvania’s revenue figures to be released at the end of 2020 for certainty but, from the population number alone, you would imagine that they would be significantly higher. It’s only a matter of time before other states start to realize just how much money there is to be made from legalization.
Enhanced Technology
Online poker, unlike traditional poker, offers players the advantage of convenience. In this game, they can play wherever and whenever they want without ever having to step out of the house. In the past, this convenience was offered as a substitute for the realism that comes from playing poker in a live casino, but now those lines of division are blurring.
With live dealer poker, players can communicate with real-life dealers as they play. This adds a social aspect that allows the player to indulge in friendly conversation with another person as they play out their hands. Though it may seem trivial, this addition adds a whole new dimension to the game that makes it much more entertaining than traditional online poker.
Furthermore, 2019 saw significant advances in the development of virtual reality online casinos. Now that the cost of virtual reality headsets is decreasing, more people can access the tools needed to enter the virtual realm. Naturally, online casinos are starting to recognize the potential involved and have begun investing heavily in the development of virtual reality casino games.
In virtual online poker, players will be able to take part in hyper-realistic poker games with other players from across the world. Though still in its early stages, we can expect to see the virtual reality online casino start to take off mid-2020 with online poker leading the charge.
Online Player Incentives
One of the best things about a competitive marketplace from a customer’s perspective is that many incentives are offered in an attempt to win business. Should online poker become more widely available, the number of bonuses provided by online casinos to attract players will increase as a result.
If existing welcome bonuses are anything to go by, online poker players stand to make a considerable amount of cash from these promotions. As well as making the game much more interesting, these incentives allow online payers to practice their skills and build up their bankroll as they learn the ropes. Then, when they are ready to play with the pros, they have everything they need to move forward.
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About John Woods:
John is a professional copywriter with seven years of experience creating gripping content for a wide variety of audiences. His work has been published on UC Today, OUSC, No Jitter, and InGenius. He’s a versatile writer who specializes in the fields of technology, cloud communications, as well as gaming and online casinos. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching football, playing guitar, and trying to learn Spanish.
