Several other countries have legal online poker, but the United States is the only one to ban it. In many states, online gambling is illegal, and in others, it’s regulated. Until recently, the only option for American players was to play on foreign-based platforms. But the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many live gaming venues to close worldwide.

Connecticut recently became the seventh US state to legalize online poker. In May, Governor Ned Lamont signed HB 6451 into law. It’s not the first time Connecticut has flirted with online gambling, though. In the past, Connecticut’s lawmakers have tried to pass a bill that would allow online casinos to open in the state.

But the legislation was blocked by financial institutions. These institutions would not permit the transactions between a bank and a gambling site. That’s why the state had to enter an agreement with two Indian tribes.

Now that the legislation is finally passed, lawmakers are looking at a path for interstate poker. If Connecticut enters a shared liquidity agreement with other states, this could be an interesting market.

Several online poker rooms accept cryptocurrency as a deposit and withdrawal method. This is a good thing because it allows users to avoid having to use a central financial institution. Also, several poker sites allow players to convert funds at a lower premium than banks.

Online poker websites can now check the computer IP addresses of players. This is helpful for detecting players who have been banned. In addition, digital device fingerprinting allows the sites to recognize and block new accounts.