Before you can play online poker, you should know what you’re getting yourself into. Online poker sites invest the money of their players to help them earn profit, and the regulations governing the industry limit the risks they can take with this money. These investments are generally low risk, but they still provide the site with an income. For this reason, they don’t have to pay interest to players on their bankrolls. Consequently, they can earn a significant profit.

However, playing low stakes is a great way to get a feel for the game. While it is tempting to play for larger stakes if you have $1,000 to spend, you should always make sure that you can beat your current stakes. Alternatively, if you’ve had a few profitable cash sessions and have a high ROI, you may want to move up to a higher stakes level. Be careful though, as not all online poker sites allow you to use tracking software, but you should try to find a site that allows you to monitor your progress with heads-up displays.

Another advantage to online poker over live games is that you can play multiple games at the same time. Unlike live poker, online poker platforms will notify you when it’s your turn to act. The only drawback to playing live is that you may have to deal with rude players yelling at you if you hold up the game. That’s why you should be patient and dedicated to learning the game. The benefits of online poker are incalculable and well worth the effort.