Online Poker in Connecticut

Despite the federal government’s recent move to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, Connecticut is still trying to figure out how to get online poker off the ground. The state has flirted with a bill to regulate online poker for a while, but has yet to see anything materialize. In May of 2021, Governor Ned Lamont signed HB 6451 into law. It does not specifically mention online poker, but it does not prohibit mobile play. HB 6451 is the seventh US state to regulate online poker.

When the federal government repealed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, many states immediately looked to rewrite their laws to ensure that online gambling is legalized. Connecticut was one of the states that flirted with the idea, and HB 6451 is the product of that flirtation.

Connecticut has only a few million residents, which makes it one of the smaller markets for online poker. This could be an issue if the state is unable to attract operators. However, with the state’s recent signing of HB 6451 into law, it’s possible that the state could soon become a hotbed for the burgeoning online gambling industry.

The law also allows states to enter multi-state agreements and create shared networks of player pools. This is an important feature for Connecticut’s online poker market. Combined player pools could be larger than individual states and provide an opportunity for operators to build up a bigger player pool.

Connecticut’s small population may put the launch of online poker in the state on the backburner. However, the state may eventually get the opportunity to enter into shared liquidity agreements with other states. This could lead to an interesting market.

In the meantime, Connecticut’s legislature is still waiting for the final ruling from the Department of Justice on the Wire Act’s ambiguous reversal. It’s also possible that HB 6451 will be postponed, leaving the state’s online poker market without a regulated option for another year. In the meantime, the state’s online poker operators may choose to build two sites and try to combine their players pools with those of other states. In the meantime, Connecticut may be able to reap the benefits of online poker’s most lauded feature, shared liquidity.

The aforementioned Hold’em Manager 3 is a good example of an online poker software tool. The program overlays an online poker table with real-time stats and shows the number of times opponents fold. It also provides advanced techniques and displays equity and variance.

The best online poker software also displays the number of flops, antes, and other details of each hand. These are useful statistics, and could be used to make the right decisions. However, you don’t want to blindly follow the best hands. Instead, you should spread your money around and play a wide variety of games. It’s also a good idea to understand the basics of starting hands. You don’t want to be the only player with a pair of jacks.