by Silent66

Created on: December 10, 2008

Is it possible to make money playing online poker? If you know where to look and enjoy the game, it is definitely something to look into. With so many poker sites allowing you to bring the poker table into the privacy of your own home, it is no wonder that the game is as huge as it is. From beginners to seasoned players, there is no better way to gain experience than to actually play the game. By taking away the initial intimidation of sitting down at a table, the target audience has increased exponentially.

A lot of people, like myself, start as casual players looking to learn more about the strategies involved with poker. Its on television all the time, and part of its draw is that anyone can learn to play. You don't have to have a 42" vertical or be able to throw a football 60 yards to be able to compete at a high level in the poker world. Join a poker room on Yahoo or sign up at any number of sites and you can start experiencing the game and even compete for cash prizes.

Most sites allow both playing for fun as well as for actual money, although you don't always have to open an account and deposit money in order to play for cash. Some sites, such as Pureplay, will allow you to compete in "freeroll" tournaments for cash prizes ranging from $10 up to $50 or more. That is where I first was able to win some actual money, although it was not a lot, I did actually receive some checks. Now keep in mind that there are a decent amount of people on these sites with the same goal, but if you frequent these sites and put in a few of hours of "play" per week, you will find yourself at final tables more than you think.

In addition to freeroll tournaments that don't cost you anything, some sites charge an optional monthly membership fee that will allow you access to tournaments with larger payouts. Once again, they don't have to cost money to enter, and in most cases are entered by spending "points" that you earn on the site.

By going this route you can avoid the the smoke, the cost, the and intimidation that comes with an actual casino. However, after some experience with these virtual poker rooms you will be anxious to test your skills at an actual casino. My heart was pounding when I was about to win my first hand of poker at an actual table!

The cool thing about this game is that it can be a casual hobby that doesn't have to drain your wallet or occupy all your time. As you gain more experience, you might discover that you have a talent that you never knew existed. Who knows? We could be watching you on tv someday, playing at your own final table.

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