If you believe what Celebrity Apprentice Joan Rivers says, poker players are “beyond white trash.” But I think there are millions of people who would beg to differ. In fact, poker is incredibly popular at the moment and so are those who play it professionally. This is evidenced by the fact that poker players like Scotty Nguyen, Phil Gordon, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow and many others have achieved huge celebrity status in recent years.
Poker’s star-making ability has inspired many to try to make a living on on-line poker websites. Some have actually been very successful and as a result, poker has created a whole new wave of Internet millionaires. These successful poker players are sometimes surprising, because there are almost as many teenagers and people in their early-twenties as there are seasoned professionals. Unfortunately, for every new batch of successful poker players, there are also those who have been victims of online poker scams. These scams befall mostly new players, because they are lured by the promise of big money and don’t do their homework first.
To make sure you don’t fall into this same trap, the following points can help you determine whether a site is a scam:
- If the site doesn’t look professional, don’t play there. Low-quality construction could be the sign of a quick-buck artist at work or at the very least, a cash-strapped operator.
- Check if the site or its owners are members of the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC). IGC members agree to adhere to a code of ethics.
- Make sure the site has 24-hour support with a toll-free phone number and e-mail.
- If a site passes the first three requirements, do several small test transactions before you do any major gambling. These will reveal a lot about the integrity of the site.
Every poker player got his or her start somewhere, so with some luck and a lot of skill and practice, you too could become one of online poker’s new stars. Just be sure to do your due diligence first, so any success you achieve won’t be spoiled by regret.
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