While the federal government wrestles over the US poker legalization question and internationally-based poker sites scramble to figure out how to hold onto their largest market share without getting arrested, the governments of certain states in the US have been taking matters into their own hands. That’s because they noticed that the controversial UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) of 2006 prohibiting real money online gambling for US customers says absolutely nothing about states offering online gambling within their own jurisdictions.

Several states have now passed legal intrastate gambling, usually with the support of both the state’s governor and its Congress. At first, there was some question about how the US Justice Department would react to such boldness, but now that it appears the DOJ has no intention of stepping on states’ toes if they want to legalize and regulate online poker and other online gambling within their own state (making an announcement after Christmas of 2011 that only intrastate online sports betting was against the law), the gates are open to a whole new face on online poker in the USA, from Nevada to D.C..

Washington, DC and Nevada are the farthest along in online gambling legalization within their own states’ borders. Nevada, the likeliest state to spearhead this movement as it’s already the United States’ biggest gaming hub, intends to start issuing licenses to set up intrastate online poker businesses as of 2013, next year, while DC has just recently passed such legislation and plans to implement are still in the works.

Analysts expect states like Iowa, California, New Jersey and Florida may not be far behind, as lawmakers and / or lobbyists in these states are actively pursuing passage of such legislation.   You should check out this site to find more information.

It has also been posited by more than one expert that even though the actual gambling markets within each of these states is relatively small, many would-be online gamblers in other states where such legalization efforts are farther behind (or non-existent) may uproot themselves and relocate to a state friendly to their online poker or casino gambling desires.

Gaming companies like Shuffle Master and International Game Technology are already jumping at this opportunity, as are land-based casinos like MGM Resorts, Wynn Resorts and Caesar’s Entertainment.

But this has not ended or subverted the fight to legalize online poker across the entire United States, that is inter-state gambling, and even international gambling that would allow sites once booted from the US market to step back in again. Even those taking advantage of this new, bite-sized opportunity to set up in individual states, one at a time, like Caesar’s or MGM, are still quite vocal about their intentions to continue pushing for federal legislation legalizing online poker and other online gambling in the US.

The market for online poker 2012 USA was most recently estimated to be around $5 billion to $6 billion annually, according to industry executives. And they say if more states start to pass legalized intrastate gambling for its residents, this number could quickly and easily balloon to more like $10 billion.

According to Richard Bronson (not Branson of Virgin, now) Chairman of US Digital Gaming, 2012 is set to become the birth year of the American online gaming industry.

And what does Wall Street think about all this? Well if it’s any indication, when the DOJ made that game-changing announcement at the start of the year, Wynn and MGM shares both jumped 3% – 5%.

The thing is, many top poker sites do not offer rakeback programs. So you have to do your research first before joining a poker site if you’re hoping to be a part of a rakeback program while you play there. There is, for example, no such thing as a Titan Poker or PokerStars rakeback.

That said, however, many sites that don’t have rakeback programs, including Poker Stars and Titan Poker, have other ways players can get something back for the rakes they pay. It’s through their VIP programs, in which players earn points for, among other things, the rakes they pay. These points can then be converted into prizes, tournament tickets and, in some cases, even cash.

At a new informational site called Holdem Poker Chat, you can find out the names of these US poker sites along with details on any special offers they’re currently running for new members. Even players in the US who play on a Mac can find sites there that still will serve them.

As a social site, HoldemPokerChat also lets you discuss online poker with other players and keep abreast of all the latest online poker news updates, both in the US and the rest of the poker world.

Black Friday didn’t mark the end of online poker in the US. It just caused a bit of upheaval. But at Holdem Poker Chat you can find out just how to settle back in and play your heart out.

We all know about Team Full Tilt, featuring players like Phil Ivey and Gus Hansen. But did you know that no less than 4 other professional teams that play poker online at FullTilt? There are the CardRunners, The Hendon Mob, Team Limpers and Friends of Full Tilt.

For those in the know, the sheer breadth of skill to learn from at the site is reason enough to redeem the Full Tilt referral code and get started playing poker online there yourself.

First, of course, you have to install the Titan Poker and PokerStars download software. Once you’ve done that, you need to make your first deposit into the respective real money poker account. At this point the sites will credit you for the bonus dollars you’ve earned, according to the current bonus offering. For Titan Poker, that’s 100% on your first deposit up to $500. For Poker Stars it’s 100% on your first 3 deposits within 90 days up to a total of $600.

After you get credited these bonus dollars you can only use them to play online poker at the awarding site. You cannot withdraw that money into your bank account, for example, until you’ve played enough online poker to earn the required number of points to clear that bonus. For Poker Stars that’s 17 times the bonus; for Titan Poker that’s 600 points for every $5.

Each site has its own selection of the best overall sites to play at, so it helps to find a site that speaks most to you, so you know they’re recommendations are most likely to suit you. You also know that when more than one review site recommends the same poker site – such as Poker-Bonuscode.de and New Poker Bonus Code both recommending Party Poker as one of their top 5 sites – that you’re getting a recommendation you can trust.

Beyond giving detailed information on the top poker bonus currently available online, including the poker bonus code for claiming it and the specific steps for redeeming it, UB Referral Code also gives information on nearly every other value-adding benefit of membership at UB.com.

When you click here to visit UB Referral Code you’ll find that it also gives you thorough explanations on the UB reload bonus, the UB RAI$E Club loyalty and player reward program, the UB Bad Beat Jackpot, the UltimatePoints for Cash program, and all other ways to get more for your money at UB.com. In addition you’ll learn about the special types of promotions (like its WSOP promo), tournaments (like its $200K tourney), games (like its 7 Deuce Tables), and ways to play (like Instant Play, Mobile Poker, and on your Mac).

A general online poker site portal will provide reviews of poker sites and maybe some tips on poker strategy. But even if they periodically update their reviews to keep up with current changes to the site, that’s still not enough to keep you up to speed with the ever-changing online poker field.

An online poker blog is a service that tells you of the latest news and updates in the online poker scene when they happen. So while a poker review may tell you which sites have the best promotions, for example, they won’t tell you which sites are having the best promotion today. For that you need a regularly updated poker news source, and that’s where an online poker blog comes in. Just make sure you choose one that’s updated frequently and recently.

Players are now looking for online poker sites that are US friendly, or that cater to players specifically living in their home country. Others are looking not just for any bonuses and promotions, but specific ones, like rakeback programs, VIP programs or Bad Beat Jackpots. Still others are seeking online poker sites that accept certain poker currencies, or support specific online payment processing methods of deposits and withdrawals.

What matters to you most in online poker sites? Do you like variety in the sites you play at, for example, but don’t want to spread yourself so thin that you can’t compete in the big promotions? Then find a favorite online poker network with crossover bonuses and promotions that span all sites within that network.

Are these real money poker games? No. Do they have value to players anyway? Well, of course! Why else do you think players would start ranking it among the best online poker rooms out there?

Zynga, maker of Farmville, is the kingpin of Facebook poker games. It’s the Poker Stars, Full Tilt Poker, and Party Poker of Facebook poker games all rolled into one. Why? Primarily because of something it offers that the best online poker rooms for real money poker don’t – Facebook poker chips. On Zynga Poker, players earn Facebook poker chips just for playing.

What are Facebook poker chips? They are the new virtual currency for online social gaming media. What is their value? Awe. One of the elements of every poker tournament’s guaranteed prize pool – bragging rights. Top recognition in Facebook poker games lands you on a leaderboard that has social value in the Facebook landscape.