Online Poker: Here's the deal on how it works

Online poker sites are video simulations of standard casino card games. Here's a simplified explanation of Texas Hold'Em, the current gold standard of online poker.

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1. You set up a Web account with contact information and proof of age. Some sites require that you install computer gaming software. Usually, this is all that is required to gamble free with play money.

2. If you want to play with real money, you will go through a process of verifying bank or credit card information with a secondary Internet banking service, which will charge a small fee per transaction. Funds are transferred from your account through the service and into your Web account.

3. After registering and depositing funds, you choose from several games with varying table sizes and betting limits. Minimum bets range from 25 cents to hundreds of dollars.

4. The game screen on most sites is a bird's-eye view of an oval casino table. A full game means 10 seats filled with computer-generated characters, icons or usernames.

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5. The computer does the dealer's job. In Texas Hold'Em, each player is dealt two cards, face down. Your cards appear face up, but no one else at the table can see them.

6. The computer will prompt players when it's their turn. Each has a short time to check, bet or fold.

7. After the first round of betting, the computer deals three cards -- the flop -- face up, followed by a second round of betting. The computer keeps track of how much is in the pot and displays it on the screen.

8. The computer deals the fourth card -- the turn -- face up, followed by another round of betting.

9. A fifth card -- the river -- is dealt face up. After a final round of betting, all cards are turned up. The best five-card poker hand wins and the pot is sent to the winner's Web account.

10. To move winnings from the web site to your personal bank, you send them back through the banking service.

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As for losses, they are, well, lost.