Hello, first of all this is my first post, but that does not mean I am new to poker. With that being said, I would like some advice. I feel that most of you that use this forum regularly are better players and can give me some quality advice so I decided to register...

To let you know a little about how my poker game was before black Friday, you can look up the user name dain32 on full tilt but ill also give you my numbers here. I am a MTT player.
Count: 2127
Average Profit: 5.82
Average Stake: 11.28
Average ROI: 74%
Profit: 12,379

I haven't stopped playing since black Friday, but I haven't been playing nearly as much. With all that being said, I have a handful of questions for the current online grinders:

-How much has the skill level increased online since black Friday?
-Is it worth it to grind it out on MTT on a site like Bovada with such a low number of active players?
-Am I better off honing my cash game and going to my local casino? Most of them are terrible and If I have the patience for 35 hands an hour, I will make money. I feel that most online cash players in the 1/2 and up limits are very strong players, although I have not played in them.
-Should I be worried about the checks coming in the mail from a Canadian bank? I have gotten 3 checks from bovada in the past couple years, and my bank put them on hold for quite some time, although I did receive the money eventually.
-Is it 100% legal?

I would really appreciate some quality advice. I've been studying my books and I am ready to get after it. Just would like to know the answer to some of these questions before I deposit a stiff bankroll and start grinding again. Don't tell me to move to mexico, as much as I would love to do that, I have too many good people in my life here.

Thank you!

I would be cautious about deposing a "stiff" bankroll to any unregulated site. I would suggest making a smaller deposit, and begin to grind it up, making lots of small withdrawals along the way. In other words......don't keep a lot of money on unregulated poker sites.

Bovada and ACR seem to have developed a decent reputation regarding cashouts, and not mixing player funds w/operating expenses. Beware of most other sites IMHO.

You might also consider looking at the Bitcoin Sites for the easiest & fastest cashouts. Plus it will give you even more alternatives for game selection.

I think hardcore grinding MTT's full time can be a challenge right now (player traffic) , so you might consider playing cash, as you alluded to. Perhaps mix in some online MTT's to the schedule during peak hours !?

Good luck ! I am doing the same thing !

As you know, one of the biggest keys to success in poker is bankroll management. So let me echo @ZenForest. Don't deposit a "stiff" BR on any poker site. And make withdrawals often. None of us knows what will happen with any of these sites today or tomorrow or next week.

I left online poker December 2013 because I was afraid my Bovada roll would get disappeared. A year and a half later, I decided to re-up. I'm a recreational player so I keep my roll very small and make monthly withdrawals (one per month is free). Bovada is easy right now if you can deposit with your debit card because you can get your poker withdrawals via your debit card - deposited back into your checking account. Of course, not all banks will do this. So far, mine has worked three times.

Playing online poker is not illegal unless you live in Washington state. If you live in a state with regulated online poker, such as NV, DE, NJ, you won't be able to play on Bovada.

Skill level probably depends on what game you play and what level. I play mostly PLO right now and it's beatable for a non-pro player even with low volume of players. I've played 5c/10c to 50c/$1 6-max ring games and just the $11.00 and less mtts. Be warned that the mtts are frustrating in that people STALL throughout the game for whatever reason. Also, on Bovada you can play a max of 4 ring games or sngs but unlimited mtts at the same time.

I also play a little on Carbon, but that definitely has to be money you don't care if you ever see again - cashouts take 4 months. Their mtts are kooky though - with 2 hours and 20 minutes for late registration and unlimited re-entries, lots of people will actually spend $55 or more to play in an $11 tourney. I enter once. If I cash, I profit good. If I go out, I don't re-enter.

If your bank ever asks you where your money is coming from, you're a freelance internet consultant or some such thing. Because while the poker playing isn't illegal, the financial end of it is a bit more murky. Most people are never asked.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I would be devastated if my BR disappeared some how. Definitely a good idea to have all your transactions as small chunks. Maybe so many people stall on the MTT's because of the fact you're allowed to have as many MTT's going as you'd like at once.

Bovada has a pretty decent player pool. Good amount of tournaments.

ACR - Has bitcoin deposits and withdrawals also have personal debit cards for withdrawal but site is filled with 3hr late reg tournaments.

Other sites wouldn't even trust it.