Online Poker Usa

Online poker in the United States has changed drastically in the last decade. There was once a time when the biggest and best poker sites were open to US players. That’s no longer the case.

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2. Online Poker Usa Real Money Legal
3. Online Poker Usa Laws
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American poker players have a difficult time finding a safe real money poker site to join these days, especially one that has plenty of banking options, games that run, and reasonable promotions.

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Since it’s so tough to find a legit site, we suggest you save yourself the time and headache by using our recommendations instead. We’ve listed the best USA poker sites below.

We’ll explain how we came up with our recommendations in the next section.

• So if playing poker online is not against the law in the United States, why aren’t there sites and games available to residents of all 50 states? UIEGA An acronym for the Unlawful Internet Enforcement Gambling Act, the bill was an attachment to an anti-terrorism bill (the SAFE Ports Act), snuck in at the last minute and signed into law in 2006.
• US online poker is at a crossroads and I would like to help players navigate it as painlessly as possible. Prior to late 2006 the US online poker market was no different than the rest of the world (ROW). American players could play at the same sites and use the same convenient e-wallets (e.g. NETeller) as their ROW brethren.

Following that, we’ll explain what kinds of games, software, and promotions Americans can expect to find at US-facing poker sites. We’ll also share some of the biggest pros and cons to playing at these poker rooms.

The goal here is to educate you on what you can expect if you choose to play online poker from the US, which can be a gray area for many players. And we want to make sure you join the only safest and best real money poker sites.

Without further ado, let’s jump right into it.

Choosing which real money USA poker sites to recommend is no easy task. While there are several sites that accept US players, only a few of them are worth your time.

What we want to do now is give you a brief explanation of why we selected the top online poker rooms to recommend to our readers. The goal is to show you that there was real effort and thought put into our reviews and ratings.

However, the following information will also help you find a real money online poker site if for some reason you don’t want to choose from one of our recommendations.

Okay, so when selecting a USA poker site to join, what variables or attributes should you look for?

We believe the following three factors are the most important.

We use multiple sources to determine a site’s reputation. This includes poker forums, industry insiders, our own contacts, firsthand experience, and more.

We specifically make sure that they are properly licensed to provide online poker for real money, and that they’re regulated by a reputable gambling authority.

There are two things we look for here.

The first thing we look for is whether the poker site has banking options that we can use to make a deposit. The best options today for US poker players is a credit card or Bitcoin.

The best options for cashouts are Bitcoin, followed by wire transfers, paper checks, or money transfers.

The second thing we look at is whether the poker room has a reputation for cashing out US players within a reasonable timeframe.

Traffic or player liquidity is the next important attribute to look for. That’s because poker is unique from most other forms of real money gambling in that you need other people in order to play.

There are some USA poker sites that prohibit players from certain states from joining. And you’re not going to find many players from countries outside the US on these sites for various reasons.

This leads to most poker websites having hardly any traffic. These rooms aren’t worth joining.

The attributes above are the most important. However, they’re not the only ones we consider when ranking the best USA poker sites. Nor should they be all the you look if you’re deciding where to play real money online poker yourself.

We also recommend you consider the following.

This encompasses everything from the types of games and formats the room offers to the variants and stakes that you can play.

You’ll obviously want to find a site that caters to your specific interests, whether that’s playing mixed game cash games or deep stack Hold’em tournaments.

Can you play poker on a mobile device? What’s more, is the room compatible on your specific device?

The top online poker rooms, for the United States or anywhere else, should all be compatible with a wide range of mobile devices nowadays.

Do you have to download the software, or do you play from your browser? Do you have a preference?

Beyond that, you also want to look at the features the software has. For example, can you use four-color decks, auto-top off your stack, and do you have the option to set up your table layout however you want?

• What kinds of deals can you claim?
• Can you claim a deposit bonus?
• Do they have leaderboard contests?
• Do they have free plays?
• Can you earn extra rewards through a VIP program?

The leading real money poker sites for the USA are all generous in terms of the extra value they offer players.

• What kinds of tournaments can you play?
• Are there guaranteed tournaments?
• Does the poker room offer satellites to live events?
• Do they have satellites?

We also recommend looking at previously scheduled tournaments. Did the guaranteed tournaments get enough registrants to meet the guarantee or did the poker room have to cover the difference for most of them?

If it was the latter, which is called an overlay tournament, then you should strongly consider joining. Those are valuable tournaments to play since you’ll have fewer players to fight through for the same prize pool.

Does the poker room offer any kind of poker education or training? Are there any tools or resources to help you learn the game and get better at it?

This is a general idea of what we look for and the questions we ask whenever we review a poker room. We recommend you do the same. It’ll ensure that you enjoy whatever US poker site you join.

One of the challenges to playing real money poker online from the US is that there’s a shortlist of quality sites for you to join.

However, does that mean your options are short? Are you automatically limited on the games you can play, the features available to you, and the stakes you can play for?

That’s what we want to explore in this section.

You won’t have a problem finding Texas Hold’em. That’s the most popular poker game in the world. You’ll also find Omaha games running too, depending on the site you join.

However, you’re going to struggle to find other games such as Stud, Razz, and mixed games. These games aren’t nearly as popular and there’s not enough player liquidity for them to run often.

That’s assuming the poker websites you join even offer them. Not all of them do.

As for stakes, most cash games will start at $0.01/$0.02 or $0.02/$0.05. The stakes don’t peak as high for US players as they do players around the world. That’s okay, because you’ll find most games running at the micros and small stakes.

The tournaments that you can buy into cost about the same as other major tournaments at European poker sites. The difference between these tournaments, though, is that the guarantees usually aren’t as large at US poker sites.

For example, you can buy into a $100k guarantee for $162 on Bovada where first place will receive around $20,000. This pales in comparison to the Sunday Million on PokerStars that you can buy into for $109 and possibly win more than $100,000 for taking the whole thing down.

The point? Well, you’re risking more to win less money. That said, the upside is that we’d expect Bovada’s tournament to have a smaller and softer field compared to PokerStars. That should help balance it out.

Overall, players in the United States will have a smaller selection of real money poker games to choose from. There will be fewer tournaments running and the guarantees will be smaller, too.

However, that’s to be expected, considering the player pool is much smaller compared to the player pool outside the US. We don’t think it’s that big of a downside in the grand scheme of things anyway.

This is one area where US players won’t have to compromise too much on. Several of the top US poker sites have done a great job updating their software. They look modern and offer plenty of features.

Here are a few examples of what you can expect.

• The ability to scale your tables to fit your screen. You can also tile, cascade, or stack your tables, which is handy for people who multi-table.
• You’ll have the option to play five to ten tables simultaneously, and some sites allow for more.
• Most top poker sites will offer features such as four-color decks, different card designs, easily readable pot and bet sizes, multiple languages, hand history replayer, and more.
• Some rooms offer anonymous tables which is great for recreational players. You don’t have to worry about sharks preying on you.
• Most sites offer built-in casino games and sportsbooks.
• You can use third party software at some poker rooms.
• You can play from your browser or download their software. Either option will be compatible with PCs AND Macs.

And more. The bottom line is that you’re not getting short-changed here. The best USA poker sites for real money have done a great job with their software.

US poker sites offer plenty of promotions, too. The following are a few examples of promotions you’ll be able to claim.

• Deposit Bonuses – Some of the deals we’ve seen include a 100% match up to $1,000 and a 100% match bonus up to $500.
• New Player Freerolls – These are tournaments that cost nothing to enter and offer a real money prize. Entry is limited to only those who signed up and made a deposit recently.
• Free Play – Get a free tournament ticket or free money to use in the poker room’s casino or sportsbook.
• VIP Program – Many sites will reward you for your loyalty. Perks can include exclusive bonuses, cash back, tournament tickets, and more.
• Bad Beat Jackpots – Play on a BBJ table and you can win a piece of a jackpot if your hand (usually quad 2s or better) lose to a better hand.

And so on. The one thing you’ll want to pay attention to when it comes to promotions are the playthrough terms. Specifically, you want to look at how much money you need to spend to clear every $1 or $10 of your bonus, and if there’s a timeframe you need to do it in.

There are some sites that make it incredibly difficult to earn their promotions. It’s one of the biggest downsides to poker promotions but you can usually avoid it if you stick with the top poker sites and do your homework first.

We also cover this information in detail in our reviews.

It’s not easy to play real money poker online in the United States when compared to playing poker online elsewhere in the world. However, it’s not impossible, especially after reading this guide.

While you might not have all the options that other players have, such as high stakes action, tons of games running, and enough traffic for games like Pineapple and HORSE to run, there’s still plenty of action to be had.

For example, you can play Hold’em and Omaha cash games and tournaments at the micro and small stakes levels. The software you’ll play on is top-notch and both serious and recreational players will be able to find a site that caters to them.

If that sounds good to you, then the first step to getting started is to find a site to join. To ensure you enjoy playing online poker for real money, join one of the best USA poker sites.

Here’s a reminder of our top recommendations. Remember, each one has been thoroughly vetted and we’re confident you’ll have a good experience.

Table Of Contents

Looking for the best US poker sites to play online poker games for free and real money? Check out these poker rooms!

Finding a great site to play online poker games from the US is not that difficult. But with all the different states allowing different operators — things can get a little messy for the uninitiated poker players in the US.

On this page, you'll learn:

• and lots more

Our team of poker pros (which includes World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Chad Holloway) have tested and reviewed all the US poker rooms in this article. This way, you can find everything about the games, the level, and the bonuses available.

In other words, if you are looking for a list of the best online poker sites for US players in 2021, you'll love this one!

The Best Poker Sites for US Players

Online Poker in the US & US Poker Rooms

The game of poker is an epitome of gambling in the United States, and the US poker sites on the list have to meet a lot of expectations from millions of players across the country.

Luckily for you, we have completed a thorough examination of every single aspect of these poker rooms to ascertain their true worth.

Here at PokerNews we have been in the business of reviewing online poker sites and online casinos for over 15 years, and our large US fan base stands testament to the continuous high-quality content we deliver.

No matter if you are new to poker or an experienced player, you could use a bit of help figuring out which poker site is the right choice for you. It all depends on what you are after.

If lucrative bonuses are your thing, that's perfectly fine. Here, you will find the top US poker sites with the most generous bonuses.

However, you shouldn't overlook the importance of the legality of poker rooms, the number of different games available, the betting limits that apply, the variety of payment methods, and the overall reputation of poker rooms when choosing your next US online poker destination.

All this and more will be covered in this comprehensive guide, plus the legal framework of real-money online poker gambling in specific US states.

Is Online Poker Legal in the US?

The situation with the legality of online poker in the US is not so clear cut as you might expect. To get to the bottom of this, we must look at the applicable gambling laws.

First of all, gambling in the US is regulated on a state, federal, and, of course, local level.

Looking at these levels of regulations, the only viable conjecture you can derive is that things are bound to get messy.

At the moment, the Constitution allows all states to make their own laws regarding online gambling.

• A handful of states have already legalized online poker, such as Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. In these states, online operators are required to sign licensing agreements with the land-based casinos in order to launch their online poker rooms, and plenty of big names have already done so.
• More states are taking a leaf from their books and filing for online poker and gambling licenses in a bid to legalize the market entirely. By doing so, the states will benefit from taxes these operators will pay and will ensure their citizens have fair and safe gambling opportunities.
• The states of Michigan and West Virginia have already passed the required laws. The roll out of the first poker sites is expected by the end of 2020 at best, but it is more likely to expect them in 2021.

How to Play Online Poker From the US?

With the popularity of online poker on the rise, finding an online poker room in the US should be a breeze.

Even so, there are multiple factors you need to consider and a couple of steps you need to complete before getting a piece of the action.

1. Check if Online Poker Is Legal in Your State

The first and foremost step is to make sure the state you are playing in has legalized online poker.

The states that offer full-blown poker sites are:

Some of them even share players, namely Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey.

Players from these states can participate in poker tournaments, which, consequently, have larger prize pools and are more appealing.

The states of Michigan and West Virginia followed suit and enacted the necessary bills and laws to legalize online poker.

Players from these states can expect legal online poker rooms soon.

Another important thing to remember here is that you don't need to be a resident in any of these states to play online poker legally.

You are only required to be physically present in any of them to register an account, make a deposit, and play No Limit Texas Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, and plenty of other versions of the game.

2. Choose the Best Online Poker Site for You

Next up is choosing the best online poker site for you. This means that you have to consider personal preferences, such as:

• types of games you like to play
• betting limits
• payment methods
• support options
• mobile poker apps for US players

All the US poker sites listed here will have a thing or two to offer, but the more you understand your playing habits, the better.

3. Register an Account

Once you have chosen the poker site, you can proceed to the registration process.

To do so, you will be required to provide personal details, such as name, DOB, address, email, etc.

Poker sites will ask you to provide a proof of identity as a part of their KYC (Know Your Customer) policy imposed by the legislation.

The proof of identity is usually in the form of a copy of your ID or another personal document, the final four digits of your Social Security number (SSN), a copy of your bank statement, etc.

Legal Online Poker Usa Paypal

These poker rooms make sure no underage gambling can take place and also prevent money laundering and fraud.

3. Deposit Funds to Your Account and Claim the Bonus Offer

The next step involves selecting the deposit method from the site's banking section and making the first deposit.

The top US poker sites presented here offer exciting and generous deposit match bonus offers once the players make qualifying deposits.

Check out the promotions tab and see which types of bonuses and freebies you can claim.

4. Choose the Type Of Poker Game and Play On

The final step you need to take is to choose between the different types of poker games offered by the site and take a virtual seat at the table.

The most common formats of poker include cash games and tournament poker.

• In cash games, the value of your chips corresponds directly to the monetary value, while in tournaments, you will have to buy in for a stack of chips and continue playing until you run out of chips or another player claims them all.
• In poker tournaments, the size of bets increases over time to make sure the game is action-packed.

How Do We Rate US Online Poker Sites

The entire review process of online poker sites is completed with the utmost care and diligence.

There are no stones left unturned, and we give no slack to anyone.

Our long history of 15+ years in the business and hard-earned reputation will never permit it.

Over the years, PokerNews has been declared the number one online poker guide several times, and we have been on the receiving end of quite a number of awards.

To fill you in on the process, we will try to break down the criteria we impose for our selection of key US poker sites into a couple of segments:

We List Only the Licensed Operators

All poker sites listed here have been licensed and certified by the appointed jurisdictions and authorities, which is a guarantee of safety, legality, and fairness of those sites and their poker games.

What's more, we look into the reputation of these sites to make sure players are content with the services provided and treatment.

Only after we make sure the site ticks all the right boxes do we present it here.

We Scrutinize the Bonuses

We never cease to look for the heftiest poker bonuses out there, so that our visitors can rest assured only the best possible bonus offers are listed.

What's more, we don't get carried away just by the sheer size of the bonus.

No sir.

There needs to be a balance between what is being offered as a bonus and what you need to do to turn that bonus into real cash.

We look into wagering requirements, the validity period of the bonus, and other requirements that appear as the small print in the terms and conditions that, sadly, only few players consult.

Luckily for you, we check that info as well.

Our Pro Players Look Into the Choice of Games and Quality

Did you know that one of our reviewers won an actual WSOP bracelet in Las Vegas?

Our reviewers are experienced poker players who know every nook and cranny of the game, and where to look for any hidden flaws in the choice of games and rules.

The sites offered here host a number of different types of poker, with plenty of poker formats and competitions, and their player traffic is a clear sign of quality.

We Test the Site's Software

Another important part of our testing process is the test of the site's software.

We want to make sure that sites have both web apps that allow instant in-browser play and mobile apps that enable players to engage in poker games on the go.

That said, we spend hours playing the actual games before reaching a verdict.

Also, if the poker room has a fully downloadable app for PCs, we will download it and make sure its functionality and gaming experience are top-notch.

These sites need to be responsive, easy to use, simple to navigate, and user-friendly. Only such poker rooms and mobile poker sites end up on our top list.

We Look Into Deposit Methods

Another important aspect of our review process is the examination of banking methods offered by the poker room.

This list includes only sites that offer the greatest variety of online banking, credit/debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid vouchers, and other methods, all of which need to be fast, convenient, and protected by the latest SSL encryption and firewalls.

We Put Customer Support to a Test

Having knowledgeable and reliable customer support on your side when a problem occurs is imperative for poker players.

We put each site's customer support to a rigorous test to check their knowledge, response times, and amiableness. If all goes well, only then the site gets on our list.

Regulated US Poker Sites

As we briefly mentioned earlier, all states within the US are at liberty to regulate gambling as they see fit and under legal provisions.

The first poker and gambling-related laws in the USA were drafted in the 19th century, and since then, multiple other legal motions were filed and bills enacted.

One of the initial gambling laws and acts that apply to online poker and gambling was the Interstate Wire Act of 1961, otherwise known as the Federal Wire Act.

This act prohibited any sort of information and payment transmissions across state lines that had anything to do with sports betting.

The reverberations following this act spread like forest fires, and, unfortunately, included online poker and other forms of online gambling, and stymied their progress.

Another significant blow the online poker industry suffered from the US legislators came in the form of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

This regulatory act banned all payment institutions from processing transactions involving online gambling, including poker.

In 2011, three large poker operators were indicted for alleged foul play and breaking of the UIGEA, which effectively shut down online poker in the states. This was an event the poker community refers to as ‘Black Friday'.

With such impediments on the road, it is no wonder why it took online poker so long to reestablish a foothold in a country that is considered to be its birthplace.

Monumental changes happened in 2011 when the US Department of Justice reversed the Wire Act's decision and rendered it only applicable to sports wagering. This paved the way for states to legalize online poker anew.

In 2019, the DOJ released a revised opinion on the Wire Act, but its impacts are yet to be seen.

The following is a quick overview of how things work in key online poker states in the US.

NJ Poker Sites

New Jersey has been at the forefront of the online poker legalization process, and the third state to legalize it in 2013.

The first attempt to legalize online poker was vetoed by the governor in 2011, but by the end of 2013, the first poker platforms emerged.

At the moment, three operators are licensed to operate in the Garden State:

• 888poker
• WSOP.com
• PokerStars

PA Poker Sites

PokerStars is the only legal online poker site in the state of Pennsylvania. 888poker and WSOP Poker are expected to launch in the keystone State in 2021.

For more information about the games at PokerStars, check out this page dedicated to PokerStars US.

MI Poker Sites

The Great Lake State legalized all forms of online gambling, including online poker, in December 2019, when its governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the proposal into a bill.

The first sites and poker rooms are expected in 2021.

OffShore Poker Sites

Even though some sites might tell you that playing in offshore online casinos and poker rooms is possible, that doesn't mean it is legal or safe.

In fact, most of these offshore poker sites have not been licensed by reputable gambling jurisdictions, nor are they protected by the latest security systems.

What's more, there are no guarantees that your banking details are protected and secure from any third-party influences.

That said, you are better off playing only on legal and vetted poker sites presented here than roaming around the internet and falling prey to malicious offshore poker rooms.

Best Deposit Options for US Online Poker Players

Top US poker sites offer several popular deposit methods for their players. The most frequently used deposit method is credit/debit bank cards, such as Discover, Visa, and Mastercard.

Almost all banks in regulated states will process such payments, so you won't have any problems making a fast and secure deposit.

Another essential deposit method is the e-wallet method. Poker fans use PayPal, Skrill, and other e-wallets to transfer their funds to and from the poker site seamlessly and quickly.

Methods such as e-checks and online banking are also quite popular and widespread, although they are a little bit slower when compared to e-wallets, for example.

Finally, most US poker sites offer PayNearMe prepaid vouchers and cash deposits you can use at your local 7-Eleven stores and casino cages from the land-based casino partners, respectively.

Problem Gambling and Useful Resources

Problem gambling is a serious issue, and some Americans have a tough time dealing with it.

That is why it is important that poker sites have strong, responsible gambling policies in power and that they cooperate with the regulatory bodies dealing with this issue, such as the National Council on Problem Gambling, Gamble Aware, AMA Responsibility in Gaming, and others.

Through this collaboration and effort, the negative impact of gambling can be reduced and sensitive groups protected.

FAQ

Online Poker Usa Real Money Legal

Online poker is perfectly legal in US states that have enacted specific online gambling laws.

Online Poker Usa Laws

You can play real money poker games online in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Delaware. In the future, you can expect the list to expand to include the states of Michigan and West Virginia.

The UIGEA came into force in 2006.

Online Poker Usa News

Players shouldn't play in offshore poker rooms as these are not technically legal in the US and are deemed as highly insecure.

Players are not required to live in a state where online poker is legal in order to play it. You only need to be physically present in the state at the moment of play.

Legal online poker sites have strong geolocation software that will pierce through almost all VPN networks, thus preventing players from outside the states from engaging in real-money poker games online.