No matter what you may have read elsewhere, if you are a resident of the United States and play online poker, I believe you will agree that it is not an easy game to play.
The “facts” regarding the legal online real money poker sites that are still available to players from the United States of America might vary depending on where you check.
I have spent more than a decade researching the poker market in the United States and dispelling common misunderstandings held by American players. I’m going to go into great depth about the following:
- The only United States-based online poker sites on which I continue to place my faith in 2022
- Is it legal to play real money when playing poker online in the United States?
- The most recent and game-changing events to occur in US poker
- Debunking the many falsehoods that can be found elsewhere
- Bovada
- Global Poker
- Ignition
- Americas Cardroom
- BetOnline.ag
- Sportsbetting
- Poker with Black Chips
- Interops
- Nitrogen Sports
- True Poker
The United States of America’s Legal Real Money Online Poker Landscape in 2022
Why I am an expert in the poker market in the United States
The conclusion is as follows:
I’ve been there since the very beginning, covering the poker rooms in the United States with open and honest feature pieces since practically the night the party ended in 2006.
While everyone was watching the tragedy unfold on C-SPAN (really), I was starting a guide on how Americans could deal with it and still play online poker for real money. I was writing this guide while everyone was watching the horror unfold on C-SPAN.
This is some of my best work since I’ve kept up to date on the mystery that is US online poker, which may be intriguing at times but is almost never less than irritating.
On the real online poker sites, I have personally played at each of them for at least five to ten years and reviewed them with every bit of cynicism that the world has to offer.
After 12 rounds, these sites have maintained their standing.
Are you able to play at legitimate sites while using real money in the US?
If I didn’t think there were any legitimate online poker sites that were worth playing at in the United States in 2022, I wouldn’t list a single one of them here.
How do I know?
Because before I offer you my final evaluation ratings, I allow years of my own personal playing experience as well as studies of the amoeba-like poker market in the United States simmer. Real experience is the only thing that can speak for itself.
I still play poker sites based in the United States.
I still want you to get the impression that you are able to as well.
A sizeable portion of our site as well as each poker review that I pen is devoted to imparting knowledge on the most secure methods for carrying out the aforementioned activity.
The poker sites that welcome players from the United States that I chose to list here have never caused me to lose a payment.
I’m not going to sugarcoat this for you either.
Questions That Are Typically Asked
Does anyone know of any poker sites that are legal in the United States?
The simple act of playing poker online has almost never resulted in legal action being taken against American citizens. The majority of online poker sites that provide real money games to players in the United States operate in a legal limbo known as the “gray area.” Reputable poker sites will receive licenses that allow them to operate from the jurisdiction they are housed in, but this does not expressly address players from the United States of America.
There are essentially no regulations that target online poker players individually; rather, the rules focus on the poker operators themselves. The one notable exception to this is Washington, which has some of the strictest gambling laws in the United States. Even yet, it is not quite apparent whether or not existing gambling rules apply at all to offshore poker sites.
Having said that, one online poker site that plays for real money and is legal in 49 out of the 50 states in the United States is called Global Poker.
What are some of the best online poker sites for players from the United States?
Poker sites that have a long history of trust, are scandal-free, and have figured out a means to pay out American players on a constant basis are, in my opinion, the best options for players from the United States.
Ignition Poker, Bovada Poker, and Global Poker are currently in my opinion the best online poker sites for real-money play that are available to players in the United States. After conducting in-number research on each one, I can confidently say that I can put my faith in each and every one of them.
Where can I play poker online if I am located in the United States?
There are still a good number of online poker sites that welcome players from the United States and enable them to make deposits, compete at real-money tables, and play their winnings. Bovada, Global Poker, and Ignition Poker are now at the top of my list of recommended sites.
It’s possible that a number of poker sites with poor traffic, cheating scandals, or significant payout troubles are still attempting to attract American players. Despite this, I strongly advise you to remain with those sites that I’ve personally examined.
Are there any poker sites based in the United States of America that provide mobile software?
Real-money poker may be played on mobile devices at a number of the best poker sites that welcome players from the United States. Global Poker, Bovada Poker, and BetOnline Poker are the three names that come to me when I think of the best software for mobile poker. Every one of them may be used on an iOS device, whether an iPhone, iPad, or Android. The mobile version of Global Poker, which supports several tables, is extremely well-designed.
The best online poker sites for real money in the United States
In the year 2022, if you’re a poker player in the United States seeking for legal real money games online, it might be easy to feel overwhelmed.
Players in the United States have three primary options, the most appropriate one for them being determined largely by the state in which they live.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was approved at the federal level in 2006, however the Justice Department has granted individual states the authority to legalize online poker and other kinds of online gambling. This is despite the fact that the Act was predatory and was passed.
Regulated and Legal Poker in the United States in 2022
As of the year 2022, the states of Delaware (DE), Nevada (NV), and New Jersey (NJ) each operate legally sanctioned and licensed online poker games for real money.
Additionally, the states of Pennsylvania (PA), West Virginia (WV), and Michigan (MI) have passed legislation to legalize online gambling and are in the process of putting regulations in place to allow online poker sites to function legally inside their borders. PokerStars is now doing its business in the state of Pennsylvania.
Also in the year 2022, the development of an interstate compact between states in the USA that have legalized cannabis continues. Up to this point, this has made it possible for the states of Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey to share their poker player pools. This has resulted in a bigger overall player base, which has allowed for busier cash games and larger tournaments.
It is currently unknown whether or if the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, or Michigan will become members of the interstate poker agreement.
Poker can be played for real money on some of the top sites in the world, and if you live in one of the few states that has authorized online gambling, or if you are visiting one of those states, you will have no trouble doing so.
These online gambling organizations, who had previously exited the US poker market, are now back in operation in American states where it is legal to do so:
- 888Poker
- PokerStars
- Party Poker
- WSOP
American players are welcome at these reputable offshore poker sites, where real money games may be played.
It is quite possible that players from the remaining parts of the United States will have to utilize offshore real money poker sites. Thankfully, none of these restrictions apply to 41 of the US states where they may be purchased.
They are legal in the locations in which they operate, with Bitcoin being the best means to circumvent the complexity of the issues associated with transferring money to the United States.
As of the year 2022, I am suggesting the following companies as the market leaders in the USA for offshore poker:
- Bovada Poker
- Ignition Poker & Casino
- The America’s Cardroom website
- BetOnline Poker
The Model for the Worldwide Online Poker Sweepstakes
Players residing in the United States who enjoy playing poker online also have the option of playing for real money at Global Poker, which is a reputable and legal site. They had previously supported PayPal, and they assert that their sweepstakes poker concept is legal in all 49 states in the United States. The state of Washington is the one and only exception to this rule.
It is nearly unheard of for a poker site that is available to players from the United States to receive a license from the Malta Gaming Authority, yet Global Poker was successful in doing so. Because of their one-of-a-kind real-money system, traditional gaming restrictions do not apply to them, therefore this gives them a competitive advantage. All of it has supplied them with a large amount of traffic from American players in a relatively short amount of time since they have been operating.
US Poker Site FAQs
Who in 2022 has the greatest poker traffic coming from the United States?
The death knell for online poker sites has always been an insufficient traffic of active player accounts.
After all, there is no use in having exceptionally cutting-edge software or an incredible bonus if there are no active tables to take advantage of them.
It would be the same as a city constructing a brand-new, state-of-the-art sports stadium but having no teams to play in it.
The top three in terms of the traffic of poker players in the US
#1 FOR POKER TRAFFIC IN THE USA
Bovada Poker
Because they have such a big player base, Bovada Poker is the only online poker room that can provide a respectable version of quick-fold poker. This makes them easily the most popular poker site in the United States. Over the course of the last several years, Bovada has seen a significant increase in the number of players using their traffic.
#2 FOR POKER TRAFFIC IN THE USA
The American Poker Room
America’s Cardroom has maintained its position as the second most popular online poker site in the United States market for the past few months. Late into the night, there are still thriving real money cash games that go up to the $5/10 NL level. The Sunday guarantee is the largest in the US, contributing to some of the best tournament traffic in the country.
#3 FOR POKER TRAFFIC IN THE USA
BetOnline
At the moment, BetOnline Poker is in third place, just one spot behind ACR. In addition, they attain the $5/$10 No Limit Hold’em level for active cash games. Omaha is also quite popular, as seen by the presence of dozens of active tables. One such website that welcomes sites from the United States is Sportsbetting.ag, which was part of the Chico Poker Network in the past.
I’ve seen a lot of promising new online poker room businesses fail before they ever got off the ground simply because they couldn’t attract enough real players to fill up their tables.
Guides to player traffic are an absolute necessity for players in the United States.
Because the number of people that play poker online for real money at US sites is so much fewer these days compared to the global average, it is so crucial to monitor this traffic.
There are a few poker sites that welcome American players that are still in business and trying to recruit new customers despite having extremely low traffic levels.
Why go to the trouble unless the only thing you care about is finding players to play micro-limit Texas hold ’em? Even if this is the case, why not play at a US poker site that offers a wider range of micro-limit games? When I analyze online poker sites, I always make sure to include a section that is sufficiently substantial to discuss the amount of player traffic at each site.
Are there any freerolls with real money that accept players from the United States?
Ever since I was finally able to scrounge together $20 and make my first deposit in online poker many years ago, I’ve done my best to steer clear of no-restrictions online poker freerolls like the plague.
Hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of players playing poker and shoving their chips about for hours in the hopes of getting fortunate and winning a few bucks for nothing? Yikes.
On the other hand, one might argue that freerolls at US poker sites make more sense than they ever have before in the modern era. When it comes to deposits, which may be complicated and inconvenient at times, this can be your only chance at a real bankroll.
#1 FOR USA FREEROLLS
5Dimes Grand Poker
Grand Poker hosts the greatest freeroll available to players from the United States. The freeroll is worth $500 and takes place every Sunday at 10 o’clock at night. Although Grand Poker is not a well-known poker brand and does not see a significant amount of traffic, it is managed by the excellent 5Dimes Sportsbook.
#2 FOR USA FREEROLLS
The American Poker Room
The highly ingenious notion of holding freerolls on demand was conceived by America’s Cardroom and Black Chip Poker, a sibling site on the Winning Poker Network that welcomes players from the United States. They operate once or twice per hour after filling up. What’s the catch? meager reward pools of only ten dollars apiece.
#3 FOR USA FREEROLLS
Nitrogen Poker
It’s likely that you were unaware that Nitrogen Poker ever existed, but they are a betting site that focuses on Bitcoin and is available to players from the United States. They provide daily poker freerolls and give eight entries into real money tournaments, with each entry worth around $4.
The long answer is that BetOnline used to be the place where you could find the best freerolls, but I have a page that is dedicated to freerolls in general and US ones in particular. They ran every hour, did not need you to make a deposit in order to play, could have a prize pool of up to $250, and did not discriminate against players from the United States. Those US-based freerolls are no longer available, which is a great shame.
It came as quite a shock to me when I discovered that Grand Poker, a specialized US-friendly online poker site, has begun providing the best freerolls in terms of the prize pool. They are held once a week, with a prize fund of $500, and don’t mandate any annoying gaming conditions from participants.
Even though the name “Grand Poker” might be unfamiliar to some players, the site is hosted by 5Dimes, which is widely regarded as one of the most reputable online sportsbooks.
Deposits made by US players utilizing Visa cards are accepted, yes.
I consider the ease with which I can make deposits using Visa or any other major credit card as one of the primary criteria for ranking US poker sites. This is something that I discussed in depth in my comprehensive guide.
The majority of players who play online poker in the United States are going to quit playing if making deposits becomes too difficult. My opinion is that this has been a significant factor in the deterioration of the market in the United States.
There are, however, a few viable alternatives that continue to acknowledge virtually all Visa cards issued in the United States.
With its roots in online gaming processing going all the way back to the 1990s, Bovada Poker is likely to have the highest success rates. BetOnline, a mainstay in the online gambling industry, is one of the few companies that leads the US poker pack in terms of credit card approval rates.
Debit cards, credit cards, and even prepaid Visa cards issued by major banks in the United States should not face the normal decreases seen in other parts of the world. They must simply have superior proprietary processor connections, which often come hand in hand with a company’s length of history in the gaming industry.
Neither one of them charges a fee to make a deposit, and even though I’ve seen the text warning of a 5.9 percent cost in the cashier of my Ignition Poker account, it’s never really been applied to me.
Who in the United States accepts Mastercard payments?
The same US poker sites, Bovada Poker and BetOnline Poker, are going to be the best options for players using MasterCard, as were described above for Visa users.
You really just need to key in your credit card number, locate your account, and you can start playing poker for real money in a matter of minutes. They are the only two American sites that can make that claim, and they hold that distinction jointly.
Over the years, I’ve listened to advice suggesting that debit MasterCards may result in the best success rates. However, I haven’t had any issues while using standard credit cards or even prepaid cards that have international capabilities.
Who is the best poker site for payouts in the United States?
The rate at which players may get their money out is another crucial consideration for me when determining whether or not to keep listing a poker site that accepts players from the United States. A payout delay that isn’t just a transient hitch is one of the first signals that something bad is about to happen at a poker site that caters to US players.
#1 FOR USA PAYOUTS
Bovada Poker
Since I began playing with them in 2004, Bovada Poker has shown to be the most reliable payments for players from the United States. It took Bovada an astoundingly short amount of time to send my most recent Bitcoin payment, which I got. The delivery time for paper checks is between 7 and 10 days.
#2 FOR USA PAYOUTS
The American Poker Room
Although America’s Cardroom has strange Bitcoin payment hours, they guarantee that you will receive your winnings within 18 to 24 hours. Due to the low threshold for purchase required, they are an excellent choice even if you solely deal with paper checks. Within a few weeks, ACR will have it sent to you by mail after having it delivered to you.
#3 FOR USA PAYOUTS
BetOnline
BetOnline has a greater check minimum, but it provides more unusual choices to players from the United States, including as wire transfers that go straight to your bank account. The processing time for withdrawals other than Bitcoin is around two weeks. At BetOnline, the processing time for Bitcoin payments is around twenty-four hours.
Because of this, I removed Carbon Poker and Full Flush Poker from the real money market in the United States because the competition was so stiff. They made an effort to keep the clock running, but given the predominantly rural nature of their poker player traffic, how long did they anticipate being able to continue to afford to do so? I had no intention of letting you discover it on your own, but regrettably, some people were forced to do so because to Full Flush.
Due to the fact that I am only going to connect to reputable businesses, I have compiled a list of the top real money poker sites in the United States that provide withdrawals in 2022.
Why is Bitcoin the ideal currency for players in the United States?
Because of the excellent development that has led to Bitcoin now being recognized as a deposit and withdrawal option on respectable poker sites located in the United States, I feel that it is the undisputed winner for the title of best withdrawal method.
Privacy, speed, and the ability to transfer Bitcoin payments straight to a bank account are all benefits of using Bitcoin, which may be obtained through the use of an exchange service. You totally steer clear of the legal muck between the bank and the online poker venues.
Bitcoin poker withdrawals are supported by Bovada Poker, BetOnline, and the America’s Cardroom poker network. Withdrawals can take as little as a few days to process, and the networks have minimal minimum deposits, as low as $20.
Please go to my voluminous page devoted to Bitcoin poker for all of the information that you require.
Are there any poker rooms in the United States that provide rakeback?
Although there are many people who hold the opposite opinion, I’ve never been a fan of rakeback for many different reasons. The primary one is that I believe it’s unhealthy to charge some poker players the entire rake while a select others receive an undisclosed advantage.
The most reputable and popular online poker sites discontinued their rakeback schemes many years ago. Rakeback has reached the end of its life. We even ran an article on how rakeback offers are becoming less common in this space.
I’ve noticed some shady rakeback websites advertising for offers at America’s Cardroom, but these days you can very much get it through America’s Cardroom themselves by entering the appropriate bonus code.
If you are searching for a deal anyway, it appears that this is the only reputable poker alternative available in the United States that is now offering one.
Are there any sites that face the United States that can be played on an iPad or iPhone?
As of the year 2022, both Bovada Poker and BetOnline now have full mobile poker software clients that are accessible to players in the United States.
There is no need to download an app, and it is compatible with both the iPhone and the iPad. The mobile app allows users to participate in every real money cash game as well as every fast-fold table.
Every single one of the apps in the App Store has to be individually validated, despite the fact that there are potentially millions of apps now available.
An unregulated market may very rapidly become swamped with half-baked rubbish, and this can eventually drive buyers away. This is something that we know from history, so doing that is actually good business.
Because of this, unregulated US real money poker sites will never be able to have an app that can pass a manual review. This is because no large firm wants to have anything to do with a topic that is so sensitive and contentious.
Poker room software developers in the United States might be able to make it happen immediately.
The most straightforward solution would be for software engineers working on poker sites that welcome players from the United States to work an in-browser mobile alternative that is compatible with Apple’s iPhone and iPad. I am unable to recommend anyone who has completed this task as of yet. This one falls squarely on the shoulders of the poker software developers, who, in my opinion, are being miserly and, as a result, passing on a tremendous opportunity.
It is a well-established truth at this point that consumers access the Internet more frequently through their mobile devices than through their personal PCs these days. The US poker sites haven’t done too well so yet.
What about players from the United States who use Android?
The same thing applies to Android’s Google Play app shop, with the exception that to this day, no real money app from a US site has been placed there.
Updated in 2022: Real money mobile poker alternatives for Android users in the United States are now available from Bovada Poker and BetOnline Poker.
You won’t be able to locate it in Google Play because there is no downloadable app for it. Simply navigate to Bovada using any mobile device running Android and begin playing directly in the browser.
From my own experience, I’ve never had any issues playing conventional cash games or the fast-fold variant known as Zone Poker on the mobile app.
If you name the United States of America your home, you should invest some time into researching which online casinos provide the quickest withdrawals, the most deposit options, and other important features.
United States Poker Deposit Methods
Bitcoin
In the history of the online poker business in the United States, I believe that the best banking method that has ever been is bitcoin (huge tutorial here).
Safe, almost completely anonymous, requiring the fewest possible personal details, and unable to be turned down. In the other direction, Bitcoin rewards will be paid to you within 6–48 hours after the transaction is completed. It is known as The Holy Grail.
A growing number of online poker sites that welcome players from the United States now accept additional popular cryptocurrencies in addition to Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash.
2015 was a year that saw a rise in popularity.
In most cases, there is no cost.
Typical success rate: 100 percent
Best Options
Bitcoin is supported natively at the cashiers of Bovada Poker, BetOnline, and America’s Cardroom, all of which have modest deposit minimums ranging from $10 to $20.
Cards de crédit
Deposits made with credit cards provide real money players from the United States a great deal of convenience, and fees are typically not assessed. The rate at which credit card applications are denied is the most significant problem.
Stay with poker sites that are based in the United States since they have superior processors, or utilize a prepaid gift card that has worldwide capabilities.
Generally speaking, the online poker sites that have been in business the longest and welcome players from the United States are the ones that offer the best credit card processing.
1998 was the year that saw a rise in popularity.
In most cases, there is no cost.
Depending on the poker site, the typical success rate is between 50 and 80 percent.
Best Options
Bovada Poker has the second-highest rate of success when it comes to processing credit cards from customers in the United States, after BetOnline and Sportsbetting.ag.
Transfer of Funds
You will need to go in person to a Western Union or MoneyGram station or use their respective websites in order to send a cash transfer. There is also the matter of costs when it comes to sending a cash transfer.
The good news is that online poker sites that welcome players from the United States of America will frequently repay cash transfer costs on request by adding the amount to the player’s poker account.
Withdrawals made through cash transfers provide users the ability to get cash straight from a kiosk within a short amount of time.
You will be provided with information on cash transfers by the poker site that welcomes players from the United States.
2006 was the year that saw a rise in popularity.
Fees usually range from $10 to $50.
Typical success rate: 100 percent
Best Options
Both BetOnline and America’s Cardroom have integrated cash transfers into their respective monetary transaction systems.
Check with Cashier’s Marks
A cashier’s check is an uncommon deposit mechanism in the United States that became popular after the UIGEA banned all previous electronic wallets.
Paper cashier’s checks are still accepted for deposits at some poker sites. However, in order to make a deposit using one of these checks, you will first need to get one created at your bank, then find the poker site’s postal address, and then mail the check in.
You should also most likely use a courier service such as Fedex to mail cashier’s checks to international destinations. Request a refund from the poker site for the cost you had to pay.
2006 was the year that saw a rise in popularity.
Fees are often quite low.
Typical success rate: 100 percent
Best Options
Although BetOnline is one of the few poker sites in the United States that actively supports cashier’s checks, it is possible that other sites provide the option upon request.
Money Order
Following the passage of the UIGEA, the use of money orders, an antiquated offline paper technique, saw a brief surge in popularity but has since mostly fallen out of favor.
Because they may be purchased at almost any convenience shop, market, or post office, money orders are considered to be the more accessible alternative to cashier’s checks.
Despite this, you will still need to physically mail in a money order to the poker site and wait for them to process it before you can withdraw any winnings. You should also plan on spending the money to have Fedex deliver it so that you can keep track of it.
2006 was the year that saw a rise in popularity.
Fees are often quite low.
Typical success rate: 100 percent
Best Options
Although money orders are only accepted by BetOnline, which shows them as a semi-hidden deposit option, it is possible to directly request that other US sites accept them as well.
Transfer Via Wire
Wire transfer is an uncommon deposit option that is not given by many real money sites that are geared toward players in the United States in their cashiers. However, if you ask a poker site for it behind-the-scenes, it is typically available to you.
It is simple to receive a wire transfer, but in order to send one, you will need to go to a bank office and fill out a wire transfer form using the information that is provided by the poker site.
On request, the poker site will nearly always repay the costs associated with wire transfers.
2006 was the year that saw a rise in popularity.
Normal prices range from $20 to $75
Typical success rate: 100 percent
Best Options
Again, when it comes to cashiers that accept unusual deposit methods, BetOnline has a sort of monopoly on the market for US poker. On demand, wire transfers can be used to make deposits, and they are automatically supported for bigger payments.
An Overview of the Development of Online Poker in the United States
1998
Planet Poker, the world’s first online poker site, begins offering games for real money, making it the first of its kind in the world. The way the software client was designed visually and in terms of its functionality established a standard that is currently followed by modern poker sites.
1999
When it comes to online poker for real money, Paradise Poker is the second site to launch, but it has swiftly surpassed Planet Poker as the most popular.
2000
Launch of UltimateBet, which would go on to become one of the most popular poker sites in the United States until its closure in 2011. Poker Spot also launched operations and was the first online poker site to host tournaments once it went live.
2001
Launch of PartyPoker and PokerStars, which would go on to become the two largest online poker sites in the world, respectively.
2002
Partypoker overtakes Paradise Poker to become the most popular online poker site, marking the beginning of a run of dominance that would continue until the passage of the UIGEA in 2006.
2003
Chris Moneymaker takes first place in an online PokerStars satellite tournament and advances to the WSOP main event. The bookkeeper from Tennessee ends up taking home the first-place prize of $2.5 million and becoming the first individual to do so after qualifying for the tournament through an online satellite. His triumph is often regarded as the event that kicked off the “poker boom.”
2003-2006
The absence of involvement from the government, together with persistent promotion, poker TV programming, and other factors, contribute to the explosion in popularity of online poker in the United States.
2006
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was included as an amendment to the unrelated SAFE Port Act on September 29, which led to its eventual passage. As a result of the UIGEA, US online poker sites are unable to receive or make payments to or from US banks.
Partypoker and 888 Poker, two of the market giants, have decided to voluntarily quit the United States market. Almost immediately, every publicly-traded online poker site did the same thing.
2006-now
The market for online poker is perpetually divided into two categories: privately held companies that are still ready to serve players from the United States for real money games and publicly owned businesses that will only host games for players from the rest of the world. The second factor is far more important than the first one.
2007
The United States government has taken possession of $55 million in US-based player cash held by NETeller, the largest electronic wallet service utilized by US online poker sites.
The funds are finally returned to the players a few months later, but going forward, no e-wallet that serves US players will be able to maintain its viability over the long term.
2009
The UIGEA mandates that each and every provision be strictly adhered to. The processing of deposits and withdrawals becomes significantly more complicated for online casinos that still accept players from the United States. PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and UltimateBet/Absolute Poker are the most prominent examples of such websites.
2011
The fifteenth of April is given the dreaded name of Black Friday. On that day, indictments against Full Tilt Poker, Pokerstars, and UltimateBet/Absolute Poker were made public by authorities from the United States.
The domains of these market-leading poker sites in the United States have been seized, and they are prohibited from operating anywhere in the country. PokerStars processes refund requests from US players in under two weeks.
In June, Full Tilt Poker was handed their operating license revocation. As it becomes apparent that Full Tilt Poker does not have sufficient assets to cover player balances, the full ramifications of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) are revealed.
The Cereus network, which consisted of the online poker rooms Absolute Poker and UltimateBet, abruptly ceased operations without providing customers in the United States with any means by which they could withdraw their monies. It would take a number of years for the payouts to be distributed to the American players.
2012
Pokerstars has completed the acquisition of Full Tilt Poker’s assets. After more than a year of waiting, players from the United States are at last permitted to initiate the withdrawal process as a result of the agreement.
2013
Three states in the United States have introduced legislation to regulate online poker after receiving assurance from the Department of Justice in the United States that they will not be in violation of the Wire Act.
State-based poker operators can get licenses to operate in Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey respectively. The ability to play online is restricted to players who are physically present in certain states.
Partypoker, Pokerstars, and 888 Poker all have physical locations in a variety of states. Interstate compacts would one day make it possible for players from various states to participate against one another in a given game.
2014
Nevada and Delaware have signed a deal over online poker, which would allow the two states to pool their players together into a single pool. The deal was a significant step forward for the growth of online poker in the United States, despite the fact that the entire player pool is rather small.
2016
PokerStars has been absent from the United States for more than five years, but the company has finally returned and is making its players available in New Jersey. When PokerStars New Jersey went live in March of 2016, it launched anticipation that more states would ultimately grant the industry leader the ability to secure a gambling license.
2017
Online poker and other types of online gambling have been given the green light by the state of Pennsylvania.
The state of New Jersey has also joined the interstate online poker compact, which paves the way for licensed online poker sites to offer shared tables with players based in the states of Nevada and Delaware.
2019
With the addition of New Jersey to the interstate online poker compact, licensed online poker sites will now be allowed to run shared tables with players based in Nevada and Delaware.
PokerStars also comes back to another state in the United States, this time to Pennsylvania, where regulated games are now available.
The states of West Virginia and Michigan have also passed laws explicitly legalizing online poker, laying the groundwork for the launch of legally sanctioned poker games in the near future.
The United States Department of Justice is likewise embroiled in a legal dispute as a result of its about-face about whether or not state-authorized online poker violates the 1961 Wire Act. Despite the fact that a court overturned the Department of Justice’s judgment, the appeal process is still on for that ruling.
2020
Since 2011, there have been no significant attacks on US-oriented sites that are not regulated, and as a result, the US poker market has, for the most part, remained steady. A number of states are in various phases of the regulatory process.
Due to the fact that Bitcoin is anonymous and cannot be controlled by any government, it has quickly become the preferred method of payment processing for American players who play poker on offshore sites.
Global Poker, Bovada Poker, Ignition Poker, BetOnline Poker, and America’s Cardroom are now the leaders in the market for offshore poker in the United States.
Are US poker sites legal?
The majority of the Department of Justice’s legal arguments hinge on the fact that online poker, the conduct in issue, is illegal. The major federal anti-gambling act, the Wire Act, has been ruled in a ruling that has been published by the federal Court of Appeals to be limited to bets placed on sporting events and races. This presents a challenge for the prosecuting attorneys.
I. Nelson Rose, Attorney and Professor of Gaming Law
Since poker sites in the United States established its own market in 2006, the issue of whether or not online poker may be played legally has been, without a shadow of a doubt, the most often questioned one. And there’s no denying that it’s an excellent and important query.
Over the decade of the last ten years, I’ve seen a lot of websites offering solutions to this issue that are motivated by the desire to make a sale to you. The following are the most common:
- You are correct, nothing has changed for players in the United States.
- Yes, each and every one of them is licensed and supervised by ABC Island Tax Haven.
- Consult with a legal professional.
The first two responses are hilarious to me, less so for the thoughts expressed in them and more so for the fact that any writer at a poker website thinks they are competent to answer your question about whether or not anything is legal. That’s something I won’t be doing, for sure.
It would appear that hundreds of legal specialists on online gambling have emerged as a direct result of the UIGEA.
Consultation with an attorney is unquestionably sound advise; yet, there is a difficulty in that:
- The overwhelming majority of players are not likely to behave in such a manner, and
- The vast majority of attorneys are completely unable to answer the question.
…the illegal impression that it criminalized gambling via the internet. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is technically only an enforcement act. The UIGEA was rushed through Congress by the Republican leader at the time, Bill Frist (R-Tennessee), and it is a mess, with typos and other problems. It is not even entirely clear that online poker is illegal in every state and territory of the United States.
I. Nelson Rose, Attorney and Professor of Gaming Law
Let’s take some advice from some of the real poker pros in the United States.
There are a few lawyers that are capable of doing so since they truly focus their practice on gaming and poker law. They are some of the few persons who are able to make sense of the legal chaos that surrounds online poker and explain it to the general public. They are excellent sources of information regarding poker in the United States.
My view is predicated, to a considerable extent, on what my go-to gaming law expert, the unparalleled Professor I. Nelson Rose, has to say about the topic at hand.
The days that followed the passage of the UIGEA were a hectic time, and I recall his being the voice of reason during those days. Why exactly would you want to take the time to hear what someone else has to say?
It is incomprehensible that there was no examination of the regulations that, quite literally, altered the rules of online poker and caused stockholders to lose hundreds of millions of dollars.
Even more remarkable is the fact that the huge departure of publicly-traded online poker sites that are available to US players, which altered everything, was done as a result of misreading. This is a fact that changed everything.
Of course, this is ancient history, and it does not immediately answer our issue on whether or not poker sites in the United States are legal. However, familiarizing oneself with the language of that federal legislation regarding online gambling that is almost a decade old and even the statute’s name itself might be helpful.
There is no federal legislation that specifically prohibits the act of playing poker. One half of the states do, in fact, have rules on the books that are largely archaic and make it a crime, at times, to place a bet. On the other hand, it is not a crime in any way, shape, or form to bet with an illegal enterprise.
I. Nelson Rose, Attorney and Professor of Gaming Law
I live in the United States; can I legally play poker online?
Have a look at what Professor Rose had to say up there. Isn’t that something that fascinates you?
I would guess that many people in the United States who have only a passing familiarity with online poker have the misconception that it was rendered illegal in 2006 and that Black Friday in 2011 was related to this issue.
The uproar in the media that followed the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006 was characterized by some publications as a “ban on online poker.” Because it was such a common (and incorrect) statement, I decided to write an entire post about it.
In point of fact, there is no federal legislation that particularly addresses the act of playing poker online. This is something that Professor Rose, whom I regard as the preeminent authority on gaming law, explains to you personally.
Legal high points for online poker sites in the United States
I have not only read Professor Rose’s great book Internet Gaming Law, but I have also had a personal conversation with him over this matter. The most important parts are listed below.
It is not against any federal law to engage in activities such as playing poker or other casino games online. There is a possibility that some state laws will be applicable.
- The Unlawful language Gambling Enforcement Measure (UIGEA) is itself a financial enforcement act. It did not make any type of gambling that was not previously illegal illegal, therefore there was no change there.
The United States Department of Justice provided clarification in 2013 that the Wire Act was only applicable to betting on sports and racing, so opening the road for the regulation of online poker.
After Black Friday, those who ran online poker sites were prosecuted with crimes relating to fraud and other banking-related offenses; they were NOT charged with crimes related to hosting online poker games. The poker operators that were charging fees corrupted a US bank in order to handle their payments.
If you ask me, all of it appears to go in a positive direction.
You should definitely check with an attorney and appropriate law enforcement to discover if you may play poker online for real money, but I believe it’s quite evident that the reality isn’t quite as severe as the perception that’s been generated over the past decade.
Over eighty-five percent of people living in the United States are against the government outlawing online gambling.
-A survey carried out by the Wall Street Journal not long after the UIGEA was enacted in 2006
Poker Sites of Note That Have Since Left the US Market
888 Poker USA
October 2006 was the month when we left the US market.
888 Holdings is the owner of this site. Following the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), 888 Poker USA was among the very first online poker sites to voluntarily withdraw from the US market.
It is unknown whether or whether they eventually paid a settlement to the authorities in the USA.
Currently regarded as one of the most popular poker sites anywhere in the world.
Poker in the Pacific
October 2006 was the month when we left the US market.
888 Poker’s sister site, Pacific Poker, was also one of the first to pull its services from the United States market.
Players in the three states in the United States where online poker can be played legally can now participate in games at 888Poker USA for real money.
partypoker
October 2006 was the month when we left the US market.
Party Gaming is the owner of this site.
Party Poker made the decision to leave the US market immediately after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed, but they left the door open for a possible return whenever individual US states began to implement online poker regulations.
Party Poker is currently offering their services to anyone residing in the state of New Jersey.
October 2006 was the month when we left the US market.
iPoker is one the largest open online poker networks in existence.
They provide access to dozens of online poker sites, with Titan Poker, Bet365, and William Hill standing out as some of the most well-known among them.
IPoker left the United States immediately following the adoption of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), and the company has not made any efforts to return to the country in any manner at this time.
PKR
Never entered the USA market.
A independent online poker room, PKR first launched its virtual doors in 2006, only a few short months before the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was enacted.
As soon as they got wind of the anti-online gambling legislation that was being drafted, they took the decision to never provide play to American players again.
PKR was once affiliated with the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN).
PKR ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy in 2017, however Pokerstars was ultimately able to save the company.
Microgaming
In September of 2008, we withdrew from the US market
Microgaming is the open online poker network that is the second largest overall, and it is home to notable sites like Stan James and Mansion Poker.
After the passing of the UIGEA, Microgaming initially decided to remain in the United States, but in 2008, after multiple domain seizures have taken, it changed its mind.
At that time, Microgaming made the decision to withdraw from the US poker market, and they still do not operate in any states where poker is regulated.
Pokerstars
In April of 2011, we were forced to withdraw from the market in the United States.
After the events of the incident known as “Black Friday,” which took place in April of 2011, they were forced to stop offering poker games to customers in the United States.
PokerStars agreed to pay the United States government a fine of $731 million so that it may continue to provide its services to the rest of the world.
PokerStars continues to be the online poker site that attracts the most players all around the world.
They were successful in reestablishing their position in the United States by penetrating the regulated poker market in the state of New Jersey.
Full Tilt Poker
In April of 2011, we were forced to withdraw from the market in the United States.
Owned by Amaya. Full Tilt Poker, much like PokerStars, continued to operate in the online poker market in the United States until they were forced to stop.
Black Friday revealed that Full Tilt Poker did not properly segregate player funds and that its partners engaged in unethical business activities. This was in contrast to PokerStars.
The only thing that saved the poker site was when PokerStars made the decision to acquire it and restore all of the players’ funds.
Absolute Poker
Completely shut down in April 2011.
The Cereus Network, which included the brands Absolute Poker and UltimateBet, remained active in the United States poker market until it was no longer profitable to do so.
These two sites were taken online permanently after the Department of Justice in the United States acquired control of their domains in April of 2011.
In contrast to PokerStars and Full Tilt, Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet ceased to exist entirely.
Former players finally have the opportunity to submit a request for a refund of their player balances, after waiting to wait for several years.
What is the current state with online poker sites that accept American players?
The online poker market in the United States is still, for the most site, terrible right now.
PokerStars, Party Poker, 888 Poker, Full Tilt Poker, and Titan Poker are just few of the many sites that provide real money online poker games, and almost everyone in the world has access to these games. You name it: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, they’ve got it. Poker players in the United States who play online? They are typically given the leftovers.
The American poker environment is likely to be a lot murkier than the bright reassurances you’ll hear abroad, but that does not imply that you won’t be able to locate a trustworthy online home for your virtual bankroll that is favorable to players from the United States.
You could make a deposit to a real money poker site that welcomes players from the United States, only to discover that no one is ready to play for stakes higher than.05/.10 cents.
You are able to handle:
- Refused to accept credit cards
- states with restricted access
- Payments that take a long time
- Bonuses for being hollow
- Tables devoid of guests
- Statements that contain no substance
You have the option to do that; but, I would want to assist you avoid doing that whenever possible.
Right present, only people living in three states and fewer than five percent of the country are in the clear.
They are allowed to play on a US poker site that is licensed for real money, and they are merely have to cope with the same meaningless bonuses and empty tables as the rest of the country.
The remaining 95 percent of the United States requires some kind of road map. That is the information that I would want to present here.
There is no federal legislation that specifically prohibits the act of playing poker.
I. Nelson Rose, Attorney and Professor of Gaming Law
Poker players in the United States are known to be fighters.
Since 2006, US poker sites have been confronted with all of these challenges, both legal and otherwise, and yet… US poker continues to thrive.
After taking some nasty body punches and cheap jabs, US-friendly online poker has managed to stay upright despite the fact that it is not always attractive.
Poker players in the United States are known for being rebellious. They are resilient and never give up when they fall. They have a Rocky look.
The puppet show that is Sheldon Adelson tells you that there is no such thing as moral betting online, but the casinos in Las Vegas are more than happy to take your bet at one of their many magnificent establishments, so what do you do? You put up a fight!
How?
You decide to play the $1 Sit and Go, and during the game, you click more quickly than you ever have before.
You smile as you nod along to some indie music, and murmur, “Bet you didn’t want me to do that, Lindsey (Graham, like the cracker)! ” while you play a hand of quick-fold poker on your phone while biting into a Chipotle burrito.”
Keep it up, fellas. Always remember to keep an eye on the tiger, tiger.
Avoiding misleading material that is aimed at online poker players in the United States
At this point in time, more than a decade after unscrupulous special interest legislators added the now-familiar phrase “US poker sites” to our ever-growing poker lexicon, you have most likely seen the argument previously at other poker websites.
This constant repetition is becoming old, it gives you a stomach ache, and it insults your intelligence.
Right present, only people living in three states and fewer than five percent of the country are in the clear. They are able to play on a poker site that is licensed in the US.
The remaining 97 percent of people need some kind of guide to follow in order to navigate this Wild West free market, which even Ayn Rand would have found confusing.
Numerous poker websites, many of which have eyes that have a cotton or linen-like green tint, will be happy to reassure you. A few examples of some of my faves are as follows:
- Nothing has changed for players in the United States!”
- There are still a ton of fantastic alternatives available in the US!”
- These sites are all legal, hold licensed licenses, and are subject to regulation.”
- “Your deposit is absolutely secure, and you can rest certain that you will never be in danger!”
- -With all due respect, every other poker website that is attempting to offer you on the US market
You should give those statements roughly the same amount of weight as you would the droppings from a bulls-only rodeo that was sponsored by a GMO-bologna firm owned by Bill Frist.
Don’t let the presence of licenses from reputable US poker sites fool you.
A license from a nation that is lenient on taxes and gaming has been secured by the vast majority of online poker sites since their site. Well done. It’s wonderful to observe.
When you talk about sites that are hospitable to tourists from the United States, you’re referring to destinations like Malta, Costa Rica, and even some very small Indian tribes.
There is no doubt that these are wonderful places of the world; nevertheless, it is probable that they are more worried about paying the annual license cost than they are in really testing the games and rewards on a regular basis.
Even when it was discovered that its own workers had been defrauding poker players for years, Absolute Poker and UB were still licensed licenses and actually permitted to continue operating. Therefore, you should hurl the license out the car window. You are not assured of anything by doing so.
Poker marketers in the United States often use licenses issued by obscure foreign jurisdictions as a handy method to try to reassure you about the safety of a US poker site. Don’t give in to the temptation.
A little under 5 percent of the population in the United States has access to poker sites that are regulated online.
Ready for USA Online Poker? We are traveling directly to the Wild, Wild West.
If you do not live in one of the three states in the United States (New Jersey, Delaware, or Nevada) that have passed laws regulating online poker, you are joining a market that is completely unregulated.
Because there is no regulation from the government, unregulated poker sites in the United States are basically only impacted by you, the American customer. It all boils down to one’s reputation and, to a lesser extent, how effective one’s advertising is.
That is really interesting… in a roundabout manner.
The poker market in the United States has the feel of a libertarian’s ideal laboratory experiment.
If a poker site makes enough mistakes on a significant enough scale (for example, they stop processing payouts or there is a scandal involving cheating), customers will eventually force them out of business.
This is kind of occurring right now with Carbon Poker, which has messed up a good product past the point of repair but is still actively trying to bring on new players from the United States.
In this market for free US poker sites, the best players will inevitably rise to the top, despite the fact that it is unfortunate that this process will need the suffering of at least one site.
Consider the United States poker market to be similar to the Amazon Marketplace or eBay.
If a seller is new to the market, they probably won’t receive many customers right away. However, if they can prove that they can be trusted by each and every one of their clients, they will soon become a formidable competitor who has no problem luring customers.
The few sites that I list on BTF all have their gold star seller badges already.
The fact that there is little to no oversight means that no one is going to step in and aid you if you are scammed. As a result, it is so much more important that you complete your research using information from reliable third parties.
Even after such a long decade, people in the United States still have the opportunity to participate in online poker games.
How the online poker market in the United States got where it is today?
The roller coaster ride that has been the market for online poker in the United States might one day be the subject of a riveting book. Everyone involved is a character in the story, and we’re all waiting for the conclusion.
The future of online poker in the United States is uncertain, and if at all possible, I would like to assist players in navigating this uncertain landscape.
Before the middle of 2006, the online poker market in the United States was identical to markets in every other world (ROW). Players from the United States were able to utilize the same user-friendly electronic wallets (such as NETeller) and gaming sites as their counterparts from other regions of the world (ROW). The growth of online poker appeared to have no end in sight.
The UIGEA in the year 2006
Everything changed in September 2006 when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was stealthily added onto an unrelated must-pass port security bill at the 11th hour before a break of congress.
The smoking gun, or evidence of wrongdoing
A number of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives have testified that no one other than the sponsors of the Act was aware that it was included, and that no one other than the sponsors of the law had the opportunity to read the final text.
Following this, all publicly traded poker sites ceased accepting US players, paving the way for privately owned and operated mega-sites such as PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker to dominate the market in the United States.
The market appeared to have settled into a new normal, with a clear divide emerging between poker rooms serving the United States of America and those serving the rest of the world. Payment methods began to be made available to US players over a period of time.
The Black Friday in the year 2011
The next shoe to drop was the “Black Friday” of online poker in April of 2011, which saw a district of the United States Department of Justice initiating action against the three major surviving poker sites that catered to US players.
PokerStars emerged unscathed from the debacle, reaching a settlement with the United States government in the amount of $731 million, and retaining its preeminent standing among players from other regions of the world.
The state with online poker sites in the United States in 2022
Poker sites that are privately owned and operated have stepped in to fill the void for US players who live in states where the online is not regulated.
Other than Bovada Poker, no US-facing poker site now has very high traffic, and the market as a whole is at its smallest point ever as a result of long-standing competitors shifting their focus away from recruiting new players.
Even so, playing poker online for real money in the United States is still an option, and I’ve spent a lot of time reviewing the sites that welcome new players.
There are still deposit choices available, with Bitcoin being the most popular of them all, but the poker site you play at will have a significant impact on the available methods.
States subject to regulation
The market for online poker in the United States is similarly very fragmented, with just a small number of states offering officially sanctioned games.
At the moment, fewer than 5 percent of the total population of the United States may take advantage of this, but it looks like it will soon be expanded to a greater number of states. It’s a fascinating idea that’s developing about as quickly as a poker chip in molasses, but it’s still worth keeping an eye on.
The future for poker sites in the United States
The future of online poker players in the United States is still uncertain. Over the next five years, I see three primary opportunities for online poker in the United States, none of which can be dismissed outright.
In addition, here is a fascinating and very recent interview with John Pappas, who has been the primary spokesperson for the Poker Players Alliance. He discusses the topic.
We do not change the current setup of privately run offshore poker in the US.
Only a few of the United States’ more rural states have chosen to allow gaming, leaving the bulk of the country to make do with limited private games.
This is where we have been since 2013, when a few of states in the United States decided to take the bold step of licensing and regulating online poker.
This is the kind of situation that might go on forever, which, if you think about it, wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen in the world. There is a free poker market available through Bitcoin, and the majority of us believe the games are honest. To my ears, that makes perfect sense.
The legislation governing state-based online poker sees tremendous growth.
When one of the larger states in the United States decides to make online poker legal, most of the other states quickly follow suit. It’s possible that we’re talking about the state of California, Pennsylvania, or New York.
It would be a huge deal if even one of those states was eventually able to cut through all of the bureaucratic hoops.
