The primary focus of Beat The Fish will continue to be providing readers with objective, in-depth reviews of the top real money poker sites available.
Over the course of the previous 14 years, I’ve been inundated with e-mails from real poker players who have expressed their gratitude for them. I have no words to describe how satisfying that is.
It’s not easy to find trustworthy information on any poker site, even the best sites. I hope you’ll agree with me on this. Before you start playing, I’m going to offer you a real rundown of what you may anticipate happening.
I review in-depth analysis on each and every one of them.
My name is Josh, and in 2005 I established the website Beat The Fish. Since 2004, I’ve been reviewing in-depth analyses of the best poker sites found online. Over the course of that time, I evaluated over sixty online poker sites.
Every single poker review that you will find on this website was published by yours truly after I had spent a significant number of time actively participating in each poker site in question.
Being an active participant in the game of online poker myself, I believe that I have a good understanding of the factors that are most significant to other players.
Online Poker Sites I’ve Reviewed in 2022
Since I began playing there for real money in 2004, Bovada Poker has consistently been among my top choices among online poker sites. They boast one of the most relaxed player bases of any poker site in the world and are by far the most popular poker site among players from the United States. In addition to this, they have almost 20 years of experience working in the online poker sector.
I really like how Bovada supports the usage of anonymous tables, as this renders poker site HUDs ineffective and invites casual players to join in the action. Because there are so many players at every stake level, Bovada is the best online poker site in the United States that provides the option of playing fast-fold poker.
- Real money mobile app
- Payouts in Bitcoin in as short as an hour
- Outstanding reputation in the world of poker, acquired by the absence of controversies and payout delays
- The Fast-Fold Zone Poker table mode gives you the ability to play more than 300 hands every hour.
Poker with Ignition
Ignition Poker is a more recent entrant into the world of online poker. The website first went live in 2016, shortly after the company purportedly acquired the poker business of Bovada. Don’t let yourself get duped. The fact that they are most likely run by the same corporation that is responsible for the experienced online gambling site Bovada is excellent news for poker players.
Ignition Poker has also made major improvements to the deposit of their online poker promos and bonuses, and they are currently offering a bonus of 150 percent for players who make deposits using Bitcoin. In addition, they host some of the most active poker tournaments, which sometimes draw in hundreds of players for each competition. In addition to Texas Hold’em, they also host Omaha and PLO games.
- Play on the most online poker website network in the United States market.
- With Bitcoin, you may get rewards in the form of real money in as little as six hours
- One of the only mobile clients in the US that can really transact real money
- Some of the most exciting action can be found in cash games online.
As a haven of second chances for defunct gambling sites in the form of an online poker room, America’s Cardroom has had an eventful history. ACR has never been riding higher as one of the most popular real money poker alternatives for US players, and it isn’t difficult to understand why. The site offers a wide variety of games, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 7 Card Stud, and more.
Their tournaments are almost always unrivaled in their online poker industry, and they even occasionally conduct tournaments with guarantees of one million dollars. America’s Cardroom is the second-largest real money network in the United States, and they are now offering a one-of-a-kind free $50 immediate tournament bonus for players who use the correct ACR promo code.
- Currently one of the most seasoned online poker sites still available
- Twenty free Jackpot Sit and Go tournaments with any deposit of real money
- Some of the most prestigious tournaments in the United States
- Payouts in Bitcoin are processed within 12 hours and are very quick.
BetOnline has carved out a comfortable place for itself as one of the best online poker sites by offering fast payouts, updated software, an excellent mobile app, and a reasonable amount of traffic in cash games. I’ve played poker at BetOnline for years, and despite the fact that the players aren’t nearly as horrible as they used to be, I’ve maintained a high opinion of the site’s overall quality.
BetOnline boasts some of the greatest poker bonuses available, and if you’re prepared to play to pay out the whole amount, you may get up to $1,000 in free money to play with. However, you have to request these bonuses manually. They are also now simply presenting hands from numerous tables, making them one of the best poker sites that are available on mobile devices.
- Handles over one hundred percent of all credit cards used in the US
- Supports Bitcoin in addition to a number of other cryptocurrencies.
- Poker tables that are active up to the $5/10 no-limit level
- Fantastic new mobile poker software available for both iOS and Android devices
Sportsbetting Poker
If uniqueness were a factor in scoring, SportsBetting Poker would not fare well because it is an exact replica of BetOnline and is hosted on the same online poker network. In spite of the lack of competition in the real money poker sector, Sportsbetting is still among the top poker sites worldwide and deserves to be included.
The same high-money credit card processors are used, and there are no additional fees or rejections of deposits to worry about. A large number of cash tables and one of the largest real money bonuses available online are two other primary advantages.
Players who participate in online poker are permitted to open real-money accounts at both this site and BetOnline. The advantage of doing so is that you are eligible to receive any deposit bonus or promotion twice.
- Same poker site network, same features as BetOnline
- The United States has the lowest rate of declined credit cards
- Bitcoin, Ethereum, and several other forms of cryptocurrency
- Brand new mobile poker software that supports real money games
Intertops Poker
In the world of online poker, Intertops Poker is a relatively unknown brand, but according to my review, they perform quite well in important categories like their payouts and their mobile software. Intertops has maintained its presence in the online gambling player for more than two years thanks to a stellar reputation and a commitment to providing prompt and reliable payments to customers, including processing Bitcoin withdrawals in fewer than forty-eight hours.
Intertops Poker suffers from a lack of real-money poker traffic, pulling fewer than 100 cash game players at any given time. Because of this, it is highly unlikely that you will make it your only online poker home. However, considering the size of the deposit bonus and the loose player quality, it is worth taking a look at even though the market is rather tiny and US-friendly.
- The massive two hundred percent incentive is soon cleared on the overall rake.
- Supports Bitcoin in addition to a wide range of other cryptocurrencies
- Poker games may be played on the computer without the need to download any software.
Poker with Black Chips
Black Chip Poker is a “skin” online poker site, which means that it shares its players, tournaments, and tables with America’s Cardroom, the industry’s leading brand, and derives its revenue from these relationships. My review of the poker site reveals that if you use a promo code, they provide a bonus of one hundred percent up to a maximum of one thousand dollars. Players who bet at high stakes will see a lot, while players who bet at low levels will see very little.
The most significant flaw is found in the Black Chip Poker software platform. It functions well on Windows, but it is a major shortcoming that there is neither a Mac nor a mobile poker site available. This poker site has good traffic, which is higher than that of many of the other poker sites that I have examined, and an outstanding tournament calendar.
- A member of the most extensive online poker network in the United States
- The most lucrative tournaments for real money on the market today
- Some unique features like Jackpot Poker
Nitrogen Sports Poker
Nitrogen Sports Poker is more of an all-around Bitcoin betting solution than it is a traditional online poker site. Bitcoin is the sole currency accepted for deposits, withdrawals, and wagers on the Nitrogen platform.
There is a real money poker area available at Nitrogen Sports, along with certain tables that are played pretty loosely and daily freerolls. The possibility to make a real money poker account while remaining completely anonymous and without providing any personal information is another feature that cannot be beaten.
- Each poker table and event is optimized for use on mobile devices.
- Poker for real money with all buy-ins denominated in Bitcoin
- Accounts that are completely anonymous and never request identification
- Payouts in Bitcoin made within four to six hours.
Questions That Are Typically Asked
Is it possible to play poker online for real money at any sites?
Yes, many. Since the late 1990s, there have been online poker sites that provide play for real money, with several offering and disappearing in the years since then. Based on the length of time they’ve been in business, the reliability of their payouts, and my own review with each poker site, I put my money on about a dozen different sites right now.
Where can I find the most reputable online poker room?
It is impossible to give a universally applicable answer to the question of which site offers the best online poker games since different players place different emphasis on different aspects of the player. When evaluating an online poker site, I believe the most significant criteria to look at are whether or not the games are profitable, how simple it is to make deposits, how much traffic the room gets, and how quickly and reliably winnings are paid out. At the moment, I advise players from the United States to sign up with Global Poker or Bovada Poker, while players from the rest of the globe should use 888 Poker.
Is it possible to get in trouble for playing poker online?
The response is more nuanced than that, particularly for poker players who live in the United States. The short answer is that the vast majority of rules governing online gaming concentrate their attention on the service providers rather than the players. There have been almost no instances when players who play poker online have been convicted solely for engaging in that activity. In spite of this, previous to wagering any real money, you should always make it a point to research the legal status of online gambling in your state, region, or nation.
Where can I find the best online poker site for novice players?
When you are just beginning to learn how to play poker, I believe that the best online poker site is one that is going to be easy to understand and uncomplicated. Learning the basic rules of the game and being familiar with the interface of the program should be the primary focus of a player who is just starting out. When you are making a decision that might end up costing you money, the last thing you want is for software to distract you from the task at hand. Play money mode is available on every online poker site, and in my opinion, it’s the best way to acquire a feel for the software that each site uses. At this time, I would suggest a poker site like as Global Poker for players who are just starting out because there is no software to download and there aren’t a lot of complicated features to confuse you.
My rankings of the top poker sites available online
The recipe for my poker review is laid out in a general structure that, in my opinion, provides you with the most information cross-section that is even somewhat conceivable.
In the same way that filo bread is made up of multiple layers of poker site exaggeration, I want to peel back every component of a potential real money poker room in order to highlight what could be most essential to you on an individual level.
If I go into what could seem like an excessive amount of information regarding each online poker club, then I have a higher chance of discussing something particular that is relevant to each player. Even if you are a player in a country or territory that has a restricted number of poker alternatives, you still have a number of different options about where you may take your money.
The following is something that I include in each and every one of my poker reviews: The absolute best sites for online poker get consistently high marks in the vast majority of, if not all of, the categories.
Both the Aces and the Twos
This section provides a couple handfuls of short pros and cons for each real-money poker site, and it is located at the top of each review page.
It is useful as a fast reference for what I consider to be the most notable characteristics, both positive and negative.
Bonuses and promotional opportunities
This section provides a couple handfuls of short pros and cons for each real-money poker site, and it is located at the top of each review page.
I don’t only look at the basic poker bonus amount; I also evaluate the various incentives that a poker room offers, such as their rewards programs and their specialized tournaments.
Evaluation of Fish
If I had to choose one term to register as a trademark for Beat The Fish, “Fish Rating” is the one that comes to mind first.
Since I first started writing reviews of online poker sites, one of the most consistent aspects of those reviews has been the Fish Rating, which gives a number based on how “easy” a poker site is to use.
Every poker player has their unique set of priorities, but this should be one of the first considerations you make when selecting the best new online poker home for you.
The higher the Fish Rating, the greater the number of inexperienced poker players that will be at the tables, which will result in more activity for you to participate in.
In order to arrive at this ranking, I play thousands of hands over various real-money tables, each of which has a different limit.
Deposits Made With Actual Money
In each poker site review that I write, I always make sure to rate the cashier alternatives and assess how effectively each one is processed. This is especially important for players in the United States.
Even for players from outside of the United States of America, the selection of deposit methods offered by even the best online gambling sites can vary greatly.
Before you even begin with a new site, it’s a good idea to deposit out how you can make deposits there.
Payout Velocity and Available Choices
Players from all around the world who play online poker should be aware of what the cashout procedure entails.
The speed at which winnings are paid out is such a critical consideration that I just do not believe that any poker site could be considered superior if it were unable to pay out its players in a timely way.
You need to know how you can receive your real money, how long it is going to take you to acquire it, and that you can get your money at all on a constant basis.
Surprisingly, the majority of poker reviews do not cover this crucial aspect of the game.
Poker Matches and Tournaments
What kind of tournaments does the poker website provide and when do they take place? What are the most noteworthy events, and what huge Sunday guarantees do they have?
In addition to that, I prefer to provide information on the average number of players in the best tournaments, the amount of time it takes to fill a sit-and-go tournament, any freerolls that may be available, and any potential prize money overlay chances.
The Movement of Players
This is another crucial aspect of online poker sites that is sometimes disregarded or ignored totally by other reviews. There are several reasons for this. Regardless of whether one likes it or not, the volume of real money player traffic can bring down an otherwise reliable poker site.
If you play poker online for real money at a site that either never has enough players to find the higher stakes tables or has just a pitiful guarantee for the tournaments, you are doomed to experience nothing but frustration.
I usually make sure to give my reasonable player traffic predictions, whether I’m talking about Texas Hold’em or one of the other poker versions like Omaha.
In point of fact, I have either removed poker sites from my list or chosen not to review them due to the low volume of player activity. That’s how significant it is.
Both software and instant play are included.
You are going to want to play at poker sites that have nice software styles that you won’t mind looking at for hours at a time, but what about possibilities for sophisticated features, mobile play, and games that don’t require downloading them?
In addition to features and gaming speed, one of the sites I look for in a poker site is whether or not it uses anonymous tables, whether or not it has a native Mac version, and how its mobile choices work.
Help for Players (Player Support)
I find up with a number of questions that a new player could have for the poker site and then ask them in order to evaluate how effectively they handle newbie inquiries.
In addition, any site that offers help solely by email is deserving of the embarrassment I make an effort to bring onto it. The best poker sites available online offer a wide variety of assistance options for its customers.
Spotting Red Flags at Online Poker Sites
The volume of player traffic is one of the most important aspects of any poker site. Not only do I investigate the basic player counts, but I also look at how full the poker tables and tournaments truly are.
I never review a website without first looking at its official license. If you do a little investigating, you’ll find that Bovada Poker is running for real money poker play without a license, despite the fact that I’m a huge supporter of their service.
When playing poker online for real money, I believe it’s crucial for players to know whether or not a site offers anonymous play and whether or not it supports Heads-Up Display software.
I despise it when sites provide player support in the form of merely an email address. I always review into different kinds of help that are available.
Although I routinely examine the real money player metrics on a poker site for trends, many sites no longer show player analytics in the lobby. This is something that I find surprising. I never miss an opportunity to get some hands in at the tables and offer my observations on the player of competition there.
It’s easy for online poker sites to brag about their speedy payments, but I always make sure to investigate whether or not there are any sneaky real-money fees or delays involved.
The Ugliness that Characterizes Most Poker reviews
These days, the vast majority of reviews of online poker sites that can be found on the internet aren’t worth their weight in 7-2 offsuits.
They are penned by groups of content writers who frequently have a limited command of the English language, but who are experts in the use of exclamation marks and exaggeration.
The most egregious transgression is that what should make up the majority of a poker review is typically left out. This should not be the case. You know, just real facts that could solely be learned through the process of actually gambling online for money at the site in question.
When reviewing a poker site, virtually every one of them adheres to the same basic procedure.
Tartar’s Unfair and Biased Online Poker Review
A meal that is frequently provided at many other prominent online poker sites. Utilizing the food processor, thoroughly combine all of the ingredients. Ice cold, with a garnish of streamlined infographics as a garnish. Visitors who are playing online poker without their knowledge.
- 1 cup of public relations highlights provided by the online poker sites themselves
- Two cups of general information as a background
- Two teaspoons worth of a special poker bonus (Note: if unavailable, freerolls may be used as a substitute)
- Exaggeration used liberally and frequently in order to preserve an unfettered optimism throughout.
- Experiences that have been reported from genuine games involving real money (optional)
My Perspective on Poker with real Money
Because I still play for real money at all of the establishments you’ll read about, I’m positive that I can do a better job for you than anybody else.
I’m doubtful. Before I feel comfortable recommending any online poker sites to you, they must first earn my trust.
I believe that players who play poker online want reviews to be impartial, balanced, objective, and comprehensive, just like any consumer who is interested in purchasing a new car or television would.
The fact that my poker site reviews are not swayed by financial considerations and are as truthful and comprehensive as they can be is the most important aspect of these reviews.
It is astounding how much false information and blatant falsehoods have been published online regarding poker sites, particularly those that are still accepting players from the United States.
My Method for Selecting the Very Best
Whether I was sitting at an online poker table or running a business, I’ve always tried to achieve success in a manner that was unique from that of others.
It is more important to me to earn the players’ confidence so that they will come to me in the future for poker advise than it is to deceive them into joining the poker site that pays me the most.
Since I’m primarily an online poker player, I evaluate poker rooms in the same way that any other regular player would: by actually playing poker in such rooms.
Real players who bet real money don’t focus just on marketing statistics, bonus amounts, or any other limited-time offer.
Players that are serious about their game look past the glitzy games of a poker website and instead focus on the real gameplay.
Real players are the best judges of how well the deposit, withdrawal, and customer service processes function.
In order to make potential players of online poker who are interested in making an educated choice, I believe that at the at least, the following questions should be addressed in a review of the site.
What I will always respond with?
- How reliable is the poker website’s forecast over the long run?
- How straightforward is the procedure of making a deposit, especially for players from the United States?
- What is the average wait time for player payments, both now and historically?
- On what level of difficulty are the real money cash games played?
- Does the online poker player get a sufficient number of players at peak times?
- Does the program feature a lot of poker tournaments?
- How simple is it to actually earn the money that is being promoted as a bonus?
- If I have a problem, how much assistance can I expect from the poker support team?
I’ve Received Feedback from Some Real Poker Players
I absolutely adore your poker site reviews…
I truly like the poker site reviews that you provide. I simply wanted to provide some praise on the manner in which you cover the games through your writing. It is clear and concise, getting to the point quickly.
JAY ALDRIDGE
You have been an incredible asset to my game…
Poker is a game that I’ve been playing for the past five years. You have been a huge asset to my performance. BeatTheFish takes an exceptionally thorough and instructional approach to online poker, dissecting and studying in minute detail every facet of poker strategy and mentality. I consider you, along with Upswingpoker, to be the most valuable and up-to-date source of poker information that has ever existed.
TARAS MOKHURENKO is my name.
You are spot on…
The techniques were really helpful, as were the most recent “real deal” reviews on poker websites and the most recent news from all around the world. Regarding the reviews of the two main sites that I play on, BetOnline and America’s Cardroom, you have hit the nail on the spot.
ANDREW ZIMOLZAK
A convincing example of objectivity…
To tell you the truth, I’m just starting off in the world of online poker (as opposed to home games). My experience at BTF has more or less equipped me with the self-assurance necessary to start playing online poker as a player from the United States. Reviews of online poker sites, in particular those catering to players from the United States, are presented in a manner that gives the impression of being objective.
A.H.
The feedback has been really positive…
The reviews are outstanding. The site reviews, freerolls, and the Bitcoin instruction are among of my favorite features. They go into a great deal of detail.
DAVID TRAVERSO
Fighting Against the Money Advantage in Online Poker
Over the course of my career as an online poker affiliate, I’ve lost track of the number of times that various affiliate programs have tried to pressure me into boosting their online presence in exchange for more favorable publicity.
I have always responded to them the same way: I will always be in charge of reviewing the best online poker sites in my own way, and I will rate them in the best way that I see appropriate.
If doing so results in the loss of whatever award a poker site is holding ransom, then I’m willing to accept that loss.
My Worldview and Personal Experiences
Since 2005, I’ve investigated more than 60 websites that provide online poker games and have dismissed more than that number.
The following is a list of online poker sites that I currently review and rate:
- Bovada
- Ignition
- BetOnline
- The America’s Cardroom website
- Sportsbetting
- Poker with Black Chips
- Nitrogen Sports
- Global Poker
- 888 Poker
- partypoker
- Breakout
- Unibet
- Pokerstars
- Titan Poker
I won’t think twice about removing any online poker site from my recommendation if it has major problems with player withdrawals, if there is substantial evidence that it engaged in cheating, or if there is any other problem that makes me feel too uneasy to endorse it.
The current list consists of less than a dozen locations due to the fact that many of the poker sites that had held my highest ratings have since shut down. Nevertheless, for a variety of reasons, I consider them to be the best options available in the market for poker played with real money.
I really hope that you are able to find something in my coverage of online poker that is of value to you and that it assists you in being more knowledgeable about either the online poker house you are now using or a potential new home.
At the very least, you should be aware that the poker coverage I provide is derived on the straightforward accounts of the experiences of a fellow poker player.
