United States Poker Sites

Quick Introduction to Online Poker in the USA

The perception of United States poker sites is undergoing a dramatic change. Online poker sites for players in the States which were once considered to be ‘Ponzi schemes’ run by criminals for the pleasure of degenerates are now becoming licensed, regulated and accepted as a welcome income stream for both state and federal government.

As the pace of these changes accelerate, players are often left in the dark about whether it is legal or not to play Internet poker in the United States – with the Statute Books of many States containing laws which could be interpreted as both encouraging online poker in the US while at the same classifying it as a misdemeanor.

Our site intends to bring some clarity to the situation and advise players not only what poker web sites in the United States are available for them to play on, but where the best poker bonuses exist to maximize the potential for turning playing poker online in the US into a profitable experience.

Let´s Start with the Best US Friendly Poker Sites in 2023

The following is a list of US poker sites that accept players who reside in jurisdictions which “allow” online poker in the US. By “allow” we mean:-

• States which welcome online poker in the US with open arms – whether or not laws have yet been passed regulating online poker sites for players in the States
• States in which Internet poker in the United States is tolerated because the jurisdiction is looking to regulate it sometime in the future (and tax it!),
• And States where playing on poker sites in the United States is considered a misdemeanor, but the penalties are so small that law enforcement officers have something better to do.

There are exceptions to the above criteria (indicated as necessary) and for a full list of where Internet poker in the United States is “allowed”, please refer to our list at the bottom of the page.

Ignition Poker and Casino

100% bonus on Poker Deposits and Casino Deposits

Ignition Poker and Casino was launched in 2016 as an exclusive online gambling site for players in (most of) the USA. Operated by the same team as were responsible for Bovada Poker, Ignition Poker shares its player database with the worldwide Bodog Poker Network, so you are always assured of plenty of action around the clock. If you enjoy casino games, Ignition Casino has one of the easiest rollover requirements for clearing the initial welcome bonus and offers daily reload bonuses.

Americas Cardroom

100% Match Bonus up to $1,000

This patriotically-named web site is the largest individual poker room in the Winning Poker Network – the network considered the quickest for cashouts after a win. Although relatively small compared to some of the bigger United States poker sites listed below, Americas Cardroom offers one of the easiest online poker bonuses to clear among all the online poker sites for players in the States (except for Kentucky, Maryland or Washington).

BetOnline

25% bonus on Sportsbook Deposits

Similar to SportsBetting above, BetOnline offers the best bonuses to its sports betting, racebook and casino clients (the site also has a mobile app for its sports betting clients) but there is plenty of value to be had against the weak level of sports bettors that drift onto the real money poker tables after a win and the online poker tournaments which have guaranteed prize pools. Again, everybody is welcomed to play Internet poker in the United States at BetOnline.

SportsBetting Poker

25% bonus on Sportsbook Deposits

SportsBetting is predominantly a sports betting and racebook site which offers Internet poker in the United States as a side-attraction. Consequently the standard of play is not spectacularly good and (despite some valuable guaranteed prize poker tournaments) the level of traffic at the poker tables is nothing to write home about. There are no restrictions on where players can originate from within the States to take advantage of this easy site.

The Future of Internet Poker in the United States

The situation regarding at which US poker sites you can play poker online is changing quickly, and you can keep up to date with the changes by bookmarking unitedStatesPokerSites.com and returning frequently. My name is Curt, and you can contact me if you have any questions. Be sure to also check out my poker blog here with the latest poker news and promotions!

The Legality of US Facing Poker Sites

The legality of United States poker sites is sometimes questioned after the introduction of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (‘UIEGA’ 2006) and ‘Black Friday’ (April 2011) – the date on which PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker were closed down. However, after the Department of Justice acknowledged that online poker in the US was not in contravention of the 1961 Wire Act, PokerStars took a financial slap on the wrist and acquired all the assets of Full Tilt Poker in return.

PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and any other poker web sites in the United States that continued to provide a service after UIEGA have been labeled ‘bad actors’ and barred from several States who are regulating online poker in the US. However, this is more due to the pressure of brick and mortar casinos that want to be the leading players when Internet poker in the United States is properly licensed and has nothing to do with any federal law making online poker sites for players in the States illegal.

Is it Legal To Play Online Poker If You Are From the US?

Although no federal law exists which determines the legality of United States poker sites, several States have taken it upon themselves to introduce legislation which either approves selected poker web sites in the United States or makes playing online poker in the US illegal.

You can see which poker sites accept players from your state to play online poker for real money, at this awesome page here at pokerSites.us. Our list below provides an overview of where Internet poker in the United States is legal, where it is “allowed” (please see our definition above for what constitutes “allowed”) and were you may get more than your wrists slapped for playing poker online.

(*) In Colorado, it is only an offense to play online poker in the US if you make a noise doing it. So going on tilt and causing a breach of the peace might find you on the wrong side of the law.

Footnote – In Pennsylvania, online poker in the US is still technically illegal, but the penalty for failing to declare your online winnings on your tax return is much higher!

Good luck at the tables!