Can I Play Poker Online For Money In The Us
- Can I Play Poker Online For Real Money In Us
- Can You Play Online Poker In The Us For Real Money
- Play Poker Online For Money Usa
- Is It Legal To Play Online Poker In The Us
- Can I Play Poker Online For Money In The Usa Today
It’s not easy to play real money poker online in the United States when compared to playing poker online elsewhere in the world. However, it’s not impossible, especially after reading this guide. Before you start playing poker for money online, you want to make sure you do the proper research to make sure you know how to stay safe. Play at Safe US Online Poker Sites. This one should be self-explanatory. You need to be very careful about the US friendly online poker site you choose, and that’s where we come in. Yes, where online poker card rooms are allowed by law you can play poker online. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of playing online poker for money in USA but the most important thing is to find a legal site. That way, you can be guaranteed responsible gaming from top casino software developers.
It's often stated by the poker media that online poker is regulated in only Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware. While that is undeniably true, it gives one the impression that players throughout the rest of the US are left out and cannot play real money online poker.
Let's put an end to that untruth right here and now.
Thousands of American online poker players, myself included, continue to log on and play the game that we love, battling it out on the cash game tables, MTTs, and SitNGos at poker rooms that cater to those based in the US. Of course most of the biggest poker sites such as PokerStars and Party Poker remain off-limits to Americans, but a handful of reliable offerings remain that permit US players to satisfy their online poker desires.
A Brief History of US Online Poker
The advent of online poker for real money began in 1998 and continued merrily along until 2006 when the Bush administration passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The UIGEA is often misunderstood, as it didn't directly outlaw online poker, but instead made it illegal for banks, financial institutions, and gambling companies to accept financial transactions for the purpose of Internet gambling.
The language used in the UIGEA was seen by many as vague, prompting some online poker operators to stop accepting US players, while others consulted with their attorneys and chose to remain. While players may have experienced more difficulty making deposits at online poker sites for the next five years due to the UIGEA, those who persisted were able to do so, often with help from online poker operators who disguised the transactions as pertaining to purchases not related to online gambling.
Can I Play Poker Online For Real Money In Us
Present Day US Online Poker
Here we are nearly seven years later, US players whose accounts had been frozen at the shuttered sites have been reimbursed, and online poker chugs merrily along once again. While players in the three regulated states (with Pennsylvania soon to join the mix) play only among themselves, those in other states can avail themselves of other reliable online poker options.
One of those options is Intertops Poker, a site that was established more than 20 years ago, is known as the oldest and most trusted poker room, and sports a reputation for soft action and swift cashouts - usually within 48 hours. Other advantages include rakeback of up to 36% and a generous first-time deposit bonus of 200% up to $1,000.
More Options For US Players
Another option available to US players can be found at the other end of the spectrum in terms of poker site longevity. Global Poker may be the newest kid on the block, but certainly shouldn't be overlooked by Americans who want their online poker - and want it 'legally.'
I highlighted 'legally,' in short to emphasize the fact that Intertops and other sites currently catering to US players such as Ignition Poker and Bet Online are not illegal. They just aren't in the 'regulated' category such as the sites in the states of Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey.
It's worth mentioning that throughout the history of US online poker, including the UIGEA in 2006 and Black Friday in 2011, players themselves were never in jeopardy of being prosecuted for playing online poker. That remains the law of the land to this day.
Gold Coins and $weeps Cash
Global Poker's sweepstakes model consists of selling to players a virtual currency called Gold Coins. The coins are virtual chips that are used to play with but cannot be cashed out for real money.
The purchase of Gold Coins results in players being given sweepstakes prizes as a bonus, aptly known as $weeps Cash. Players use the $weeps Cash to enter tournaments and ring games, with prize money won available to be redeemed in the form of cash payouts via PayPal.
It's a unique and patented concept, resulting in Global Poker billing itself as the world's fastest growing poker site. Part of that growth is evident in the current running of its second edition of the Global Poker Championships - the Grizzly Games. The action runs from Jan. 15 through Feb. 4 and includes tons of prizes and a guarantee of SC$1.5 million in payouts.
New signups at Global Poker get $2 in $weeps Cash and 10,000 in Gold Coins just for registering. Regular freerolls and a Flops Challenge can boost player bankrolls, with a cashout via PayPal not far away for winning players.
Online poker is a far simpler undertaking than most new players think. With just a bit of research and patience, you can learn everything you need to know about playing the game from the United States in well under an hour.
In this US Online Poker FAQ you’ll uncover detailed answers to over a dozen of the fundamental questions new American poker players have about getting started online. If you have a question and can’t find the answer on this page, please feel free to contact us here. .
General Questions About Online Poker in the United States
If you’re new to the game, review this section to find answers to the basic queries beginning players regularly ask when they’re first starting to explore the world of .
How is it Different Than Live Poker?
Poker at the kitchen table may be a bit different from poker at a casino or in a World Series of Poker tournament, but the basics are the same. Moving online does require some adjustment, though, and a little time to become comfortable with the technology.
First, it’s faster than live poker. There are time limits on decisions in cash games and tournaments to keep the games moving. When you get used to the speed of the action, though, online games let players compete on several tables at one time. Multi-tabling is common for pro players and even some recreational players who want to play more than one tournament at a time.
Many players start at very low limits when transitioning to online play. Play for $0.01/$0.02 to get used to the table options, avatars, location of information on the screen, and the fast play. For tournaments, find a freeroll or two to get used to the timing and player tendencies.
Some things are more difficult online, like tells, but other things are easier, like the ability to play from home at almost any limit desired at any time of the day or night.
Are American Poker Rooms Secure?
Any online market will inevitably host a handful of rogue sites, but the majority of the legal options for poker in the US are completely reputable sites with long track records of offering stable and secure products. Secure poker sites – such as any site we feature or review – will share a few characteristics, including:
- History of payouts: We only suggest sites with established histories of successful (and complete) player payouts.
- Licensed and regulated: All of the United States poker rooms reviewed on our site are licensed and regulated by a recognized jurisdiction.
- Secure channels for play and banking: Any room we list for American players provides players with secure methods for handling financial transactions as well as totally secure environments for game play.
- Security teams: Sites like Americas Cardroom continuously add new security team members to monitor play and respond to customer concerns. This helps keep the sites free from bots and any type of player collusion.
- Player accountability: In a world of livestreaming and poker forums, poker sites today are on display. Players will document anything on a site that seems fishy, and the poker community as a whole will demand answers. This keeps the sites honest.
How US Poker Rooms Make Money
Poker rooms that accept American players make money the same way as just about any poker room, online or otherwise. They make money by charging a fee – taken from the pot in cash games and as a separate entry charge for tournaments – called the rake. You can review the rake of any site on their webpage or by reaching out to support.
One way that poker rooms have increased the rake and the speed with which players pay it is to offer fast-fold poker. These are normally sit-n-go tournaments or all-in events that play very fast and allow for little skill. This increases the house edge, so players should be aware of this before playing.
Is the Software Safe to Download?
Yes. There is an extremely active online community for US poker players that is constantly monitoring the reputability of poker site downloads. The Windows and Mac poker downloads are safe. We are unaware of any incident whatsoever involving malicious software and an American poker room, so you can feel safe downloading software packages from our suggested poker sites.
Can You Play Online Poker In The Us For Real Money
Over the years, the downloads have improved with technology. Today, poker site downloads require little computer space and very little time (a few minutes or less). Some sites even offer poker without a download requirement, but the best poker sites still operate on downloaded software or specific mobile apps.
Available Games For US Players
The game most familiar to players around the world is Texas Hold’em, which can be played as Limit or No Limit. Both of these versions of the game are the predominant game offered on all poker sites.
Pot Limit Omaha has soared in popularity in the past decade, and every poker site now offers some PLO tournaments and cash games. Within PLO, players can usually choose from Pot Limit, No Limit, or Limit. There are also many variations of Omaha, and larger sites do offer many of them. These include Omaha Hi/Lo (also called Omaha 8-or-better or Omaha 8, 5-Card Omaha (regular and hi/lo), Big O, 6-Card Omaha, and Courchevel.
As players have taken on more challenges and become more adept at switching games and playing mixed games, sites have also added some of these poker variants to their cash game tables and/or tournament options: Deuce-to-Seven Single Draw or 2-7 Triple Draw, 7-Card Stud, Razz, and Badugi.
The latest craze is Short Deck Hold’em. Many sites have recently added those games due to popular demand.
The Basics of Deposit Bonuses
You can’t visit the homepage of an American poker site without seeing a deposit bonus advertised in big, bold type. Deposit bonuses are a staple of all online poker rooms, and they work like this: You deposit a certain amount of money and the room gives you a bonus based on that deposit. The bonus money is separate from your regular funds and is restricted – you can’t cash it out or use it for play.
As you play at the room, you will gradually convert this bonus money to regular funds that can be cashed out or used for real-money play at the site. The rate at which this conversion occurs, along with the size of the bonus you can get, differs from one US poker room to the next. Terms of bonuses are analyzed in all of our reviews.
Isn’t it Rigged?
No. There have been some instances of cheating, but games haven’t been found to be rigged.
Cheating is an unfortunate part of nearly all games. Poker is no different than live poker when it comes to this issue. Fortunately for players, the major sites have developed sophisticated methods for identifying and putting a stop to cheaters in poker games online.
More players, however, are concerned that the sites themselves are cheating players. They take some bad beats and believe the site must be rigged to make the players lose. This is simply not true. Reputable poker sites must produce RNG verification to obtain their licenses to operate. RNG verification is a certificate showing that their software’s RNG has been tested. RNG stands for random number generator and verifies that the cards at every table are dealt randomly and not subject to manipulation.
How Much Do You Need to Deposit to Play?
The amount you should deposit depends on what games you want to play. The great thing about poker is that rooms can offer much smaller games than would ever be possible in a live poker room. That means players can get plenty of mileage out of a small poker deposit. In fact, even a deposit of $20 can allow a typical player to get weeks of play across cash games and tournaments at any one of our suggested US poker rooms.
We generally suggest that players begin with small deposits regardless of what stakes they are interested in playing. Small deposits allow you to take trial runs on sites without committing large amounts of money, and give you increased flexibility should you decide that a given poker site simply isn’t working out.
How Difficult is it to Deposit at a Poker Site?
Play Poker Online For Money Usa
A persistent myth has developed in some corners of the poker community: Depositing at a poker site from the US is difficult. That’s actually not at all the case, as depositing at most US-facing poker sites is as easy as purchasing a pair of pants from a major online retailer. There are a variety of choices for US players who want to deposit at a poker site, and most involve little more than a few minutes of your time.
The most common way to deposit into poker sites is with Visa or Mastercard. Occasionally, a bank through which the card is issued will block a deposit to a poker site. In that case, there are ewallets and other options for players to use, all of which are reputable and safe.
Many players are now using bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies more than ever before. Bitcoin is the most popular with players and sites, as nearly every site now allows deposits and withdrawals using bitcoin. It is typically faster than other banking methods and offers lower fees. Players who are new to digital currency will find help with the process through any customer service department.
Choices for Making Poker Deposits
Our site offers extensive guides to all of the major choices US players have for making legal poker deposits. We suggest players review any of our following guides in order to effectively compare and contrast the various choices for depositing at an online poker room open to US players:
Banking Safety Information
Poker sites serving US players do provide secure channels for deposits and withdrawals. Various encryption methods are utilized to ensure safe transactions. Players should obviously monitor their transactions – via bank statements, bitcoin wallets, etc. – to ensure that the transactions processed correctly, but there have been no complaints of improper processing by our recommended sites.
Sometimes, hackers try to lodge a DDOS attack against a poker site. That distributed denial of service attack is typically not an attempt to obtain player information but rather to simply disrupt the site’s operations. Sites protect player banking information at all costs, as one error could cause distrust that would doom an operator.
Charges for Depositing or Making Withdrawals
Before the UIGEA and Black Friday, poker players from the United States never had to worry about paying a fee to deposit or cash out. Now, the reality is that players may encounter fees, sometimes substantial ones, while attempting to move funds to and from US poker rooms. Each payment method charges different types of fees, but by reviewing our guides to the different options for making your deposit at the poker site you can easily identify the one that offers the best combination of ease and value for you.
Has Anyone Ever Been Arrested for Playing Online Poker in the US?
Based on our extensive research, we feel confident in saying that no one has ever been arrested or charged for simply playing poker online from the US. It is difficult to definitively assess the legality of playing online in each and every jurisdiction within the United States, but players can definitely take comfort in the apparent fact that even if the act of playing does technically violate the law, players are not a target of law enforcement in the US.
Depositing Legally at a Poker Site From the US
Is It Legal To Play Online Poker In The Us
While the legality of playing poker for real money in some formats may be an open question, the legality of making a deposit generally is not. Federal law only covers the institutions that process the transaction, not the individual participants making the transactions. You should not encounter any legal issues when making a deposit at a US-facing online poker room.
Paying Taxes on Poker Winnings in the United States
Money won playing at a digital poker room is the same as money won at a live poker room, and that means that it is subject to all applicable reporting and taxes. Players from the United States should definitely plan to pay taxes on any winnings from poker sites.
In order to be in full compliance with tax authorities, players should keep a log of all of their poker activity. A log of each session, including times and overall results, is your best asset if there is ever an audit or similar process involving your poker play. If you have any questions about how to report poker income, your smartest play is to talk to a tax professional. Depending on how much of your income is derived from poker, you may qualify for special tax treatment that can reduce the amount of tax you’ll have to pay on your winnings from playing poker.
Understanding UIGEA
One of the most impactful yet misunderstood events to impact poker was the UIGEA – the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
Simply put, the law passed in 2006 to direct financial institutions to black transactions related to online gambling. While it does not specifically name poker, it has been applied to the game. However, it is only online gambling operators that need to consult with attorneys as to how to proceed with regard to American poker players. Playing poker itself is not illegal, nor is anyone who plays the game.
Check out of comprehensive guide to the UIGEA for more detailed information.
Can Americans Play Online After Black Friday?
Yes. The sites we recommend accept American players and have done so since long before Black Friday.
Black Friday was the day that the US Department of Justice through the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York seized major poker websites. The US government seized PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker, and UltimateBet. They also indicted top executives from each company. That forced all of those companies out of the American gambling market, and only PokerStars remained in business afterward.
Can I Play Poker Online For Money In The Usa Today
Since then, PokerStars and other sites like PartyPoker and 888poker have reentered the US market via individual states that legalized online poker. Those states – Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania – restrict players to those within their state borders. Meanwhile, other poker sites continue to cater to US players, just as they did before Black Friday.
Americans should not be afraid to play poker whether it be online or at local games. Black Friday introduced no new laws and changed little from the player’s point of view. Back to the FAQ