Best Online Real Money Poker Sites For Us Players
Table Of Contents
It is against the law to play online poker while in the United States. The fact that these sites accept players from the US does not mean that it is legal to play there. For a more comprehensive list of poker sites that allow US players, consider checking out. Bovada is also known for having the fastest payouts, which might make it the best online poker sites US players. Americans love money, and they want their money fast. They can find that at Bovada. If you love Monster Stack tournaments and you’re seeking online poker real money, this is the place to go.
Looking for the best US poker sites to play online poker games for free and real money? Check out these poker rooms!
Finding a great site to play online poker games from the US is not that difficult. But with all the different states allowing different operators — things can get a little messy for the uninitiated poker players in the US.
On this page, you'll learn:
- and lots more
Our team of poker pros (which includes World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Chad Holloway) have tested and reviewed all the US poker rooms in this article. This way, you can find everything about the games, the level, and the bonuses available.
In other words, if you are looking for a list of the best online poker sites for US players in 2021, you'll love this one!
The Best Poker Sites for US Players
Online Poker in the US & US Poker Rooms
The game of poker is an epitome of gambling in the United States, and the US poker sites on the list have to meet a lot of expectations from millions of players across the country.
Luckily for you, we have completed a thorough examination of every single aspect of these poker rooms to ascertain their true worth.
Here at PokerNews we have been in the business of reviewing online poker sites and online casinos for over 15 years, and our large US fan base stands testament to the continuous high-quality content we deliver.
No matter if you are new to poker or an experienced player, you could use a bit of help figuring out which poker site is the right choice for you. It all depends on what you are after.
If lucrative bonuses are your thing, that's perfectly fine. Here, you will find the top US poker sites with the most generous bonuses.
However, you shouldn't overlook the importance of the legality of poker rooms, the number of different games available, the betting limits that apply, the variety of payment methods, and the overall reputation of poker rooms when choosing your next US online poker destination.
All this and more will be covered in this comprehensive guide, plus the legal framework of real-money online poker gambling in specific US states.
Is Online Poker Legal in the US?
The situation with the legality of online poker in the US is not so clear cut as you might expect. To get to the bottom of this, we must look at the applicable gambling laws.
First of all, gambling in the US is regulated on a state, federal, and, of course, local level.
Looking at these levels of regulations, the only viable conjecture you can derive is that things are bound to get messy.
At the moment, the Constitution allows all states to make their own laws regarding online gambling.
- A handful of states have already legalized online poker, such as Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. In these states, online operators are required to sign licensing agreements with the land-based casinos in order to launch their online poker rooms, and plenty of big names have already done so.
- More states are taking a leaf from their books and filing for online poker and gambling licenses in a bid to legalize the market entirely. By doing so, the states will benefit from taxes these operators will pay and will ensure their citizens have fair and safe gambling opportunities.
- The states of Michigan and West Virginia have already passed the required laws. The roll out of the first poker sites is expected by the end of 2020 at best, but it is more likely to expect them in 2021.
How to Play Online Poker From the US?
With the popularity of online poker on the rise, finding an online poker room in the US should be a breeze.
Even so, there are multiple factors you need to consider and a couple of steps you need to complete before getting a piece of the action.
1. Check if Online Poker Is Legal in Your State
The first and foremost step is to make sure the state you are playing in has legalized online poker.
The states that offer full-blown poker sites are:
Some of them even share players, namely Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey.
Players from these states can participate in poker tournaments, which, consequently, have larger prize pools and are more appealing.
The states of Michigan and West Virginia followed suit and enacted the necessary bills and laws to legalize online poker.
Players from these states can expect legal online poker rooms soon.
Another important thing to remember here is that you don't need to be a resident in any of these states to play online poker legally.
You are only required to be physically present in any of them to register an account, make a deposit, and play No Limit Texas Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, and plenty of other versions of the game.
2. Choose the Best Online Poker Site for You
Next up is choosing the best online poker site for you. This means that you have to consider personal preferences, such as:
- types of games you like to play
- betting limits
- payment methods
- support options
- mobile poker apps for US players
All the US poker sites listed here will have a thing or two to offer, but the more you understand your playing habits, the better.
3. Register an Account
Once you have chosen the poker site, you can proceed to the registration process.
To do so, you will be required to provide personal details, such as name, DOB, address, email, etc.
Poker sites will ask you to provide a proof of identity as a part of their KYC (Know Your Customer) policy imposed by the legislation.
The proof of identity is usually in the form of a copy of your ID or another personal document, the final four digits of your Social Security number (SSN), a copy of your bank statement, etc.
These poker rooms make sure no underage gambling can take place and also prevent money laundering and fraud.
3. Deposit Funds to Your Account and Claim the Bonus Offer
The next step involves selecting the deposit method from the site's banking section and making the first deposit.
The top US poker sites presented here offer exciting and generous deposit match bonus offers once the players make qualifying deposits.
Check out the promotions tab and see which types of bonuses and freebies you can claim.
4. Choose the Type Of Poker Game and Play On
The final step you need to take is to choose between the different types of poker games offered by the site and take a virtual seat at the table.
The most common formats of poker include cash games and tournament poker.
- In cash games, the value of your chips corresponds directly to the monetary value, while in tournaments, you will have to buy in for a stack of chips and continue playing until you run out of chips or another player claims them all.
- In poker tournaments, the size of bets increases over time to make sure the game is action-packed.
How Do We Rate US Online Poker Sites
The entire review process of online poker sites is completed with the utmost care and diligence.
There are no stones left unturned, and we give no slack to anyone.
Our long history of 15+ years in the business and hard-earned reputation will never permit it.
Over the years, PokerNews has been declared the number one online poker guide several times, and we have been on the receiving end of quite a number of awards.
To fill you in on the process, we will try to break down the criteria we impose for our selection of key US poker sites into a couple of segments:
We List Only the Licensed Operators
All poker sites listed here have been licensed and certified by the appointed jurisdictions and authorities, which is a guarantee of safety, legality, and fairness of those sites and their poker games.
What's more, we look into the reputation of these sites to make sure players are content with the services provided and treatment.
Only after we make sure the site ticks all the right boxes do we present it here.
We Scrutinize the Bonuses
We never cease to look for the heftiest poker bonuses out there, so that our visitors can rest assured only the best possible bonus offers are listed.
What's more, we don't get carried away just by the sheer size of the bonus.
No sir.
There needs to be a balance between what is being offered as a bonus and what you need to do to turn that bonus into real cash.
We look into wagering requirements, the validity period of the bonus, and other requirements that appear as the small print in the terms and conditions that, sadly, only few players consult.
Luckily for you, we check that info as well.
Our Pro Players Look Into the Choice of Games and Quality
Did you know that one of our reviewers won an actual WSOP bracelet in Las Vegas?
Our reviewers are experienced poker players who know every nook and cranny of the game, and where to look for any hidden flaws in the choice of games and rules.
The sites offered here host a number of different types of poker, with plenty of poker formats and competitions, and their player traffic is a clear sign of quality.
We Test the Site's Software
Another important part of our testing process is the test of the site's software.
We want to make sure that sites have both web apps that allow instant in-browser play and mobile apps that enable players to engage in poker games on the go.
That said, we spend hours playing the actual games before reaching a verdict.
Also, if the poker room has a fully downloadable app for PCs, we will download it and make sure its functionality and gaming experience are top-notch.
These sites need to be responsive, easy to use, simple to navigate, and user-friendly. Only such poker rooms and mobile poker sites end up on our top list.
We Look Into Deposit Methods
Another important aspect of our review process is the examination of banking methods offered by the poker room.
This list includes only sites that offer the greatest variety of online banking, credit/debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid vouchers, and other methods, all of which need to be fast, convenient, and protected by the latest SSL encryption and firewalls.
We Put Customer Support to a Test
Having knowledgeable and reliable customer support on your side when a problem occurs is imperative for poker players.
We put each site's customer support to a rigorous test to check their knowledge, response times, and amiableness. If all goes well, only then the site gets on our list.
Regulated US Poker Sites
As we briefly mentioned earlier, all states within the US are at liberty to regulate gambling as they see fit and under legal provisions.
The first poker and gambling-related laws in the USA were drafted in the 19th century, and since then, multiple other legal motions were filed and bills enacted.
One of the initial gambling laws and acts that apply to online poker and gambling was the Interstate Wire Act of 1961, otherwise known as the Federal Wire Act.
This act prohibited any sort of information and payment transmissions across state lines that had anything to do with sports betting.
The reverberations following this act spread like forest fires, and, unfortunately, included online poker and other forms of online gambling, and stymied their progress.
Another significant blow the online poker industry suffered from the US legislators came in the form of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
This regulatory act banned all payment institutions from processing transactions involving online gambling, including poker.
In 2011, three large poker operators were indicted for alleged foul play and breaking of the UIGEA, which effectively shut down online poker in the states. This was an event the poker community refers to as ‘Black Friday'.
With such impediments on the road, it is no wonder why it took online poker so long to reestablish a foothold in a country that is considered to be its birthplace.
Monumental changes happened in 2011 when the US Department of Justice reversed the Wire Act's decision and rendered it only applicable to sports wagering. This paved the way for states to legalize online poker anew.
In 2019, the DOJ released a revised opinion on the Wire Act, but its impacts are yet to be seen.
The following is a quick overview of how things work in key online poker states in the US.
[URL='https://www.pokernews.com/new-jersey-poker-rooms.htm']NJ Poker Sites[/URL]
New Jersey has been at the forefront of the online poker legalization process, and the third state to legalize it in 2013.
The first attempt to legalize online poker was vetoed by the governor in 2011, but by the end of 2013, the first poker platforms emerged.
At the moment, three operators are licensed to operate in the Garden State:
- 888poker
- WSOP.com
- PokerStars
PA Poker Sites
PokerStars is the only legal online poker site in the state of Pennsylvania. 888poker and WSOP Poker are expected to launch in the keystone State in 2021.
For more information about the games at PokerStars, check out this page dedicated to PokerStars US.
MI Poker Sites
The Great Lake State legalized all forms of online gambling, including online poker, in December 2019, when its governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the proposal into a bill.
The first sites and poker rooms are expected in 2021.
OffShore Poker Sites
Even though some sites might tell you that playing in offshore online casinos and poker rooms is possible, that doesn't mean it is legal or safe.
In fact, most of these offshore poker sites have not been licensed by reputable gambling jurisdictions, nor are they protected by the latest security systems.
What's more, there are no guarantees that your banking details are protected and secure from any third-party influences.
That said, you are better off playing only on legal and vetted poker sites presented here than roaming around the internet and falling prey to malicious offshore poker rooms.
Best Deposit Options for US Online Poker Players
Top US poker sites offer several popular deposit methods for their players. The most frequently used deposit method is credit/debit bank cards, such as Discover, Visa, and Mastercard.
Almost all banks in regulated states will process such payments, so you won't have any problems making a fast and secure deposit.
Another essential deposit method is the e-wallet method. Poker fans use PayPal, Skrill, and other e-wallets to transfer their funds to and from the poker site seamlessly and quickly.
Methods such as e-checks and online banking are also quite popular and widespread, although they are a little bit slower when compared to e-wallets, for example.
Finally, most US poker sites offer PayNearMe prepaid vouchers and cash deposits you can use at your local 7-Eleven stores and casino cages from the land-based casino partners, respectively.
Problem Gambling and Useful Resources
Problem gambling is a serious issue, and some Americans have a tough time dealing with it.
That is why it is important that poker sites have strong, responsible gambling policies in power and that they cooperate with the regulatory bodies dealing with this issue, such as the National Council on Problem Gambling, Gamble Aware, AMA Responsibility in Gaming, and others.
Through this collaboration and effort, the negative impact of gambling can be reduced and sensitive groups protected.
FAQ
Online poker is perfectly legal in US states that have enacted specific online gambling laws.
You can play real money poker games online in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Delaware. In the future, you can expect the list to expand to include the states of Michigan and West Virginia.
The UIGEA came into force in 2006.
Players shouldn't play in offshore poker rooms as these are not technically legal in the US and are deemed as highly insecure.
Players are not required to live in a state where online poker is legal in order to play it. You only need to be physically present in the state at the moment of play.
Legal online poker sites have strong geolocation software that will pierce through almost all VPN networks, thus preventing players from outside the states from engaging in real-money poker games online.
Do you want a poker site to play from the USA that has low traffic levels, slow deposits when they work and are questionable as to when or if you get your withdrawal?
My name is John and I've been helping US poker players find the best real money US online poker sites for more than 20 years. Lets get right to the point, you are looking for US friendly poker sites are not only safe but have the best software, deposit methods that work, exciting promotions and the highest traffic levels for cash games and tournaments.
What are the Top US Online Poker Sites for 2021?
For 2021 the top US online poker sites that accept players from the USA for real money poker games are:
- Top US online poker site overall: Americas Cardroom
- Poker site with biggest bonus: Ignition Poker
- Highest traffic cash games: Bovada Poker
- Best poker site for deposits: BetOnline Poker
- Best poker site for tournaments: Americas Cardroom
Top US Online Poker Sites 2021
Americas Cardroom
Cash Rewards: 5.5% - 66.2 %
USD Bonus: 100% up to $2000
Crypto Bonus: 100% up to $2000
Referral Code: Sydney100
- US Players Accepted
- Biggest Online Tournaments
- High Cash Rewards
- Venom - $7 Million Guaranteed
- Million Dollar Jackpot SnG
Ignition Poker
USD Bonus: 100% up to $1000
Crypto Bonus: 125% up to $1250
Bonus Link: Claim Bonus
- US Players Accepted
- Highest US Cash Game Traffic
- $2.5 Million Guaranteed Weekly
- Anonymous Tables - No HUDs
Bovada Poker
USD Bonus: 100% up to $500
Crypto Bonus: 100% up to $500
Bonus Code: PWB500
- US Players Accepted
- $150K Sunday Main Event
- Live Dealer Table Games
- All-In Percent Win Feature
- Rabbit Cam - See Next Card
BetOnline Poker
Freeroll Tickets: 4 X $2500
USD Bonus: 100% up to $1000
Crypto Bonus: 100% up to $1000
Promo Code: NEWBOL
- All US Players Accepted
- $2.5 Million Guaranteed Weekly
- $10 000 New Player Freeroll
- $150 000 Sunday Main Event
- Monthly Cash Game Rake Race
Top Pick for US Players?
The best online poker site for US players to play online poker for real money is Americas Cardroom. Its where the best tournament traffic is for Americans - Tom Brady, Ben Affleck and Adam Sandler recently played a huge charity No Limit Texas Holdem tournament online, and thousands more play here every day. There are other great US online poker sites that I do recommend, but my first choice for real money players in the United States is Americas Cardroom and these are my top 7 reasons why:
- Works on Windows PC, Apple Mac, Android, Chromebook and iOS devices like iPhone
- $3.8 Million in Tournament Guarantees Weekly with 90+ Guaranteed Tournaments Daily
- 100% Bonus up to $500 with 60 days to Clear Your Bonus
- The Lowest Cash Game Rake with a Rake Cap of $3
- Better Cashback Rewards than any other USA Friendly Poker Site (5.5% - 66.2%+)
- Serving US Players Since 2001
- Super Fast Payouts (12-48 hours for Crypto)
Tournaments - USA
There are very good real money online poker tournaments for players in the USA from 3 person million dollar Jackpot Sit n Gos to massive Multi Table Tournaments with thousands of players and millions in prizes. Sundays have the best tournaments with the highest traffic and the biggest guarantees at all online poker sites.
Online Poker Sites For Us Players
Largest Tournaments
The largest online poker tournaments for US players are the online version of the World Series of Poker. The single largest online poker tournament is Americas Cardroom Venom with $1 Million Guaranteed for first place. Just like there is a WSOP circuit in your local casino leading to the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas, there are online tournament series with huge main event prizes for players in the USA. Here are the biggest online tournaments for US players in 2021:
- High Five: May 7th - 26th, $10 Million Guaranteed - 3X $840 000 GTD Main Events - Americas Cardroom
- $250 000 GTD: May 26th 1:00pm ET, $250 000 Guaranteed- BetOnline Poker
- Million Dollar Weekend: May 17th - 20th, $1 Million Guaranteed - 20 Tournaments - Ignition Poker
- Venom: November 24th - August 5th, $7 Million Guaranteed / $1 Million GTD First Place - Americas Cardroom
Weekly Guarantees
Two great benchmarks of how good a site is for tournaments is the number of weekly scheduled tournaments and the amount of weekly guarantees. these amounts have drastically gone up in all US friendly poker sites.
- Americas Cardroom: $3.8 Million Guaranteed in 763 scheduled tournaments weekly
- Ignition Poker: $2.0 Million Guaranteed in 357 scheduled tournaments weekly
- Bovada Poker: $2.0 Million Guaranteed in 357 scheduled tournaments weekly
- BetOnline Poker: $2.5 Million Guaranteed in 224 scheduled tournaments weekly
Daily Guarantees
Buy-In | BetOnline | Ignition / Bovada | Americas Cardroom |
---|---|---|---|
$5.50 | $2,000 | $7,500 | $3,000 |
$11 | $10,000 | $7,777 | $10,000 |
$22 | $2,500 | $7,777 | $20,000 |
$33 | $3,500 | $7,777 | $30,000 |
$55 | $15,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 |
$109 | $10,000 | $20,000 | $100,000 |
$215 | - | - | $60,000 |
$530 | - | - | $20,000 |
These are the best daily guaranteed online poker tournaments for No-Limit Texas Holdem taking place at several different buy-in points for players in the USA. Additionally all poker rooms offer both lower and multiple tournaments at most buy in levels. The biggest daily guaranteed tournament for Americans is the $109 buy-in $100,000 Guaranteed at 09:15 ET at Americas Cardroom.
Freerolls
The biggest freerolls for new US players is at BetOnline with new depositors getting 4 - $2500 Freeroll tickets to be used in the first 30 days. There is a weekly $2500 freeroll at Bovada and Ignition for players who meet the chrome rewards level which is the lowest VIP level. Americas Cardroom has freerolls as you climb the military ranks of the Elite Rewards program, plus on demand $50 freerolls open to everyone.
Satellites
Satellite tournaments for larger tournaments are small buy in tournaments that you can win the Buy In for a major poker tournament. The best satellite tournaments are the Cyclones at Americas Cardroom are available for all major tournaments and notably the $7 Million dollar Venom.
Americas Cardroom offers WSOP Satellite Qualifiers for US players to compete in the 2021 Main Event of the World Series of Poker.
Sit n Gos
There are very good real money online poker tournaments for players in the USA from 3 person million dollar Jackpot Sit n Gos to massive Multi Table Tournaments with thousands of players and millions in prizes. Sundays have the best tournaments with the highest traffic and the biggest guarantees at all online poker sites.
- Americas Cardroom: $1 Million Jackpots - $5, $15 & $50 Buy-ins
- Ignition Poker: $60k, $20K, $7K, $2K Jackpots- $60, $30, $7, $2 Buy-ins
- Bovada Poker: $60k, $20K, $7K, $2K Jackpots- $60, $30, $7, $2 Buy-ins
- BetOnline Poker: $60k, $30K, $14K, $6K Jackpots- $30, $15, $7, $3 Buy-ins
Private Tournaments with Friends
You can set up your own private tournaments with friends for real money for US players at Americas Cardroom in 3 easy steps:
- Download and install Americas Cardroom for your Windows PC, Mac, Chromebook, Android or iPhone.
- Sign up and make your first deposit of $25 or more to claim your new player bonus.
- Email the following tournament details to Americas Cardroom at friends@americascardroom.eu at least 24 hours prior:
- The name for your private tournament ( Will be displayed in the private tournament tab of the lobby).
- Choose a password.
- Tournament time.
- Pick a structure type: Fast (Avg 60 minutes), Medium (Avg 90 minutes), Slow (Avg 180 minutes).
- Your choice of game type: Texas No Limit Holdem, Pot Limit Omaha or Pot Limit Omaha 8 or Better.
The only problem I have with these private tournaments is that they are limited to $1.65 Buy In and its not negotiable. There is a reason for this and its to prevent chip dumping. The main purpose of these online home games is to hang out with your buddies and have some fun. If you want to make a fortune hit up the cash games and tournaments that are available at a wide range of buy ins.
Cash Games
For US players cash games are available in 2 different flavors: Standard cash games and fast fold cash games. All of the major poker rooms offer both types of games and the ability to play multiple tables at once. Mobile poker apps limit you from one to 4 cash games on multiple tables but Windows PC and Mac Download offer multi-tabling up to 32 tables.
Regular cash games have looser players that play more hands than fast fold tables, there are often epic big pots at fast fold tables with less than premium hands.
Fast Fold
Fast fold cash games are better at sites with more traffic. The Zone poker and Blitz poker has more players but traffic levels at different stakes do very from day to day and the time of day. The fast pace of fast fold poker makes them more popular than regular cash games but not as popular as tournaments. Here are the popular real money fast fold games for players in the United States:
- Americas Cardroom: Blitz Poker - No Limit Holdem 6 Max tables.
- Ignition Poker: Zone Poker - Multi-table - Play 2 tables at once.
- Bovada Poker: Zone Poker - Holdem / Omaha / Omaha Hi-Lo
- BetOnline Poker: Boost Poker - Progressive Bad Beat Jackpot
Traffic
The US online poker site with the most traffic for tournaments is Americas Cardroom, but for cash games it it the combined player pool from Ignition Poker and Bovada Poker. Lately traffic to all us poker sites have increased and Americas Cardroom shows the biggest spike in interest because of huge promotions like $3.8 million in guaranteed MTT's and big tournament series like the Venom. Bovada and Ignition have the same player pool and most of the traffic is for cash games with the fast fold variant Zone poker having the most players.
BetOnline has less traffic than the other poker sites but it still has seen a spike in players. The evening followed by afternoons has the most traffic for players in the USA.
Casual players usually only play at one poker site while more competitive players will have accounts at several sites and the ebb and flow of traffic changes depending on the current promotions at different sites.
Real Money
Playing online poker for real money is legal for players in the United States at the Federal level and regulation is left up to individual states. The only state to make online poker for real money illegal is Washington, although the law has not been enforced.
US real money online poker players need to ensure that the sites they play at are legitimate sites that are not rigged where your money is safe. That is the purpose of this website is to help you find the best US real money online poker sites that payout. Deposit options and payout times are two important criteria for determining if you are going to play real money poker games.
US Deposit Options
Best Online Real Money Poker Sites For Us Players Online
There are very good real money online poker tournaments for players in the USA from 3 person million dollar Jackpot Sit n Gos to massive Multi Table Tournaments with thousands of players and millions in prizes. Sundays have the best tournaments with the highest traffic and the biggest guarantees at all online poker sites.
Americas Cardroom:
- Credit Cards - American Express, Diners Card, MasterCard, VISA
- Cryptocurrencies - 60+ including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, EOS, DASH, Ripple
- E Wallets - Ecopayz, Rio
- Banking - Wire Transfer, Check
Ignition Poker:
- Credit Cards - American Express, Diners Card, MasterCard, VISA
- Cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash
- E Wallets -
- Banking - Wire Transfer, Check
Bovada Poker:
- Credit Cards - American Express, Diners Card, MasterCard, VISA
- Cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash,
- E Wallets - Zelle
- Banking - Wire Transfer, Check
BetOnline Poker:
- Credit Cards - American Express, Diners Card, MasterCard, VISA
- Cryptocurrencies -Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin
- E Wallets -
- Banking - Wire Transfer, Check, Money Order
US Withdrawal Options
Withdrawal minimums / maximums by site and withdrawal option:
Method | BetOnline | Bovada | Ignition | ACR |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bitcoin | $20 / $3,000 | $10 / $9,500 | $10 / $9,500 | $50 / $10,000 |
Crypto | $20 / $3,000 | $10 / $9,500 | $10 / $9,500 | $50 / $10,000 |
Wire Transfer | $500 / $3,000 | $100 / $3,000 | $100 / $3,000 | $100 / $3,000 |
E-Wallet | - | - | - | $50 / $3,000 |
Check | $500 - $,2500 | $100 / $3,000 | $100 / $3,000 | $100 / $3,000 |
Ignition and Bovada allow 1 Bitcoin withdrawal every 3 days up to $9,500 and Americas Cardroom allows 1 per day up to $10,000. It is notable that USD withdrawals are generally capped at $3,000 and once every 5-7 days, Bitcoin and Crypto is closer to $10,000 with more frequent withdraws.
USD - US Dollars
All the online poker sites for US players accept US dollars and all games and bets use US dollars too. There are other international poker sites that use different currencies like Euros and British Pounds but they do not accept US players for real money.
Bitcoin
All US friendly online poker rooms accept Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash for both deposits and withdrawals. ACR and BetOnline additionally accept other cryptocurrencies as well. Using Bitcoin you will have zero deposit and withdrawal fees, higher withdrawal limits and faster deposit and withdrawal times. Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency is my recommended method for both deposits and payouts.
Bonus
New players at all US poker sites are eligible for real money poker bonuses when you sign up and make your first deposit. Bonuses are all deposit match bonuses up to a maximum value. There are no instant poker bonuses or no deposit bonuses for players from the USA.
Comparison of US Online Poker Site Sign Up Bonuses:
Details | BetOnline | Bovada | Ignition | ACR |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD Bonus | 100% / $1000 | 100% / $500 | 100% / $1000 | 100% / $1000 |
Crypto Bonus | 100% / $1000 | 100% / $1000 | 125% / $1250 | 200% / $1000 |
VIP Cash Back | Freeroll Tickets | - | - | 5.5% - 66.2% |
Days to Clear | 30 | 30 | 30 | 60 |
Clearing Rate | 20% | 50% | 50% | 20% |
Freeroll Tickets | 4 X $2,500 | - | - | Unlimited X $50 |
The best online poker bonus for US players is Ignition Poker because the bonus clearing (50 cents bonus released per dollar of rake paid) is far easier than Americas Cardroom or BetOnline (20 cents bonus released per dollar of rake paid). Ignition is better than Bovada because of the bonus percentage (125%) is better than Bovada (100%) and the maximum bonus is higher ($1250) vs Bovada at ($500).
United States Online Poker
PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, 888 Poker and Party Poker no longer accept US Real Money Players from most US states with the exception of New Jersey. For more information on poker sites that accept US players visit my site dedicated to it: US Poker Sites 2021
Online Poker is legal in the USA in every state except the state of Washington. The poker sites shut down on May 15th 2011 were using payment processing that was may have not compatible with an outdated sports betting wire law from the prohibition era that was updated in 2006.
Texas Hold em was started in the USA and is the most popular poker game in the world. Most Online poker games are Fixed Limit and No Limit Texas Holdem, with the vast majority being No Limit Holdem. The second most popular online poker game for US players is Omaha in several variations including Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo and Omaha 8 or Better. There are Cash games, fast fold poker, Sit n Gos and quite a few tournaments for Omaha. Omaha is usually filled with poker pros who like more of a complex games. 5 card Stud and 7 Card Stud are less popular but there are some games to be found online.
Americas Cardroom: Top USA Online Poker Site
Cashback: 5.5% - 66.2%
Bonus: 100% up to $1000
Bonus (Crypto): 100% up to $500
Referral Code: Sydney100
- US Players Accepted
- $3.8 Million GTD Weekly MTT's
- Best Cash Rewards
- $1 Million First Place - Venom
- Jackpot SnG's - For a Million
US Online Poker Site FAQ
It is not illegal to play online poker in the United States in all States except Washington state. You can play online at several legal online poker sites that are US player friend for real money.
US players can play the following online poker sites for real money:
- Americas Cardroom - Best online poker tournaments - americascardroom.eu
- Ignition Poker - Best sign up bonus - ignitioncasino.eu
- Bovada Poker - Best for beginners -bovada.lv
- BetOnline Poker - Best for Freerolls -betonline.ag
Yes US players can play online poker for free at PokerStars.net, but not at PokerStars.com for real money. Players in the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania can play for money at PokerStars in those states but it is a ring fenced player pool with low traffic and not the large international online poker room.
The best online poker tournaments for US players are at Americas Cardroom with $3.8 Million in guarantees weekly, the most guaranteed tournaments daily and the largest online poker tournament of the year: Venom ($7 Million GTD / $1 Million GTD for first place). No other site comes close.
Which Online Poker Site Is The Best For Real Money
The best online poker site for US players is Americas Cardroom:
- The most tournament players - high traffic
- The cash game lowest rake - Rake caps are $3
- The highest cash back rewards - 5.5% - 66.2% of your rake back
- 200% Crypto Bonus - Referral Code: Sydney100
- US player friendly - americascardroom.eu