- Mar 11, 2017 These online poker sites are legal in the U.S. And can provide you with ways to win some real money. Check out WSOP NJ, 888poker NJ, Global Poker, and more!
- The best way to experience online poker real money is with a no deposit bonus. This gives you the best of both worlds. Playing for real money ensures the play will be true to that of cash poker, but it removes the risk of damaging your bankroll in the event of a bust.
The world of online poker is very different to that of online casinos. When playing blackjack or roulette on the internet your foe is the house. It’s the player vs. the operator. Online poker is player vs. player, or PvP as it is known in gaming. This changes everything. Let’s take a look at some of the finer points on poker online, the strategy involved and the best places to play in the UK today.
If you want to play online poker for real money, then you need to go to the sites that have the most traffic. By doing so, you’re going to find the largest pool of players. When you find the largest pool of players, you will find the most fish or the softest poker game. Let’s take a.
- Free Play & Real Money Games
- Cash Games, Tournaments and Satellites
The most popular form of online poker is Texas Hold’em. There are other variants, such as Omaha Hold’em, but for the moment lets focus on the market’s bread and butter. The game enjoyed a boom in the early 00s during which the online player pool doubled in size year on year. In 2006, when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed in the United States, the game’s popularity plummeted across the pond. Over here though, poker has retained most of its player base.
Texas Hold’em tournaments are still held in Las Vegas and casinos all over Europe, but unlike land-based games where buy-ins remain expensive, play is often slow and players are bound by casino schedules, poker online is an accessible environment suitable for both beginners and professional players.
Train Your Poker Skills Online for Free
The learning curve for online poker is certainly longer than that of blackjack or other casino card games. Jumping straight into real money play is risky, as more experienced poker players will be able to pick off those who make rookie mistakes. The beautiful thing about playing poker online is that you can begin developing your skills for free. Before the internet, groups of friends would sit around playing poker for fun using matchsticks or plastic chips. It was a great way to learn the game, but it was slow.
The strongest argument for doing your training online is the huge increase in speed. Every hand is experience gained, and with no shuffling or moving physical chips around you will see a lot more hands online over the same period of time as you would playing live. Pilots measure experience by hours spent on the equipment they are flying. Poker players measure experience by the number of hands they have played. It’s a basic principle – increased exposure leads to increased skill. Playing poker online is the best way to get good quickly.
Taking Advantage of a No Deposit Poker Bonus
Free play is perfect for learning the game but it is a very different animal to online poker for real money. Poker is a game where you don’t have to have the best hand to win the pot. Psychology, table position, bluffing and acting all play a key role in determining the winner of any given hand. Therefore, when real money is at stake the game flows differently to when it’s just for fun. Opponents will play more carefully, and will be less willing to risk chips with weaker hands. Bluffing becomes a little easier – in free play mode bluffs are notoriously hard to get through as it’s too easy for players to call – but cashing in on your strong hands is also more difficult.
The best way to experience online poker real money is with a no deposit bonus. This gives you the best of both worlds. Playing for real money ensures the play will be true to that of cash poker, but it removes the risk of damaging your bankroll in the event of a bust.
What’s So Special About Online Poker for Real Money?
The biggest advantage of poker online over land-based casino poker is variety. Tournaments and cash games in casinos carry significant overheads for the operators. Dealers need to be paid, and there is limited space for a 200+ entrant poker tournament. Thus, buy-ins and entry fees are kept high to cover costs. The internet solves these practical problems and as a result, buy-ins for online real money poker tournaments can be as low as 10p with a 1p fee for the operator. It’s also much easier to stage a tournament with 1,000 entrants, and it won’t take three days to complete.
- Blend skill and experience in the ultimate battle of psychology and wit!
- Free play can be chaotic, real money play is more considered!
- Grow with your bankroll – plenty of table options for all levels of player!
- For maximum excitement and a true test of nerves, it has to be real money play!
Satellite tournaments provide another opportunity for players. A satellite tournament is an excellent way to access high-stakes games without stumping up a buy-in. In exchange for a cash prize, satellites offer winners entry to a more lucrative tournament instead. When stacked, players can soon find themselves in games with enormous prize pools from a relatively small, or free, initial buy-in. In 2003, Chris Moneymaker rode his luck all the way to the top when he won the World Series of Poker main event, taking home $2.5 million. He had gained entry to the biggest poker event at the time by winning a $39 satellite on PokerStars.
Online Poker Deposit Bonuses
All the best online poker sites the UK market today will kick-start your bankroll with a nice juicy bonus. This allow players to register for tournaments with higher buy-ins. However, that doesn’t mean upon receiving a free £100 bonus it’s a good idea to spend it all in one go. A good rule for managing your bankroll is to only risk a maximum of 10% of your total bankroll on any one game. A nice welcome bonus of 100-200% can open a lot of doors to a player managing their bankroll effectively.
How to Play Poker Online: The Basics
In Texas Hold’em, players receive two cards face down called ‘hole cards’. In both land-based casinos and online, a large dealer chip is used to indicate where the cards are to be dealt from. This is an important part of the game as it controls the order in which players act. The two players immediately to the left of the dealer are required to put in blinds – obligatory bets to get the action going.
After the initial round of betting comes three community cards – dealt in the middle of the table that can be used by any player – known as ‘the flop’. A second round of betting commences before a fourth card, the turn, is added to the board. More betting ensues before we see the river, a final card to complete a board of five community cards. A final round of betting completes the play before players reveal their hands in a showdown. If, during any round, there is only one player remains in the hand the pot will be awarded instantly and no further cards are dealt.
There is plenty of jargon to describe the game of poker that can cause confusion to new players. Let’s have a look at some of the more essential language of the game.
| The Most Important Poker Terminology Explained | ||
|---|---|---|
| Button | The button indicates the position of the dealer. Play continues immediately to the left of the button. | |
| Blinds | Blinds are the compulsary bets placed at the start of each hand by the two players immediately to the left of the dealer. | |
| Ante | A bet that every player must place at the start of a round. Not compulsary in every game. | |
| Bet & Raise | A bet is the first stake placed in a round. A raise is a bet bigger than the previous stake. | |
| All In | When a player bets everything they have, it is called going all in. If the bet is called cards are immediately turned on their backs. | |
| Check & Call | A check is like a bet of zero. If there has been no bet so far in the round, the option to check is available. | |
| Bluff | A bluff is a bet placed in order to trick an opponent into thinking a strong hand is held. | |
| Fold | Folding is the act of surrendering your cards and any previously placed bets in the current round. | |
| Hole Cards | The two initial cards received by each player are known as hole cards. | |
| Pocket Rockets | A pair of aces in the hole is known as Pocket Rockets, the best possible starting hand. | |
| Community Cards | The cards dealt to the middle of the table that can be used by any player are called community cards. | |
| Hand | The best five cards available by combining hole cards and community cards is known as a hand. | |
| Preflop | All action conducted before the community cards are dealt is called preflop action. | |
| Flop, Turn & River | The flop is the first three community cards, the fourth is called the turn, and the fifth the river. | |
| Fish & Shark | A beginner player is known as a fish. An experienced player is a shark. Sharks enjoy playing against fish! | |
| Suited | Two or more cards that are the same suit (clubs, hearts, diamonds or spades) are suited. | |
| Straight | A run of five cards in numerical order. The best possible straight is 10, J, Q, K and A. | |
| Flush | A flush is any five cards of the same suit. They do not have be in a running order. | |
| Straight Flush | A combination of a straight and a flush, a straight flush is a run of five cards that are also suited. | |
| Limit | The maximum amount a player can bet in a single move, although most games are no limit. | |
| Loose & Tight | A loose player takes a lot of risks and is very unpredictable. A tight player is more careful but easier to read. | |
| Nuts | The best possible hand that can be created depending on the community cards out is called the nuts. | |
| Outs | Any card that could give a player is a winning hand is called an out. Players calculate the number of outs to determine the future strength of a hand. | |
| Blank | A community card that is not likely to improve a player’s hands or affect the outcome of a pot is known as a blank. | |
| Pot | All of the money bet so far in a round of poker is gathered into the middle of the table and labelled ‘the pot.’ | |
| Bad Beat | Players who lose from a very strong winning position are said to have suffered a bad beat. | |
| Tilt | If a player suffers a bad beat and then begins to play irrationally as a result, they are said to be on tilt. | |
A Guide to Playing Poker Online: Tips & Tricks
Online poker players require a mixture of skill and good fortune to be successful. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything about your luck at the tables, but I can help you to improve your knowledge and make you a more skilful poker player.
Position, Position, Position
The number one mistake that amateur players make is ignoring their position on the table relative to the dealer chip. Watch professional poker stars on TV and notice how they play the exact same hand completely differently depending on position. There is no better or worse position to have at the table. Being first to act or last to act each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, but failing to adapt to the changes is suicide. For example, a big bluff in first position is risky as it must get through everyone at the table and you don’t have any information – your opponents could have anything! The same bluff placed in last position – made after everyone else has played providing much more information about potential strength – is far less of a risk. Pay attention to position at all times.
Be Flexible, but Rational. Strategic, but Unpredictable.
It sounds a little oxymoronic, but the key to playing poker at higher levels is to be both rational and irrational at the same time. A mathematical poker player analysing the percentages and betting accordingly can maximise his chances of winning, but he would be predictable and therefore exploitable. Likewise, as chimpanzee placing bets at random would be impossible to read, but would ultimately be unable to maximise wins and limit loses. The very best players are flexible, sometimes making ‘poor’ or irrational moves to mix things up. Don’t be afraid to take a few knocks along the way to hitting that huge pot.
Stay Cool
Online poker can be frighteningly quick. Turbo tournaments have risen in popularity and can give players only seconds to make a decision. There are times in poker when you will feel cheated. You might trick an opponent into risking everything with a weaker hand, only to be beaten on the river by a lucky card. It happens to everyone. Avoiding what the pro’s call being ‘on tilt’ is especially vital online. Chasing pots or playing aggressively to avenge bad luck is the quickest way to go bust in this game. Take a minute, and keep your cool.
Choosing to play poker online for money is simple – once you know what to look out for. This page covers everything you need to know on playing poker online in the US. We break down how to find a safe and easy to beat poker room, and rank the best casino sites to play online poker for real money in the United States. This includes poker sites like Bovada Poker, Ignition Poker & America’s Cardroom.
Before you jump into a US real money poker game, though, here are the key factors to consider:
- Site Safety: Choose licensed, trusted and tested rooms
- Game Selection: What choice of games are available, and at what buy-ins?
- Bonuses / Rewards: How well will your play be rewarded?
- USA Friendly Poker Site: This depends on which state you are playing from.
These days, the biggest and best US poker rooms are based offshore. They are licensed by their host country, and welcome players from all over the world – including the USA.
You can also find smaller in-state poker rooms. Four individual US states currently provide regulated online poker rooms, namely Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Games are shared between players from the first three states mentioned, with the US poker market expected to grow as more states start to offer regulated online poker for real money in the future. Likely contenders include such states as West Virginia, Maryland, Missouri and New York.
Best Online Poker Sites for Real Money in 2020
Deposit Limits: $10 - $5,000
Accepts: Visa, Bitcoin, Mastercard, Bank Wire
Ignition is a popular option for players in the United States. They offer most popular cash game variants and more than $1.5 million in weekly online poker tournament guarantees. Ignition also offers Zone Poker, similar to Zoom Poker where you’re moved to a new table and dealt a new hand every time you fold.
Ignition Poker also offer a wide variety of poker promotions.
Join Ignition Poker here and get up to $2000 free!
Deposit Limits: $10 – $5,000
Accepts: Bitcoin, Visa, Bank Wire
Licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, Bovada is one of the oldest online poker sites servicing America. Bovada offers anonymous tables and a mobile-optimized design allowing play on all mobile platforms. The design makes it feel like you’re playing in Las Vegas rather than your home computer.
They offer a wide variety of cash games and tournaments with over $1.5 million in weekly guarantees.
Join Bovada Poker here and get a $500 bonus!
Deposit Limits: $25 – $25,000
Accepts: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Visa, MasterCard, Money Transfers, Bank Wire
Sportsbetting.ag offers a robust online poker option with excellent cash game and tournament action. For cash games, they provide weekly cash leaderboards with $10,000 in prizes weekly. They offer over $45,000 in weekday guarantees, over $130,000 in guarantees on Saturday and over $275,000 in guarantees on Sunday.
If you like fast-fold poker variants like Zoom Poker, you’ll love Boost Poker. Get a new hand every time you fold in this fast-paced game.
Join Sportsbetting.ag – 100% up to $1000 for new US players!
Deposit Limits: $25 - $2,500
Accepts: Bitcoin, credit cards (MasterCard, Amex, Visa), money transfers
Intertops Poker is fully licensed by Curacao and the Netherlands Antilles and offers a wide variety of cash game and online poker tournaments. Their software is available as both a PC downloadable client and a mobile-optimized web version.
This site is perfect for players looking to grow their poker bankrolls at lower stakes.
Join Intertops Poker here and claim a 200% match bonus!
Deposit Limits: $25 - $25,000
Accepts: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Visa, MasterCard, Money Transfers, Bank Wire
BetOnline is the newest online poker site for American players. This site is part of the BetOnline group which includes a well-known and reputable Sportsbook as well as an online casino. BetOnline launched their poker room in 2012 and has quickly become one of the largest US accepted poker rooms on the market.
When you make your 1st, 2nd and even 10th deposit to the poker room, you will receive 25% upfront in cash.
Join Bet Online Poker and qualify for a $1,000 deposit bonus!
Deposit Limits: $50 - $25,000
Accepts: Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin
America’s Cardroom is one of the most popular online poker rooms for American players with over 1 million hands of poker played daily. They are a popular room because they readily accept American players and offer a wide variety of online payment options including Bitcoin.
America’s Cardroom offers a wide variety of tournaments with substantial daily guarantees. Their Sunday tournaments have guarantees ranging from $50,000 to $150,000.
Join America’s Cardroom here and claim $1,000 in bonus cash!
Deposit Limits: $50 - $10,000
Accepts: Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Wire
Black Chip Poker is a legally licensed online poker real money site for US players. Licensed in Costa Rica, BCP is part of the Winning Poker Network. New players qualify for a 100% deposit bonus up to $1,000 or you can take advantage of the cryptocurrency offering, giving you a 200% match bonus when you make your first deposit with Bitcoin.
The poker room provides a variety of tournaments including the Million Dollar Sunday tournaments.
Join Black Chip Poker here and claim a 100% match bonus!
You can play poker online for real money in the United States as long as you’re outside of banned online gambling states like Washington. If you’re looking for where to play online poker from the USA, or which casino sites accept US players, check out the poker websites above. Each casino site provides players with a special bonus and have the ability to process poker deposits.
8 Things to Look For Before Playing with Real Cash
The list below covers the main factors to consider when choosing an online gambling or online poker real money USA site. It is important to choose a site which works for your experience level and skills. If you are a recreational player, who enjoys the occasional casino game and casual poker game, then your requirements are different from those of a multi-tabling pro grinder.
1) Comparing The Features of Different Online Poker Sites
A great online poker site has a good selection of poker games featuring a wide variety of buy-ins and game combination. The Winning Poker Network, 888poker and partypoker, for instance, regularly runs large poker tournaments, while online poker players can easily find high limit poker cash games at site such as Bovada and Ignition. If you plan on enjoying poker from your iPhone or Android Smartphone, the fast-fold game ‘Zone Poker’ from Bovada is also good choice.
2) What to Look for in Poker Site Reviews?
When visiting an online gambling news or poker news sites, focus on those real money poker reviews based upon first-hand experience. This will show in comments about navigating through the menus, the softness (or otherwise) of the games – and other small features. When reading poker reviews, it’s also best to get more than one opinion for a more well-rounded view.
3) How to Compare Poker Bonus Offers?
Welcome bonuses are good for boosting your initial bankroll. However, different poker site have different bonus ratings, with these bonuses then varying in their size, as well as terms of satisfaction. Furthermore, your welcome bonus will typically expire after 30 to 60 days, so make sure your site offers subsequently offers ongoing rakeback, loyalty schemes and regular promos.
4) What Games and Variations are Available?
The three basic poker formats are cash games, poker tournaments and Sit n Goes. While No-Limit Holdem is the most popular variant offered at US online poker rooms, other poker formats available include Pot-Limit Omaha, Razz, Stud and Draw. Needless to say, choosing the biggest sites also means more games and a wider variety of stakes to enjoy.
5) Licensing at Legal Online Poker Sites for Real Money
Check the poker room has an online gambling license before depositing at any online poker real money USA site. After all, licensed legal online poker sites are required to adhere to the strictest legislation and operating standards. Reputable international sites are licensed by the governments of their host countries, with popular jurisdictions including Curacao, Panama, The Isle of Man, Malta and Kahnawake in Canada.
6) Banking at US Poker Sites: Depositing and Withdrawing
Getting your money deposited on a online poker real money USA site is straightforward, with the most common poker deposit methods as follows:
- Credit Cards: Widely accepted, though transactions can be blocked by banks, quick and easy when they do work.
- Prepaid Credit Cards: Check with your site for the best working brands, then buy from convenience stores.
- Bitcoin / Other Cryptocurrencies: One-off setup needed, though once you have a cryptocurrency ‘wallet’ these coins will solve your deposit and withdrawal problems completely.
- Money Transfer: Send cash from your local Western Union or MoneyGram office.
Deposit methods are fairly similar across the various online gaming sites, including credit cards, money transfers, bitcoin, as well as other cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, withdrawing with cryptocurrency is easy, with other ways to withdraw your cash including as a paper check or bank wire. Make sure you check for minimum withdrawal amounts, and any fees, though. Withdrawal options and administration charges may differ, too, so look for sites with a low minimum, and at least one free withdrawal per month, such as Betonline.
7) Poker Site Complaints: Red Flags to Look Out For
There are always bad players who claim that every site has a ‘rigged deal’ simply because they do not understand the game well and are not be able to win money playing poker. Far more important are any complaints concerning delays in payments, which are a red flag for any poker site. Also, customer feedback concerning the softness of poker games is important, with numerous comments suggesting a site is full of pro ‘grinders’ probably worth avoiding.
Best Online Poker Sites
8) The Small Print: Read the Poker Rooms Terms / Privacy Policy
Check the terms and conditions of a poker site before you play with real money, and look out for online gaming caps on withdrawal amounts, high minimum withdrawals and time restricted bonuses. Reputable poker rooms have a ‘Responsible Gaming’ policy and self-exclusion options, as well as a number of contact methods, such as phone number, e-mail and physical address.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll find detailed answers to some common questions below. These cover a wide range of topics, from which is the best room through to how to play using Bitcoin!
Is Playing Real Money Poker Legal from My State?
Party Poker Online Casino
Offshore poker sites are not under US jurisdiction. They do, however, maintain their right to accept players from anywhere in the world, including the United States. There may be no US federal laws stopping individual players from enjoying casino games and real money poker online, but state laws do vary, though. Some States, for instance, already have legalized regulated online poker rooms, including New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware and Pennsylvania. On the other hand, some states have clearly banned real money online poker games, thus making poker illegal, including Utah and Washington State. While federal law prevents banks and gambling sites transacting within the USA, legislation does not cover individual players.
Are There Any USA Friendly Poker Sites That Accept Bitcoin?
Yes, all the main offshore online poker sites accept Bitcoin as a payment option. There are some sites which accept other cryptocurrencies, too, including Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin and Ethereum.
What is the Best USA Online Poker Site?
A perfect site would include soft games, a huge choice of tables, big guaranteed tournament prizes, plenty of promotions and bonuses – and smooth, fast software that can be accessed from many different devices. Several sites come close, with the biggest and best USA real cash poker rooms found here.
How do US Poker Sites Structure Themselves to be Legal?
The ‘Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act’ of 2006 prohibits financial transactions to online gambling sites in the USA. Sites offering real money poker games to American players stay legal by being located outside of the US. The sites we subsequently recommend are fully legal in their host countries and maintain the right to welcome players from anywhere in the world, citing global free trade laws. Meanwhile, federal can enforce the UIGEA on the US banks and financial networks, but UIGEA does not cover players.
Is Playing Online Poker Profitable?
One of the best things about online poker is that skilled players are able to learn poker strategies and win money. While you won’t be profitable right away, if you are better than your opponents, then over time your bankroll will grow. You’ll need to study, though, and once you have identified your own leaks and developed winning poker strategies, making a living playing online poker becomes possible. You can even transfer your skills and poker strategies to the live arena and play at land-based casinos such as the Rio in Las Vegas, which hosts the iconic WSOP tournament series every year.
What Can I Do if a Poker Site is Delaying Payments?
That depends on the licensing arrangement of the site you are playing at. If you chose an unlicensed site, then your chances of getting money back if they close or go rogue are small. As far as legal online poker at international licensed sites is concerned, complaining to their official licensing body will provide you a much better chance of being paid. After all, the loss of a license is something many United States poker sites take seriously.