State-regulated, legal online poker sites in the US operate in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Delaware. Online poker is legal in West Virginia, but no rooms are offered due to the smaller population. The US online poker landscape currently includes operators like BetMGM, PokerStars, WSOP.com, 888poker, partypoker, and Borgata Poker. Other big names, like BetRivers Poker, are also set to launch at some point.
These poker platforms operate as US-only poker sites. Therefore, they are not connected to an international player pool. And while some in-state restrictions are enforced, several providers offer interstate AND inter-platform player pools.
Players in most states can also enjoy Global Poker, a social casino site where users can redeem winnings for cash prizes.
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Best US Casinos with Online Poker for Real Money
WSOP.com
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The World Series of Poker (WSOP) became one of the first brands to launch a regulated online poker site within the US. WSOP went live in Nevada and New Jersey in 2013. WSOP.com recently expanded into Pennsylvania in 2021.
WSOP.com shares player liquidity between its Nevada and New Jersey platforms. The WSOP network also connects to the 888poker Delaware network player pool. This interstate network functions as the only online poker network in the US with a shared player pool across multiple states.
WSOP.com also offers its New Jersey players the opportunity to compete in the official World Series of Poker live bracelet events each year in Las Vegas. The 2018 WSOP yielded the first New Jersey player to win a bracelet in the nearly 50-year history of the event.
BetMGM Poker
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BetMGM Poker is available in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Backed by MGM Resorts, the BetMGM Michigan is one of the best online casinos in the US, featuring an integrated sportsbook and online casino. Players can use the app with confidence knowing it has the support of one of the most reputable casino brands in the world.
BetMGM Poker promo code PLAYCHIP offers a 100% deposit match up to $1,000 plus a deposit bonus of up to $75 when you sign up. It features popular poker varieties like No-Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha. The platform also features a robust daily tournament schedule.
PokerStars
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PokerStars is the largest, and most recognizable online poker brand in the world. Already with a large network of international players, PokerStars now serves select US customers. PokerStars currently operates in three US states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Not only does PokerStars offer its customers a well-rounded poker experience, but the PokerStars Casino and affiliate sportsbook (FOX Bet Sportsbook) are also available in these three states.
New players at PokerStars can choose their bonus after playing one real-money hand. They can either get a 100% deposit match bonus up to $600 (using code STARS600), or they can choose $150 in bonus play.
partypoker
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Partypoker was a major player in the “poker-boom” era of online poker in the US. It voluntarily left the US market after the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act in 2006.
Once regulations changed, the brand returned with the legal launch of partypoker NJ in 2013. The partypoker NJ network shares player liquidity with a pair of other New Jersey online poker skins, BetMGM Casino Michigan and Borgata Poker.
The World Poker Tour cross promotes with the partypoker US network to bring WPT online events to New Jersey players. The welcome bonus on the partypoker US network includes a 100% deposit match up to $1,000.
Partypoker currently operates in New Jersey only, but is expected to expand to other states soon.
Borgata Poker
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Borgata is one of the bigger names in New Jersey gaming. Their online poker platform has been live in the state for three years. Borgata Poker is also available to residents of Pennsylvania.
A subsidiary of BetMGM, Borgata features a sleek interface with a number of poker friendly features. With an impressive tournament schedule and generous introductory offer, Borgata is quickly becoming a preferred destination for poker players in the US. An integrated sportsbook and online casino are also available.
Poker at Social Casinos
Playing poker at social casinos is a similar experience to playing at an online poker platform. The gameplay is relatively the same, and several structures exist to enjoy. Sit and gos, cash-style games, tournaments, etc. But there are two main differences between a social casino and a real money online casino. For starters, a social casino does not use actual currency.
Take for example, the most popular of these social casinos – Global Poker. This platform features two kinds of coins. The first is Gold Coins. With this coin type, you are playing for fun. The second coin type at Global Poker is Sweeps Coins. These coins can be redeemed for cash prizes.
The other significant difference between a promotional sweepstakes casino and a real-money platform is that you can play at a social casino absolutely free.
Read more: Clubs Poker plans to launch as a direct competitor to Global Poker. Claim your Clubs Poker promo code!
Bonuses At US Online Poker Sites
Deposit Match Bonuses
Online poker sites and most other gambling platforms offer players a deposit match bonus as a welcome offer. A deposit match bonus “matches” a percentage of your first deposit with an equal amount of bonus funds, sometimes doubling the amount of your initial deposit.
Every legal US poker platform offers first-time players a deposit match bonus.
No Deposit Bonuses
Another type of bonus offers extended by legal online gambling sites is the no-deposit bonus. These offers grant players free credits simply for signing up on their platform. As the name suggests, this kind of bonus does not require a real-money deposit to be activated.
888poker offers such a bonus, with a $20 no-deposit promotion for new players. This no-deposit bonus is available at 888poker NJ and the 888poker network of Delaware online poker skins (Delaware Park, Dover Downs, Harrington Raceway).
Tournament Tickets
Some bonuses may offer tournament tickets as a reward when you complete the bonus requirements. These tickets may be valid for free entries into various tournaments or Sit’n’Go matches that are offered. Of course, before you go for a bonus that offers tournament tickets, make sure that the tickets granted earn you an entry into a tournament or Sit’n’Go that you’d actually like to participate in.
Reload Bonuses
A reload bonus is simply an additional reward for an existing player who reloads more money into their account by making a deposit. Most commonly, these reload bonuses come in the form of percentage multipliers. For example, if you claim a 20% reload bonus and deposit $100, you’ll receive an additional $20 in bonus funds.
VIP Bonuses
If you’ve played enough to reach a high loyalty tier or have been assigned a personal account manager, you’re now in the realm of receiving VIP bonuses. VIP bonuses can be any of the bonuses listed here – the main difference is that they are larger, customized, and offered directly to you and not lower-level players on the site.
Referral Bonuses
Referral bonuses are offered almost everywhere, and allow you and a friend to earn a bonus by completing a refer-a-friend process. Keep in mind, however, that bonuses aren’t given immediately upon your friend registering. There are other requirements that must be completed, often a deposit and wagering, before you qualify to receive the referral bonus.
Playthrough Requirements For Online Poker Bonuses
Playthrough requirements for online poker work differently from those of online casinos. For online poker, most bonus playthroughs are calculated using loyalty points that can be earned by playing. Once you’ve claimed a bonus, the funds for that bonus are only released to your account once you’ve earned a certain number of points. In some cases, the funds may be released in increments for every certain number of points earned.
For example, if you claim a reload bonus that’s set to give you $100, the terms and conditions may state that every 5 points earned will release a dollar of your bonus. So, to unlock your full bonus amount, you’d need to play through $500.
Online Poker Cash Games In The US
Regulated US poker sites offer cash games at various stakes. Players looking to sit down with a smaller bankroll might enjoy the micro stakes games played at $0.01/$0.02 blinds.
The ladder of cash game limits goes up from there all the way to nosebleed levels reserved for the biggest of bankrolls. Online poker is often considered the best skill game to win money.
BetMGM Poker
BetMGM Poker offers a variety of games. Mega Tuesday happens every—you guessed it—Tuesdays. $12,000 is up for grabs at 8 PM. Players can also participate in a Daily $10K. $100 plus $9 gets you a stack of chips and a seat at the virtual table.
PokerStars
PokerStars (Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) offers the widest variety of games in the cash game format. Aside from No-Limit Hold’em, PokerStars also runs cash games featuring Pot-Limit Omaha, Limit Hold’em, Stud, Razz, Badugi, 8-Game Mix, 2-7 Triple Draw, and several others.
No-Limit Hold’em cash games max out at $25/$50 as the highest stakes. After that, Limit Hold’em and 8-Game Mix go up to $100/$200 limits.
WSOP/888
The integrated WSOP/888 network of sites offered in Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware feature No-Limit Hold’em cash games up to $100/$200 stakes.
The WSOP/888 network also runs cash games featuring Omaha and Stud, as well as Limit Hold’em.
partypoker
Similar to WSOP/888, partypoker NJ runs No-Limit Hold’em, Limit Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud cash games.
The No-Limit Hold’em, and Pot-Limit Omaha cash games go up to $25/$50 stakes. Limit Hold’em games are offered at up to $30/$60 limits.
Borgata Poker
Borgata offers players several cash game options. Texas Hold’em is the most popular table, but Omaha and Seven Card Stud are also available.
Borgata features cash-game limits starting at $0.01/$0.02 and go as high as $3/$6.
Best US Online Poker Tournaments
Special Tournament Series
Each online poker platform features its own unique tournament series.
At BetMGM, for example, poker players will find a variety of tournaments like Sit & Gos or Mega Tuesday. There are over 70 tournaments each day.
Partypoker players enjoy monthly tournament specials like the partypoker US Network Online Series. Additionally, PokerStars players can enjoy the brand’s trademark Championship of Online Poker series, which runs twice per year on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey versions of the PokerStars platform.
BetMGM Poker Tournament
BetMGM Poker in New Jersey features over 70 tournaments daily. Poker players can participate in BetMGM’s Daily $10K, Sit & Go tournaments, or Sunday $35K.
PokerStars Tournaments
Sunday marks the biggest day of the week for tournament players at PokerStars. The weekly slate includes the Sunday Warm-Up ($50 buy-in, $4,000 guaranteed) and Sunday High Roller ($500 buy-in, $8,000 guaranteed).
The most popular tournament on their schedule is the Sunday Million. It’s the world’s biggest weekly poker tournament with a $1,000,000 guarantee prize pool. Qualify by winning any of the available satellites or registering directly for $109.
WSOP/888 Tournaments
WSOP/888 offers several $10,000 guaranteed tournaments throughout each week, with buy-ins ranging from $55 to $100. Other big tournaments include the $25,000 Weekly Saturday ($250 buy-in) and $50,000 Weekly Sunday ($500 buy-in).
partypoker Tournaments
One of partypoker’s biggest weekly tournaments is offered every Sunday as part of the network’s regular weekly schedule. The Sunday $35k Tournament comes at a $215 buy-in and offers unlimited re-entry until the end of the late registration period.
Borgata Poker Tournaments
Borgata has an in-depth daily poker schedule with a number of tournaments. The site’s flagship event is the Sunday $30,000 Guaranteed Tournament. Another popular tournament is Mega Tuesdays, where players can sit down for $535 for a crack at a $12,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Online Poker Player Pooling
WSOP Nevada, WSOP New Jersey, and the 888poker Delaware network (Delaware Park, Dover Downs, Harrington Raceway skins) all share the same player pool. Therefore, playing at any of these sites allows you to compete against a shared player pool across these platforms.
This network of WSOP/888 platforms can draw from a more extensive overall player base versus its competitors. PokerStars NJ, PA, and MI only allows players from within those respective states. Partypoker NJ is in the same situation.
None of the regulated online poker sites in the US share a player pool with any network outside the US.
Legal US Online Poker Sites Versus Illegal Sites
A wide variety of online poker platforms are available to US players, but only state-regulated gambling sites operate legally within the US.
These legal US poker sites are approved, licensed, and regulated by state government gaming agencies. For example, New Jersey’s legal poker sites fall under the regulation of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).
The DGE operates as the regulatory agency in charge of New Jersey’s entire legal casino industry. With this in mind, playing at one of the state’s regulated poker sites offers the same level of security as playing in a live poker room at an Atlantic City casino.
Your money and personal information are safe at a state-regulated online poker site, just as it would be inside some of the world’s top-rated online casinos in New Jersey. But unfortunately, playing at an offshore poker site cannot guarantee that same level of safety.
| Legal Sites | Illegal Sites |
|---|---|
| Fully licensed and regulated by a government agency. | Unregulated, with no organizational oversight. |
| Guaranteed safe and secure. | No guarantee of safety or security with personal and financial information. |
| Games are monitored for fairness. | No guarantee of fair gameplay - may be rigged. |
| Clean, intuitive website designed by industry pros. | Websites may be clunky and unoptimized. |
| Cashier is handled by trusted payment providers. | No guarantee that you'll be able to withdraw money. |
How Do I Know Legal Online Poker Sites Are Fair In The US?
State-level government agencies regulate legal online poker sites in Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
In Nevada, for example, the Nevada Gaming Control Board oversees the state’s legal gambling industry. This agency also regulates WSOP Nevada, which is held to the same standard of auditing and transparency as Nevada’s live poker rooms.
Why Should I Trust Legal US Online Poker Rooms?
State-regulated poker rooms in the US are operated by some of the world’s biggest and most reputable gaming brands. WSOP, 888poker, PokerStars, and partypoker stand on reputations as the longest-running and most recognizable names in poker. Furthermore, brick and mortar casinos such as MGM and Borgata are expanding into the regulated online poker market.
These companies operate their US online poker rooms with a vested interest in player trust and safety.
Is My Money Safe At A Legal Online Poker Room?
In short, yes.
Taking a look at the deposit and withdrawal options at a legal online poker site shows a list of some of the biggest and most trusted banks and payment processors in the world.
Your deposits and cashouts at a platform like WSOP.com are backed and secured by these companies with the highest level of encryption available. WSOP.com, and all of the brands operating regulated online poker in the US, share the goal of protecting both player and house funds.
More Online Poker Bonuses in US
US Legal Online Poker Rooms FAQ
State-regulated online poker sites offer the full gamut of game selection. This includes cash games, tournaments, and sit & gos. No-Limit Hold’em is the most popular game on US-facing sites, but you can also find poker variants like Omaha, Stud, Limit Hold’em, and mixed games.
21 or older. In all states with legal online poker, you must be at least 21 to deposit, play poker, and cash out. This age applies to Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Delaware. It will also apply to West Virginia when regulated poker sites launch in the state.
Playing on 888poker’s Delaware network or WSOP.com (Nevada and New Jersey) puts you in a combined player pool among all of those sites, with Michigan set to join soon as well.
If you’re in Nevada and log in to WSOP.com, you’re playing against all players logged in at WSOP NJ and 888 Delaware. So this means you could be playing against players in New Jersey while sitting in Nevada.
Yes. Players are responsible for paying the appropriate federal and state taxes on poker winnings. State tax rates and laws vary from state to state. The federal tax on poker wins of $5,000 or more starts at 24%.
No. DraftKings offers both online sports betting and casino gaming in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan, but those platforms don’t include online poker at this time.
Online poker presents classic player vs. player poker in an online format and falls under the category of a skill game.
Video poker offers a single-player slot-machine-style game on a video terminal and isn’t classified as a skill game. Instead, video poker machines must pay back a percentage of played credits by law and pit the player against the house.
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