Enjoying online poker while residing in the U.S is not as difficult as one might think. Most online poker sites will turn down any registration from the United States, but there are still several leading poker sites that do indeed accept U.S registrations to this day.

And, contrary to widespread belief, most of them are also operating legally within a regulated and licensed environment. The purpose of this article is to offer you all the information you need to have a safe and secure online poker experience while playing from the U.S.

To start things off; you will need to find a legit online poker site that is both trustworthy and reliable.

Safest Poker Sites. At SafestPokerSites.com, we pride ourselves on writing the most honest online poker reviews. Many other sites are blinded by greed and will convince their visitors that every site is amazing and a safe place to play just because a poker room pays for preferential ad placement. Global Poker - This site provides games in most states. Its main appeal initially was that it offered payouts via PayPal, which is a great thing for players and hasn't been seen since before Black Friday on any legitimate site. However, Global Poker lost that juicy advantage when PayPal ceased doing business with them in the middle of 2018. Best Global Online Poker Sites 2020 At PokerScout.com, we know game selection is a major part of being a winning poker player.So, you need to consider several factors when picking an online poker room. Online poker is currently regulated on a state-by-state basis in the United States. The 2012 federal court ruling opened the door for legal online poker and, not surprisingly, Nevada was the first state to walk through it. In 2013, Ultimate Poker became the first site to deal a hand of legal online poker in Nevada.

Top American Poker Rooms for December 2020All Poker Rooms are Licensed , Mobile Friendly Advertiser Disclosure

Every legit NJ online poker site uses geolocation technology. This software is linked to your account and is activated each time you visit the site/use the app. Its job is to use geo-tracking to establish your location.

Contents

• U.S Legislation and Online Poker
• Frequently Asked Questions

With so many online poker sites available on the World Wide Web, it can be quite a challenging task to separate the good from the bad by yourself. That’s exactly why we decided to publish this article at Top10pokerwebsites to assist you in making a more educated decision before registering with an online poker room.

We’ve tested each online poker room extensively, completed in-depth research into the numerous options available, and compared how each of them performed in a variety of key areas. Only the top performers have managed to make it onto our list, and these don’t just accept customers from the U.S, they generously welcome them with open arms.

Read our comprehensive online reviews surrounding the best U.S facing online poker rooms right here at Top10pokerwebsites. You will find everything from the history of the online poker room to its current reputation. We also go into great detail regarding the poker network, the software used on the site, and the overall graphics you can expect once your account has been registered.

Furthermore, we take an in-depth look at the current welcome package and the on-going promotions on offer and include the wagering requirements tied to each of the spectacular offers. We then dive into the list of deposit and withdrawal options available at each online poker establishment and provide the processing times on each payment method to assist you in choosing the right method for your deposit and withdrawal needs.

Lastly, we give you an honest and unbiased review surrounding the security measures in place at each online poker room and the level of customer service you can expect when dealing with a problem on your account.

U.S Legislation and Online Poker

Online poker in the United States has never been illegal and will probably never be either. While outsiders, and possibly some insiders, will declare that enjoying online poker in the United States is a crime, the reality is that it’s not. Even though it’s virtually impossible for online operators to provide online poker games to U.S players due to certain legal restrictions, online players were never breaking the law by playing at a virtual felt.

When you look at the U.S legislation, online poker encountered several problems when the U.S government decided to implement the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) that formed part of the SAFE Port Act. Online poker was thriving before politicians decided to disrupt the online poker community by making it impossible for U.S poker players to deposit. Mainstream advertisements, generous giveaways, and big money tournaments ensured millions of online players enjoyed the virtual edition of poker. However, after the U.S online poker legislation transformed into a ‘grey area’, the total number of players and operators have dropped significantly in the United States.

Fortunately, that dark grey cloud is starting to disappear and things in the United States are beginning to look a lot brighter. To get a better understanding of U.S legislation and online poker, let’s look at the main factors, starting with the implementation of the UIGEA to the changes that are currently taking shape in the United States when it comes to poker regulation.

What is the UIGEA?

In 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act was passed, outlawing the processing of funds between U.S citizens and online poker establishments. This made it almost impossible for online poker players to play online. Although the bill excluded wagers between tribal gaming operators and fantasy sports betting, it essentially rendered the entire online poker economy of the U.S obsolete.

The Best Online Poker Sites

After this U.S legislation piece came into effect, the online poker community took a serious nosedive as most online poker operator’s in the North American market had to pull out. In fact, not only did the poker economy in the U.S suffer but the overall industry too. However, even though online operators were facing legal repercussions, there were no online poker players that were being prosecuted. Therefore, although the UIGEA made it impossible for poker sites to process gaming funds, players were not being arrested if they played online. This made it possible for a handful of operators to remain active in the United States.

Black Friday

Even though the online poker sites that remained active in the U.S were technically banned from hosting real money poker games due to the U.S poker legislation, the online operators continued to argue that they weren’t actually doing anything wrong. This defence managed to keep them safe from the DOJ’s firing line for a couple of years. However, in 2011, three major online poker sites, including Absolute Poker, Full Tilt Poker, and PokerStars were shut down.

This momentous day in the history of online poker is now referred to as Black Friday which sent the online poker community into a downward spiral. With online players from the U.S facing lengthy delays before they could get their funds, the poker industry suffered its second significant slump. In fact, Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars had to pay a hefty fine to the DOJ to remain operational, and have a chance at re-entering the U.S market in the future.

Absolute Poker, at the time, was, unfortunately, unable to meet the demands of the DOJ and went into liquation with Full Tilt Poker also struggling. Luckily, PokerStars managed to build an enormous fortune and not only paid the DOJ, but also managed to cover Full Tilt Poker’s fine as well. This gave the Rational Group, a parent company to PokerStars, take full control of Full Tilt Poker.

Online Poker in the U.S: Then and Now

Prior to the UIGEA and Black Friday dealing powerful blows to the online gaming industry, online poker was an impressive enterprise. Investors, operators, and players all enjoyed several years of prosperity. The most notable aspect, prior to the U.S legislation of online poker, was how easy the games were as poker is a mainstream game and considered a national pastime with casual players being common.

Unfortunately, the U.S legislation caused professional players to stay and the fish to swim away. This developed a significant rise in the way online poker is being played, and therefore made it much harder for inexperienced players to be profitable.

However, as time goes by, the U.S climate has gradually started to change for the better. Although you could play online poker at a couple of dark corners of the internet over the last few years, there seems to be some much-needed light at the end of the tunnel. Online poker is still far from being a regulated industry when it comes to the U.S legislation. However, things are starting to look a lot more positive when compared to how they once were.

Online poker in the U.S initially sat with regulation at a federal level, but it has recently been taking shape on a state-by-state basis, allowing U.S players to gain access to the virtual game once again. Despite this being a less effective route of regulating online poker, most online operators are quickly seizing the opportunity by forming partnerships with land-based casinos to re-enter the U.S market.

A New Era

Only three U.S states currently offer regulated online poker, including Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey. However, as these markets grow, more governors are starting to exhibit an interest in regulating online poker. U.S states such as Iowa, California, and New York are all looking at the endless benefits of regulated online poker in 2017.

The main reason why U.S states are starting to regulate online poker is the power they enact with their own unique laws. Although the UIGEA is still in place, it will essentially be ruled out once a state passes a bill allowing online gambling in their respective state. For this reason, the likelihood of more states allowing regulated online poker looks promising, giving players access to online poker in the next few months.

In addition, the U.S legislation of online poker is moving towards online gaming at an intrastate level. This allows regulated states to essentially share their players that can link the entire country, and bring a rush of liquidity to the United States. Obviously, international connectivity is still years away. However, if regulators can assist in creating a stable online poker community across America, then a re-entry into the global market will undoubtedly follow.

How about US Online Casinos?

If you are from USA and looking for casino sites to play live dealer blackjack or any casino games have a look at CasinoUSA.com which we highly recommend.

Licensing Jurisdictions

When you do want to start playing poker online it will be dependent on just which US State you are living in or visiting in regards to just which licensing jurisdiction will be overseeing and regulating the poker sites you can legally play at.

Currently there are three US States that have embraced fully online gambling, and as such there are two different licensing jurisdictions that vet each poker site and then issue gaming license to poker sites based n three of those US States.

With that in mind please do pay carefully attention to the following section of this US online poker player guide, and always make sure you only ever play at poker rooms and poker sites that are displaying the logo and gambling licenses of the respective gaming commission or licensing authorities mentioned below depending on which US State you are in and wish to play online poker from.

Failing to follow our advice could see you playing at a poker site that has no safeguards in place in regards to you seeking help and assistance if you do every experience any problems playing at an online poker site.

New Jersey Casino Control Commission – If you live in new Jersey or the neighbouring US State of Delaware then you are going to find that you can legally play at any online poker site that has been granted a full gambling license.

Those sites will therefore be run and operated to the very highest of industry standards and you will be assured that every single poker game or online poker tournament you take part in is offering 100% fair and random games, and you will of course have no troubles getting pad your winnings speedily too.

Nevada Gaming Control Board – If you are living within the State boundaries of Nevada then you will be pleased to learn that there are now numerous online poker sites that have all applied for and have been granted a full online gambling license.

That is of course the very same gaming control board that licenses, regulates and oversees the running of all licensed gambling venues and casinos throughout Nevada and as such all sites that have obtained and have been granted one of their licenses is very highly regulated.

Costa Rica – If you live in any other US State other than the three mentioned above then you will be more than welcome to sign up to any online poker site that hold a Costa Rica license to operate.

There will be quite a number of different poker sites offering you all manner of poker games and poker tournaments licensed and regulated in Costa Rica and as such you will have no difficulties finding such a poker site online. However, do make sure you take a look at our range of approved poker sites licensed in Costa Rica as we have picked all of them out based on their track records.

Curaçao eGaming – One final online gambling licensing jurisdiction that has issued licenses to quite a number of online poker sites that are available to play in most US States is Curaçao, and those sites will allow you to fund your poker site accounts using US Dollars and will also allow you to play in any of their poker games or poker tournaments using US Dollars too.

You’ll be guided on how to access poker games in the United States, as well as the different game variants available. Whether you’re a Texas Hold ‘em fan or enjoy the challenge of H.O.R.S.E poker, there is a site out there for you.

Free Online Poker Sites

Read on for to find the best US online poker room that checks all your boxes for the ultimate gaming site.

Frequently Asked Questions

This final part of our guide to licensed and legal US online poker site is dedicated to getting you the answers to a range of different questions that we do know many poker players will be seeking, if they have not yet experienced the delights of playing poker online.

All of the questions listed below are answered fully, and as such do have a good read through all of them as you are bound to find those answers of interest. Also do consider taking a look at our individual US poker site reviews as you will find a plethora of additional information in regards to what each of those sites has to offer you too.

You will find that when you sign up to any of our top rated US player friendly online poker sites then you will be able to play on both their online poker playing platforms and also on any mobile apps or mobile web compatible poker platforms those sites have on offer, if they do offer a mobile poker playing platform that is!

Your online or mobile log in details will work on both platforms and as such that does of course mean you will not have to register again to use the other type of platform!

We have spent a great deal of time picking out and selecting just which poker sites to showcase to all of our US based website visitors and with that in mind you should have no problems what so ever being able to play poker at our featured and approved poker sites!

One thing that we are aware of and one thing that you as a player may also be more than aware of is that when you sign up to some online poker sites that cater for US players you will not have the option of picking form a very large range of different depositing options, and as such you may be limited in regards to what banking options you can pick and choose from.

However, it has been found that by using a pre paid debit type card which you can buy form a lot of retail outlets you will have a much greater approval rate and success rate when using such a card to make a deposit, so please do consider using such a deposit option for a hassle free way of playing real money poker online!

We are pleased to let you know that every single one of our featured online poker sites are going to allow you to find your poker site account using a range of different banking options, and one of the main attractions of selecting one of our featured sites is that your deposit you make into your account will be done so in US Dollar.

Some online poker sites will force you to have to make deposits in a different currency other than USD and those sites should always be avoided as there will be lots of charges and extra fees you will have to pay when not only depositing into those poker sites but when you wish to make a withdrawal too!

It will be dependent on just which method you have chosen o get paid your winnings by in regards to just how long you are going o have to wait to get pad out your winnings at any US player friendly online or mobile poker site, so always pick a method that will allow the poker site you have played at and have won at that will allow that site to pay you in the very fastest possible time frames!

US based online and mobile poker players do have a huge range of different poker tournaments that they can take part in and enter, both mobile and online US player friendly poker sites have plenty of tournaments up and running throughout the day and night.

If you are living in the US and want to find out just when any poker sites poker tournaments are up and running then visit the poker sites websites and take a good look through the poker tournament schedule as that will enlighten you on how every poker tournament has been structured and designed and when it will be going live too.

Competition is of course very strong between online poker site that offer US players a range of different poker games and poker tournaments and a such you are going to find there are some very high valued sign up bonuses and ongoing bonuses that you are going to be able to claim when you sign up to any poker site online.

However, as part of our selection process for picking out US player friendly poker sites we have made sure that every single poker room and poker site we present to you have its own unique poker rewards scheme in place. As such based on the level of real money poker playing action you give any of our featured US player friendly poker site you will be earning additional comps and bonus credits too.

The licensing commissions and gaming authorities insist that both free play poker games and the real money version of those game much play and pay in the exact same way except when playing for free you will be winning demo mode credits, unless you play in a freeroll poker tournament!

There are not that many brand new poker game variants being launched online or at any mobile poker sites and as such you may not find a large number of brand new poker game variants being offered to you.

However, all of our featured and top rated online poker sites will of course give you access to every type of poker game you can think off and you may occasionally find some brand new types of poker games available to you at some of our selected and approved US player friendly online poker sites!

One final thing worth knowing is that even if you are living in the US you are going to get access to just as many very high valued poker site bonuses players based in any other country of the world, and all of our featured and approved US player friendly poker sites will be giving you access to both huge and generous new player welcome sign up bonuses and also a range of ongoing bonuses too..

So look around and do make use of those generous poker bonus offers as soon as you possible can do as they are all there for the taking and you can claim them all with no delays too!

Below are the fairest and most reputable poker sites of 2018. Click a room to start playing !

Must be at least 18 to open a new account

The History of Corrupt Casinos

Believe it or not, there are over 90,000 websites where you can go and enjoy a game or two of poker. Well, “enjoy” may be an overstatement actually, because 95% of those sites just mentioned are designed for the owner to commit some type of fraud. Maybe the casino is rigged with ridiculous odds, or maybe there’s not a poker room to wager in at all; but in most of these cases you’ll simply have your money taken from you. Of the remaining 4,500 websites on the internet, the vast majority of them offer “free” tables where actual money is not wagered. That leaves about 100 legitimate websites that offers fair poker games without any type of hidden odds or hassles

Of course, you do not have to be a historian to know that poker houses have always sought ways to cheat their customers. You can look back a mere 100 years to find reputable brick and mortar casinos that would take a suspected cheater out into a back alley and beat him half to death; and most of the time that person was simply on a lucky streak. Sure, there was a fair share of patrons who found ways to hustle the casinos and make off with a small fortune, but that number would nowhere compare to the sheer amount of gambling establishments that have cheated their clientele. Hundreds of thousands of casinos have been shut down by various governments for rigging their games at opportune moments and the internet is clearly no exception.

In fact, just last year two illegal casinos were shut down in Moscow, a territory where gambling has been banned for about a year now. An investigation revealed that they were only allowed to exist in the first place because of a few corrupted police officers which were taking a large chunk of the profits. The British citizen who started these casinos (who has yet to be identified) was forced into nightly payouts to the police regardless of how much was won or lost, so you could only imagine how fair the gaming actually was inside.

Unfair Poker Rooms on the Net

This is not an isolated case either; thousands of similar casinos are shut down around the globe annually, with over 70% of them appearing in cyberspace. The problem with online gambling establishments is that a new poker room can be launched within hours of a corrupt one closing, and it may take months of research to discover that the new website is owned by the same criminal. In fact, since the corrupt poker room already has a large client list with email addresses and other personal information, they often do not lose even a single day’s worth of profits.

Ways that Poker Rooms Cheat

– The Virtual Casino
The most common internet scam when it comes to poker is a completely fictitious website; there is no “real money” casino there at all. The gaming room would be populated by thousands of “bots,” which are computer identities that are made to appear as if they were real people. Since there are only a handful of actual players there, the software intentionally allows them to consistently win hands…up until the point where they make their first deposit. From that point forward, the software would slowly drain the player’s bank account by giving him a series of “unbeatable hands” that end up being beaten.

– The Double Blinds

Other corrupt poker rooms allow the player to bet against other players inside a game that is legitimate, except that a portion of the pot mysteriously disappears at some point during each hand. It is common for online establishments to take a nominal ante each round to cover their expenses, but there casinos end up grabbing much more than their fair share.

-The Payout Con

This type of website would appear fully legitimate to the naked eye. There will be many players there enjoying the game, and everything goes well until it is time to cash out. Even though there is money in the account, these poker rooms will deny the withdrawal because the player has not met a certain quota on hands played or the amount bet. Be aware that legitimate websites never use these types of tactics; this is likely a scam.

– The Security Breach

Some casinos are 100% legitimate, but their security protocols make them an easy mark for cyber-crimes. Hackers will employ methods to bypass the site’s security in order to see the hidden hole cards at the table; increasing their odds of winning exponentially. In other cases, cyber-criminals will use security exploits to steal personal information like credit card numbers or other consumer information. While the criminal in these cases have nothing to do with the casino, it is the poker room’s fault for not taking security seriously.

What to Look for in a Legitimate Poker Website

As you can see by the above examples, there are a few important traits that every fair poker website should have-

– An affiliation with a certified gaming authority
– Set rakes for each hand
– Top gaming software on a secure server
– Excellent security that continuously looks for hackers
– An automatic hand review archive
– A fully secure deposit procedure
– A knowledgeable customer service team
– Plenty of contact information
– An easy withdrawal procedure

Of all these traits, the certification by a registered gaming authority is by far the most important aspect. This one simple fact means that the website is checked regularly to determine overall payouts, customer satisfaction, security protocols, and dozens of other services to ensure that the player will have a Vegas-like experience. It is also the hardest aspect for a website owner to fake, and as long as players verify that the casino is indeed a member then they should not experience any problems. The key is to pick up the telephone and physically call the casino and the gaming authority before ever depositing a penny…and be sure to ask plenty of questions as well. If they can not answer some or any of them; call the local authorities in the casino’s area and find a different online poker room to play at.

Some of the Most Reputable Fair Poker Websites

The following list is made up of websites that have been independently validated for having excellent pot rakes, solid customer service, and completely secure servers. This does not mean that they are the only safe websites to enjoy playing real money poker at, but they are all player favorites that have an excellent overall reputation within the industry.

Free Poker Sites

Ultimate Bet Poker

Ultimate Bet has captured the attention of poker players worldwide with their exciting promotions and fast-paced play. UB has more freeroll tournaments and loyalty programs that most of the other casinos combined, and that is why players of all skill levels call this website home. Their state-of-the-art security ensures that every hand will be closely watched to ensure fairness, which allows each player to concentrate on having fun and strengthening their overall game.

Absolute Poker

Absolute Poker prides itself on never having a major security breach within their system, something that even the best of websites out there can’t honestly say. With an average of over 2,500 tables being utilized at any given minute throughout the day, this website has plenty of competition for rookie players and veterans alike. The customer service at Absolute Poker is what really makes them stand out though; because if any questions or problems ever arise, problems are handled in a professional yet courteous manner.

Sportsbook Poker

Sportsbook has been around since the early 1990’s and their spotless reputation literally speaks for itself. Protecting the rights of each player has always been one of their top concerns, which is why their software is constantly updated to ensure fair play and a secure gaming environment. Sportsbook is also independently verified by multiple agencies to ensure that high quality gaming is available 24/7, so you’ll never have to worry about fairness on this website.

Players Only Poker

Players Only Poker has some of the most unique bonuses and promotions in the business, including some truly massive tournaments that change people’s lives every week. Like the others on this list, their security is as tight as any banking institutions and they pride themselves on educating players to help them elevate their overall game. Players Only Poker is a great website for those looking for a safe, friendly poker room.

Bet 365 Poker

Bet 365 is another casino that has been setting standards on the internet since the beginning of online gaming. Their poker room has excellent graphics and a very simplistic interface that puts the player in control of how much statistical information they receive on every hand. Of course, with millions of previous winners it is safe to say that they are also trend-setters when it comes to customer service, excellent security, and loyalty rewards as well.

Most Legitimate Online Poker Sites

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