Trusted Online Poker

One of the most widely discussed issues for online casino games is whether or not online poker is safe. This question isn’t without warrant and justification since online poker was at one point indeed a questionable pursuit. However, recent developments in the United States and further afield have indeed confirmed that online poker is a safe activity provided players adhere to their local laws and legislation.

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Black Friday

On April 15, 2011, the United States government took action against three of the leading online poker names who were operating in the US at the time. During this action, access to their platforms and websites was suspended and no US resident was able to access their bankrolls, make a withdrawal, or even play a hand. This is an issue that is still ongoing to this very day as many American players are still without access to their winnings, but it opened the floor to conversation regarding the legalities and technicalities of online poker in the United States – something that has had an effect on the global online poker scene.

Legal Status

From a federal standpoint in the United States, it is legal to play online poker through state-approved websites as long as you’re located within those states. It’s up to the state to license the sites they consider eligible. In many states, the legality of playing poker online is unclear, and in many cases states indirectly prohibit online poker by prohibiting all kinds of gambling that isn’t specifically lawful. Should poker, in which skill plays more part than in other casino games, be considered a gambling game like the rest of them, though?

US Citizens — States Where You Can Legally Play Online Poker

Poker players in the United States enjoy playing the game at land-based casinos across the nation. But what about online gameplay? Are there states where you can play legally online? The legalities of online poker in the US can be confusing to players. When it comes to online poker, it is best for players to find out if their state allows for gaming to take place. Safe online poker is provided by reputable operators that are legally allowed to provide services in a state within the US.

What Are The Safest Online Poker Sites

So how do you find out if your state allows online poker gaming? The best option is to visit the local gaming regulator website and look for online gaming information. Depending on your state, this could be an overall gambling regulatory body, the lottery commission, etc. Each state offers various gaming options, so you must start with the regulatory body of where you live. information should be listed on the site regarding online gaming. If you are still confused about legalities after an online search, contact the regulatory body in your region to find out more information.

What States are Legally Safe to Play Online Poker?

In the United States, there are four individual states that currently have legalized online poker gaming. The first to do so were Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada. These states legalized poker options online back in 2013 and have continued to offer cash games, tournaments and more via the internet. Pennsylvania passed legislation in October 2017 to begin providing iPoker and will launch offerings sometime this year.

In each of these states, players must be physically located within the borders of the state to have access to gaming options. Within online poker legislation, it stipulates that players must be located within the borders to take part. Geolocation technology is used to ensure players are located in the state before real money games can begin. Gaming is not restricted to residents. Visitors to one of the above states can create a real money account, as long as they are in the state that legally provides gaming.

In these states, land-based casinos have partnered with online operators to offer online poker options. In New Jersey, players have access to poker gaming via PokerStars NJ as well as the WSOP, just to name a few. The WSOP is also in operation in Nevada.

Are Offshore Poker Sites Safe to Play At?

The short answer: Yes. There are offshore poker sites that are safe to play at when you are based in the United States. Such sites as Bovada and Sportsbetting.ag provide quality online poker gaming for players in the US in a secure environment. In the US, there are no consistent federal laws that ban poker play via offshore sites. However, you will find that privately held offshore companies that allow players from the US will not offer their services in states that have legalized gaming, like Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Secure sites that provide quality cash games, tournaments and promotions for US players like Bovada and Sportsbetting.ag are top-rated by players and have licensing in the online poker industry. When licensed by respected gaming regulators, players can expect an online poker site to provide secure poker games and be considered a trusted poker site.

Safe Offshore Poker Sites We Recommend

When it comes to trusted poker sites, as mentioned, we recommend Bovada and Sportsbetting.ag. Both sites have a good reputation in the industry, providing services to players internationally as well as in the United States. Each site offers quality poker gaming for players including a poker bonus, real money tournaments and more.

Play Safely At Bovada.lv

Trusted Online Poker

At Bovada, players have access to secure online poker gaming. New members can take advantage of a welcome bonus of 100% worth up to $500. This bonus is cleared by earning Poker Points during gameplay. One of the highlights of playing at Bovada are the guaranteed tournaments. On Sundays, the poker room offers the $100K Guaranteed event. Players can buy-in directly for $162 or take part in satellites to earn a seat for as little as one dollar. Bovada operates on the PaiWangLuo Poker Network and provides a secure environment for players in the US, keeping personal data as well as funds secure.

Sportsbetting.ag – US Safe Poker Site

Sportsbetting.ag is another great option for US players. At the online poker room, players have access to a 100% first deposit poker bonus as a new member of the site. Players can deposit $50 or more and receive 100% back in bonus cash. The bonus cash is released $5 at a time for every 1,500 Comp Points earned.

Every weekend, Sportsbetting.ag offers players $130,000 in guaranteed tournament gaming. The highest guaranteed tournament takes place on Sunday at 7 pm ET with a $90 + $9 buy-in and a prize pool of $50,000 guaranteed. Players will easily find affordable tournament options to take part in at the poker room. Operating on the Chico Poker Network, Sportsbetting.ag provides a secure gaming environment, protecting player’s personal information as well as financial details safe.

Is Online Poker Rigged? Play at Trusted Online Poker Sites

Many poker players tend to worry that online poker games are rigged. For the most part, online poker sites provide quality gaming options, be them cash games or tournaments. Licensed and regulated sites, like those mentioned above, must adhere to strict gameplay standards in what they offer. Gaming regulators test and check operators regularly to ensure gameplay is being conducted in a safe and fair manner. Sites reviewed by Trusted Poker Sites will provide players with a safe environment, offering fair gameplay to every member.

Playing Online Poker Safely

Players first and foremost need to check their local laws and regulations regarding online poker and its status in their area. There’s simply no way to play safely without being informed. If local laws suggest online poker is a criminal activity, then it’s best to avoid the pursuit altogether and look towards other entertainment outlets since any advice given to support illegal gambling would be criminal in itself. There are ways to stay safe when it’s a legal venture though.

How to play Online Poker Safely?

• Firstly – Players should always stick with some of the most well-known and reputable names in online poker. Online casinos, especially those that wager in fiat currencies like the US Dollar, are quite easy to set up and this has opened the doors for fraudsters to dupe unsuspecting players out of their money. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to detect these sorts of cons since the Internet is a well-connected space with reviews and tips being made publicly available to everyone. However, players will do themselves a great service by sticking with some of the more reputable names in online poker, who have a proven player community and commitment to fair deposit and withdrawal times.
• Secondly – Players should always compare their prospective online card room selections with material that’s available on the Internet. Ripoff reports, reviews, and other articles of that nature will immediately clue them in regarding a casino’s commitment to honest actions and play. If there are several reports surrounding unethical behavior, then it’s something that’s best avoided.

Digital Currencies

Another avenue players are considering is digital currencies, like using Bitcoins at a poker site. These can be excellent alternatives to fiat currency casinos since they do not conform to the laws and regulations surrounding the use of cash. They exist exclusively as their own currency and its operators have the choice as to whether or not they can be used for online poker. Bitcoin and other digital currencies are in agreement that they can be used for online casino activities and there are many digital currency casinos opening up on a daily basis to cater to this need.

Should you use a digital currency to play Online Poker?

Does this necessarily mean players should navigate towards a digital currency casino? Not necessarily. There are additional considerations to make, like using coins once they’ve been won as very few retailers currently accept them as a form of payment. That’s not to say this isn’t a changing trend though. Many retailers do openly accept Bitcoin payments for products, but it could be quite awhile before they reach a more national level. There is also the open to sell them on a third party marketplace and “convert” them to cash, but this is a legal grey area that requires further research on a player’s behalf.

Other Payment Methods

Are you looking for any payment methods? You can easily find reviews about payment methods on our main page, where you can find small reviews for each payment method, and direct links to detailed pages with great in-depth information.

Other Tips to Stay Safe Online

Before joining an online poker site, it is recommended that players do their research. At Trusted Poker Sites, we do the work for you, researching online poker rooms, helping to determine which sites offer the best gaming experience and can be trusted with your personal information and banking details. There are certain aspects that must be looked for within an online poker room as well as warning signs that signal a site should not be bothered with.

Recognizable signs of a quality poker room include license and regulation. A site that is licensed by a reputable gaming authority had to go through rigorous testing and continues to be monitored for fair gaming practices. Look for licensing information as well as seals of approval from such groups as eCOGRA. This will help you to determine that the site is trustworthy.

The Warning Signs – Payment Problems

The signs that should also be triggers to help players know to stay away. Warning signs can include poor repayment of winnings or problems with software. In poker forums online, players will readily inform others of payment issues or software glitches. The main problem to watch out for is payment problems. When an online poker site is not submitting withdrawals, the money might not be there to send, which is a clear sign that an online poker room is not functioning as it should be. Stay away from any sites where players are complaining of wait times for payments, especially if withdrawals are weeks or months late.

The US online poker landscape consists of one dominant leader (Bovada) and several smaller poker networks competing for the second position. While the selection of US-friendly sites is significantly smaller than it was, say, a decade ago, you still have a few solid options to choose from – here’s what you need to know about them. Here will see the Best US Poker Sites and their networks.

All of our recommended sites have a proven track record and enough player traffic to keep you busy. It’s worth noting that those physically located in Delaware, Nevada or New Jersey are able to play on licensed sites that are 100% legal and regulated. The sites below are popular in the US but operate from offshore locations. They continue to accept US customers but have no licenses to operate in the US. They’re also the only options for those living outside of Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey.

Our Top Ranked USA Online Poker Sites

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Winning Poker Network

America’s Cardroom and True Poker are two of the biggest US poker sites in the Winning Poker network. They’ve been around for a long time and even though they’re relatively unknown compared to all-in-one US gambling sites like Bovada and BetOnline, they’ve got a strong reputation for being reliable and on-time with cashouts.

All sites in the Winning Poker Network prohibit customers from Louisiana, Nevada, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Washington DC. And winning Poker is only compatible with Windows.

VIP Programs and Rake on the Winning Poker Network

Winning Poker network’s poker rooms offer their customers either 27% rakeback for all the rake they’ve generated (you get 27% of what the poker room has taken as rake back to your account) or a chance to participate in the VIP program which was made according to PokerStars’ model (a good idea, considering how PokerStars has the most successful VIP program ever). In fact, the VIP program does exactly what it’s supposed to (encourage you to play more) and makes sense for more active players. New players will also receive a 100% first deposit bonus up to $1000.

Both America’s Cardroom and True Poker are known for processing check withdrawals fast relative to competition – I can’t confirm if the rest of the sites on the network do the same, but then again I recommend signing-up at the better-known sites anyway. Winning Poker also accepts bitcoin deposits and withdrawals. Player-to-player transfers are allowed as well, making Winning Poker’s money transactions relatively flexible in the US.

What are the reasons NOT to sign-up at one of the websites on Winning Poker’s network?

Bovada is the #1 option due to highest player traffic, fastest cashouts and best software. In other words, Winning Poker network has less traffic (1/4 of Bovada’s traffic), slightly slower processing of withdrawals (although only by a couple of days) and its software still showcases buggy behavior here and there (more-so than Bovada). Furthermore, Winning Poker is unavailable for iOS and its mobile client only runs Jackpot sit and go tournaments.

Overall, Winning Poker is a fine network, and its flagship sites Americas Cardroom and True Poker have treated their customers well throughout the years. There are better options out there – such as Bovada – but if you’re looking to sign-up at a few site to catch the best games, it would make sense to be able to play on this network as well.

Chico Poker Network

Best US Poker Sites for the Chico Poker network are the flagship poker rooms BetOnline and SportsBetting, both of which accept customers from all the states (as the only sites doing so). Chico Poker also has TigerGaming and PayNoRake poker rooms but they only accept customers from outside of the US.

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One of the clear advantages of playing on this network is its recreational-friendly customer base, as BetOnline and SportsBetting both are better-known for their sports book and even casino games which you can participate in with the same player account, so there’s a constant stream of traffic stemming from other parts of the site which are more prone to recreational players / gamblers than poker rooms in general.

New customers at BetOnline get a 200% deposit bonus up to $1000 on their first deposit while SportsBetting offers a 200% up to $2500.

BetOnline draws a decent amount of multi-table tournament players due to their MTT Leaderboard Challenge and (sometimes) huge tournament overlays (meaning the guaranteed prize pool is much bigger than what players have paid in entrance fees). For beginners, there are real-money freerolls every hour.

What about the downsides of playing at Chico Poker network?

It has the third highest traffic in the US, meaning you’ll find more opponents at Bovada and Winning Poker. The software is not that easy on the eye and slightly buggy, unlike Bovada’s software which is the best in the US market.

• Withdrawal-processing is an important thing for US customers as a check withdrawal is usually the only way to go. Relative to competition, Chico Poker still has work to do.
• BetOnline processes cashouts are reasonably fast (a little over two weeks) but still slower than Bovada or Winning Poker. The minimum limit for BetOnline withdrawals is $100 and fees are $40 per withdrawal at minimum.
• SportsBetting offers a 2-day (business days) withdrawal option where they take a 8-10% cut of the withdrawal amount. There are no player-to-player transfers at Chico Poker.

Equity Poker Network

Full Flush Poker is the flagship site in the Equity Poker network, which has been operating since 2013. Equity has done well considering how new it is and is now the fourth highest-trafficked US-friendly poker room.

Equity offers a few appealing reasons to sign-up:

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• They constantly have attractive multi-table tournament overlays, which means they guarantee a bigger prizepool than what participating players have paid in entry fees. For multi-table players, Equity Poker offers an interesting chance to play profitably. Equity is Mac-compatible, unlike Winning Poker and Chico Poker. Players from all over the US are accepted except for New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada.
• What some tournament players dislike is their low buy-in tournament selection. For smaller buy-ins – as mentioned – they offer good opportunities for profitable play, but the selection is rather limited for bigger buy-ins (this goes for both multi-table tournaments and sit-n-go tournaments).
• Equity Poker has reasonable check withdrawal times: a little over two weeks. Interestingly, bitcoin transfers are available only to customers outside of the US. There are no player-to-player transfers allowed.

Merge Gaming Network

Carbon Poker and Sportsbook.ag are the sites representing Merge Gaming network. Merge is on the crisp of being a decade in the business and has steadily grown throughout that time. It had a strong position in the US poker market by having the second-highest traffic numbers, however, it has recently had payout issues due to which the network fell into the fourth position traffic-wise.

Aside from the payout issues, Merge Gaming’s traffic suffers due to prohibiting customers from 11 states: Delaware, Utah, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Washington, Nevada, New Jersey and Washington DC.

Merge Gaming poker rooms offer a seemingly attractive 200% up to $5000 first-time deposit bonus. However, even though size-wise it seems like a good deal, the bonus is relatively harder to clear than what Merge’s US competitors offer.

All-in-all, especially considering the recent payout issues and the decrease in traffic, the options mentioned above currently offer US players much better value for their money.

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Questions and Answers

The following are some common question that any person could have at any moment regarding several important topic for US players. If you believe there is a question that should be solved or that you have a specific question in mind not solved here please contact us.

Why Are There Sites Specifically for the US?

Not all sites are willing to accept customers from the US due to legal reasons. Due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), gambling operators are prohibited from knowingly accepting payments related to unlawful gambling. And since, from our point-of-view (and, apparently, plenty of gambling operators agree), online poker is illegal in most states, the majority of online poker operators have decided to target other legally safer markets. The same is true, although to a smaller degree, in the U.S. online casino market.

Due to the UIGEA, it’s also harder for internet poker operators to find reliable payment processors. This adds greatly to the difficulty level of operating an online poker site and contributes to the willingness of sites to stay away from the USA market.

How Can US Players Deposit Money to the Best US Poker Sites?

There are still ways to deposit money to United States online poker rooms, and our guess is that pretty much everyone can do it if they want to. Still, US citizens will experience more hurdles when depositing money to internet poker rooms than those outside of the US, excluding those physically located in Delaware, Nevada or New Jersey.

Here are the common deposit methods:

• Credit, Debit and Gift Cards:

  All of the Best US Poker Sites we’ve seen accept Visa card deposits (with the exception of Bitcoin-only sites). Mastercard is available at some of them while American Express is a rare sight. Card deposits are known for not going through every time (this goes for credit, debit and gift cards). The only way to find out if a card works is to try to deposit and see what happens.

  It’s likely (if not certain) that you have to withdraw your poker winnings as a check if you made the deposit with a credit card. This is the case at all the US-friendly sites we can think of.

• Money Transfer Services:

  Most sites accept Western Union. I recommend paying attention to whether you can both deposit and withdraw the money via a money transfer service (in some cases, a USA poker site only allows you to deposit). If money transfer cashouts are unavailable, you’ll have to order a check withdrawal.

• Electronic Cheques:

  This option is no longer available at any of our trusted US-eligible online poker sites.

Are There Any Legit Online Poker Sites

Is It Legal to Play Online Poker in the United States?

Since there’s no federal law that either legalizes or prohibits online poker in the US, you have to look at state laws. And in most cases, it’s likely (“likely” because we’re not lawyers and have never studied law) that online poker is illegal in most parts of the US. Many state laws target poker on the internet indirectly by making all forms of gambling that haven’t been specifically legalized, well, illegal.

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Three states have legalized, regulated and licensed internet poker and those are Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey. They’re the only states in which you can be 100% legally safe when playing poker on the internet.

Why are so many still playing online if it’s illegal to do so in most parts of the United States? Laws against playing poker online for real money haven’t been enforced – yet, at least. So far, only the ones operating gambling businesses or acting as payment processors between players and gambling businesses have been in trouble with the law.

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