Welcome to BestPokerSites.org, our online guide to finding the best poker sites. Our website offers over 300 reviews based on a variety of topics. Are you looking for the best US poker site, poker rooms that have the most fish, or poker sites with free cash bonuses? If so, you’re guaranteed to find the information you need here.
We offer online poker reviews for the top poker rooms. Each review covers software features including compatibility as well as the game selection, stakes, competition, bonuses and of course regular promotions. All of the reviews are written by poker players and provide an un-biased look at what the rooms have to offer.
We also offer pages for players from specific countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and most of Europe. Each review covers specific criteria related to each individual country, including which poker site accepts which currency, payment methods and more.
If you would like to start playing online poker right away, choose one of the poker sites below and click the poker room's name, or the poker room's website to be lead to the site's homepage so you can get started. Or, if you would like to learn more about the online poker rooms, read on.
Rank | Poker Site | Country | Sign Up Bonus | Bonus Code | Play Now! |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 888 Poker | €22 Free + up to €400 | T & C's apply | » www.888.com | |
2 | Intertops Poker | 110% up to €600 | n/a - use links | » www.Intertops.com | |
3 | Party Poker | 100% to €250 | 500BPS | » www.PartyPoker.com | |
4 | PokerStars | 100% to €400 + €20 Free | MIK500 | » www.PokerStars.com | |
5 | Bet365 | See Bet365 for Details | use links | » www.Bet365.com |
The main problem of such players is that they cannot find where to play poker. Our rating of the best USA online poker sites will help you solve it. 888 888 is a global leader in the gambling industry. It provides its clients with all popular activities, including poker, casino and sports. This is a detailed guide to legal poker sites in the US. We’ll provide you with information on the current legislative landscape, the best sites to play online poker and the different types of poker bonuses. Best US Poker Sites in 2021. The most popular offshore US-facing poker sites. The number of popular USA-facing poker sites has decreased by quite a margin in the years after Black Friday, to the point where American players are left with just a small number of options if they want to play online poker at a high-traffic site. Usually, the best poker sites with the highest traffic are the more established brands like Bovada, JuicyStakes and partypoker. On these sites, you can easily find an open seat during peak hours, and there are plenty of tables to play at during the off time. Do Any US Poker Sites Accept PayPal?
Most Popular Poker Toplists
These toplists are the most popular on our site because they apply to the majority of players. Check out the most popular lists below, or browse all of our general online poker toplists:
Want to make more money playing poker online? Make sure you are playing at one of the easiest to beat poker sites. We have reviewed and ranked all of the softest/fishiest poker sites online.
Check out our toplist of the best online poker sites for American players. Only certain online poker sites accept USA players, so we have ranked and reviewed all of the USA-friendly online poker rooms.
Our list of UK poker sites includes poker rooms where you can deposit and play poker in Euros or GBP. Our toplist includes reviews of each poker room in addition to bonuses available for new players.
Check out our list of the best poker sites for Canadian players. Includes detailed review of each room and exclusive bonuses for new depositing players..
This toplist ranks all of the best poker sites for real money poker. To find the best real money poker sites, we took into account each poker site's deposit/withdrawal options as well as their real money poker traffic.
The easiest way to deposit at the best poker sites is by using your credit card. Credit card poker deposits work the same as normal online credit card purchases - you put in your credit card number, name, and CSV code, and you're done!
Reviews of the Best Online Poker Sites
If you would like to learn more before you start playing, read our online poker room reviews. We have written up complete reviews of the top poker rooms - each review takes a look at the poker site's sign up bonus, software, player competition/traffic, deposit methods, and support options. Click the links below to start learning:
Ignition is our first pick for US poker sites. The poker room has no problems accepting USA players or US deposits. They offer fast software, friendly support and quick payouts. Join today and recieve a $2,000 deposit bonus. This site accepts Bitcoin.
Party Poker is one of the top three poker sites for European and Canadian players. The poker room offerslightning-fast software as well as cool features and a progressive bad beat jackpot.
If you would like to learn about sites other than the three listed above, check out our full collection of online poker site reviews. Or, read on to check out our poker toplists (you may also want to check out our online poker guide).
Poker Country Toplists
Certain countries have specific legislation regarding online poker. Only the best poker sites accept players from every country, and the toplists below will show you which sites accept players from which countries:
Learn which poker sites accept players from Canada. Online poker laws in Canada are a bit hazy, so we have ranked and reviewed all of the Canadian poker sites, and also discussed Canadian online poker law.
We recommend the best poker sites for players from the United Kingdom. The UK actually licenses and regulates certain online poker rooms, so by sticking to those UK poker sites you can guarantee a good poker experience.
Poker Game Toplists
These lists are perfect if you only play one game and want to find the best site for your specific game. Check out all of our poker game toplists, or view the most popular pages below:
Find the best online poker sites for Texas Hold'em games. Although almost every poker site offers Texas Hold'em, certain sites have more player traffic and softer competition at the Texas Hold'em tables.
Check out our toplist of the best poker sites for playing Omaha poker. Omaha is the second most popular poker game online, but some sites offer much better Omaha tables with more traffic and fishier competition. Learn more here.
At the moment we are working on adding more toplists to our site, including rankings of the best USA poker sites, where to play online poker for real money and many more. Make sure to bookmark our site and check back soon to learn more about the best online poker sites. Also, check out our poker currency toplists, poker deposit methods, and poker game type toplists in the mean time. Alternatively, you can view the BestPokerSites.org sitemap to see a list of every page on the site.
Finding the Best Online Poker Rooms
Choosing the best poker site is the first step in your online poker journey. It’s also an important step because each poker site out there has its own advantages and disadvantages. The term “best” is relative in this sense because what may be the best poker site for someone else may not be the best poker site for you.
When evaluating poker sites, you want to consider your own playing style and goals first. For example, some poker sites offer bonuses that are perfect for high stakes players but others offer bonuses that are much better for low stakes players. And that’s just one example out of many.
No one factor should be the end-all decision maker for your choice in poker sites. When looking for the best poker site, you want to take all factors into consideration and then choose the poker site that best fits your needs. In the grand scheme of things, there isn’t a huge difference between one poker site and the next, but it’s still worth spending a little time to find a high quality poker site.
Poker Room Reputation
The most important factor of all is reputation. It is absolutely vital that you only play real money poker at poker sites that have positive reputations. Most online poker rooms are safe places to play but there have been isolated examples of poker sites that took forever to process cashouts and give players their bonuses.
You want to play at poker sites that are known for being safe, secure and trustworthy. With online poker, you have to have a lot of trust because you can’t see the games right before you like you can in live poker. The entire foundation of internet poker is based on trust and reputation. Fortunately, we know of many poker sites that have earned the trust of players over the past decade. If you want to play online poker, make sure to choose one of the poker rooms on this site, as all of them have been in business for a long time and have spotless records.
Poker Deposit Bonuses
Deposit bonuses are a great way to build your bankroll and earn extra spending money. Every online poker site has some sort of real-money bonus that they give you for signing up and depositing. At all poker sites, these bonuses are given out as match percentages of your first deposit there. For example, a poker site with a 100% bonus will match your first deposit dollar for dollar. Learn more at our poker bonus guide or see our top poker bonuses.
If you’re a medium or high stakes player, you will want to look for the poker site that has the highest maximum bonus amount. Bodog Poker, for example, has a maximum bonus of $1100. If you play lower stakes games, you’ll want to find poker bonuses that are easy to release quickly. In that sense, Full Tilt Poker comes to mind because its bonus can be cleared by most players very quickly.
If you are outside of the USA, you have several bonus options available at sites like Mansion Poker and Party Poker. Party's current bonus is a 100% up to $500 match for players with an exclusive Party Poker bonus code.
Player Traffic
When it comes to player traffic, most online poker sites fall into one of two categories:
- High traffic, difficult competition
- Low traffic, easy competition
High traffic poker sites offer players the advantages of lots of game selection, high stakes games and action at all levels. Low traffic poker sites do not have as many games but the players there are much softer. The reason for this is that professional players like to have hundreds of tables to choose from so they can pick and choose and run 12 tables at a time.
When I say “low traffic,” I don’t mean poker sites that only have four players logged in. I’m talking about poker sites that always have several thousand players logged in and playing at the real money tables. At the low and medium stakes levels, you will usually have a dozen or more tables to choose from.
High traffic poker sites have hundreds of tables at each level but there aren’t as many fishy players. The good thing about high traffic poker sites is that you can find soft tables if you practice the art of table selection. Finding soft tables is not as easy at high traffic sites but it can be done.
Speed of Software
This may sound like an odd criterion in identifying the best poker site but it actually has a major effect on your poker experience. I’ve noticed that some poker sites have software that takes forever to deal out each card, process each player’s actions and then dole out the pot at the end of each hand.
These little pauses and hesitations drastically affect how many hands you can see per hour. If you’re a winning player, this translates directly to a lower hourly rate simply because of the poker site software. PokerStars is a great poker site but their software is unbearably slow. If you compare their software to the software at Lock Poker, you’ll see a huge difference in how quickly the hands are processed.
Poker Player Incentives
All online poker sites have some sort of loyalty program for their players. These programs are based on frequent player points and those points then determine what types of benefits you get. The more points you earn, the more free cash, free items and free tournament entries you receive.
At the lower levels, poker loyalty programs are pretty much the same across the board. As you move up in stakes and play more often, different programs start to stand out for their incentives. Sportsbook Poker has a great player rewards program that gives straight up cash to loyal players. Some other poker sites pale in comparison.
Making Your Final Decision
Remember – the most important factor of all is picking a safe, trustworthy poker site. Once you have that out of the way, you can use all of the above-mentioned factors to help you choose the best poker site for your action. Deposit bonuses, player traffic, software, loyalty programs and all around quality should all be considered when making choosing the best poker sites.
In the end, these factors are worthy of consideration but no single factor will make or break a poker site. What’s most important is that you find a poker site you enjoy and can maybe even make a little money at. The online poker sites mentioned here are the ones we trust the most and that we think you’ll enjoy the most. So enjoy your stay while you’re here and good luck at the tables when you leave. Stop back any time for more poker site recommendations.
Online Poker News
Another major section of our site is our poker news blog. Our blog is updated every day with new posts which contain poker news, tips, and humour articles:
'How To' Poker Articles and Poker Strategy
Another new section of our site is our How To Blog. The posts on our How To Blog all answer reader-sLockmitted online poker-related questions:
You may also want to take a look at our various poker strategy guides, including our:
That's about it for now! If you have any questions, feel free to contact the BestPokerSites.org team.
Table Of Contents
Looking for the best US poker sites to play online poker games for free and real money? Check out these poker rooms!
Finding a great site to play online poker games from the US is not that difficult. But with all the different states allowing different operators — things can get a little messy for the uninitiated poker players in the US.
On this page, you'll learn:
- and lots more
Our team of poker pros (which includes World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Chad Holloway) have tested and reviewed all the US poker rooms in this article. This way, you can find everything about the games, the level, and the bonuses available.
In other words, if you are looking for a list of the best online poker sites for US players in 2021, you'll love this one!
The Best Poker Sites for US Players
Online Poker in the US & US Poker Rooms
The game of poker is an epitome of gambling in the United States, and the US poker sites on the list have to meet a lot of expectations from millions of players across the country.
Luckily for you, we have completed a thorough examination of every single aspect of these poker rooms to ascertain their true worth.
Here at PokerNews we have been in the business of reviewing online poker sites and online casinos for over 15 years, and our large US fan base stands testament to the continuous high-quality content we deliver.
No matter if you are new to poker or an experienced player, you could use a bit of help figuring out which poker site is the right choice for you. It all depends on what you are after.
If lucrative bonuses are your thing, that's perfectly fine. Here, you will find the top US poker sites with the most generous bonuses.
However, you shouldn't overlook the importance of the legality of poker rooms, the number of different games available, the betting limits that apply, the variety of payment methods, and the overall reputation of poker rooms when choosing your next US online poker destination.
All this and more will be covered in this comprehensive guide, plus the legal framework of real-money online poker gambling in specific US states.
Is Online Poker Legal in the US?
The situation with the legality of online poker in the US is not so clear cut as you might expect. To get to the bottom of this, we must look at the applicable gambling laws.
First of all, gambling in the US is regulated on a state, federal, and, of course, local level.
Looking at these levels of regulations, the only viable conjecture you can derive is that things are bound to get messy.
At the moment, the Constitution allows all states to make their own laws regarding online gambling.
- A handful of states have already legalized online poker, such as Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. In these states, online operators are required to sign licensing agreements with the land-based casinos in order to launch their online poker rooms, and plenty of big names have already done so.
- More states are taking a leaf from their books and filing for online poker and gambling licenses in a bid to legalize the market entirely. By doing so, the states will benefit from taxes these operators will pay and will ensure their citizens have fair and safe gambling opportunities.
- The states of Michigan and West Virginia have already passed the required laws. The roll out of the first poker sites is expected by the end of 2020 at best, but it is more likely to expect them in 2021.
How to Play Online Poker From the US?
With the popularity of online poker on the rise, finding an online poker room in the US should be a breeze.
Even so, there are multiple factors you need to consider and a couple of steps you need to complete before getting a piece of the action.
1. Check if Online Poker Is Legal in Your State
The first and foremost step is to make sure the state you are playing in has legalized online poker.
The states that offer full-blown poker sites are:
Some of them even share players, namely Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey.
Players from these states can participate in poker tournaments, which, consequently, have larger prize pools and are more appealing.
The states of Michigan and West Virginia followed suit and enacted the necessary bills and laws to legalize online poker.
Players from these states can expect legal online poker rooms soon.
Another important thing to remember here is that you don't need to be a resident in any of these states to play online poker legally.
You are only required to be physically present in any of them to register an account, make a deposit, and play No Limit Texas Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, and plenty of other versions of the game.
2. Choose the Best Online Poker Site for You
Next up is choosing the best online poker site for you. This means that you have to consider personal preferences, such as:
- types of games you like to play
- betting limits
- payment methods
- support options
- mobile poker apps for US players
All the US poker sites listed here will have a thing or two to offer, but the more you understand your playing habits, the better.
3. Register an Account
Once you have chosen the poker site, you can proceed to the registration process.
To do so, you will be required to provide personal details, such as name, DOB, address, email, etc.
Poker sites will ask you to provide a proof of identity as a part of their KYC (Know Your Customer) policy imposed by the legislation.
The proof of identity is usually in the form of a copy of your ID or another personal document, the final four digits of your Social Security number (SSN), a copy of your bank statement, etc.
These poker rooms make sure no underage gambling can take place and also prevent money laundering and fraud.
3. Deposit Funds to Your Account and Claim the Bonus Offer
The next step involves selecting the deposit method from the site's banking section and making the first deposit.
The top US poker sites presented here offer exciting and generous deposit match bonus offers once the players make qualifying deposits.
Check out the promotions tab and see which types of bonuses and freebies you can claim.
4. Choose the Type Of Poker Game and Play On
The final step you need to take is to choose between the different types of poker games offered by the site and take a virtual seat at the table.
The most common formats of poker include cash games and tournament poker.
- In cash games, the value of your chips corresponds directly to the monetary value, while in tournaments, you will have to buy in for a stack of chips and continue playing until you run out of chips or another player claims them all.
- In poker tournaments, the size of bets increases over time to make sure the game is action-packed.
How Do We Rate US Online Poker Sites
The entire review process of online poker sites is completed with the utmost care and diligence.
There are no stones left unturned, and we give no slack to anyone.
Our long history of 15+ years in the business and hard-earned reputation will never permit it.
Over the years, PokerNews has been declared the number one online poker guide several times, and we have been on the receiving end of quite a number of awards.
To fill you in on the process, we will try to break down the criteria we impose for our selection of key US poker sites into a couple of segments:
We List Only the Licensed Operators
All poker sites listed here have been licensed and certified by the appointed jurisdictions and authorities, which is a guarantee of safety, legality, and fairness of those sites and their poker games.
What's more, we look into the reputation of these sites to make sure players are content with the services provided and treatment.
Only after we make sure the site ticks all the right boxes do we present it here.
We Scrutinize the Bonuses
We never cease to look for the heftiest poker bonuses out there, so that our visitors can rest assured only the best possible bonus offers are listed.
What's more, we don't get carried away just by the sheer size of the bonus.
No sir.
There needs to be a balance between what is being offered as a bonus and what you need to do to turn that bonus into real cash.
We look into wagering requirements, the validity period of the bonus, and other requirements that appear as the small print in the terms and conditions that, sadly, only few players consult.
Luckily for you, we check that info as well.
Our Pro Players Look Into the Choice of Games and Quality
Did you know that one of our reviewers won an actual WSOP bracelet in Las Vegas?
Our reviewers are experienced poker players who know every nook and cranny of the game, and where to look for any hidden flaws in the choice of games and rules.
The sites offered here host a number of different types of poker, with plenty of poker formats and competitions, and their player traffic is a clear sign of quality.
We Test the Site's Software
Another important part of our testing process is the test of the site's software.
We want to make sure that sites have both web apps that allow instant in-browser play and mobile apps that enable players to engage in poker games on the go.
That said, we spend hours playing the actual games before reaching a verdict.
Also, if the poker room has a fully downloadable app for PCs, we will download it and make sure its functionality and gaming experience are top-notch.
These sites need to be responsive, easy to use, simple to navigate, and user-friendly. Only such poker rooms and mobile poker sites end up on our top list.
We Look Into Deposit Methods
Another important aspect of our review process is the examination of banking methods offered by the poker room.
This list includes only sites that offer the greatest variety of online banking, credit/debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid vouchers, and other methods, all of which need to be fast, convenient, and protected by the latest SSL encryption and firewalls.
We Put Customer Support to a Test
Having knowledgeable and reliable customer support on your side when a problem occurs is imperative for poker players.
We put each site's customer support to a rigorous test to check their knowledge, response times, and amiableness. If all goes well, only then the site gets on our list.
Regulated US Poker Sites
As we briefly mentioned earlier, all states within the US are at liberty to regulate gambling as they see fit and under legal provisions.
The first poker and gambling-related laws in the USA were drafted in the 19th century, and since then, multiple other legal motions were filed and bills enacted.
One of the initial gambling laws and acts that apply to online poker and gambling was the Interstate Wire Act of 1961, otherwise known as the Federal Wire Act.
This act prohibited any sort of information and payment transmissions across state lines that had anything to do with sports betting.
The reverberations following this act spread like forest fires, and, unfortunately, included online poker and other forms of online gambling, and stymied their progress.
Another significant blow the online poker industry suffered from the US legislators came in the form of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
This regulatory act banned all payment institutions from processing transactions involving online gambling, including poker.
In 2011, three large poker operators were indicted for alleged foul play and breaking of the UIGEA, which effectively shut down online poker in the states. This was an event the poker community refers to as ‘Black Friday'.
With such impediments on the road, it is no wonder why it took online poker so long to reestablish a foothold in a country that is considered to be its birthplace.
Monumental changes happened in 2011 when the US Department of Justice reversed the Wire Act's decision and rendered it only applicable to sports wagering. This paved the way for states to legalize online poker anew.
In 2019, the DOJ released a revised opinion on the Wire Act, but its impacts are yet to be seen.
The following is a quick overview of how things work in key online poker states in the US.
[URL='https://www.pokernews.com/new-jersey-poker-rooms.htm']NJ Poker Sites[/URL]
New Jersey has been at the forefront of the online poker legalization process, and the third state to legalize it in 2013.
Best Poker Sites In Us Today
The first attempt to legalize online poker was vetoed by the governor in 2011, but by the end of 2013, the first poker platforms emerged.
At the moment, three operators are licensed to operate in the Garden State:
- 888poker
- WSOP.com
- PokerStars
PA Poker Sites
PokerStars is the only legal online poker site in the state of Pennsylvania. 888poker and WSOP Poker are expected to launch in the keystone State in 2021.
For more information about the games at PokerStars, check out this page dedicated to PokerStars US.
MI Poker Sites
The Great Lake State legalized all forms of online gambling, including online poker, in December 2019, when its governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the proposal into a bill.
The first sites and poker rooms are expected in 2021.
OffShore Poker Sites
Even though some sites might tell you that playing in offshore online casinos and poker rooms is possible, that doesn't mean it is legal or safe.
In fact, most of these offshore poker sites have not been licensed by reputable gambling jurisdictions, nor are they protected by the latest security systems.
What's more, there are no guarantees that your banking details are protected and secure from any third-party influences.
That said, you are better off playing only on legal and vetted poker sites presented here than roaming around the internet and falling prey to malicious offshore poker rooms.
Best Deposit Options for US Online Poker Players
Top US poker sites offer several popular deposit methods for their players. The most frequently used deposit method is credit/debit bank cards, such as Discover, Visa, and Mastercard.
Almost all banks in regulated states will process such payments, so you won't have any problems making a fast and secure deposit.
Another essential deposit method is the e-wallet method. Poker fans use PayPal, Skrill, and other e-wallets to transfer their funds to and from the poker site seamlessly and quickly.
Methods such as e-checks and online banking are also quite popular and widespread, although they are a little bit slower when compared to e-wallets, for example.
Finally, most US poker sites offer PayNearMe prepaid vouchers and cash deposits you can use at your local 7-Eleven stores and casino cages from the land-based casino partners, respectively.
Problem Gambling and Useful Resources
Problem gambling is a serious issue, and some Americans have a tough time dealing with it.
That is why it is important that poker sites have strong, responsible gambling policies in power and that they cooperate with the regulatory bodies dealing with this issue, such as the National Council on Problem Gambling, Gamble Aware, AMA Responsibility in Gaming, and others.
Through this collaboration and effort, the negative impact of gambling can be reduced and sensitive groups protected.
FAQ
Online poker is perfectly legal in US states that have enacted specific online gambling laws.
You can play real money poker games online in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Delaware. In the future, you can expect the list to expand to include the states of Michigan and West Virginia.
The UIGEA came into force in 2006.
Players shouldn't play in offshore poker rooms as these are not technically legal in the US and are deemed as highly insecure.
Players are not required to live in a state where online poker is legal in order to play it. You only need to be physically present in the state at the moment of play.
Best Poker Sites In Us Online
Best Poker Sites For Us Players 2019
Legal online poker sites have strong geolocation software that will pierce through almost all VPN networks, thus preventing players from outside the states from engaging in real-money poker games online.