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Online Poker Reviews

1. Sportsbook Poker

2. Full Tilt Poker

3. Poker Stars

4. Players Only

5. Bodog

6. Pacific Poker

7. Superbook Poker

8. Doyle's Room

9. Absolute Poker

10. PKR

11. Ultimate Bet

12. Titan Poker

13. William Hill Poker

14. Party Poker

15. PDC Poker

16. Poker Host

17. Aced Poker

18. Sun Poker

19. Mansion Poker

20. Everest Poker

21. Noble Poker

22. True Poker

23. Celeb Poker

 

LEGAL POKER SITES


Legal US Online Poker Sites

 

Legal Poker Sites

 

More US poker information:

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US Poker Reviews

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"I want to find legal poker sites to play online for real money. Where can I go?"

 

First of all, let me preface this response by assuring you that I am not an attorney and do not pretend to provide any sort of legal advice. However, the simple truth is that online gambling is, and always has been, in a gray legal area. More specifically, the laws surrounding strictly online poker site operators have never been clarified.

 

Despite the fact that the US government occasionally decides to pursue legal action against offshore sportsbetting sites, there has never been a single documented case of a US resident being prosecuted for playing online poker. Even if some antiquated law against betting exists in random cities and states, it has never been enforced. As long as players pay taxes on all of their income, both gambling and otherwise, the government has little concern with what you do with your own money online. 

 

So, what was all the fuss about when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was signed into law? The most important conclusion is that it had nothing to do with whether or not legal poker sites for US players still existed. The UIGEA tries to enforce restrictions on the way banks do business with online gambling sites.

 

The corrupt 11th hour passing of this bill makes it more difficult for poker players to fund their accounts but, fortunately, numerous easy methods still exist for hard-working tax-paying citizens to spend their money how they see fit. There are plenty of poker sites legal in their respective jurisdiction to choose from.

 

What Makes a "Legal Poker Site"?

Unfortunately, until the hypocritical domestic laws are changed in the US, no online gambling site (poker or otherwise) is going to be stamped with a seal of approval from the DOJ. However, as I've tried to cover above, simply playing at these sites isn't illegal. What I consider to be a legal poker site is one that complies with independent random number generator testing agencies and is certified by its relevant home government. All of the poker sites we link to fall under that category.

 

Another positive is that the countries hosting our listed online poker sites aren't third-world tax havens handing out certifications to any shady outfit with a big wallet. Many legal poker sites are owned and operated out of Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, or one of their territories. Those certainly aren't governments with lax rules about who they do business with. The US is way behind the times when it comes to the optimal way to handle online gambling: regulate the games to ensure they're honest, implement safeguards for underage and problem gambling, and tax the revenues to go towards other civil services. 

 

Where Can You Play Online Poker Easily and Safely from the US?

Below, I've listed my top suggestions for US players looking to safely play online poker for real money. Besides the regulations that these sites abide by, one of the most important issues US players face is easily depositing and withdrawing from their accounts. The following sites all have viable banking methods. Finally, keep in mind that these are only legal poker sites in their own jurisdictions so you should check with your local laws prior to playing for real money.

 

 

SPORTSBOOK POKER - Overall, I've been very pleased with the revamped Sportsbook Poker package. Interestingly, they only offer real money games to US players. In terms of easy deposits, this is one of the only legal poker sites to accept US credit cards block-free. At Sportsbook Poker, even mainstream bank cards that have been rejected at other poker rooms are processed successfully using the built-in cashier system. It simply feels like a smoother, more stable process when a third-party e-wallet is not required.

 

Sportsbook Poker is regulated by the Maltese government and has won numerous "Best of" US gaming site awards. Malta is also accepted by the UK as a white listed online gaming territory. Another significant positive of this site is the extremely loose player base, which is certainly one of the most inexperienced online. With online poker's largest sites seemingly tightening up more and more each day, it's refreshing to find a legal poker site in Sportsbook Poker that still serves up the good old-fashioned online fish.

 

Best aspects: strong traffic, awful players, licensed and regulated in Malta, US credit cards accepted. Read full review...

 

US credit cards are not blocked by any issuing bank.

Our Exclusive Bonus: 100% up to $1,000 + 10% instantly          Visit Sportsbook Poker

 

 

FULL TILT POKER - One of the best-known legal poker sites still open to US players is Full Tilt Poker. They have the largest and most respected number of professionals and are a poker-only operation, which shouldn't be overlooked. This site has an enormous player base thanks to its aggressive marketing approach, one of the best software packages online, and a general feeling of professionalism. With the enormous traffic boost Full Tilt Poker experienced from continuing to service US players you'll find at least 10-20 tournaments per hour and dozens of ring games active at every level.

 

Earning its place on our poker sites page, Full Tilt Poker is fully licensed and regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. The KGC is a sovereign nation within the borders of Quebec, Canada and shares a positive relationship with the provincial government. The KGC is the only body to officially license online gaming in North America and has grown to host over half of all gaming sites online. Another big positive is that all US Full Tilt Poker players can deposit directly via their checking accounts. The fact that they are able to offer this service alone speaks to their excellent reputation and legal history.

 

Positives: most professionals, eCheck deposits, licensed and regulated in Canada, large bonus. Read full review...

 

US checking account deposits are accepted directly through the cashier.

Our Exclusive Bonus: 100% up to $600          Visit Full Tilt Poker

 

 

POKERSTARS - PokerStars has now become the largest online poker room in the world thanks to its continued support of the US market. PokerStars could also be considered a legal poker site because of its poker-only stance. Poker has repeatedly been ruled a skill game by US courts and I believe PokerStars has avoided US government attention largely because of its lack of casino games. Players should also be comforted by the fact that PokerStars is regulated by the Isle of Man, a British Crown dependency. Another massive draw is the ability to accept deposits directly from any US checking account.

 

PokerStars has always been revered for its consistent games, sharp software, and massive tournaments. Players would most likely be completely satisfied if this was the only legal poker site available. It's one thing to simply attract the most players through advertising and another thing to keep that player base loyal. The excellent payout times, enormous amount of active games, and the general smooth operation have made PokerStars the go-to site for new players. If poker sites are able to obtain a legal license from the US in the future, I imagine PokerStars would probably be one of the first to obtain one.   

 

Positives: highest poker traffic, licensed and regulated by Isle of Man, tons of tournaments. Read full review...

 

US checking account deposits are accepted directly through the cashier.

Our Exclusive Bonus: 100% up to $50          Visit PokerStars

 

 

PLAYERS ONLY POKER - One of the strongest new legal poker sites in terms of promotions is Players Only Poker, which is open to all US players. This network has been active since 1996 making it one of the oldest gaming networks online. Players Only Poker is also licensed and regulated by the Netherlands Antilles government, specifically located on the island of Curacao. It is always especially encouraging to see such a large government, in this case the Netherlands, sanction online poker.

 

New players will also have little trouble funding their accounts as Players Only Poker processed US credit and debit cards with a near-100% acceptance rate. It is certainly a positive that even large US banks don't classify the payment processors as unacceptable transactions. Finally, one of the biggest positives is the poor player base that dwarfs typical average pot sizes and flop percentages. While Players Only Poker doesn't have the name recognition of the larger legal poker sites it is still a well-rounded choice for US players.

 

Best aspects: licensed and regulated by the Netherlands, large bonus, all US credit cards accepted. Read full review...

 

US Visa and Mastercard Deposits are accepted at a near-100% rate.

Our Exclusive Bonus: 100% up to $1,000 + 10% instantly          Visit Players Only Poker

 

 

BODOG - One of the more popular mainstays in the US market has been Bodog. Once considered a new and niche poker site, Bodog is now one of the more popular cash game destinations. It also has one of the most unique histories in terms of licensing and regulation. Originally based in Antigua, Bodog has maintained that license for international gaming but has secured an additional license with the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Canada. This allows Bodog to offer gaming to North Americans and be accepted as a legal poker site by the Quebec government.

 

Ultimately, this combination sportsbook/casino/poker room is as close to a mainstream legal poker site as you can get with sections of their enterprise dealing with everything from music publishing to martial arts fighting. In terms of the poker room, Bodog has one of the most user-friendly software packages, a historically young and aggressive (read maniacal and ready to gamble) player base, and caters to the US market with an exclusive deposit system using existing credit cards.

 

Positives: loose player base, instant cash bonus, licensed in Canada and Antigua. Read full review...

 

Our Exclusive Bonus: 100% up to $500 + 10% instantly          Visit Bodog Poker

 

 

ULTIMATE BET - Now more than a decade old, Ultimate Bet has been one of the most popular legal poker sites since the beginning. Despite the recent insider scandals players seem to be returning back in droves now that they've merged with Absolute Poker to create the CEREUS network. Interestingly, the Ultimate Bet scandal actually helped to prove that licensing is a powerful necessity in the online poker world. The Canada-based Kahnawake Gaming Commission, who provides the Ultimate Bet license, quickly threatened to withdraw their hosting if Ultimate Bet didn't follow specific steps to remedy their security faults. Players can at least be assured that this poker room is under scrutiny from the KGC.

 

Scandals aside, Ultimate Bet shows no signs of abandoning the US market and has still thrived as a legal poker site. Many regular players here have remained loyal for years due to the clean software, VIP system, and the general quality of the games hosted. While the Ultimate Bet player base tends to be a bit tighter than average this can benefit aggressive players and those wishing for gameplay that resembles actual cardroom play. The cashier is also one of the more robust online with the big highlight being eCheck deposits that allows direct checking account deposits.   

 

Positives: licensed and regulated in Canada, excellent tournament schedule, large bonus. Read full review...

 

US checking account deposits are accepted directly through the cashier.

Our Exclusive Bonus: 111% up to $1,000          Visit Ultimate Bet

 

 

ABSOLUTE POKER - Absolute Poker is now essentially an online poker cousin of Ultimate Bet as they share the same tables and tournaments under the CEREUS network name. While they were previously implied in the recent security scandal with UB, Absolute Poker seems to be making an effort to clean up behind-the-scenes. As a legal poker site, Absolute Poker falls under the watchful eyes of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. As a tribal territory in Quebec, they have the support of the Canadian government and are responsible for licensing and testing hundreds of online gaming operation. Fortunately for players looking for legal reassurance, Absolute Poker has been forced to meet even more stringent requirements to stay online. 

 

As for the poker part of this legal poker site, Absolute Poker offers a well-rounded package, largely as a result of its tournament schedule. This has always been one of the top sites for tournaments with 5-10 events per hour ranging from Bounty events, guarantees, and easy-to-earn satellites to their Sunday $200,000 event. The bonus is also above average at 150% and can be worked off quickly by larger players. These days, easy deposit options are almost as important as the games themselves. Absolute Poker does have one of the best cashier systems with checking account deposits accepted for all US players.  

 

Positives: endless promotions, licensed and regulated in Canada, reload bonuses. Read full review...

 

US checking account deposits are accepted directly through the cashier.

Our Exclusive Bonus: 150% up to $500          Visit Absolute Poker

 

 

 
 

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