Most of the major online poker sites are “legit”, but we encourage checking out our online poker reviews section. In online poker, real money USA card rooms might be legitimate, but don’t have enough traffic to support the cash games and tournaments at bet limits you like. Promotions & Bonuses at Real-Money Poker Sites. Online poker rooms cater to a wide range of online poker players.Some players are experienced players that frequently play at their favourite online poker room, while others are new to the online poker community. Jul 14, 2018 Having said that, New York players are among the most well-represented at offshore poker rooms and can play for real money legally. Future Outlook of Online Poker in New York – Estimated date of legalization: 2018-2019. The following graph tracks our expected legislation of online poker in New York on a state law level.
- Online Poker Real Money New York Comptroller
- Play Poker Online For Money New York
- New York Online Poker Bill
Choosing to play poker online for money is simple – once you know what to look out for. This page covers everything you need to know on playing poker online in the US. We break down how to find a safe and easy to beat poker room, and rank the best casino sites to play online poker for real money in the United States. This includes poker sites like Bovada Poker, Ignition Poker & America’s Cardroom.
Before you jump into a US real money poker game, though, here are the key factors to consider:
- Site Safety: Choose licensed, trusted and tested rooms
- Game Selection: What choice of games are available, and at what buy-ins?
- Bonuses / Rewards: How well will your play be rewarded?
- USA Friendly Poker Site: This depends on which state you are playing from.
These days, the biggest and best US poker rooms are based offshore. They are licensed by their host country, and welcome players from all over the world – including the USA.
You can also find smaller in-state poker rooms. Four individual US states currently provide regulated online poker rooms, namely Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Games are shared between players from the first three states mentioned, with the US poker market expected to grow as more states start to offer regulated online poker for real money in the future. Likely contenders include such states as West Virginia, Maryland, Missouri and New York.
Best Online Poker Sites for Real Money in 2020
Deposit Limits: $10 - $5,000
Accepts: Visa, Bitcoin, Mastercard, Bank Wire
Ignition is a popular option for players in the United States. They offer most popular cash game variants and more than $1.5 million in weekly online poker tournament guarantees. Ignition also offers Zone Poker, similar to Zoom Poker where you’re moved to a new table and dealt a new hand every time you fold.
Ignition Poker also offer a wide variety of poker promotions.
Join Ignition Poker here and get up to $2000 free!
Deposit Limits: $10 – $5,000
Accepts: Bitcoin, Visa, Bank Wire
Licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, Bovada is one of the oldest online poker sites servicing America. Bovada offers anonymous tables and a mobile-optimized design allowing play on all mobile platforms. The design makes it feel like you’re playing in Las Vegas rather than your home computer.
They offer a wide variety of cash games and tournaments with over $1.5 million in weekly guarantees.
Join Bovada Poker here and get a $500 bonus!
Deposit Limits: $25 – $25,000
Accepts: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Visa, MasterCard, Money Transfers, Bank Wire
Sportsbetting.ag offers a robust online poker option with excellent cash game and tournament action. For cash games, they provide weekly cash leaderboards with $10,000 in prizes weekly. They offer over $45,000 in weekday guarantees, over $130,000 in guarantees on Saturday and over $275,000 in guarantees on Sunday.
If you like fast-fold poker variants like Zoom Poker, you’ll love Boost Poker. Get a new hand every time you fold in this fast-paced game.
Join Sportsbetting.ag – 100% up to $1000 for new US players!
Deposit Limits: $25 - $2,500
Accepts: Bitcoin, credit cards (MasterCard, Amex, Visa), money transfers
Intertops Poker is fully licensed by Curacao and the Netherlands Antilles and offers a wide variety of cash game and online poker tournaments. Their software is available as both a PC downloadable client and a mobile-optimized web version.
This site is perfect for players looking to grow their poker bankrolls at lower stakes.
Join Intertops Poker here and claim a 200% match bonus!
Deposit Limits: $25 - $25,000
Accepts: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Visa, MasterCard, Money Transfers, Bank Wire
BetOnline is the newest online poker site for American players. This site is part of the BetOnline group which includes a well-known and reputable Sportsbook as well as an online casino. BetOnline launched their poker room in 2012 and has quickly become one of the largest US accepted poker rooms on the market.
When you make your 1st, 2nd and even 10th deposit to the poker room, you will receive 25% upfront in cash.
Join Bet Online Poker and qualify for a $1,000 deposit bonus!
Deposit Limits: $50 - $25,000
Accepts: Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin
America’s Cardroom is one of the most popular online poker rooms for American players with over 1 million hands of poker played daily. They are a popular room because they readily accept American players and offer a wide variety of online payment options including Bitcoin.
America’s Cardroom offers a wide variety of tournaments with substantial daily guarantees. Their Sunday tournaments have guarantees ranging from $50,000 to $150,000.
Join America’s Cardroom here and claim $1,000 in bonus cash!
Deposit Limits: $50 - $10,000
Accepts: Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Wire
Black Chip Poker is a legally licensed online poker real money site for US players. Licensed in Costa Rica, BCP is part of the Winning Poker Network. New players qualify for a 100% deposit bonus up to $1,000 or you can take advantage of the cryptocurrency offering, giving you a 200% match bonus when you make your first deposit with Bitcoin.
The poker room provides a variety of tournaments including the Million Dollar Sunday tournaments.
Join Black Chip Poker here and claim a 100% match bonus!
You can play poker online for real money in the United States as long as you’re outside of banned online gambling states like Washington. If you’re looking for where to play online poker from the USA, or which casino sites accept US players, check out the poker websites above. Each casino site provides players with a special bonus and have the ability to process poker deposits.
8 Things to Look For Before Playing with Real Cash
The list below covers the main factors to consider when choosing an online gambling or online poker real money USA site. It is important to choose a site which works for your experience level and skills. If you are a recreational player, who enjoys the occasional casino game and casual poker game, then your requirements are different from those of a multi-tabling pro grinder.
1) Comparing The Features of Different Online Poker Sites
A great online poker site has a good selection of poker games featuring a wide variety of buy-ins and game combination. The Winning Poker Network, 888poker and partypoker, for instance, regularly runs large poker tournaments, while online poker players can easily find high limit poker cash games at site such as Bovada and Ignition. If you plan on enjoying poker from your iPhone or Android Smartphone, the fast-fold game ‘Zone Poker’ from Bovada is also good choice.
2) What to Look for in Poker Site Reviews?
When visiting an online gambling news or poker news sites, focus on those real money poker reviews based upon first-hand experience. This will show in comments about navigating through the menus, the softness (or otherwise) of the games – and other small features. When reading poker reviews, it’s also best to get more than one opinion for a more well-rounded view.
3) How to Compare Poker Bonus Offers?
Welcome bonuses are good for boosting your initial bankroll. However, different poker site have different bonus ratings, with these bonuses then varying in their size, as well as terms of satisfaction. Furthermore, your welcome bonus will typically expire after 30 to 60 days, so make sure your site offers subsequently offers ongoing rakeback, loyalty schemes and regular promos.
4) What Games and Variations are Available?
The three basic poker formats are cash games, poker tournaments and Sit n Goes. While No-Limit Holdem is the most popular variant offered at US online poker rooms, other poker formats available include Pot-Limit Omaha, Razz, Stud and Draw. Needless to say, choosing the biggest sites also means more games and a wider variety of stakes to enjoy.
5) Licensing at Legal Online Poker Sites for Real Money
Check the poker room has an online gambling license before depositing at any online poker real money USA site. After all, licensed legal online poker sites are required to adhere to the strictest legislation and operating standards. Reputable international sites are licensed by the governments of their host countries, with popular jurisdictions including Curacao, Panama, The Isle of Man, Malta and Kahnawake in Canada.
6) Banking at US Poker Sites: Depositing and Withdrawing
Getting your money deposited on a online poker real money USA site is straightforward, with the most common poker deposit methods as follows:
- Credit Cards: Widely accepted, though transactions can be blocked by banks, quick and easy when they do work.
- Prepaid Credit Cards: Check with your site for the best working brands, then buy from convenience stores.
- Bitcoin / Other Cryptocurrencies: One-off setup needed, though once you have a cryptocurrency ‘wallet’ these coins will solve your deposit and withdrawal problems completely.
- Money Transfer: Send cash from your local Western Union or MoneyGram office.
Deposit methods are fairly similar across the various online gaming sites, including credit cards, money transfers, bitcoin, as well as other cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, withdrawing with cryptocurrency is easy, with other ways to withdraw your cash including as a paper check or bank wire. Make sure you check for minimum withdrawal amounts, and any fees, though. Withdrawal options and administration charges may differ, too, so look for sites with a low minimum, and at least one free withdrawal per month, such as Betonline.
7) Poker Site Complaints: Red Flags to Look Out For
There are always bad players who claim that every site has a ‘rigged deal’ simply because they do not understand the game well and are not be able to win money playing poker. Far more important are any complaints concerning delays in payments, which are a red flag for any poker site. Also, customer feedback concerning the softness of poker games is important, with numerous comments suggesting a site is full of pro ‘grinders’ probably worth avoiding.
8) The Small Print: Read the Poker Rooms Terms / Privacy Policy
Check the terms and conditions of a poker site before you play with real money, and look out for online gaming caps on withdrawal amounts, high minimum withdrawals and time restricted bonuses. Reputable poker rooms have a ‘Responsible Gaming’ policy and self-exclusion options, as well as a number of contact methods, such as phone number, e-mail and physical address.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll find detailed answers to some common questions below. These cover a wide range of topics, from which is the best room through to how to play using Bitcoin!
Is Playing Real Money Poker Legal from My State?
Offshore poker sites are not under US jurisdiction. They do, however, maintain their right to accept players from anywhere in the world, including the United States. There may be no US federal laws stopping individual players from enjoying casino games and real money poker online, but state laws do vary, though. Some States, for instance, already have legalized regulated online poker rooms, including New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware and Pennsylvania. On the other hand, some states have clearly banned real money online poker games, thus making poker illegal, including Utah and Washington State. While federal law prevents banks and gambling sites transacting within the USA, legislation does not cover individual players.
Are There Any USA Friendly Poker Sites That Accept Bitcoin?
Yes, all the main offshore online poker sites accept Bitcoin as a payment option. There are some sites which accept other cryptocurrencies, too, including Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin and Ethereum.
What is the Best USA Online Poker Site?
A perfect site would include soft games, a huge choice of tables, big guaranteed tournament prizes, plenty of promotions and bonuses – and smooth, fast software that can be accessed from many different devices. Several sites come close, with the biggest and best USA real cash poker rooms found here.
How do US Poker Sites Structure Themselves to be Legal?
The ‘Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act’ of 2006 prohibits financial transactions to online gambling sites in the USA. Sites offering real money poker games to American players stay legal by being located outside of the US. The sites we subsequently recommend are fully legal in their host countries and maintain the right to welcome players from anywhere in the world, citing global free trade laws. Meanwhile, federal can enforce the UIGEA on the US banks and financial networks, but UIGEA does not cover players.
Is Playing Online Poker Profitable?
One of the best things about online poker is that skilled players are able to learn poker strategies and win money. While you won’t be profitable right away, if you are better than your opponents, then over time your bankroll will grow. You’ll need to study, though, and once you have identified your own leaks and developed winning poker strategies, making a living playing online poker becomes possible. You can even transfer your skills and poker strategies to the live arena and play at land-based casinos such as the Rio in Las Vegas, which hosts the iconic WSOP tournament series every year.
What Can I Do if a Poker Site is Delaying Payments?
That depends on the licensing arrangement of the site you are playing at. If you chose an unlicensed site, then your chances of getting money back if they close or go rogue are small. As far as legal online poker at international licensed sites is concerned, complaining to their official licensing body will provide you a much better chance of being paid. After all, the loss of a license is something many United States poker sites take seriously.
Last Updated January 2, 2020
Just like massive slices of pizza and talking far more loudly than appropriate, poker is a part of New York culture. Many know New York more for its legendary underground poker rooms than its online poker scene, but a sizeable chunk of online poker’s best talent hails from the poker proving ground of New York state. For players looking to join that elite class – or maybe just hoping to try their luck with a few hands of poker played online – we present this complete Guide to Playing Online Poker From New York.
New York and Legal Online Poker
The best New York online poker sites share a few qualities. First of all, we only list sites that hold a legal and current license to operate. Second, we only list rooms that have long-standing reputations for treating players fairly. Finally, we only consider rooms for inclusion on our list of the top New York poker rooms that attract casual players – meaning you can profit at the games. The rooms that best meet those thresholds make up our suggested online poker sites for players from New York:
| BetOnline | $2500 Bonus | 5-7 Day Payouts | Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Wires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sportsbetting | $2500 Bonus | 5-7 Day Payouts | Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Wires |
Online Poker Real Money New York Comptroller
Latest New York Online Poker and Gambling Developments
In 2016, New York took a major step forward as by State Senator John Bonacic in the Senate and Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow in the House of Representatives sponsored an online poker bill. The bill sought legal and regulated online poker only, without online casino games like in New Jersey. The bill died in the Assembly when Pretlow expressed doubts about the safety of the games due to concerns from fellow legislators.
However, the same two lawmakers introduced bills in 2017 as well. The Senate passed the bill in June by the margin of 54-8. A companion bill in the House failed to progress, again, as happened the previous year. Pretlow initially expressed optimism for widespread support of the bill that year, but the bad actor clause caused division in the ranks. The bad actor clause held back the California online poker debate for years, and it seemed to have caused concern in New York this year as well.
The clause punishes online poker operators who continued to serve US customers after the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed and became law, and the company that will want to enter the US market under this status is PokerStars. PokerStars operates in New Jersey under full compliance and heavy scrutiny, but it dominates the market, so some want to bar it from their state.
In April 2018, Assemblyman Clyde Vanel emerged as a new champion for the online poker legislation. Vanel claimed he could garner 60-70 co-sponsors for the bill and planned to put it up for a vote in June. He cited the dozens of legislators who supported putting online poker in the budget. Within weeks, Vanel had secured nearly 50 co-sponsors for the Assembly’s online poker bill, and the process was continuing into May. As the Chairman of the Internet and New Technology Subcommittee, he was in prime position to push the legislation.
In early June, Bonacic moved his Senate bill forward. S.3898 passed the Finance Committee, though the companion proposal in the Assembly had to move quickly to get through several committees before the session ended on June 21. Even with Vanel’s help, however, Pretlow had not been able to advance A.5250 whatsoever.
By the end of session on June 21, both online poker bills died. Sports betting was among those that did not advance, along with online poker. Online poker appeared to face an uphill battle in 2019, as Bonacic retired. During the first week of January 2019, though, a new champion for online poker in New York emerged as Senator Joe Addabbo introduced S.00018, a bill to legalize online poker only by classifying it as a game of skill. Nearly one month later, Pretlow proposed A.04924, which was a carbon copy of Addabbo’s bill.
By mid-May 2019, it became clear that neither bill would find any success. As in so many other states, the priority had become sports betting, and Addabbo turned his attention to offering mobile sports wagering. He admitted as much in the summer months and said that online poker would only be addressed “once we have proven ourselves in treating all the issues for mobile sports betting.”
Sports betting is legal in New York, and the first bet was placed by Pretlow in July 2019. However, any movement toward online or mobile options remains uncertain as 2019 comes to a close.
As for the future of online poker, there was hope in a study from the New York State Gambling Commission. The study was focused on private casinos and mobile sports betting, but the report was to be comprehensive enough to determine the future of gaming policy as a whole. That now has been delayed, as the report is not expected before April 2020, which is the due date for the state’s budget. This will allow no time to include gambling expansion in the 2020 budget.
| Type/Code | Summary |
|---|---|
| State Code Section(s) | PEN.225; PEN.470; RPMW.100-1401; GML.9A; GML186-195; |
| Definition of Gambling | A person engages in gambling when he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome. |
| Definition of Contest of Chance | Any contest, game, gaming scheme or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein. |
| Definition of Player | A person who engages in any form of gambling solely as a contestant or bettor, without receiving or becoming entitled to receive any profit therefrom other than personal gambling winnings, and without otherwise rendering any material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation of the particular gambling activity. |
| Online Poker/Gambling | Legislators have been working to pass bills to legalize online poker in New York for several years. Bills have twice passed the Senate but not the Assembly, and the current bills in 2018 did not pass either house. There will likely be another effort in 2019 for online gaming. |
| Live Poker | There are poker rooms in many of the state’s casinos that offer cash games and tournament poker. |
| Casinos | There are a number of Native American casinos and racetracks with casino games (racinos) operating in the state, and several commercial casinos are opening in 2018 and 2019 as full-blown casino resorts. |
| Sports Betting | New York voted to legalize sports betting long before the 2018 US Supreme Court decision overturning PASPA, but new laws must be passed to regulate the activity. Bills are pending in both houses of the legislature and had not passed in the first half of 2018. |
| DFS | The legislature passed a law to regulate daily fantasy sports in 2016. |
| Other Forms of Gambling | Horse and harness racing, off-track pari-mutuel wagering, bingo, lottery, charitable gambling, social gambling in private settings. |
Making Online Poker Accounts From New York
Due to New York City banks’ role in online poker’s Black Friday, there are some online poker sites that restrict new signups from the state. The prohibition is not absolute, so most sites on our real-money page accept play from New York.
New York State Law and Online Poker
New York law defines gambling as risking “something of value” on a future outcome beyond one’s “control or influence” with the understanding that they might receive “something of value” if a “certain outcome” occurs (Section 225.00(2)).
The state law of New York also offers a definition of a contest of chance: “Any contest, game, gaming scheme or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein” (Section 225.00(1)).
There are no criminal penalties for persons who act only as players in illegal gambling activities. There may be other crimes stemming from the activity (tax avoidance, for example), but the criminal penalties in New York state gambling law are directed squarely at those who run and profit from the business of illegal gambling.
The size of the illegal gambling operation matters under New York law. Once your operation hits either five bets totaling over $5,000 in one day related to bookmaking, or more than $500 in a single day for operations involving a “lottery or policy scheme or enterprise,” the charge bumps up from a misdemeanor to a felony (Section 225.10).
Regulated Gambling Activity in New York
When other states moved to expand regulated gambling in the mid twentieth century with pari-mutuel betting and lotteries, New York followed suit. The lottery opened in 1967, horse racing got underway in 1970, and tribal casinos opened in the 1990s. Race tracks then blossomed into racinos by adding some casino games in the early 2000s.
In 2013, voters of New York approved an amendment to the state’s constitution so non-tribal casinos could be built and operate all casino games. From there, four casinos were granted licenses to operate around the state.
Sports betting was actually legalized in 2013 as well, but it wasn’t allowed in casinos until the 2018 US Supreme Court decision, which overturned PASPA and allowed each state in America to legalize sports betting. At that point, the New York legislature updated that law and implemented it, and the first sports wagers at New York casinos were placed in 2019.
Famous New York Poker Players
New York card clubs, mostly operating underground, are responsible for many of today’s best poker players. Many of them, like Erik Seidel, started playing backgammon at clubs like the Mayfair Club, but they soon found that poker also employed skill and analysis. Players began to emerge from the Mayfair in droves in the 1980s and 1990s, as names like Dan Harrington, Howard Lederer, Steve Zolotow, Stu Ungar, Jason Lester, Paul Magriel, and Mickey Appleman were forever tied to the Mayfair.
Many players from New York also got their start in the game via online poker. Players like Isaac Haxton, Scott Seiver, and Andrew Lichtenberger began playing during the poker boom of the early 2000s and became big stars in the game.
Play Poker Online For Money New York
The top live tournament money earner from New York is Bryn Kenney, who formerly played a great deal of poker online but now focuses on high-stakes live games. Kenney rose to prominence in the past decade, but he became the top money earner in the world in 2019. As of November 2019, his lifetime tournament earnings topped $55.5 million.
Erik Seidel sits in the second spot in New York and fourth in the world with $37 million. He is one of the most respected and skilled poker pros in the game.
As of November 2019, these are the top ten live tournament poker pros from New York:
1. Bryn Kenney ($55.5 million)
2. Erik Seidel ($37 million)
3. Isaac Haxton ($27.7 million)
4. Scott Seiver ($23.8 million)
5. Nick Schulman ($13.1 million)
6. Alex Foxen ($13 million)
7. Vanessa Selbst ($11.9 million)
8. Dan Shak ($10.5 million)
9. Andrew Lichtenberger ($10.5 million)
10. Elio Fox ($9.5 million)