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Legal Online Poker Sites – Legislation, Regulation & Reviews
Welcome to Legal US Poker Sites, your go-to destination for navigating the dynamic landscape of online poker within the United States. As avid poker enthusiasts ourselves we understand all things legal related to online poker. And we understand the importance of finding a reliable and compliant platform for enjoying your favorite card game. Our site is dedicated to providing well-founded information, backed by a solid foundation of expertise, through in-depth reviews of the top poker sites.
Beyond just reviews, we delve into the legal intricacies of playing online poker and gambling in each state, empowering you with the knowledge needed to navigate the legal landscape confidently. Stay ahead of the curve with our news section, bringing you the latest developments in gambling legislation and poker, ensuring you’re always in the know. Welcome to a trusted resource where legality meets poker excellence – welcome to Legal US Poker Sites.
Top Legal US Poker Sites 2024
Free Rollers Open – Rapid Poker Tournaments
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Can You Play Online Poker in the US?
Yes. The majority of players living in the United States won’t have any issues playing poker legally in the US. Currently, eight states—Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Connecticut, Michigan, and Rhode Island—have legalized and regulated online poker.
Engaging in online poker does not explicitly violate any US laws. Consequently, various offshore platforms persist in devising innovative solutions to navigate the banking challenges arising from UIGEA, enabling them to cater to US customers.
State by State US Poker Laws
Learn more about what’s legal in your state and explore a variety of tournaments and cash games on the leading online poker platforms in the US.
Online Gambling & Law Related News
Stay current with the gambling laws and news within your state here. Our gambling news section covers all aspects of US online poker news including laws and regulations, revenue, internet and brick-and-mortar establishments, poker taxes and more. To understand the full picture of online poker in the US and legal US poker sites, it is important to stay informed about all of the laws related to American poker and gambling.
Ozturk First to Win Back-to-Back MSPT POY Titles
The Mid States Poker Tour just wrapped its Season 15 at Hollywood Casino Columbus in Ohio. But before that tour
Chase Bricker Chases Down $1M in ClubWPT Gold Freeroll
It was the most sought-after ticket in poker. Nearly every player in or around the poker world tried to win
Dylan Smith Wins Last WPT Title Prior to WPT World Championship
The World Poker Tour season now matches the calendar year, which means the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas
Legal Online Poker Sites
While there may always be some confusion regarding US law as it applies to the best legal US poker sites, thanks to the bedeviling nature of the topic itself, almost everyone from the United States has a variety of legal ways to play USA online poker.
As for the options for USA poker players, we have listed the following poker rooms as the best real money online poker sites servicing the US market;
Our top-ranked poker sites are legitimate, safe, secure, and reliable. To gain a better understanding of the state of USA online poker, we have compiled all of the relevant information pertaining to online and live poker laws, the status of the US online poker market as a whole, some happenings around the world that may affect American players, and the potential for the game’s future.
Poker and Gambling Laws by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
What Does the Future Hold for US Online Poker Players?
The most popular US poker sites may never again see the level of popularity they did during the poker boom in the early and mid-2000s. The combination of a global online poker market, the effect of Chris Moneymaker winning the World Series of Poker Main Event from a discounted online satellite tournament, and a game exploring its potential created the perfect storm. As a result, the growth of the top online poker rooms from 2003 to 2008 was unprecedented.
From the moment the UIGEA passed in the United States in 2006, the future of the Texas Hold ’em game became uncertain. PartyPoker immediately left the US market, and 888poker left soon after. The years that followed saw other operators grow warier of the risks involved. The significant operators that did not go – PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker, and UltimateBet – were the focus of the Black Friday indictments in 2011.
Backing or staking poker players in the US is considered legal since there are no specific laws or regulations surrounding it. There are no laws questioning the legitimacy of a player supporting another in poker, whether in cash games or tournaments. It’s important for individuals involved in such arrangements to be aware of tax implications and legal considerations related to any income generated through poker activities.
European Countries Regulating Online Poker
At the same time, countries worldwide segregated their markets, ousting international operators in favor of the few that paid licensing fees and taxes to operate legally in those countries. France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal were the most prominent countries to regulate and legalize poker online and gaming in this manner.
In contrast, other countries like Germany and Slovenia continue to struggle with the intricacies and complications of instituting licensing regimes. The United Kingdom regulated its market but allowed licensees to maintain dot-com business simultaneously. Countries in South America, Asia, Europe, and the Americas are in various stages of a similar process.
The Past, Present and Future of Online Poker in the US
The US internet poker market has been trending positively for more than a decade. The 2018 Wire Act decision to overturn the 2011 memo, however, put the brakes on for states wanting to legalize any form of igaming. It wasn’t until the case settled in 2021 that the market cleared to open again. When the US Department of Justice officially declined to appeal the Wire Act case to the US Supreme Court, it reverted the precedent back to the 2011 memo. The Wire Act officially pertained to sports betting only.
Only eight states went into 2023 with legal online poker, state-issued licenses available to poker operators in Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Despite years of bills and proposals in states like Kentucky, Indiana, New York, Illinois, and even New Hampshire, no other state has joined the online poker movement since late 2023. However, as momentum grows and MSIGA shows the market’s potential, these states and others are likely to reconsider in the coming years.
