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Oregon Online Poker & Gambling Laws

Written by Jennifer Newell
Last updated on
The legal statue and 4 playing cards with the Oregon State Flag as the back drop.

Oregon has no shortage of colorful online poker pros who call the state home. In fact, the entire Northwest region has been something of an online poker hotspot over the last decade. With big name after big name emerging from Oregon and neighboring states to claim some of poker’s biggest titles.

We get readers every day who want to know how they can add their name to that list. While we can’t make you a better poker player, we can dramatically simplify the process of getting your online poker career started with this Oregon Poker Players Guide to Real-Money Games Online.


In Oregon, playing at an online casino or online poker site is generally considered unlawful gambling under state law. Most forms of online gambling are not legally regulated. However, despite the absence of a regulated online gambling scene, there are numerous offshore poker rooms that accept customers from Oregon.

Top Sites for Online Poker in Your State

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Current Updates for Oregon’s Poker & Gambling Laws

Poker entrepreneurs in Oregon have figured out a way to offer live poker. As a result, under the law that allows social gaming, poker rooms have appeared throughout the state. Without charging rake or tournament fees, the owners assert that they are not operating for-profit rooms, only charging door fees and making money from food and drink orders in order to stay in business.

One such poker room operates at the Portland Meadows racetrack. But the Oregon Lottery has been threatening to remove its 10 video lottery terminals from the track if the poker room is not closed. It knows that the racetrack makes $350,000 on commission from the machines’ revenue, so it began threatening to remove the machines in early 2017.

Portland Meadows’ attorney repeatedly asserted that the poker room complied with state laws. The case went on until May 2018, when Oregon Lottery Director Barry Pack delivered a final ruling in the matter. By way of undercover research, the Lottery determined players exchange money for chips. Consequently, means the poker room acts as a bank, which violates the law. In addition, the door fee serves as income, which is a violation of the lease for the machines.

As of June 2018, 2018, Portland Meadows is considering taking the case to the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Oregon Gambling & Poker Laws Summarized

Type/CodeSummary
State Code Section(s)4.167.108-167; 11.462-464
Definition of Internet Gambling ProhibitionA person engaged in an internet gambling business may not knowingly accept, in connection with the participation of another person in unlawful gambling using the internet, credit, an electronic funds transfer, any check, draft or similar instrument through any financial institution or any other form of financial transaction that involves a financial institution as a payor or financial intermediary on behalf of or for the benefit of the other person.
Definition of InternetAn interactive computer service or system or an information service, system or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server and includes, but is not limited to, an information service, system or access software provider that provides access to a network system commonly known as the Internet, or any comparable system or service and also includes, but is not limited to a World Wide Web page, newsgroup, message board, mailing list or chat area on any interactive computer service or system or other online service.
Definition of GamblingA person stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the control or influence of the person, upon an agreement or understanding that the person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome, excluding social games.
Definition of Contest of ChanceAny 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.
Online Poker/GamblingThere have been no serious proposals by legislators seeking to legalize online poker. The prohibitive language in the current Oregon code indicates a strong stance against online gaming.
Live PokerThere are live poker rooms in many of the Native American casinos. There are other card clubs in large cities in Oregon that operate as membership clubs per their assertion that poker is a game of skill and exempted from current laws that prohibit games of chance. The courts are likely to decide the issue in the end.
CasinosThere are several Native American tribes that signed compacts with Oregon per IGRA to operate casinos, and many of them offer table games as well as slots.
Sports BettingNo lawmakers have attempted to legalize sports betting.
DFSA bill to exempt daily fantasy sports from current gambling prohibitions in 2017 failed to pass the legislature.
Other Forms of GamblingLicensed horse racing and mutuel wagering, off-track pari-mutuel betting, lottery, charitable gambling, social games.

Facts About Online Poker in Oregon

“Best” is obviously a subjective term, but we do our darndest as reviewers to come as close to objectivity as possible when evaluating online poker sites open to players from Oregon.  However, there are some elements of an online poker that can be quantified – traffic, promotions, rake. And, we definitely consider all of those.  There are also more amorphous qualities – reputation, game softness and support – that we grade as rigidly as possible in our overall review.

Is Online Poker Legal in Oregon?

Playing at real-money online poker sites in Oregon is about as uncomplicated as any other online commercial transaction.  As you know, there are particular sites (listed above) that we strongly suggest you try first. But, the list of Oregon-friendly online poker rooms doesn’t cover all of the sites that welcome players from Oregon.

As for depositing at an online poker room, Oregon players will find a variety of available methods. Major credit cards and cash transfers serving as the two most commonly used options.

Oregon Law and Online Gambling / Poker

It’s important for you to understand that legal advice cannot – and should not – come from a site like ours.  If you’ve seen sites that declare online poker to be “100% legal” or similar claims, then you’ve come across sources that simply aren’t being honest with you.

The honest answer is that gambling law, especially as it applies to gambling and playing poker online in Oregon, is a complicated subject best left to the specialists.  What we try to do is provide a basic snapshot of a state’s law. Then we point you in the direction of additional resources that can further your research.  Ultimately, any research about the legality of an action should end with a consultation involving a lawyer, preferably one with experience in the gambling law arena.

Here are some basic aspects of Oregon gambling laws that poker players should be aware of:

Oregon law does directly address online gambling, so let’s start there. Section 167.109:

“Internet gambling,” essentially makes it a felony to accept payments related to “the participation of another person in unlawful gambling using the Internet.”

What the section does not appear to do is criminalize the actions of individual gamblers or poker players. Our non-professional reading of the law can find no mention of players in Section 167.109.

Definition of Gambling in Oregon

The next logical question poker players have at this point is how Oregon defines gambling. It’s the standard definition employed by multiple state in America – risking a valuable thing on a contest of chance an outcome outside of one’s influence with the expectation that some other valuable thing could be gained (Section 167.117(7)).

Oregon law is more helpful than some in that it actually provides a further definition of what a contest must involve in order to be classified as one of chance. Specifically, it’s when the: “outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor” (Section 167.117(6)).

Social games fall outside the purview of Oregon gambling law, per Section 167.117(7c) (the definition of “gambling”) and Section 167.117(21) (the definition of “social game”).

One last item of note for Oregon gamblers: there is a charge reserved for players in Oregon law. Section 167.122 assigns a misdemeanor charge to anyone who “participates or engages in unlawful gambling as a player.”

The next step: Review the state law of Oregon yourself.  You can find a copy of the state statutes online at the link below.

Is Oregon Planning to Regulate Online Poker?

The chances in the status quo seem minimal, although anything is possible when you start talking about state politics. Things generally move at a quicker pace on the state level. Oregon could swiftly propose and pass a bill to regulate online poker, given the reasonable circumstances. Reasonable and likely are two different beast. However, and as it stands Oregon is heavy on potential and light on concrete progress toward regulating poker played online.

Oregon Gambling Facts

The heart of regulated gambling in Oregon are the state’s double-digit tribal casinos. Additionally, These offer visitors a selection of gambling options comparable to a Las Vegas or Atlantic City casino. Furthermore, charitable gambling thrives in Oregon with permitted activities, including bingo and casino-style table games. The state lottery and pari-mutuel wagering round out the regulated gambling lineup for Oregon.

Does Oregon Offer any State-Regulated Online Gambling?

While gamblers from Oregon would no doubt prefer to patronize sites that bore the official seal of the state government, that’s simply not possible in the status quo.  While there may be some individual online gambling formats that are acceptable under Oregon law, the state does not directly oversee or in any way regulate online gambling.

Oregon Gambling Resources

The Oregon Department of Justice – Charitable Gaming Division.  The State DoJ handles charitable gambling in Oregon, and the page for their Charitable Gaming Division highlights the basics regarding compliance and provides a database of licensed operators.

Oregon Casino Initiatives – BallotPedia.  Excellent resource for learning more about the history, context and outcome of Oregon’s recently-defeated ballot measure that sought to bring commercial casinos to the state.

Oregon.gov – Problem Gambling Services.  State-backed resource for problem gambling information, including extensive literature, training tools and helpline details from the award-winning Oregon Department of Human Services.

All Poker and Gambling Laws by State

Oregon in the News

Jennifer Newell

Jennifer Newell

Editor in Chief
View All Posts By Jennifer Newell

Jennifer Newell is the Editor in Chief at LegalUsPokerSites. Jennifer Newell has nearly two decades of experience in the iGaming industry. She is a respected poker media member, contributing to publications like US Today, Playfecta, Cardplayer Lifestyle, and PokerScout. Her knowledge spans gambling legislation and the broader online gaming world. She has spent years advocating for diversity, most notably gender equity in the traditionally male-dominated poker sphere.

Sources & Citations For This Article on Oregon Online Poker

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