As more states legalize online gambling, more sites offering the opportunity to play online poker for real money are opening to Americans. That leaves more Americans with a question or two about how online poker works, where to play, and, most importantly, if it’s legal in their state.

We’ll be covering all the above and more right here on TechNightOwl. Let’s start with the basics.

Legal Online Poker for Real Money in USA and Worldwide Players. Unlike real money casino games, online poker has an element of skill. If you are better than your opponents, you can make money over the long term. Of course, you’ll need to find an online poker site which is legal in your location. Jul 01, 2021 Top 10 US Poker Sites: Best legal Real Money USA Online Poker websites for 2021 by Adrian Sterne Updated: July 1, 2021 Ancestors to the game of poker may have come from the Middle East and China, but the game as it stands today is thought to pretty much have been born in the United States.

What States in the US Offer Online Poker for Real Money?

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At present, there are only six states in the US where online poker platforms are legal: Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia. Let’s run through how that came to be.

US Online Poker Laws

The Wire Act is a US Federal Law established in 1961 prohibiting wire communications in betting transactions. The main objective of this law was to reduce the possibility of gambling and poker games becoming a part of organized crime.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) took effect in 2006 when it became illegal for banks to transact with unlicensed online gambling platforms. The banks — not the players — became liable for any violation cited or observed.

These regulations shut down online poker platforms in the United States. However, both the Wire Act and UIGEA created gray areas in the law and were subject to misinterpretation. In 2012, it was one of those grey areas that led a New York federal judge to rule that the Wire Act of 1961 didn’t apply to poker because it was a game of skill rather than chance.

New Jersey Online Poker Platforms

New Jersey was one of the first states in the United States to legalize online poker for real money. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed the legislation in 2013, less than a year after the 2012 ruling.

The requirements for any individual to play on a licensed online poker platform include:

Age: Players must be 21 years or older
Location: New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada entered into a compact that went live in 2018 that allows interstate gambling. You must be physically present in one of these states to play online poker for real money in New Jersey.
Verification: Players who sign up for online poker platforms in New Jersey must undergo a thorough verification process to determine if they are qualified to play.

Because New Jersey is one of the earliest states to legalize online gambling platforms, this state offers more poker rooms than most other states, including:

888poker
Borgata
Pala Poker
PartyPoker
PokerStars
playMGM Poker

Players in New Jersey can also play on the Nevada-based poker site, WSOP.com, the primary interstate poker provider.

Delaware Online Poker Platforms

Shortly after New Jersey, Delaware also legalized online poker sites in 2013. Like NJ, players must be 21 years of age or older. Delaware also requires geo-tracking software to confirm your location.

The state currently has three online poker sites where you can play for real money:

Dover Downs
Delaware Park
Harrington Raceway

All the above run on 888Poker software. Like in New Jersey, players in Delaware can also play on WSOP.com.

Nevada Online Poker Platforms

Nevada legalized online poker for real money right around the same time as Delaware and soon became a hub for interstate games, being the home-state of WSOP.com.

Currently, the only other poker platform in the state is Real Gaming. Ultimate Poker was previously also available in Nevada, but the platform failed in 2014.

State player requirements are similar to those in other states, with the minimum player age being 21 and geolocation mandatory, but they also add a few additional provisions:

Player fund transfer is not permitted.
You may only have one account on each poker platform.

Pennsylvania Online Poker Platforms

Pennsylvania was the fourth state in the United States to legalize online poker for real money with legislation taking effect in 2017.

Since Pennsylvania has one of the largest populations in the United States of over 13 million residents, online poker for real money established a massive player base. PokerStars is currently the only active online poker gambling platform in the state.

Pennsylvania has yet to join the interstate gambling compact, and so WSOP.com is not available, but efforts are in the works to change that. Numerous other land-based casinos have also been granted licenses to operate and may open platforms soon, including:

Harrahs Philadelphia
Hollywood Casino
Parx Casino
Rivers Philadelphia
Valley Forge Casino
Wind Creek Casino

Beyond restricting players to in-state games, the player requirements in Pennsylvania are the same as other states. You must be over 21 and allow geo-tracking software.

Michigan and West Virginia Online Poker Platforms

Michigan and West Virginia both legalized online poker for real money in 2019. However, neither state has any licensed operating poker platforms as of June 2020.

Free online poker tournaments for real money

The Stars Group, operator of PokerStars, has already taken steps to obtain a license in Michigan and is a strong contender to be the first option open in the state. West Virginia has yet to finalize its licensing regulations.

What Other States in the US Have Plans to Offer Online Poker for Real Money?

The following states have plans to legalize online gambling platforms. Some even have ongoing legislative reviews about the pros and cons of legalizing online gambling platforms.

California
New York
Massachusetts
Illinois

The Best Online Poker Platforms for Real Money

Now that you know which states you can play in and all the poker platforms available in those states, your next question is likely which should you play on—assuming you have more than one option. The best online poker platforms in the US include:

WSOP.com
888Poker
PokerStars

Let’s take a quick look at each.

WSOP.com

As mentioned, WSOP.com is an interstate provider serving New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada. They are operated by Caesars Interactive Entertainment, a name you likely recognize if you’re familiar with the hotel gaming and gambling industry.

WSOP.com is the largest real-money online poker platform in the United States and is backed by the World Series of Poker. They offer fixed- and pot-limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud, all with Hi/Lo options. There are roughly 50 tournaments daily, some with cash prizes as high as $50,000.

The site regularly offers bonus promotions and also has a generous loyalty point program. You’ll earn points online towards the Action Club Rewards Program for every game you play—win or lose. Points can be redeemed for cash.

888Poker

The second-largest online real-money poker

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