The legality of online poker in the United States varies according to your jurisdiction. Contrary to what some sources might have you believe, no federal law specifically forbids online poker. State laws, on the other hand, might or might not, depending on the state. Only one state (Washington) has a specific law explicitly forbidding online poker, while only Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey have legalized and regulated it.

Our goal is to provide the facts about where you can play poker online legally in the United States. You should know up front that our site isn't run by lawyers or anyone with any kind of governmental authority. If you need actual legal advice, you should contact an attorney. The information provided here is for educational and entertainment purposes only. We're not responsible for anything that happens based on your use of the information here.

Because of this game’s popularity, you will have no problem playing and trying for a chance to win real money video poker online in the United States. As a matter of fact, you won’t run into trouble finding this game anywhere. You will always be able to play video poker for money online, no matter where you go. While each jurisdiction is different, the short answer for most of the country is “Yes,” it’s OK to play poker online for real money in the USA. There exist no federal rules. Yes, where online poker card rooms are allowed by law you can play poker online. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of playing online poker for money in USA but the most important thing is to find a legal site. That way, you can be guaranteed responsible gaming from top casino software developers. Depending on which state you live in, there may be different laws about sports betting or playing casino games. However, no one in the USA has ever been prosecuted from playing real money online poker at safe sites like the ones we recommend.

That being said, the information here is accurate and reliable to the best of our knowledge.

Washington State

Online poker rooms and online gambling sites are clamoring for state licenses, and the US online gambling landscape is going through a major change. For a select few Americans, online poker is here already. Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware are leading the United States into the billion-dollar-a-year industry, and many more states are looking to get into the game in the very near future. By the end of 2015, as many as a dozen states could allow their residents to play on legal online poker.

We thought it would be a good idea to get this out of the way right away. It is illegal to play poker online for money in the state of Washington.

The state of Washington passed a law in 2006 making online poker a felony. Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars responded by no longer offering services to residents of that state, but they continued to operate in the rest of the country. If you live in the state of Washington, it's a crime to play poker online for money. In fact, it's a serious crime. Our advice to poker players in Washington state is to not play poker on the Internet.

We don't know why the state of Washington has taken such a draconian stance against Internet poker, but if you live there, it's probably best not to play, even if you can find a site which would accept you as a player.

Games of Skill vs. Games of Chance

The amount of controversy surrounding whether or not it's legal to play poker on the Internet in the United States is strange, especially in light of the similarities between the game and the free market system, which is one of the cornerstones of the American way of life. Poker is even commonly called 'America's card game.' Expert players consider it a mind sport. Even the general public considers poker a sport; that's why it's the subject of televised events on ESPN, a TV channel that specializes in sports programming and reporting.

In August, 2012, Judge Jack B. Weinstein, a federal judge in Brooklyn, ruled that poker is predominantly a game of skill rather than chance. The reasoning is that the money doesn't flow to the luckiest players at the table, at least not in the long run. In the end, the most skilled players win the most money. The skills used in poker include reading other players, concealing your own intentions, and evaluating the odds that your hand is the best.

According to Judge Weinstein, 'The most skillful professionals earn the same celestial salaries as professional ballplayers.'

Of course, this doesn't mean that playing poker doesn't constitute gambling, at least not colloquially. What makes a game 'gambling' is the activity of betting money. Skill becomes a consideration from a legal standpoint, though. In many jurisdictions, contests of skill are treated dramatically different from games of pure chance.

You might be the best poker player in the world, but on any given hand, you face an element of risk. The same holds true for other bettors who use skill to get an edge. Blackjack card counters, expert video poker players, and skilled sports handicappers all sometimes lose.

The Interstate Wire Act of 1961

Does the Wire Act make online poker illegal?
The Interstate Wire Act of 1961, sometimes called 'the Federal Wire Act', was passed in September, 1961 in an attempt to thwart organized crime.

In 2005, the Justice Department sent threatening letters to Internet publishers and broadcasting companies, including Google, Yahoo, and Infinity Broadcasting. Their contention was that accepting advertising from companies involved in online gambling was 'aiding and abetting' illegal activities. They used the Interstate Wire Act as justification for this.

In December, 2011, The Justice Department reversed their position, stating that the Interstate Wire Act of 1961 only applies to sports betting, not to poker.

So the short answer, until the Supreme Court rules otherwise, is no, the Wire Act does not make online poker illegal.

Can You Play Poker For Money Online In The Us

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006

Does UIGEA make online poker illegal?
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) was passed as part of the Safe Ports act. The law made it a federal crime to accept payments connected with illegal Internet gambling. It did not define 'illegal Internet gambling', and since the Wire Act only applied to sports betting, no federal law makes it illegal to play poker on the Internet for money.

So the short answer again is no, UIGEA does not make online poker illegal unless state laws make it illegal (which they seem to do in the vast majority of the states).

As a practical matter, though, UIGEA has made life harder for online rounders. Some companies, including Pacific Poker, Paradise Poker, and Party Poker, stopped accepting real money players from the United States. Other companies, including Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, and the Cereus Poker network, continued to accept players from the United States. Eventually, even those companies had to capitulate to the prevailing anti-gambling sentiment from the current U.S. governmental regime.

Black Friday

Did the events of Black Friday make online poker illegal?
In 2011, an estimated 2 million Americans played online poker for money on a regular basis. On Friday, April 15, 2011, The Justice Department eliminated most of this play when it shut down the three most trafficked poker sites (Pokerstars, Full Tilt Poker, and the Cereus Network) with charges of money laundering and fraud. The US government contended that the companies had violated UIGEA, but the poker companies operated under the understanding that online poker wasn't illegal and therefore didn't constitute a violation of the act.

The Department of Justice not only seized control of the websites for the three companies, they also froze the assets in 76 bank accounts in 14 countries. Both civil and criminal charges were filed. In July, 2012, the U.S. government dismissed 'with prejudice' the civil complaints, but not the criminal indictments. PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker settled without admitting wrongdoing. As part of the settlement, PokerStars bought Full Tilt Poker.

No, the events of Black Friday didn't make online poker illegal, but they had a chilling effect on the actual play. The industry still hasn't recovered, but there are reasons to be optimistic.

The Poker Player's Alliance

The Poker Player's Alliance (PPA) was founded in Washington D.C. in 2005 as a non-profit political advocacy group to protect the rights of poker players in the US. Their goals include overturning UIGEA and passing legislation legalizing and regulating poker on the Internet. From their about us page, their mission is as follows: 'The PPA's mission is to establish favorable laws that provide poker players with a secure, safe and regulated place to play.'

Multiple bills have been proposed in Congress to amend UIGEA with an exception for online poker and other skill games but none have passed. We encourage the civic-minded members of our readership to visit their site, consider donating, or use their other resources to write to the lawmakers who represent them in the government. If it is the will of the people, safe and regulated online poker can become a reality sooner rather than later.

Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey

Three states, Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey, have passed laws explicitly legalizing and regulating online gambling.

Delaware taxes the first $3.75 million of online gambling revenue in a year at 100%, which means that casinos need to generate a tremendous amount of activity to earn any money from online gambling activities. To legally gamble online in Delaware, a player must be of gambling age and operate their computer (or smartphone/table) within the state. The online poker market there is correspondingly small as a result, but state officials are confident that revenues from online gambling will grow as it catches on there.

Nevada has legalized online poker for two sites: UltimatePoker.com and WSOP.com. These two sites have exclusive rights to run online gambling in the state. As in Delaware, players must be of legal gambling age and operate their computer within the state. Nevada taxes online gambling revenues at the same rate (6.75%) as all other gaming revenue.

Websites offering online gambling in New Jersey are required to have a relationship with a physical casino within the state. They tax this revenue at 15% (compared to the 8% they tax their physical casinos). All gambling activities, including poker, are legal within this context, but revenues have been lower than expected. This disappointment is, at least in part, a result of credit card companies' lack of cooperation in processing these transactions.

These are not the only states where it's legal to play poker. They're just the only states to have laws on the books specifically legalizing the activity and regulating it. In the United States, an activity is legal unless a law prohibits it, so the lack of laws on the books in some states does not equate to the committing of a crime. At least nine other states have proposals to legalize and regulate poker on the Internet.

Can You Legally Play Poker for Money on the Internet in the US?

State laws vary. If you live in the state of Washington, playing poker online for money is a felony. In most cases, general state gambling laws make online poker illegal as well. To our knowledge, no one in the United States has been indicted or convicted of a crime related to playing online poker for money so far. This, of course, might change in the blink of an eye. We recommend that you only participate in online poker if it's legal where you live.

Online poker has been legal in several states for a few years now, offering players the opportunity to take part in exciting cash games and tournaments. There are loads of thrilling events to enjoy and generous bonuses to take advantage of, all while playing at a secure and trustworthy online gaming destination.

Where Is Real Money Poker Legal in America?

If you’d like to play real money poker online legally, there are a few states in which this is possible. When you are located in these areas, you’ll be able to log on to several sites that offer up various cash games and tournaments:

• Delaware
• New Jersey
• Nevada
• Pennsylvania

When playing poker from any of these states, there are a few important considerations to make. Firstly, you must be able to prove that you are of the legal gambling age in that state. All of the above areas have a legal gambling age of 21, and you have to submit identifying documents to verify that you can legally take part in online poker games.

There is also the issue of geolocation technology, which all legal American poker sites have to use in order to maintain their licenses. Even if you’re a resident of a legal poker state and are out of town, you cannot play poker games online. This technology is incredibly sophisticated, and it will know if you are located elsewhere.

Legal Online Poker Cash Games and Tournaments

When it comes to playing in cash games at legal online poker sites, you’ll be able to take part in No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha games. It might be a little disappointing that you can’t play more niche titles like Razz or Seven Card Stud, but it’s not the end of the world. NLHE and PLO are the most popular poker variants, and you’ll be able to find plenty of juicy games to join.

The prizes available in legal online poker tournaments are a bit smaller than those available at offshore websites, but there are still some pretty generous payouts available. In New Jersey, prize pools have reached heights of over $100,000, and as interstate online poker becomes more popular, payouts are sure to skyrocket as well.

There is also the opportunity for players in regulated poker markets to earn entry into prestigious in-person tournaments. The World Series of Poker’s online portal operates in several states, and there are plenty of chances for players to take part in satellites that earn them entry into the WSOP Main Event and other lucrative side events.

Claiming Bonuses at Legal Poker Rooms

One of the great things about playing at legal online poker rooms in America is that you’ll have access to just about all of the same promotions that you’d find at offshore sites. Operators are keen to reward their players using various incentives, such as tournament tickets, rakeback and bonus cash.

Play Online Poker For Real Money

Each of these promotions offers you a unique way to boost your bankroll and provide a little bit extra enjoyment to your online poker experience. In OnlinePokerAmerica’s real money guide, you can find out about the best bonuses available to you at legal American poker sites.

Deposit bonuses are fantastic if you’re a regular player who funds their account weekly, and it helps to join a loyalty program so you can earn cashback and rakeback. If you’re more of a casual player, there are plenty of freeroll promotions on offer that allow you to enter into tournaments and vie for smaller prizes without having to buy in.

The Wire Act’s Potential Effect on Legal USA Poker Sites

While everything seems to be all well and good at legal online poker sites in America, the Wire Act could disrupt things. The Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel has recently updated its interpretation of the Wire Act, which could mean that even legal online poker sites will be blocked from processing player deposits and withdrawals.

In preparation for this, it is recommended that players look into other banking options aside from credit cards, debit cards and bank transfers. E-wallets and prepaid cards are useful options, as there is no direct line from gaming operators to banking providers. PayPal is the most popular option but, since the service left the American poker market after Black Friday once already and only recently returned, it may not be a sure bet.

Neteller and Skrill are the most popular e-wallet providers for online poker players around the world. Both services operate in nearly the exact same way as PayPal, as they are linked to your bank account. When you want to make a transaction with an online poker site, you only have to enter your e-wallet details. The e-wallet then acts as a middle-man that pulls the money from your bank account or credit card and funds your online poker account.

Prepaid cards are another convenient option. These can be purchased online or at brick-and-mortar retailers. Each one has a specific cash value and, you can load the value of the card into your online poker account. All you have to do is enter the unique number that has been allocated to your card, along with the secret PIN that can be found by scratching off the back of the card.

Can You Play Poker For Money Online In The Us

Cryptocurrency may also see its time to shine. Offering anonymous and decentralized banking, cryptocurrencies like bitcoin offer online poker fans the ability to make deposits and withdrawals safely and security without scrutiny from banking authorities. With changes to the Wire Act looming, now would be a good time to invest if you’re a poker player.