Play Legal Online Poker For Real Money - Best Legal Poker Sites

The legality of online poker in the United States is something that has been kicked around for quite some time but recently was made very clear by the Feds. You can learn more about that on this page plus things like the age to legally play poker, where to play online, plus a few other things you probably have not considered, especially if you're just starting to play. This goal of this page is to inform readers about the current landscape of the game and how it is played online. If you have further questions, we always recommend that you consult professional help as peace of mind is very important in this game.

All poker sites that we address accept U.S. players, and make things easy for them. When it comes to some of the most important facets, including signing up, poker bonuses and depositing into accounts, all is done simply and efficiently. The staff here are LegalOnlineGamblingSites.com have used these poker rooms and you might even find us online at any given time.

Is It Illegal To Play Poker Online?

No, it is not illegal to play poker online in the U.S.A. thanks to the re-interpretation of the Federal Wire Act of 1961 which deemed poker to be a game of skill, not a gamble. When that happened, users and operators of sites no longer had to worry about funds being seized (as long as the UIGEA wasn't violated) which really brought the game back to the limelight. Even after "Black Friday", online poker continues to flourish in the U.S. albeit at different poker rooms than before.

Furthermore, Nevada has actually licensed an online poker site to legally offer games to its residents and visitors. At this very moment, there are 100% legal hands of online poker being played within the state which is pretty exciting considering where the industry came from. Additionally, other states such as New Jersey are already on board with the regulation process and many other states are keeping a close eye on the situation. By the end of the decade (but probably sooner), there could be legal online poker games being played in all 50 U.S. states.

Recommended Poker Rooms That Welcome USA Players

Below, you will see only the best legal poker rooms for players in the United States. The online poker sites listed here accept players from the U.S. and make it very easy to sign up/play. Make deposits safely and efficiently, while also accumulating some of the great bonus offers current found when utilizing these poker rooms. As always, these have great customer service, and are a great option for enthusiasts.

Bovada Poker - One Account Gets Access To Casino Games, Sports / Horse Betting

Bovada Poker is one of the foremost authorities in the online poker site industry that still services the US market. While this site operates offshore, they do restrict players from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Nevada however all other are welcome to join. Play in the daily tournaments, or join a table and begin to play right away after depositing into your account with the following methods: VISA, Wire Transfers, Rapid Transfer.

Bovada is arguably the best online poker site around, gaining a great reputation is just a short existence... but really, Bovada has been here for a long time just under a different name.

Bovada Poker Deposit Bonus: 100% Match On First Deposit To $1,000 In Potential Cash

BetOnline Poker - Lifetime Reload Bonuses; Welcomes Players From All 50 States

One site that has always met our expectations is BetOnline. Furthermore, beyond being a superior example of how an online poker site should be run, it is considered to be legal and it is open to players from all over the United States, no exclusions.

Other technical details are deposits and withdrawals both of which are made simple here. All major forms of credit cards are accepted plus prepaid options, ewallets, wire transfers and just plain sending a check through the mail. Players in the U.S. are a bit limited when it comes to withdrawals but they can have money wired directly into their bank accounts or wait for a check to be sent, usually through the postal service or a courier like FedEx.

BetOnline Poker Deposit Bonus: 15% or 25% Up To $900 On Each Deposit For Life Of Account

Poker Rooms Legal For U.S.	Deposit Bonuses	Avg. Players	Play Poker Now
Bovada Poker - 46 States	$1,000 Max - 100% Match	20,000+	Go To Bovada
BetOnline Poker - 50 States	$1,000 Max - 50% Match	8,000+	Go To BetOnline
Sportsbetting.ag - 50 States	$1,000 Max - 50% Match	8,000+	Go To Sportsbetting

Online Poker Laws

There has been some very good news as far as the legality of online poker goes with the Federal laws that govern online gambling. In late 2011, the U.S. government said that the Wire Act has nothing to do with online poker which essentially meant that it's legal to do as long as you don't violate any other laws... namely the UIGEA which governs deposits. Plus, even with the UIGEA in place, users are affect but not liable for electronically transferring funds to poker rooms rather it is the banks that allow the transactions to go through.

At the end of the day, gambling laws pertaining to online poker do nothing to inhibit the activity, even on the state level where the laws can differ and even forbid the act of playing online. We have more info about gambling laws on this site however to be completely satisfied, we recommend consulting a paid professional as we are only avid poker enthusiasts who hail from all corners of the map that have extensive experience playing online.

What Is The Legal Age To Play Internet Poker?

Check with your local state government on the legal age requirements for online poker, but players are generally accepted when they meet the requirements of the poker site. If players meet both of these age requirements, they will be good to go either way. Age requirements can vary from state to state, so be sure to find out what the minimum age to play poker is where you live... a general rule of thumb is 18.

For those players who are looking to simply play the game of poker online without putting real money on the line, there is no age requirement. There are many poker rooms on the Internet where a player doesn't have to risk money. As such, gambling laws and stipulations would not come into affect with their being no money risked. Though for an account to be created at an online poker site where players can bet real money, the legal age set by the site will most likely have to be met, regardless if the player is just looking to play for free. The site should cover this individually on their requirements.

Checklist For Playing At Legal Poker Sites

Make Sure You Are Accepted - Some Sites Don't Allow Every U.S. State To Sign Up (Bovada)
Will You Get A Bonus? - All Sites Listed Here Have Promos For New And Returning Players
Do They Have The Games You Want? - Poker Isn't Just Texas Hold Em And Other Games Should Be Offered
Can You Play On Your Bankroll? - A Site Should Have Multiple Stake Ranges For All Budgets
How Many Players Play There? - Make Sure A Site Has A Lot Of Players... It Is A Sign Of Trust + Quality

Depositing Into Online Poker Sites

Poker sites will offer several ways in which you can deposit into an account which is customary to find at any real money online gambling website. Major credit cards like VISA, should generally be accepted across the board however some sites do offer deposits via American Express and Mastercard. Additionally, if you have a debit or prepaid card backed by those companies, those generally work too. Other options include bank wires, and wire transfers that can allow players to fund accounts using cash. Other cash options include cashier’s checks and money orders which can be acquired at your bank or even the local convenience store. Not all sites will take the same deposit methods, so it's important to consult the poker room's cashier before making a decision on where to play based off of deposits.

Withdrawals From Online Poker Rooms

Just like it is with depositing into an account, poker sites should and will offer several methods in which you can withdraw from an account. Most every site will offer a check through the mail however other options may be needed. Waiting for a check will take the longest of most payout methods, but has smaller fees attached, if any at all. Other ways to get paid are done electronically through bank wires, or wire transfers which take less time, but fees can vary and may be expensive. For a complete breakdown of fees, payout times and even payment options, one should consult the cashier at the poker site.