1. American Friendly Poker Sites
2. Best Poker Sites In Usa

Best US Online Poker Sites

Although our Overall Comparison of US Poker Sites below our top list would suggest Ignition Poker has maintained its position as our best US poker site, this does not necessarily mean it is the best US poker site for everybody. Players have different playing styles, different motives for playing and different goals. As each site featured on this page has its own pluses and minuses, we shall summarize our list of the best US poker sites sites as follows:

#1 – Ignition Poker – Great for new players as the action at the tables is anonymized so you are protected from more experienced players. Not so great for valuable promotions and high-value tournaments.

There are currently 4 states that offer legal online poker in the United States – New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.Pennsylvania became the latest to join this group when PokerStars went live in the state on Nov. WSOP/888 US is currently the only poker site that shares online poker players between all three legal online poker states (NJ, Nevada & Delaware). Find the best online poker sites that accept US players. These poker rooms all allow U.S. Players and offer poker deposit bonuses, promo codes, and freeroll poker tournaments. Top 10 US Poker Sites: Best legal USA Poker websites for 2019. 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. New Orleans, Louisiana more specifically. The federal law does not prohibit players from the US to register real money online accounts at Poker Sites since the future of online poker regulation is still left in the hands of the state governments. Several Top Online Poker Sites servicing the US market include Intertops Poker, BetOnline, Bovada, Ignition and American Card Room.

The Best Online Poker Sites For US Players. Welcome to USA Friendly Poker Sites - a comprehensive information website about the best poker sites for US Players. On our website, you will find hundreds of pages of information to help you find the best, safest and most trustworthy US poker site. Poker has a long tradition in the US, from boom to bust. There is a new era in real money USA poker games as individual states license and regulate the games. So far, there are four legal states for online poker real money: Nevada, Delaware, Pennsylvania (where sites are about to launch) and New Jersey. Online Poker USA - Real Money Sites Reviewed and Ranked #1 Ignition Poker. Ignition Casino is the hottest site available to Americans. #2 Sportsbetting.ag. Sportsbetting.ag is a leading US-friendly option on the Chico Gaming Network. #3 Bovada Poker. Bovada is an old name that some of the.

#2 – Bovada Poker – Not such a big bonus as Ignition Poker, but it does have an online sports betting portal that Ignition Poker lacks. Otherwise, shares the same pluses and minuses as Ignition Poker.

Those facilities, which do not require any personal deposits to let you feel the gambling atmosphere. In such cases, players do not take any risks; at the same time they get an excellent opportunity to clear the bonus and later withdraw the winnings (keep what you win) to one of the payment systems or bank cards.This section contains only those casinos, which give you money for registration, e.g. Mostly they're equal to $5-$10 depending on the depositing method player chooses. However, many Internet casinos offer new clients a chance to play for real money for free without any deposits.

#3 – BetOnline Poker – Certainly the best for a substantial first deposit bonus cleared at a very attractive rakeback rake. Offers the best mobile software, but little else to get excited about.

#4 – Intertops Poker – Attractive to low stakes players in no hurry to clear their bonus or reap rewards from the VIP Loyalty scheme. Lack of players a concern and no Fast-Fold or Jackpot Poker.

Obviously, there is no reason why you cannot have accounts at more than one US poker site. This would enable you to cherry pick which tournaments and promotions you wanted to take part in, while also giving you the option of one site´s online casino and another site´s sports betting portal. It also gives you the opportunity to take advantage of more than one first deposit bonus and all that free poker money.

About Our Site Guide

Our guide to US poker sites looks beyond the initial headline opportunities and compares other factors you should take into account when deciding which site to play at. We also provide a brief history of online poker in the US to help explain how US online poker got to be where it is at the minute.

Anybody looking at the current choice of options for playing real money online poker in the US could justifiably be very confused. There are dozens of opportunities available for players, but some are location-specific, others won´t accept players from certain jurisdictions, and a few limit the options for getting money into – and out from – an account.

In this guide to US poker sites, we aim compare the pros and cons of each of the major US-facing operators to ultimately determine the best US poker site. To do this, we start with the generally available headline opportunities, and compare the secondary opportunities to arrive with an easy-to-compare conclusion.

Using our own criteria as well as industry reports from sites like USAFriendlyPokerSites.com, we aim to compile an unbiased and detailed approach to showing our users the top sites to play at from the United States. Below you will find our currently listings of recommended websites.

The Headline Opportunities Offered by US Poker Sites

The headline opportunities offered by US poker sites are usually in the form of Welcome Packages. Depending on the site, Welcome Packages can consist of a bonus when you initially fund your account, some form of freeplay, and a free-to-enter poker tournament exclusively for new players. It is important to read the terms and conditions of each offer, because you may find there are time limits for taking advantage of the opportunities, or restrictions on how much you can withdraw if you win.

The popularity of each site and the level of traffic it attracts has to be a consideration

It is also important to take into account when and how you will be able to take advantage of the opportunities on offer. You need other players to play against, so the popularity of each site and the level of traffic it attracts has to be a consideration. So do does the availability of a mobile app if you want to play poker on the go. The following table shows the average levels of traffic for the six US poker sites featured on PokerNewsReport and what they offer in the way of a mobile product.

US Online Poker Bonuses

The six US poker sites recommended by PokerNewsReport all offer players Welcome Packages that include a first deposit bonus. Not only do the amounts of the bonuses differ significantly, but also how they are cleared. For example, the bonuses at Ignition Poker and Bovada Poker are cleared as certain milestones are reached, whereas the other four sites release portions of the bonus incrementally. Further information about clearing a poker bonus follows in the next section.

Other differences between the poker bonuses include the length of time you have to clear them and the effective “rakeback rate” – the amount of money you have to pay in rake or tournament entry fees in order to clear the bonuses. The following table shows the percentage bonuses available, the maximum amount of each bonus (the minimum deposit to qualify for a bonus is $25.00), the number of days you have to clear the bonus and the rakeback rate based on clearing the maximum amount.

⁽¹⁾ Due to the milestone method of releasing bonuses, the rakeback rate is higher the less you deposit.
⁽²⁾ On Bad Beat Tables, part of the rake deduction contributes towards the Bad Beat Jackpot.
⁽³⁾ Approximation due to Intertops Poker distributing points according to the “dealt rake” method.

Clearing a First Deposit Bonus

In order to determine which the best poker bonus is for you, not only do you have to take into account the volume of players, mobile compatibility, the value of the bonus and how long you have to clear it, but also the way in which points are awarded and the rate at which the bonus is released. For example, although most US online poker sites now use the “Contributed Rake” method for distributing players´ points, Intertops uses the “Dealt Rake” method – which will suit you better if you are a tight player.

With bonuses that clear using the “incremental method” (i.e. $10 of the bonus is released when you collect x player points), the rate at which the bonus is released is pretty easy to understand. However, the “milestone method” used by Ignition Poker and Bovada Poker is a little more complicated, as increments of your bonus are released in ever-increasing milestones. The table below helps illustrate this better, and more information can be found in our Ignition Poker and Bovada Poker reviews.

Poker Bonus Comparison Chart

Based on what has been discussed so far in our overview of US friendly poker sites, we have compiled an Overall Rating for the Welcome Packages offered by our six featured sites. Points have been awarded according to relative volumes of traffic, mobile compatibility, and the first deposit bonus – taking into account areas such as the value, length of time to clear and rakeback rate. The “Other” figure relates toadditional extras included by the sites in their Welcome Packages.

Although first deposit bonuses can significantly benefit your bankroll, the amount of the bonus should not be the only thing you take into account when selecting which USA online poker sites to play at. The secondary opportunities described in the next section can be equally as valuable as first deposit bonuses (if not more so). Therefore, although BetOnline Poker may appear to be head and shoulders above the competition at this stage, read on to see if it maintains its position as best US poker site.

⁽¹⁾ Ignition Poker and Bovada Poker only include the first deposit bonus in their Welcome Packages
⁽²⁾ Both Black Chip Poker and BetOnline Poker offer first depositor freerolls – BetOnline´s having the higher value.
⁽³⁾ Intertops Poker offers new players 100 free spins on its casino game of the week.

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The Secondary Opportunities Offered by US Poker Networks

Whereas the headline opportunities offered by US poker sites are generally short-term, the secondary opportunities are those we consider to be long-term. These include the choice of games offered by different US poker networks, the events and promotions each network hosts, and their VIP loyalty programs. Together these can add up to contribute a significant amount to your bankroll – or not.

Games Offered by US Facing Poker Networks

When looking at the games offered by US poker networks, what catches our eye is innovation and whether or not unusual formats of poker are gaining any traction at the tables. For example, Americas Cardroom´s Sit & Go 2.0 games are extremely innovative and popular. However, we have never seen anybody playing the BetOnline Poker´s 6-Max Americana or 32 Card Draw cash games.

All six of our featured US poker sites host cash games of Texas Hold´em and Omaha. At Americas Cardroom, Black Chip Poker and BetOnline you will also find active Stud Poker communities. Unfortunately the more unusual games of Americana, 32 Card Draw (and Telesina at Intertops Poker) appear to be novelties nobody wants to investigate. Other games offered by US poker networks include:

⁽¹³⁾ Ranked by value and number.
⁽¹⁴⁾ Ranked by variety and popularity.
⁽¹⁵⁾ Ranked by stakes and popularity.
⁽¹⁶⁾ Ranked by maximum multiplier of buy-in.

Comparison of Events and Promotions

Every US online poker site hosts special events and promotions. These vary considerably and can range from million dollar guaranteed online tournaments to free-to-enter freeroll tournaments. Seasonal events can also influence US poker site promotions. For example, you will often find special reload bonuses coinciding with the Super Bowl, Independence Day or flagship tournament series.

Being able to benefit from some of the promotions may mean spending a long time at the tables. For example, three of our featured sites host weekly leaderboard competitions in which the more you play, the more you are likely to win. Other promotions may include qualifiers for live poker events or massive cash prizes for being in the right place at the right time when a Bad Beat Jackpot (BBJ) is won.

⁽¹⁷⁾ Ranked by frequency and value.
⁽¹⁸⁾ Ranked by frequency and value.
⁽¹⁹⁾ Ranked by opportunities for low stakes players to benefit.
⁽²⁰⁾ Ranked by prize value and distribution of prize money.

Comparison of VIP Loyalty Programs

Regardless of whether you are a high-volume player or someone who plays online poker from time-to-time for a little recreation, VIP Loyalty programs can make a significant difference to your bankroll. Naturally the more you play, the more you will collect player points and be eligible for higher value rewards. However, not all sites offer the same level of rewards or flexibility of exchange. For example:

• The VIP Loyalty programs at Ignition Poker and Bovada Poker only give you access to freeroll tournaments and additional reload bonuses. There is no cash exchange.
• The VIP Loyalty programs at Americas Cardroom and Black Chip Poker include points-for-cash exchanges, milestone awards and higher level multipliers.
• The VIP Loyalty program at BetOnline is extremely modest inasmuch as the only things you can use player points for is to enter selected MTTs and Sit & Go games.
• The VIP Loyalty program at Intertops Poker is extremely versatile and allows you to exchange your points for cash, goodies from the online store or no deposit bonuses.

It is worth noting that each US poker site also has an online casino. Ignition Poker, Bovada Poker and BetOnline Poker run separate VIP Loyalty schemes for action in the casino, whereas Americas Cardroom, Black Chip Poker and Intertops Poker combine the two. This may be a consideration if you enjoy a spin of the reels; but, based on poker action alone, this how we rank each site´s VIP Loyalty program:

The History of Online Poker in the US

Although a number of text-based poker games were developed throughout the 1990s (IRC Poker being the most famous), the first real-money hand of online poker was dealt by Planet Poker in January 1998. Within a few years, many more operators saw the potential for online poker in the US and the volume of US poker sites increased substantially.

Paradise Poker – the second site to launch – took advantage of Google´s pay-to-click advertising to temporarily become the most popular destination for online poker in the US; but, as Ultimate Bet, Party Poker and PokerStars launched, innovations such as first deposit bonuses attracted players away from the US poker sites that had been first to market.

The introduction of online poker tournaments saw Party Poker become the largest US poker site. The site´s rise to the #1 position was helped by the Party Poker Million in 2002 being the first major live poker tournament to have online qualifiers. The following year, Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP Main Event after qualifying online at PokerStars, and the “online poker boom” was born.

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The Online Poker Boom 2003-2011

The “boom” is regarded by many as the Golden Years of Online Poker in the US and, from 2003 until 2011, US poker sites thrived. Although there had been a growing interest in the game due to action recorded at the World Poker Tour being broadcast on cable TV, the “Moneymaker Effect” inspired millions of people to start playing online poker in the US.

According to the research site Statistica, more than 20 million people played online poker in the US by Spring 2008 despite the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) two years earlier. UIGEA resulted in many operators including Party Poker leaving the US market. The void was filled by PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, who dueled for the #1 position over the next five years.

The boom came to an abrupt end on 15th April 2011 when the US Department of Justice unsealed an indictment against PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker for violations of UIGEA. The dot.com domains of the three operators were seized and, although players from the rest of the world were subsequently allowed back onto the sites, US-based players were banned from real money games.

Best Poker Sites In Usa

The Post-Boom Years 2011-Present

The post boom years of online poker in the US have been as much shaped by events in the rest of the world as by domestic events. Although the DOJ´s opinion on the Wire Act (saying that it only applied to sports betting) opened the door for individual states to license Internet poker sites, progress towards a regulated environment has been painfully slow.

By comparison, regulation across Europe and in other areas of the world has been relatively frenetic. Where regulation resulted in online poker players being ring-fenced within a national market, the lack of liquidity and limited opportunities drove many “Rest of the World” players towards US-facing networks – further increasing their levels of traffic and enabling them to host more valuable promotions.

The valuable promotions led to players from “open jurisdictions” being attracted to better first deposit bonuses than they could find on the .com platforms and tournaments with life-changing prize money. This has resulted in an inaccurate perception of how many US-based players are actually playing on US poker sites, as a large proportion of the sites´ databases originates from outside the US.

Outages, Scandals and Other Issues

The early days of online poker in the US were not without their problems. Planet Poker´s ropey software and inadequate backend resulted in multiple outages and a security incident in which hackers breached the site´s servers and were able to see community cards in advance. It was also a time when players were subject to poor connections due to dial-up Internet access.

During a period known as the “Wild West of Internet Poker” sites launched and disappeared overnight. Some were simply unable to remain financially viable due to loss-leading promotions. Others suffered from poor management or fraud. In many cases players´ had their funds returned, but not all. Indeed some are still waiting for their funds to be returned from the closure of Absolute Poker in 2011.

However, outages, scandals and other issues were not exclusive to the early days of online poker in the US. During the boom years, players at Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet had been victims of insider cheating, while Black Friday exposed the massive mismanagement of player funds at Full Tilt Poker. Unfortunately, these were not the end of the issues affecting online poker in the US.

Other Dead and Rogue Sites

Since 2011, a number of US facing poker sites have gone out of business due to being unable to compete, poor management or fraud. Some names will be familiar to players, others not so familiar:

• Cake Poker – Cake Poker launched in the height of the online poker boom and, for a while, was one of the leading US poker sites. The site closed in 2016 after encountering payment processing issues, with players and their balances transferred to other sites on the Horizon Poker Network.
• Everleaf Gaming – In February 2012, the US Dept. of Homeland Security seized the funds of a payment processor for the Everleaf Gaming Network. The Network never recovered and closed the following year, with two former executives subsequently arrested for the misappropriation of players´ funds.
• Full Flush Poker – Full Flush Poker was the flagship skin on the Equity Poker Network – a network that set out to change the way networks operate by implementing a co-operative model. Unfortunately the co-operative model was mismanaged and the site disappear in 2016 with players´ balances.
• Live Ace Poker – Live Ace Poker was a subscription-only network serving thirty-one states in the US. Players could only use their winnings to bid in auctions and, due to the limited opportunities to bid on anything worthwhile, the site closed in December 2013 after only four months of operation.
• Lock Poker – Lock Poker is the most notorious rogue site in the history of online poker in the US. After initially looking like a legitimate site, outrageous promotions were offered to attract deposits that would then be used to pay withdrawals. The site disappeared in 2014 owing players more than $1 million.
• World Poker Exchange – The World Poker Exchange was a poker room operated by the long-standing World Sports Exchange until 2012; when, unable to control unprecedented levels of collusion, the site closed. Players were never paid and the sports book subsequently closed the following year.

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