The best international poker sites are those that have a large worldwide player base, are financially secure, licensed and regulated. No matter what country you live in it is important that the poker site that you choose has support and language features in your home language. A Quick Overview of The Best Poker Sites. Looking for the best online poker sites for 2020? Offering anything from top-notch bonuses to special features, check out our list of the best real money.

1. Top 20 Uk Poker Sites 2017
2. Top 20 Uk Poker Sites For Sale
3. Online Poker Uk

If you are based in the USA, and you’ve given thought to playing poker online, then you’ll have been met with a brick wall. Unless you happen to reside in a handful of US states, it’s likely that you will have been told that playing poker online the USA is a no-go.

That’s not entirely true, though. There may be a brick wall blocking your path, but that doesn’t mean that this is the only way to get to your destination.

In fact, many hundreds of thousands of Americans find a way to play poker online each year.

Top US Poker Sites for January 2020

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The Big Question: Can I Play Online Poker in the USA?

Contents

• US Poker Laws, Rules and Regulations

Online poker wasn’t always taboo in the USA. In fact, it wasn’t until the passing of the UIGEA in 2006 put paid to the US online gambling industry that poker was effectively illegal. Sure, the Federal Wire Act prohibited bank transfers for gambling enterprises, but by and large, all forms of gambling in the country weren’t declared off-limits until 2006.

Even with those gambling laws, players in the USA continued to gamble at online poker sites. In 2011, though, with the Black Friday Scandal linked to PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and other leading poker rooms (which were found guilty of money laundering, amongst other charges) places to play online poker in the USA have been somewhat limited.

It is a tricky spot to be in, but where does that put your average US online poker today?

US Poker Laws, Rules and Regulations

Fortunately, the US Government decided to dial down the heat on online betting a notch a couple of years ago. They effectively gave each US state the right to decide its own online gambling laws (within reason) and this something that several US states have jumped on.

For instance, players based in New Jersey, and Nevada should have relatively few issues playing poker online, as it is legal in those states – under certain circumstances.

These poker sites have far less traffic than your major international poker domains because there is a smaller pool of players playing there. However, these are fully regulated and legal US poker sites, so, if you’re based in

New Jersey or Nevada (or another state where gambling online is considered legal) this is the ideal way to go.

Of course, not every state has legalised gambling online (most haven’t) so bona fide regulated online poker rooms aren’t going to happen for most Americans. You could always decide to play at an offshore poker room, though.

An offshore poker room ideal for American online poker players can best be described as:

• A poker room which is based outside of the USA
• One which openly accepts US players
• Offers the US dollar currency and the English language
• Will also offer US support and customer service (often toll-free)
• Provides American players with payment methods ideal for them

Offshore poker rooms may not be 100% legal in the USA, but in many cases, they are considered regulated and legal sites outside of the country. You are still going to want to do your background checking on an offshore poker room, though, and the first thing you’re going to want to do is to make sure that it is licensed.

Obviously, when compared to UK poker laws, and those in operation in most EU countries, the US poker laws are unduly harsh on players. UK players are, by and large, allowed to play at virtually any poker site (including offshore rooms) with an ample number of UK licensed poker sites out there, too, since online poker is legal in the country.

US Poker Licence Authorities

Firstly, there is no such thing as a “poker license”. What you actually have are gambling licenses. In theory, any major gambling jurisdiction outside of the USA which issues licenses is effectively an offshore casino. Some of the larger offshore licensing jurisdictions include the UK Gambling Commission, Malta and Gibraltar. However, the problem with these licensing jurisdictions is that they know that US players are prohibited, so they seldom offer them to offshore sites focusing on players from the USA.

The licensing jurisdictions of Costa Rica, Panama and Curacao are far less picky. For that reason, many of the poker sites which accept US players tend to be licensed out of these jurisdictions. Make no mistake about it, they are not as well regulated as the European ones, but they are still (by and large) safe and secure places to play poker online.

Not all poker licenses are delivered via offshore licensing jurisdictions. In fact, Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware and other US states which have decided to permit online gambling in some way, shape or form have also decided to issue their own gambling licenses. To that end, it is not uncommon to find poker rooms in those states licensed by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission or Nevada Gaming Control Board. These, as you can imagine, are totally regulated and represent the safest places to play poker online for US players.

US Tax Policy

Generally, US states have imposed taxes for any gambling games, even though they vary from one state to the other. Keeping records of all transactions should help you immensely.

Popular Poker Games in the USA

Even though the rules regarding US online poker gaming are much harsher than elsewhere in the world, those US players who do decide to gamble online won’t be any worse off in terms of games.

The licensing and regulated US poker rooms out of New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware have the usual array of games, such as:

• Texas Hold ‘em
• Omaha
• Stud and Draw Poker

If you venture out to offshore poker rooms, you will find an even larger selection of poker variants, although these may be unfamiliar to many US poker players.

The online poker rooms in Nevada do tend to offer tournaments which act as satellites to the WSOP (World Series of Poker) competition. Similarly, a handful of Nevada and Delaware poker sites may also be able to provide you with access to these competitions if you win satellites. However, offshore poker rooms seldom offer this. There are plenty of other Sit & Go tournaments, for you to play, though.

It is more challenging for US players to be able to play live dealer and mobile games than their European counterparts. Most US poker rooms are offshore sites, and thus these seldom offer live dealer software, or mobile gameplay.

However, those poker which are licensed in US states should be able to offer you both live dealer and mobile games without too much hassle.

Have a look at Online Poker America’s US section where you can find listing of poker rooms that you might not find it here.

Top 20 Uk Poker Sites 2017

Online Poker US Promos and Bonuses

There should be no issues in terms of collecting bonuses and promotions when playing at US poker sites. The legal ones tend to offer their own bonuses and promos, and admittedly, these are worth far less in value than at offshore poker sites, but there are still welcome bonuses, rake backs, deposit deals and tournaments for you to enjoy. Keep in mind that if you claim a bonus from an offshore poker room when playing poker in the USA, the bonuses are likely to be vast in size, have considerable wagering requirements, and require a promotional bonus code for you to claim them.

Depositing/Withdrawing Options Available To US Players

Players in the US will experience difficulty deposit and withdrawing at US poker sites. That is unavoidable. Whilst the Federal Wire Act issue no longer ties the hands of banks and payment methods to permit players to deposit at US poker rooms, few major banking providers are prepared to dive into a market which is still, by and large, illegal in most US states.

US players can deposit using credit cards, and a handful of wire transfer options, but e-wallets aren’t really on the cards right now. Withdrawals can be a bit of nightmare, too. Many US poker sites charge hefty fees for withdrawals, and the wire transfer/cheque options just aren’t good enough for speedy withdrawals. However, this is again a problem that players at New Jersey, Nevada or Delaware licensed poker rooms aren’t going to have, There are also some sites offering bitcoins, a popular cryptocurrency which also helps players get round depoist/withdrawal issues.

The Future of Online Poker in the USA

When the walls regarding online gambling came down at a federal level, there was light at the end of the tunnel. To date, Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey have fully legalised online poker rooms which are licensed out of their states, and a handful of other states (particularly on the Eastern seaboard) are considering similar laws.

One of the main reasons they might do this is the tax. There is a significant amount of revenue to be raised from gambling at poker rooms. Operators must be license fees to the state’s gambling commission, the poker rooms and operators must also pay tax on revenue, and then there is the issue of taxable player winnings. This is a considerable cash cow, and many states are not going to want to miss out on a slice of the pie.

The US has tried (and failed) to blockade offshore poker rooms but to no avail. VPNs, proxies and other means of accessing offshore poker sites have proven popular. In a losing battle, if you can’t beat them, joining them seems to be the next logical step. Of course, we’re a long way from seeing online poker legalised in most US states, and there is unlikely to ever be a federal law which permits gambling at online poker rooms. Gradually, though, the wheels of change are turning.

My Final Thoughts

Yes, playing online poker in the US is a challenge, but it is not an impossible one. Provided they are either living in one of the 3 states to offer licensed poker rooms, or they venture out to an offshore poker room, US players shouldn’t have too much difficult finding games and playing poker online. There are countries who have it better, but there are many which make it far more difficult for their nationals to play poker online.

FAQs On US Online Poker You May Like To Know

The UIGEA was a bill passed way back in 2006 that is called the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. This was a questionable bill passed by President Bush and it leaves the law to be interpreted by online poker players. It’s amazing that it took five years for the government to shut down the major United States poker sites after passing this bill. Online poker in the United States has been crushed since Black Friday, but when it rebounds it will do so in a big way.

Top 20 Uk Poker Sites For Sale

Absolutely. Whilst online poker as a gambling game is technically illegal in 47 out of the 50 states (this number may be changing), playing for free online is totally legal, and it doesn’t constitute gambling. There are numerous sites which can help you out in this department, too.

There are 9 states in total which are drafting bills or have voted on them. These are Mississippi, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Hawaii, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California and New Hampshire.

Nothing will happen. The US does hunt down operators who offer their services to US players (and does only a so-so job at that) but there are no punishments in store for players betting illegally at poker sites. You may have a spot of trouble when it comes to your winnings, though. If you win a lot and don’t declare it as taxable income, that can cause you problems.

In theory, yes. There are somethings worth mentioning here, though. If you make a flying visit to a casino resort in Nevada, you can play poker online, but only at the casino resort’s webpage, and only whilst on the premises. Once you leave, this becomes impossible. If you are going to be visiting Las Vegas, though, why play poker online when there are perfectly good poker tables downstairs for you to enjoy?

You can’t sign up to a standard Nevada or New Jersey poker room just by flying over the border for a night. You need to be able to prove that you reside in the state long-term. So, this is a bit of a yes and no answer, really.

Online Poker Uk

United Kingdom online poker overview

The UnitedKingdom is readily recognized as one of the most, if not the most, online poker-friendly countries in the world.

No consumer taxes, permissive regulations, and strong modern gambling traditions have shaped it into a European iGaming enthusiast’s dream. UK citizens don’t have to deal with the legal ambiguities and country restrictions that seem to plague the global poker scene these days, nor do they have to use VPNs to play on unregulated offshore poker sites. Most importantly, they don’t have to settle for second-class networks when picking poker platforms.

The only negative aspect of the UK’s legal situation is that the majority of quintessentially British gambling businesses, such as Ladbrokes, Bet365, and WilliamHill, moved their headquarters offshore. However, this is not at all surprising, considering how uncompetitive the UK’s tax system is when compared to the likes of Gibraltar or Isle of Man.

United Kingdom online poker laws

Two important, 21st-century legal documents outlined regulations pertaining specifically to online poker. The first was the Gambling Act of 2005, which essentially guaranteed players the freedoms they were already enjoying at the time. It explicitly allowed UK-based players to play on poker platforms of their own choosing, outlawed cheating, and transferred licensing authority to local regulatory bodies.

The second was the 2014 Gambling Bill, which reintroduced licenses for offshore gambling sites looking to offer services to UK residents. Keep in mind this bill did not fence-off the UK gambling market. It simply imposed a point-of-consumption tax on UK-facing operators. As hard as it is to believe, the UK didn’t have any regulations mandating poker sites pay relevant operator-side taxes. On the contrary, the British regulators were counting on sites to pay their dues voluntarily.

What is or is not legal in the United Kingdom?

UK residents have had legal access to all the poker variants available online since the earliest days of the industry. Cash games? Check. Sit & Go tournaments? Check. Multi-table tournaments? You bet. Everything was available right from the get-go. As mentioned above, UK legislators have never made any serious attempts at changing this.

The United Kingdom and poker-related taxes

UK-based players haven’t had to pay any consumer taxes on online poker throughout the poker boom, an era which started back when Chris Moneymaker won his WSOP bracelet in 2003. What’s more, players don’t have to pay them to this day. This is due to the fact that in 2002, the Labour government got rid of consumer taxes on all forms of gambling in an attempt to encourage local iGaming enthusiasts to play on local sites.

Where can I play poker online in the United Kingdom?

PokerStars

PokerStars is the unquestionable king of the online poker world. This site is so popular that it accounts for more than a half of the global online poker traffic. If that isn’t enough, the bonuses available are among the best in the industry. If you’re going to play on one site only, PokerStars should probably be it.

Furthermore, this site can afford to provide its customers with access to more poker variants than any other poker rooms. This is due to its huge player pool, which makes it possible to sustain variants like Omaha and even Stud for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Players at PokerStars will enjoy cash games with stakes ranging from the micros to the high-limits. It also boasts a huge variety of multi-table and single-table tournaments and some of the best satellites in the industry. No other poker room even comes close.

PokerStars’ daughter sites include:

• PokerStars Europe (formerly PokerStars.fr and PokerStars.es)
• PokerStars.it
• PokerStars.pt

888poker

888poker is the second-largest UK-facing online poker room. The player pool is about seven times smaller than PokerStars’, but many people still prefer the former due to its significantly softer games. If you’re planning to hunt some fish at the micros, this is the right place to go.

Now, most 888poker regulars focus exclusively on low-limit hold’em, but you’re guaranteed to find a few Omaha tables running during peak-traffic hours. What’s more, 888 offers a surprisingly robust tournament lineup with plenty of big events scheduled on the weekends. Still, the prize pools tend to be significantly smaller than on PokerStars.

888poker has two sister sites: one in Spain and one in New Jersey.

Party Poker

Then, Party Poker markets itself as the most newbie-friendly online poker room on the web. This isn’t far from the truth. Its traffic is slightly lower than on 888poker, but the difference isn’t all that noticeable. The welcome package is pretty mediocre by industry standards, but the rakeback program is absolutely amazing.

This third site is all about low-stake Hold’em and casual, multi-table tournaments with surprisingly high prize pools. If you’re looking for a good place to chill after a tough session on PokerStars, this site is guaranteed to deliver.

Party Poker is also available in New Jersey, Spain, and France.

iPoker

iPoker overview

The names Ladbrokes, William Hill, Coral, and even Bet365 should ring a bell among British sports bettors. They belong to companies that have been operating in the UK’s land-based sports-betting market for decades. Among younger poker fans, they are probably better known as some of the best sites on the iPoker network.

The iPoker network is all about low- and micro-stakes Texas Hold’em and Omaha action. Whether you’re looking for 24/7 cash games, Turbo Sit & Go’s, or daily multi-table tournaments, iPoker fits the bill.

Certain iPoker skins are also available in Spain, Italy, and France.

Where can I play poker live in the United Kingdom?

With 578 poker tables spread across 78 rooms located all over the country, the United Kingdom is a perfect place for people who enjoy physically playing poker. It’s also a major tournament hot-spot, with major events scheduled on a weekly basis. Below, find a short list of UK brick-and-mortar poker rooms worth visiting:

• Dusk Till Dawn (Redfield Way, Boulevard Retail Park, Lenton, Nottingham, NG7 2UW)
• The Vic (150-162 Edgware Rd, London W2 2DT)
• The Hippodrome (Cranbourn St, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7JH)
• Aspers Stratford (312 Montfichet Rd, Olympic Park, London E20 1ET)
• G Casino Coventry (Ricoh Arena, Phoenix Way, Coventry CV6 6GE)
• Empire Poker Room (6 Leicester Street, London WC2H)
• Grosvenor Casino Victoria London Poker Room (150-162 Edgware Rd, Marylebone, London W2 2DT)

History of online poker in the United Kingdom

The roots of modern online poker-related regulations can be traced back to the Betting and Gaming Act of 1960. This act allowed UK residents to bet on Bridge and other games of skill. It also allowed UK-based businesses to open betting shops across the country. In 1965, over 15,000betting shop licenses had been issued by local magistrates.

The second breakthrough for UK-based gambling came with the Gaming Act of 1968, which added land-based casinos to the mix. In 2005, the Gaming Act was expanded to include massive Las Vegas-style gambling establishments. It’s worth noting, however, that this came with rather strict limits on the total number of venues of this type that could be built. These set the stage for all the aforementioned modern legislative acts.

United Kingdom PayPal deposits

PayPal ranks as the most popular e-wallet among the general population and the online poker world. It allows for lightning-fast withdrawals and risk-free deposits. Unfortunately, PayPal is very strict when it comes to gambling-related transactions. If there’s any doubt regarding the legal status of poker in a given player’s country of residence, this banking method won’t even show up in the cashier menu.

Fortunately, since the United Kingdom is one of the most iGaming-friendly countries in the world, players based there can readily use PayPal to load up their online poker accounts on all major poker platforms, including PokerStars, 888poker, and partypoker.