What does the future look like for legal online poker in the United States?
- Is Bovada Poker Legal In Us
- Is Intertops Poker Legal In Us
- Is Party Poker Legal In Us
- Is Global Poker Legal In Us
While widely legal throughout the United States, some states do prohibit play on subscription-based poker rooms. The software on many subscription-based sites is easy to use whether you have played. The answer is depends on what state you live in. State-regulated, real-money online poker is legally available in only a handful of states. As of July 2020, players in New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware enjoy access to legal online poker sites.
So, is online poker legal in the USA today? The answer is depends on what state you live in.
State-regulated, real-money online poker is legally available in only a handful of states.
As of July 2020, players in New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware enjoy access to legal online poker sites. Michigan and West Virginia have passed legislation to make online poker legal, but the launch of products is pending in those states.
The following is a brief overview of US states with legal online poker, as well as the specific poker sites that are available in those states.
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USA States with Legal Online Poker
1. New Jersey
New Jersey hosts the largest legal online gambling industry of any US state.
Players in the Garden State can choose from an extensive selection of legal online casinos and sportsbooks. New Jersey is also one of four US states with online poker.
Online poker launched in New Jersey in November 2013. State-regulated online poker sites in New Jersey include:
WSOP/888 Poker Network
WSOP New Jersey and 888 Poker NJ operate as two different skins, but both contain the same player pool. This player pool also links to WSOP Nevada and the 888 Poker network of poker sites in Delaware.
World Series of Poker online bracelet events can be played through the WSOP/888 New Jersey network.
Borgata Poker Network
Four different poker platforms under the Borgata banner share the same player pool. Players on Borgata Poker, BetMGM Poker, partypoker NJ, and Pala Poker all compete against each other. This New Jersey-only network doesn’t link to any other player pools outside of the state.
The Borgata online poker network includes multiple skins in New Jersey
PokerStars NJ
PokerStars NJ functions as a standalone, New Jersey-only platform. The player pool doesn’t link to any other international or domestic poker client operated by PokerStars.
2. Nevada
WSOP Nevada launched in September 2013, and operates as Nevada’s only legal online poker site. The WSOP Nevada player pool shares liquidity with the WSOP/888 New Jersey network, as well as the 888 Poker network in Delaware.
Online bracelet events for the World Series of Poker are available to play on the WSOP Nevada platform.
3. Delaware
Delaware players enjoy access to one legal online poker platform, operated by 888 Poker. The network incorporates three skins, which include Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway.
Playing on any of the three skins links to the same network. The 888 Poker Delaware network also links to the WSOP Nevada and WSOP/888 New Jersey player pools.
While the player pools are linked, Delaware players cannot play World Series of Poker online bracelet events.
4. Pennsylvania
PokerStars PA launched in November 2019. The platform operates as a standalone site, and only accepts Pennsylvania players. PokerStars PA players are not in a player pool with PokeStars NJ players.
The PokerStars PA platform doesn’t link to any other PokerStars network. The launch adds Pennsylvania to the list of states with legal online poker.
Why Some States’ Players Can Play Together
Poker players in certain legal states get to play together, growing the site player pools, thanks to the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement.
Delaware and Nevada lawmakers agreed to the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) in March 2015. The agreement merged player networks from the 888 Delaware network, and WSOP Nevada.
New Jersey agreed to join the MSIGA in October 2017. The three-state merged platform went live in April 2018, offering shared player liquidity among WSOP Nevada, WSOP New Jersey, and the 888 Poker Delaware network.
The merged network allowed New Jersey players to compete in World Series of Poker online bracelet events for the first time at the 2018 WSOP.
Matthew “Mendy” Mendez became the first player to win a WSOP bracelet while playing outside of Nevada in 2018.
States With Laws Against Online Poker
Indiana
Outside of states with online poker, most other US jurisdictions don’t have laws in place explicitly making online poker illegal.
Indiana is an exception, as online gambling in the Hoosier State is expressly outlawed. State-regulated online sports betting sites operate legally in Indiana, but any kind of online gambling outside of those legal sportsbooks is punishable by law.
States That Will Eventually Offer Legal Online Poker
West Virginia and Michigan
West Virginia became the fifth US state to legalize online poker in March 2019. The launch of the state’s online poker platforms could happen by 2021.
Michigan will eventually join the fray as the sixth state with legal online poker. Lawmakers in Michigan signed of on online poker legalization in December 2019, with the launch of products pending.
This win for Michigan players was hard fought. Just days after the initial online poker bill passed back in 2018, outgoing Michigan Governor Rick Snyder vetoed the bill as one of his last acts before his gubernatorial term ran out.
Legalization in Michigan, with its 10-million population, would be a huge victory for supporters of online poker. Snyder’s veto put things on hold in Michigan for a little while, but it’s back on track as of late 2019.
Former Michigan Senator @MikeKowall who led efforts to legalize internet poker/gaming in MI authored a great op-ed that lays out the case for the state legislature to pass a bill again and send to the new Gov (this time with NO VETO) https://t.co/zbHplaZkUR
— Poker Alliance (@ppapoker) January 10, 2019
When online poker is finally up and running in Michigan and West Virginia, operators in those states could eventually sign into the shared liquidity agreements with the other states offering legal poker.
If enough states legalize online poker, a merged player pool among the states could create a legal online poker network that somewhat resembles the pre-Black Friday online poker scene in the U.S.
Looking into the future, PokerStars (already operating in New Jersey and Pennsylvania) has entered into an agreement with US casino operator Eldorado Resorts, Inc., with intentions of operating online poker in 11 other states (Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio and West Virginia).
Of those 11 states, only Nevada and West Virginia have legalized online poker, so the other nine states would have to go through the process of legalization before a hypothetical PokerStars USA network could come to fruition.
Is It Legal To Play On Pokerstars from the U.S?
You cannot legally play on the main PokerStars platform from the U.S.
PokerStars New Jersey and PokerStars Pennsylvania are different, U.S.-regulated poker sites that are legal to play within the state borders of NJ/PA. Its player pool is not connected to the main PokerStars player pool, which operates in many countries and is the world’s largest online poker site.
It’s been nearly a decade since the shutdown of PokerStars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker/Ultimate Bet, and U.S. players are still waiting and hoping that the online game returns to the glory days of the 2000s at some point.
The “poker boom” of the early 2000s ushered in an era of unprecedented options for online poker within the U.S., but those glory days were numbered after the U.S. government passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.
Partypoker, one of the world’s largest online poker operators, quickly shut off access for U.S. players after the UIGEA passed, while PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker/Ultimate Bet continued operating in the country throughout the remainder of the 2000s and became the three largest U.S.-facing poker sites.
On April 15, 2011 (known as Black Friday in the poker community), the U.S. Government seized the domain names of PokerStars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker, and U.S. players have had significantly fewer options for online poker ever since.
PokerStars has still thrived in spite of not being able to allow accept U.S. players and is home to the largest online poker player pool in the world. If you live in the U.S., you have to physically relocate to a jurisdiction where PokerStars can legally allow you to play, in order to have access to the site.
Online Poker Sites Operating in a Grey Area
If you’re playing online poker in the U.S. in 2019, chances are you’ve played on the Winning Poker Network, Ignition Casino or Global Poker at some point.
These poker sites, and any other online poker site outside of the legal, regulated sites from Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware, are not technically legally able to offer online poker to U.S. players, but they exist nonetheless.
The Winning Poker Network is a collection of skins that include America’s Cardroom, Black Chip Poker, and True Poker, among others. WPN has been operating since the early 2000s and has continued to be available to U.S. players, even after the passage of the UIGEA and Black Friday shutdown of major U.S. sites in 2011.
Ignition Casino has operated under many names since its inception in 2004, most notably as Bodog and Bovada, before settling in on its current branding. This site offers the largest player pool available to U.S. players.
Global Poker arrived in 2017 with a business model that has players using “Gold Coins” (play money) and “Sweeps Cash” (real money). Players can purchase Gold Coins with real money, and also receive an equivalent amount of Sweeps Cash. It’s basically a loophole that allows them to take deposits.
Playing on any of these grey area sites is a risk. If you decide to do so, make sure you proceed with caution and don’t keep more money on the site than you’re comfortable losing.
Final Thoughts
U.S. poker players want options to play online, and we all would love to see the return of the glory days of the 2000s. It’s important to remember though – the “grey area” poker sites listed above can get shut down by the U.S. government at any time, just as PokerStars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker did on Black Friday.
Let’s hope that the recent DOJ reversal of opinion on the Wire Act is just a hiccup on the way to the rise of a new era for online poker in the U.S. If more states follow the lead of Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia we could one day have access to a shared player pool that makes the U.S. a great place to play online poker once again.
Some US states are known for their poker rooms and world-class games. However, when it comes to online poker, the laws are more restrictive. Currently, only four US states have legalized online poker and launched online gambling platforms — New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Delaware.
Two more states have officially legalized online poker — West Virginia and Michigan. However, they have yet to launch online poker rooms. Until that happens, avid players can enjoy online poker in these four US states.
In this article, we’ll review the current state of online poker in the US, explain how the law works, and show you where to play the best online poker games for real money. Stay tuned!
The History of Poker Laws in the US
When talking about online poker in the US, we find ourselves in a gray area, mainly because there are no explicit laws that ban or authorize online poker on the federal level. Just like with other forms of online gambling, each state has regulatory power over online poker laws.
Is Bovada Poker Legal In Us
To better understand the current situation of online poker laws in the US, we need to go back in time, all the way to the Wire Act from 1961. This law was primarily introduced to stop illegal gambling activities across state lines that used wire communication. However, when online gambling appeared, it challenged the Act’s applicability on wagering via wireless internet.
In 2011, the US Department of Justice reversed the Wire Act’s decision, stating that it only applied to sports wagering. Up until that point, the US government used the Act to ban all forms of online gambling. Once the Act was reversed, US states began to consider legalizing online gambling, especially online poker.
In 2018, the DOJ issued a new directive to reverse the 2011 decision again. What the memorandum did was blur the lines and create an unclear online gambling environment. This decision put all forms of online gambling in jeopardy. However, it’s tied up in the federal court system and is facing specific legal challenges. Therefore, the online poker industry is thriving in some US states.
Introduction of Online Poker Laws
While the future of online poker in the US is still uncertain, some states have taken advantage of the 2011 DOJ decision and took the matter into their own hands. Another event that had a substantial impact on the legalization of online poker was the UIGEA — Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act introduced in 2006. It made all internet gambling activities illegal, which resulted in a chaotic gambling environment. Owners of the biggest online poker platforms were indicted, and they left the US market. That led to the rise of illegal gambling and an increased presence of offshore poker sites.
After this fallout, known as Black Friday, only four states have regulated the online poker market, with two more joining the group soon.
Online Poker Laws by the State
Compared to the number of US states, the percentage of those who have a regulated online poker industry is very low. Hopefully, more states will recognize the benefits of having a legal online poker market shortly.
In the following paragraphs, we will see which states have legalized online poker.
Nevada
Nevada was the first US state to legalize online poker. The Nevada Gaming Commission started the process in December 2011, only a month after the DOJ reversed the Wire Act. Officially, online poker became legal in February 2013.
The first poker room to launch an online platform was Ultimate Gaming. The second online poker room to become available to Nevada poker players was the WSOP, which partnered up with Caesars Entertainment.
Then, the Real Gaming online poker site appeared. However, it never gained much popularity and left the market soon after. In 2014, Ultimate Gaming shut down its platform, leaving WSOP as the only online poker site available to Nevada players.
Delaware
In 2013, Delaware became the second state to legalize online poker and other casino games. The Delaware Lottery regulates and oversees all online poker and casino activities. The state’s three racetrack casinos share an online poker platform powered by 888 Holdings.
In 2015, Nevada and Delaware began sharing their online poker traffic through the WSOP.com joint agreement. This venture only benefits the state of Delaware, given that the online poker income isn’t as high as everyone hoped.
New Jersey
New Jersey could have been the trailblazer for online poker since it began the legalization process in January 2011, even before the DOJ reversed the Wire Act. However, NJ’s then-governor vetoed the decision, and the entire process came to a halt. Fortunately, in 2013, a new bill was signed, and the online poker industry was authorized to operate for ten years. After that period passes, the decision will be re-examined for a possible extension.
Is Intertops Poker Legal In Us
In 2013, online poker platforms began to appear in New Jersey. While some attempts haven’t been fruitful, others exceeded the industry’s expectations. New Jersey has three poker sites currently operating in the market — 888poker, WSOP.com, and PokerStars.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was the fourth state to legalize online poker in late 2017. However, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board needed more time to pass the law, which led to two uneventful years in the online poker industry.
Fortunately, in 2019, PokerStars launched its online poker platform, only a couple of months after the first online casinos appeared in the state. While there is still only one online poker site, Pennsylvania will soon launch at least six more poker platforms.
West Virginia and Michigan — Two More States to Launch Online Poker Sites Soon
While these two states have legalized online poker, they have yet to launch first poker sites. West Virginia was the fifth state to join the party in 2019. The West Virginia State Lottery will be in charge of regulating and overseeing the online poker action. Given that the entire process was set in motion in 2020, we anticipate the first poker sites to appear in 2021.
Michigan joined the others in late 2019. The state had been trying to legalize online poker for a couple of years, but it was possible only after some changes were made in the Michigan government. Luckily, in December 2019, the state of Michigan finally legalized online poker. Like West Virginia, we expect to see the first online poker platforms launched sometime during 2021.
How to Play Online Poker Legally in the US
Even though not many states have legalized online poker, those that offer some exciting poker opportunities. If you want to play online poker, you need to see whether this type of online gambling is legal in your state. If it is, you can find the list of available poker platforms or pick one from our article.
The next step is to create an account, which can be done in a few moments. You’ll need to fill out the registration form with all the necessary information and confirm your identity. You can then choose a payment option to fund your online poker account, claim a welcome bonus along the way, and enjoy a wide range of poker games.
Remember, you don’t have to be a resident of a state where online poker is legal — you just need to be there physically. Therefore, if you find yourself in any of the US states we mentioned here, you’ll be able to create an online poker account.
Final Words
Is Party Poker Legal In Us
Even though there are millions of avid poker players in the US, the legalization of online poker is moving at a slow pace. While the online gambling industry has found itself in an unenviable situation, some states have managed to make the most out of it.
We can’t say with certainty what the future has in store for online poker. Some say that more states will legalize online poker, while others believe the entire online gambling industry in the US is too unstable and that launching poker platforms might be too risky.
However, we’d like to maintain a positive attitude and hope that other states will follow the path forged by allowing their residents to enjoy various online poker games.
FAQ
Is Global Poker Legal In Us
Is online poker legal in the US?
Currently, only four states have legalized online poker — Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. We have yet to see whether others will follow their path and launch online poker platforms for US players.
What is the legal gambling age for US players?
US players who want to play online poker legally need to be over 21 years old.
Can US players claim online poker bonuses?
Just like any other gambling platforms, online poker sites offer various bonuses to new and existing players. As soon as you create an account, you can claim a welcome bonus to kickstart your online poker experience.
What are the most popular online poker games?
Texas Hold’em dominates the online poker scene in the US. It’s followed by Omaha, Seven Card Stud, Five Card Draw, Three Card Poker, among others. Every online poker site features a wide range of poker game types. There is something for every player.