The best poker sites for Non-US players are safe, secure, payout fast, and have extensive action on real money poker. Betway; Guts; 888poker; Play Texas Hold’em Online for Real Money. Undoubtedly the hottest poker variation in existence is Texas Hold’em. Ignition is one of the best poker online sites out there. They’ve given out over five million dollars to players online over the past year! With all the online games they have available, they also have several awesome promotions. With all these sweet promotions comes better chances to win big money.

As more states legalize online gambling, more sites offering the opportunity to play online poker for real money are opening to Americans. That leaves more Americans with a question or two about how online poker works, where to play, and, most importantly, if it’s legal in their state.

We’ll be covering all the above and more right here on TechNightOwl. Let’s start with the basics.

What States in the US Offer Online Poker for Real Money?

At present, there are only six states in the US where online poker platforms are legal: Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia. Let’s run through how that came to be.

US Online Poker Laws

The Wire Act is a US Federal Law established in 1961 prohibiting wire communications in betting transactions. The main objective of this law was to reduce the possibility of gambling and poker games becoming a part of organized crime.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) took effect in 2006 when it became illegal for banks to transact with unlicensed online gambling platforms. The banks — not the players — became liable for any violation cited or observed.

These regulations shut down online poker platforms in the United States. However, both the Wire Act and UIGEA created gray areas in the law and were subject to misinterpretation. In 2012, it was one of those grey areas that led a New York federal judge to rule that the Wire Act of 1961 didn’t apply to poker because it was a game of skill rather than chance.

New Jersey Online Poker Platforms

New Jersey was one of the first states in the United States to legalize online poker for real money. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed the legislation in 2013, less than a year after the 2012 ruling.

The requirements for any individual to play on a licensed online poker platform include:

• Age: Players must be 21 years or older
• Location: New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada entered into a compact that went live in 2018 that allows interstate gambling. You must be physically present in one of these states to play online poker for real money in New Jersey.
• Verification: Players who sign up for online poker platforms in New Jersey must undergo a thorough verification process to determine if they are qualified to play.

Because New Jersey is one of the earliest states to legalize online gambling platforms, this state offers more poker rooms than most other states, including:

• 888poker
• Borgata
• Pala Poker
• PartyPoker
• PokerStars
• playMGM Poker

Players in New Jersey can also play on the Nevada-based poker site, WSOP.com, the primary interstate poker provider.

Delaware Online Poker Platforms

Shortly after New Jersey, Delaware also legalized online poker sites in 2013. Like NJ, players must be 21 years of age or older. Delaware also requires geo-tracking software to confirm your location.

The state currently has three online poker sites where you can play for real money:

• Dover Downs
• Delaware Park
• Harrington Raceway

All the above run on 888Poker software. Like in New Jersey, players in Delaware can also play on WSOP.com.

Nevada Online Poker Platforms

Nevada legalized online poker for real money right around the same time as Delaware and soon became a hub for interstate games, being the home-state of WSOP.com.

Currently, the only other poker platform in the state is Real Gaming. Ultimate Poker was previously also available in Nevada, but the platform failed in 2014.

State player requirements are similar to those in other states, with the minimum player age being 21 and geolocation mandatory, but they also add a few additional provisions:

• Player fund transfer is not permitted.
• You may only have one account on each poker platform.

Pennsylvania Online Poker Platforms

Pennsylvania was the fourth state in the United States to legalize online poker for real money with legislation taking effect in 2017.

Since Pennsylvania has one of the largest populations in the United States of over 13 million residents, online poker for real money established a massive player base. PokerStars is currently the only active online poker gambling platform in the state.

Pennsylvania has yet to join the interstate gambling compact, and so WSOP.com is not available, but efforts are in the works to change that. Numerous other land-based casinos have also been granted licenses to operate and may open platforms soon, including:

• Harrahs Philadelphia
• Hollywood Casino
• Parx Casino
• Rivers Philadelphia
• Valley Forge Casino
• Wind Creek Casino

Beyond restricting players to in-state games, the player requirements in Pennsylvania are the same as other states. You must be over 21 and allow geo-tracking software.

Michigan and West Virginia Online Poker Platforms

Michigan and West Virginia both legalized online poker for real money in 2019. However, neither state has any licensed operating poker platforms as of June 2020.

The Stars Group, operator of PokerStars, has already taken steps to obtain a license in Michigan and is a strong contender to be the first option open in the state. West Virginia has yet to finalize its licensing regulations.

What Other States in the US Have Plans to Offer Online Poker for Real Money?

The following states have plans to legalize online gambling platforms. Some even have ongoing legislative reviews about the pros and cons of legalizing online gambling platforms.

• California
• New York
• Massachusetts
• Illinois

The Best Online Poker Platforms for Real Money

Now that you know which states you can play in and all the poker platforms available in those states, your next question is likely which should you play on—assuming you have more than one option. The best online poker platforms in the US include:

• WSOP.com
• 888Poker
• PokerStars

Let’s take a quick look at each.

WSOP.com

As mentioned, WSOP.com is an interstate provider serving New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada. They are operated by Caesars Interactive Entertainment, a name you likely recognize if you’re familiar with the hotel gaming and gambling industry.

WSOP.com is the largest real-money online poker platform in the United States and is backed by the World Series of Poker. They offer fixed- and pot-limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud, all with Hi/Lo options. There are roughly 50 tournaments daily, some with cash prizes as high as $50,000.

The site regularly offers bonus promotions and also has a generous loyalty point program. You’ll earn points online towards the Action Club Rewards Program for every game you play—win or lose. Points can be redeemed for cash.

888Poker

The second-largest online real-money poker platform, 888Poker is only available in New Jersey and Delaware. Delaware’s platform is accessed via three racinos (listed above) rather than the 888Poker site directly. Nevada’s WSOP.com also runs on 888Poker software, but the two aren’t interconnected.

888Poker only offers Texas Hold’em and Omaha, but they do have a range of tournament and match offers, including SNAP, Blast, and Classic poker options. They have a mobile app but are also well-known for their instant-match, no-download games.

The site has many generous bonus promotions and is among the only online casinos left with a true no-deposit bonus. You’ll get $1 to spend anywhere on the site, 14 free 50-cent entries, and a pending $80 bonus. You unlocked the $80 by earning points for the platform’s rewards program (a cash-back offering similar to WSOP.com’s rewards). For every 100 points you earn, you unlock $10. You can earn those points using the initial free credits granted to you.

PokerStars

PokerStars is Pennsylvania’s only real-money online poker platform. They also operate in New Jersey and are likely to be available in Michigan soon. The site offers Limit Hold ’em, Omaha, and Seven-card stud, as well as 2-7 Triple Draw, HORSE, and Razz, though as these games are less popular, it may be harder to find a table.

There are multiple daily tournament options, including big-ticket hourly Sunday games with massive cash prizes. For instance, the Sunday Special held at 6 pm EST has a $200 buy-in and a $45,000 guaranteed pot.

Like WSOP.com and 888Poker, the site does have a rewards program. You can earn Star Coins, which can be used to purchase merchandise or free play tickets. They also match your first deposit 100% up to $600.

How to Choose the Best Online Poker Game for Real Money

With so many online poker games on the internet, it is wise, especially when the stakes involve real money, to choose the right gambling platform. Here are some factors we considered when choosing the best real-money online poker sites in the US.

Player Experience: An online gambling website or app’s aesthetic, functionality, and ease of navigation should all be excellent. Ideally, you want to choose a site that doesn’t make you jump through hoops to get to your desired page.

Game Selection: While not all players prefer to play multiple poker game types, we prefer sites that give you the option to do so.

Safety: Safety should be the utmost priority for any gambling, betting, or poker site. All the platforms we recommend are credible, have all the necessary licenses to operate in the US, and comply with all the regulations imposed by the states they operate in.

Bonuses: Some online poker sites provide attractive promotional and sign-up bonuses that can benefit players and give them a competitive advantage over their opponents.

What Is Global Poker?

For those who can’t visit states where it is legal to play poker online for real money, Global Poker is an option. Global Poker functions similarly to any online gambling platform. The catch is instead of dealing directly with real money, there are sweepstakes, and players get a virtual currency which they can “cash in” via PayPal. Thanks to this unique twist, it does not fall into the category of illicit activity, and anyone with an internet connection can access it anywhere within the United States.

How Much Does It Cost to Play Online Poker for Real Money?

The buy-in cost for online poker games ranges dramatically, but the average is relatively affordable. Around 50% of online poker games have an entry fee of $8 to $10. Players can even join online poker tables with buy-ins starting at $0.01 to $0.02 and $1 to $2. There are high-stakes games as well, with buy-ins closer to $100 to $200.

What Are the Payment Options for Online Poker?

There are a variety of ways to deposit money to play poker online for real money. Here is a breakdown of online banks that online gambling platforms you can trust:

Essential factors to consider when making online money transactions, especially on online gambling platforms, include:

Privacy and Security: All licensed online gambling sites are required to encrypt your information and are held to strict privacy and security regulations. Dealing with an unlicensed poker site can put you at risk for identity theft and loss of funds. Never enter your financial information on a site that asks for banking details such as pin or password.

Support: Credible online gambling platforms have 24/7 live chat support to address any questions, concerns, or issues about your financial transactions. If a site doesn’t have readily accessible contact information, that’s a red flag. Avoid making deposits on these sites.

Play Poker Online for Real Money

There are many advantages to playing online poker for real money. Because online games generally have significantly lower buy-ins, you have more control over your bets. Wait times are also shorter because there are endless virtual tables.

The periodic bonus offers you can grab to gain a competitive edge over other players are just icing on the cake—but remember to read the terms and conditions.

You can play poker online for real money in the comfort of your home, which makes it a great way to pass the time—no more stuffy dress codes in brick-and-mortar casinos. You can play games in your pajamas if you like!

Of course, getting the most out of these benefits requires playing on a legal, reputable real-money poker platform—and that’s just what you’ll find reviewed on TechNightOwl! We regularly update our content to reflect the latest online gambling,betting, and poker regulations, as well as the best real-money poker platforms in the US.

One of the most flexible ways to play online poker and make some serious money is through online poker cash games. Cash games let you choose the stakes, choose your opponents, choose when you want to play, and choose how long you want to be in the game.

The flexibility of cash games has now gotten even better thanks to the convenience available through online poker sites. If you’re looking for the best real money online poker cash games and all the important information you need to get started, you’re in the right place.

Best Online Poker Cash Game Sites

Are you ready to dive into the online poker cash game scene right now? Are you ready to get the cards and the chips flying? If you are, we’ve got you covered. All of the options listed above are the best online poker cash game sites operating in your area. The list is regularly updated and obsessively checked to make sure it only contains the best of the best options to play poker online for money.

Reasons Why These Are the Top Online Poker Cash Game Sites

• Each site has a healthy mix of different stake levels.
• The real money online poker rooms all have quality levels of traffic.
• The user-friendliness of the platform and tables is superior.
• The cash game action is not overrun by sharks and professionals.
• Each real money poker sites offer an industry-competitive bonus and rewards program.
• The rake structure is fair and on par with other comparable poker sites.
• The online US poker sites are safe, trusted, and have a long history of putting players first.

Each Site Has a Health Mix of Different Stake Levels

Everyone is at a different point in their poker careers. The best online poker cash games have stakes that start very low ($0.01/$0.02) and go all the way up to the nosebleed levels. Additionally, a great poker room will have cash games at helpfully incremental levels all the way up. No one wants to try and go from $1/$2 to $5/$10 in one jump.

The Poker Rooms All Have Quality Levels of Traffic

The mere presence of different stake levels is not enough to get our signature of approval. The games need to have action at different levels in order to count. All of the online real money poker sites we recommend have extensive action all throughout the different stake levels. Do be aware that not all of the sites will have the same peak volume times, as this is heavily dependent on the player pool.

The User-Friendliness of the Platform and Tables Is Superior

All of these real money online poker rooms offering cash games have user-friendly platforms that make everything simple for players. This includes banking, finding games, getting on a waiting list, updating account information, and the actual gameplay. Not only are these factors important for convenience, but they are also important for the ability to make money.

The Cash Game Action Is Not Overrun by Sharks and Professionals

Unless you don’t care about winning or making money, you’re going to want to pick an online poker site with cash games that aren’t overrun by grinders and professionals. Yes, it can be fun to challenge yourself against the best in the world, but winning money is much more fun, in our opinion. All of the cash game poker sites we recommend are not completely devoid of value and have softer games.

Each Poker Site Offers an Industry-Competitive Bonus and Rewards Program

Because of the nature of the online poker industry, you should be getting rewarded for checking out new online US poker sites and receiving loyalty perks. All of the best cash game poker sites online offer lucrative bonuses for new and existing players.

These include things like deposit bonuses, reload bonuses, frequent player points programs, VIP clubs, and more.

The Rake Structure Is Fair and on Par With Other Comparable Poker Sites

Online real money poker sites don’t run cash games as charities. The sites are companies that need to make a profit to keep the lights on and keep the games going for you. The way that the real money poker sites achieve this is by taking a rake. While more poker players already know this, there is something not all players know.

The differences might seem like pennies every hand, but that adds up over time. We make sure the cash game poker sites we recommend are not gouging players with an unnecessarily high rake.

The Online Poker Rooms Are Safe, Trusted, and Has a Long History of Putting Players First

Last, but certainly not least, all of these US online poker rooms running cash games have been checked and rechecked for safety, security, and overall trust. Rest assured that if you choose any of these sites to play poker online for cash, you’ll have a safe experience with a provider known for putting players first.

The Pros and Cons of Online Cash Games vs. In-Person Cash Games

Making the switch from playing cash games at your local poker room or at home with your friends to playing online can seem like a big jump. For many, it’s a welcomed change filled with lots of conveniences and new opportunities. But before you make the switch, we wanted to help by pointing out the major pros and cons playing real money poker online vs. in-person cash games.

The Pros of Online Poker Cash Games

Always an Open Seat

When your local poker room runs out of seats, you have to wait. The room can’t just magically create more tables and dealers. Online, though, the poker room can. All of the tables and dealers are digital, which means that when a table fills up, another one automatically opens. You may be forced to play short-handed for a few if you don’t want to wait, but for many, that’s much better than getting no action at all.

Which Online Poker Site Is The Best For Real Money Right Now

No Favoritism on the Waiting Lists

If there’s a particular table you want to join online, you’ll have to wait your turn like you would in person. However, you don’t have to worry about someone who is friends with the poker room manager or someone who throws some money to the floor getting the seat before you. When you get on a waiting list for an online poker cash game, there is no favoritism in the waiting process.

More Lucrative Bonuses and Rewards

Live real money online poker rooms often offer bonuses to players in return for their time spent at the tables. Usually, this is in the form of a few comp dollars an hour that can be used in the poker room or somewhere else on the property. While this is nice, it pales in comparison to what you can get when you play online poker cash games.

United States online poker sites offer extremely lucrative bonuses to new players and as rewards for existing players. These can be deposit bonuses, rakeback, VIP perks, trips, swag, cashback, and more. Because of the digital nature of the games, online cash games can track your play down to the penny, meaning you’ll get credit for every bonus you deserve.

The Ability to Multi-Table

Possibly the greatest perk of online cash games is the ability to play more than one table at a time. Some players struggle to turn a profit because they get bored playing just one table. At the best online cash game sites, you can play as many tables as you want! If you’re a winning player, this also means you can dramatically up your hourly win rate as well.

Convenience

Cash games are incredibly convenient for playing real money poker online. There is no physically traveling to the casino, no traffic, no parking, no getting sick from other people, no drunks spilling drinks on the table, and no sitting around waiting for hours to get into a game. Brick and mortar poker rooms may take the cake socially, but when it comes to convenience, they don’t hold a candle to online cash games.

The Cons of Online Poker Cash Games

No Facial Reads or In-Person Tells

If your favorite part of playing poker is staring your opponents down and trying to read their souls, online poker is not for you. There are no in-person tells unless you’re playing at one of the sites that use webcams, but those sites never really get much activity. You can still pick up betting tells and timing tells when playing online, though, so it’s not all completely lost.

For many, this may be a positive because you won’t be able to get physical reads on people, but you also won’t be able to give off any either. If you’re a walking tell machine, online cash games are where you belong.

Less of a Social Game

One area where brick and mortar cash games win out is socially. You’re able to chat online with other players, but that’s the extent of the social side of things unless you’re playing a private game with friends. If face to face camaraderie is a deal-breaker, you’ll want to stick to live real money poker cash games.

Third-Party Software

Another con that may be a pro (depending on your viewpoint) is the presence and use of third-party software. Programs like Holdem Manager exist that help track hand histories and give players information on decision making through heads up displays. If you’re a player that embraces technology, this is a big perk. If you’re on the other side of the aisle, your opponents using this type of software may put you at a disadvantage.

The Pros of Online Poker Cash Games vs. Online Poker Tournaments

When you play real money online poker, you have the choice between cash games and online poker tournaments. While both are great ways to make money, there are some exclusive pros you get as a cash game player. Here are the four most important to be aware of if you’re on the fence about what style of poker you want to play.

No Fixed Start Time to Adhere To

Multi-table tournaments start at a specific time that does not care what your schedule looks like. SNGs may start a bit more on-demand, but you still have to wait for enough players to register. Online cash games, though, are running around the clock. You can choose to sit down and play cash games whenever you want. This gives you a lot of scheduling flexibility that is hard to beat.

Play for as Long or as Little as You’d Like

In addition to no fixed start time, there is no requirement to play for any period of time with online cash games. If you want to play one hand and leave, go for it. If you want to play for 20 hours at the same table, go for it. It is 100% up to you to decide how long you play for each session.

Chase Someone Who Put a Bad Beat on You

While poker should never be an emotional game about revenge, the ability to get even financially is an important pro of poker cash games vs. tournaments. When someone puts a bad beat on you, it’s usually because they made a mistake and got their money in bad. Players that constantly make mistakes are the types of players you want to be playing against.

The problem with tournaments, though, is that as soon as you identify a bad player who puts a bad beat on you, you’re eliminated from the game, and that’s the end of the story. With cash games, though, you can reload your stack, keep the same seat, and go right back after your money. It shouldn’t affect the way you play, but it’s a nice perk to have a shot at winning your deserved money back.

Select the Players You Want to Play Against

In a tournament, you’re randomly put at a table and have no control over who you play against. With online cash games, you have full control. The best online cash game players know how to game select. Game selecting is the process of choosing the right opponents that you have the best chance of winning against. It’s a luxury that only exists for cash game players.

Tips for Selecting the Right Online Poker Cash Game Site for You

Now that you’re fully up to speed with online cash games, it’s time to pick out the best poker sites accepting US customers for you. Luckily, we’ve already done a lot of the heavy lifting by selecting a good pool of the best online real money poker sites. Now, it’s up to you to pick the right one(s) for you. Here are a few helpful tips from our experts to help you in the process.

Use the Play Money Tables

Play money cash game tables give you the opportunity to test drive a poker site without making a real money deposit. All you have to do is create a free account, then you’re free to test out the software with zero risks.

Now, you’ll be playing at the play money tables, so don’t use this as a test of the skill level of the players that you could be playing against in real money poker games. But it’s an ideal way to see if you’re going to like the look and the feel of the software before you decide to play online poker for real money.

Check the Game Activity at the Times You’re Planning on Playing

If you’re planning on playing online poker when you get off work every night to let off some steam, what do you care about how many people are playing in the mornings? You shouldn’t! When you’re looking at the volume of players at top online US poker sites, check during the hours you plan on playing. While it’s great to be at a site that has volume 24/7, it only affects you if you’re planning on playing every hour of the day.

It’s Okay to Join Multiple Online Poker Rooms for Cash Action

All of the top online poker players and serious grinders in the world play on multiple online poker sites. Why? Joining multiple real money online poker rooms give you more flexibility to game select, access to more action, and the ability to cash in on multiple promotions at the same time.

It doesn’t cost you a penny to join multiple sites. The only financial considerations are that you have enough of a bankroll to spread it across multiple online real money poker sites. If you’re serious about playing poker for money and making a profit, this is a must.

Getting Started Playing Poker Cash Games Now!

Which Online Poker Site Is The Best For Real Money Now

Are you ready to start scraping monster pots, running genius bluffs, and showing the world you’re the cash-game boss? If you are, you can get started playing real money poker online right now. Head back to the top of the page, pick out one of the top online poker cash game sites, and get yourself in the action. It takes no more than 10 minutes to sign up, create your account, make a deposit, and sit down to get your first real money poker hand dealt. What are you waiting for?!