Written in Partnership with GeneralFanagerWe’ve made it easy for you to find the best online poker sites in the USA today. We’ve researched the sites ourselves and created this bumper guide that details the best online poker sites around right now, basing our criteria on things like bonuses, rakeback, and traffic.
In this article, we’ll be explaining exactly why we chose each poker site and who we think they’d be ideal for. We’ll also be answering your most popular questions related to playing online poker in the US.
Let’s start.
First Look at the Best Poker Sites in the US
- Best overall poker site – Ignition
- Best real money poker for MTT players – Bovada
- Best poker site for sports betting – BetOnline
- Best Bitcoin poker site – America’s CardRoom
- Best for video poker – Red Dog Casino
- Best for rakeback – InterTops
- Best for poker tournaments – Black Chip Poker
- Best soft site – Juicy Stakes
- Best online poker site for traffic – PokerStars
- Best for poker bonuses – Cafe Casino
Ranking Methodology – How We Chose Each Poker Site
Reputation – We checked the licensing and user reviews to make sure that each site in our list is legit, established, and trustworthy
Variety – We wanted to find casino sites that offer a good variety of poker games, as well as video poker and other table and card games
Rake – Rakeback is something any poker player needs to consider, and we worked hard to find the best poker sites in terms of rake/value for your money
Players and Traffic – Understanding that the key to a good poker site is having players of all levels to compete against, we used traffic volume as one of our top indicators
Bonuses – Lastly, we looked for poker sites that offer attractive bonuses, regular promotions, and rewarding VIP schemes
Best Poker Sites in the USA
1. Ignition – Best Overall Poker Site
- Zone Poker available
- Highly established poker site
- 1,000+ poker players online at any time
Ignition comfortably takes our top award for a number of reasons. Although it was only established in 2016, it’s risen through the ranks to become one of the US’s most reputable and popular online poker casinos.
It’s safe to use, offers a variety of payment methods, and the user experience is excellent.
In terms of its poker offerings, Ignition is able to offer a high volume of players to compete against. There are always at least 1,000 players online at any one time, and they’re usually of various skill levels. While most players are “soft players” there are still the complete newbies, as well as more polished gamblers – and even some sharks.
Zone Poker, meanwhile, though not unique to Ignition, helps the site stand out by offering “quick fire” poker to anyone who hates the slowness of a traditional game of poker.
And while the low welcome bonus is a tad disappointing, the huge weekly tournament prize pools make up for it. There is also a bonus code from Ignition which helps get things started for new players.
2. Bovada – Best Real Money Poker Site for MTT Players
- Low rake
- Reasonable buy-ins
- Excellent tournament schedule
When it comes to Multi-Table tournament strategies (MTT), Bovada is the top dog. Here, you won’t find any sharks capitalizing on weaker players. Instead, you have to go into it with the mindset of being at a real casino, which means you have to take your time to read the other players.
We really like that, along with the fact that rake is comparatively low. It’s not as low as it used to be, but with $0.01 collected for every $0.20 in the pot, we don’t think that’s too shabby at all.
Moreover, Bovada is a really soft site for US players, with sensible buy-ins that are coupled with big guarantees.
We’re not huge fans of the VIP scheme or the lack of an official license, but overall Bovada is hard to beat when it comes to its all-round online poker experience. Traffic is very good, too.
3. BetOnline – Best Online Poker Site for Sports Betting
- Excellent software
- Number 3 in the US for poker traffic
- Bitcoin accepted
We were going to give the “best for sports betting” accolade to Bovada, but decided that BetOnline edges it simply because Bovada does poker a little bit better.
That isn’t to say that BetOnline can’t offer an accomplished online poker experience – it can. It’s consistently listed as one of the top 3 online poker rooms available to US players, it uses top notch software, and there is a huge variety of poker variants here.
These include No Limit Hold’em, Omaha and Stud.
However, it’s worth mentioning that if you live in Washington, Nevada, Delaware, Pennsylvania or New Jersey, you won’t be able to play poker here.
You can, however, still access the sportsbook, which we think is one of the best around. With ample live betting opportunities, lots of sports variety and bonuses, flipping between the poker rooms and the sportsbook will be a lot of fun for some players.
4. America’s CardRoom – Best Bitcoin Poker Site
- Free and fast Bitcoin withdrawals
- Big tournaments
- Safe site since 2001
America’s CardRoom doesn’t command quite the same traffic as Ignition and Bovada, but it’s still a major league poker site that’s worth a look – especially if you wish to play via Bitcoin and are finding it hard to find a US site that accepts the digital coin.
Indeed, Bitcoin withdrawals are quick and free and there are zero fees involved (unless you want to convert your BTC into another currency). This is a major boon because it’s not easy for US players to find a Bitcoin casino.
But let’s get down to the poker. America’s CardRoom’s ace in the pack is its Texas Hold’em variant, which is its best for traffic. It seems that most players are drawn to this game, and you can play against a variety of skill levels.
Even better, Texas Hold’em has a no-limit version available.
There are also multi-table tournaments available, a $215 buy-in tournament each Sunday, and while it’s a little bit frustrating that players from Nevada aren’t accepted here, it gets the big thumbs up overall.
5. Red Dog Casino – Best for Video Poker
- 350+ casino real money games
- Demo online poker games available
- Live dealer games
Red Dog Casino is another reputable online casino site that accepts US players. A generous welcome bonus is on the table for new players, as are regular promos thereafter.
Bitcoin is accepted, along with a good variety of other payment methods, but it’s video poker where Red Dog Casino truly excels. Here, you’ll find a huge selection of video poker games, including Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, and Jacks or Better.
What we’re not too keen on is the fact that navigation isn’t the best, and it can take a while navigating through the site and finding the online poker rooms.
Other than that, there are 350+ games in total, with 300 available on mobile, as well as plenty of live dealer games.
6. InterTops – Best Poker Site for Rakeback
- 36% rakeback
- Non-stop tournaments
- Excellent customer support
InterTops belongs to the Horizon Poker Network, which helps to establish its credibility. Rakeback is pegged at 36% which is very decent, there are plenty of low-stake tournaments to get stuck into here, and we see InterTops as being very much aimed at the recreational player.
This is largely because this casino site is much softer than many other poker sites. It won’t be unusual for you to get to know other players, simply because the same old faces tend to rock up each day.
Fixed prizes go as high as $1,000, which naturally won’t suit high-stakes gamblers, but for American’s who just want to have a bit of fun playing the likes of Pot Limit Omaha, InterTops is a solid option.
7. Black Chip Poker – Best for Poker Tournaments
- Big tournament prize pools
- 100+ active tables
- VIP program
Black Chip Poker belongs to the Winning Poker Network. Traffic is good, the tournament schedule is excellent but a lack of a mobile client is a mark against it.
Still, we see Black Chip Poker as one of the best poker rooms on the internet right now for US players because of its huge tournament prize pools. It’s not unusual for a tournament to offer a pot as big as $1,000,000, and most tournaments (as many as 9 out of 10) accept re-entry.
HUD is supported, the site accepts players from most states, and Bitcoin is accepted as a payment method.
8. Juicy Stakes – Best Soft Poker Site
- Low rakeback
- Generous welcome bonus
- Easy to navigate site
We’ve included a few soft sites on this list, but for US players we have to argue that Juicy Stakes is the best soft poker room. This is simply because both the tournaments and the cash games are softer than any other US online poker room.
Indeed, rake back is 36%.
User experience is good, both pro players and recreational players could have a good time here, and there’s a generous welcome offer available.
One of the slight drawbacks is that high-stakes games have poor traffic, but since most players who use the site prefer the small buy-in tournaments, it’s not a major problem.
9. PokerStars – Best Best Online Poker Site for Traffic
- 5,800+ players each day
- Daily tournaments
- Top-notch gaming software
PokerStars is one of the biggest online poker sites that’s been accepting US players for years. It’s been around for 20 years, it’s totally legit and payouts are fast and reliable.
And when we say it’s “best for traffic,” we mean it – when it comes to US players, no other poker room has more. Each tournament is able to attract a huge amount of players, while even the mobile app has multiple tournaments and cash games.
Somewhat frustratingly, the best players are punished with decreased rewards and there is no rakeback, but there are plenty of payment methods available and lots of fun to be had here for serious players.
10. Cafe Casino – Best for Poker Bonuses
- Attractive welcome bonus
- Fast payouts
- Hundreds of casino games
Cafe Casino is an all-round casino that offers a poker section. It offers a few variants, including video poker, along with the usual mix of table games and slots.
It scoops our award for the best bonus because its welcome offer for US players is generous, and there are further promos on offer once you become a regular player.
Cafe Casino doesn’t specialize in poker as much as many other sites on our list, but if you want a general casino experience and wish to flip flop between different games, it might be a worthy option.
Online Poker FAQs
Is Online Poker Legal in the US?
As long as your specific state permits it, you remain within state lines while gambling, and the site you sign up to is legal in the US (and accepts US online poker players), you can play online legally in the US with the best sites for online gambling.
The Difference Between USA and EU Poker Sites
There isn’t too much of a difference when it comes to online poker between US and EU online poker sites. Both offer the same variant of poker, such as Texas Hold’em and Omaha, along with different buy-ins and prize pools.
When it comes to real-life poker sites, the difference is in the size. American poker rooms are often huge, while EU poker rooms tend to be smaller. But again, it all depends where you go.
Is Internet Poker Like Playing Live Poker?
For some, when they play poker online, the experience is just as good as live poker. For others, it’s a poor substitute – but a substitute they’re willing to accept all the same. It’s usually a similar situation for other online games such as online sports betting.
However, the rules are exactly the same, the games tend to move at the same speed, and you can play for free or for real money playing poker online – just as you would when playing live poker.
Perhaps the major difference is that online poker lacks the same atmosphere and buzz as live poker in a proper casino setting.
Are Online Poker Sites Rigged?
All fully-licensed US online poker sites are legit and not rigged. They are held to account by online poker regulation, and while a player may feel as though the house is cheating when they experience multiple losses, the reality is that it’s almost impossible for a gambling site to cheat. Players searching for top slots online and other games also ask this but if a casino is licensed this shouldn’t be an issue.
What Is the Best Online Poker Software?
Some of the best poker softwares available right now includes Simple GTO Trainer, which helps you to assess every single conceivable situation in poker games. You can use it to map out strategies and essentially plan for any situation you may come across.
We also like HoldEm Manager, which helps you analyze your opponent and how they play, as well as PIO Solver, which is all about analyzing game theory so that you know what to do whenever specific problems arise.
How Does Traffic Influence a Poker Room?
Put simply, when a poker room has good levels of traffic, it means there will be more poker players for you to compete against all day (and night) long.
Subsequently, when there are more poker players to compete against at poker sites, there are also likely to be weaker players who you can prey upon and eat alive. In other words – fish.
What Kind of Bonuses and Promotions Can I Get With Online Poker?
The main bonus you can get is the first deposit bonus, which is available to new players and can be as high as $5,000 depending on the site. Sometimes, a site will even offer a no deposit welcome bonus if you’re lucky. Sites can offer bonuses on different games including poker
Either way, the welcome bonus is your best chance of getting your poker account up and running because it lets you play a few games without risking your own money. Cafe Casino is our top pick for bonuses, but there are plenty of other top sites that offer attractive welcome bonuses.
How Do I Deposit and Withdraw Money?
Depositing and withdrawing money is simple enough – you just need to head over to the “banking” section of the poker room, select “deposit” or “withdrawal,” choose your preferred method and then follow the on-screen instructions.
Do US Poker Sites Accept Bitcoin?
More and more US poker sites now accept Bitcoin, including America’s CardRoom and Bovada which are among the best casinos with Bitcoin. Not all US sites accept BTC yet, but we fully expect more to add this payment method as the year progresses.
How Should I Choose the Best Online Poker Site?
The first thing you should consider is what kind of player you are – a newbie, a recreational poker player, or a pro? Then, you should take into account things like player traffic, tournament buy-ins (how low, how high), as well as poker variants (does this site offer your preferred poker variant?).
Aside from poker, other important things to consider include payment methods, reputability (read poker site reviews and check the licensing), payouts, and usability as a US player.
Also, if you want to play casino games other than poker, this is something else to check out. Casino sites offer a variety of other games and specialize in bingo games, slot games, roulette games, online CSGO gambling, and many more.
Final Word on the Best Online Poker Sites in the US
These are the best poker sites online that are legal in the US. If you want to play online poker at a top site, there is a lot here to consider. However, we always recommend that you do your own research too so that you’re 100% comfortable at whichever casino site you sign up to.
Whatever you decided to do, we wish you the best of luck!
If you suffer from a gambling problem or suspect somebody you know does, then we strongly suggest that you call Gambler’s Anonymous at 1-626-960-3500 to talk with an advisor for help and to make gambling safer for you or your loved ones.
Underage gambling is an offense, all sites are 18+ ONLY. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly and only bet what you can afford. Casinos listed on our site may not be available in your region. Check your local laws to ensure online gambling is available and legal where you live.
Visit these organizations for free gambling addiction resources:
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