1. What Are The Best Free Online Poker Sites
2. Worst Online Poker Sites For Us Players
3. What Are The Safest Online Poker Sites
4. Worst Online Poker Sites

Can you take action against a bad poker site or find worse players at some sites? People have been successful in Europe (as players as well), but none will win a case against a poker site that accepts US business… For the vast majority of poker players, their experience with online poker is a positive one and looking for a site with the worst players is a popular strategy to get an edge. For most average players even if they lose their deposit, they’ve had fun and enjoyed playing. If they win, they’re probably going to lose it back to a better player. We believe that Betonline.ag (site review) has the worst players and is the easiest site to make money off bad players.

Top 100 Poker Sites.Bear in mind that the online poker industry is constantly changing and in-flux when reviewing our Best Poker Sites; the data and research we have done on these rooms was up-to-date at the time, but may have changed since our research was first done –this is especially true for US-friendly poker rooms in a post-Black Friday world. Online Poker is Rigged Because Poker Sites Intentionally Generate Action. This point is a consequence of the above point: Some players are of the opinion (especially if they are losing players) that poker rooms intentionally generate action by assigning players strong hands with which they will go broke.

I always consider playing at any poker site that is in connection with a sportsbook due to an instant advantage. The people who are sports bettors or even better if you can find them, casino players, are the most valuable types of players. Any poker site operating a large online sportsbook is usually easier winnings and thus the mention above. They either don’t know how to play or they are inherently retarded because they play casino games for money on the internet, probably the dumbest thing that is more popular than people realize.

Now, I’d like to discuss my list of the worst poker sites to ever exist. Note that while it is relatively long, but considering thousands of poker rooms have existed in an unregulated environment, it’s not that long. Here is a fact. I advertised a site and clearly mentioned before and after a notice about how management was found cheating the software (old UB scandal) and the results were that I had MORE signups to the poker room. Whether people wanted to see how they cheated or try and cheat themselves I have no idea but in the end they deposited, played, and didn’t care.

Worst Poker Operators of All Time

Sometimes sites went broke because of incompetence (ex: ultimate poker), with site owners and managers being simply too inexperienced to run an online poker room. Other times, management knowingly chooses to mislead and deceive their clients for personal financial gain which classifies them in our worst poker sites list mentioned below. After the US government became more aggressive, loss of payment processors, frozen funds, and criminal indictments all became additional causes of poker sites going under. In the regulated US market, sites will have a near impossible time competing against the WSOP and PokerStars monopolies.

Online poker legislation is gaining ground in several states and is legal in Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. However, most online players in the United States are still playing on foreign sites in unregulated markets.

Laws passed against overseas operators have put a massive dent in the industry in the past ten years. The passage of the UIGEA in 2006[A] criminalized foreign operators and forced many sites to leave the market.

Even before anti-online-gambling laws were passed, players had their fair share of issues with rogue operators. The sites below that had and have bad reviews should serve as cautionary tales to online poker players. Unless you’re playing in one of the states where it’s legal at a regulated site, it’s paramount to keep an eye on the latest news.

Anyone Remember Pitbull Poker?

Pitbull Poker was an online poker room that was formed in May 2004. They were one of the few online poker sites to offer their room solely in a no-download format. Their software was a browser-based client that used Java.

Pitbull was never a large poker room. They were a smaller room on what was called the Flash Poker Network. At the time, they offered a free $10 no-deposit bonus, which drew players to the tables. They also utilized prop players, which were used to start games and keep games going in an attempt to make the site grow. The pay for props was usually around 100% rakeback.

I had the displeasure of propping for Pitbull Poker during 2008–09, shortly before their closure. The pay was impressive (125% rakeback), but there was always something eerie about the play on that site. I often felt my opponents could read my hands based on their play. It turned out – they could!

Pitbull Poker had what were called “super users.” They employed a staff of “players” that could see the hole cards of others. This was first alleged at the 2+2 Forum in August 2009[B] and was validated two months later by a former employee[C].

Soon after this story broke, PitBull shut their doors and took all player funds with them which is why they are listed as one of the worst sites on this article. Their site went offline, and that was that. While a forum employee alleged that he and other super users were taking “$5,000 a week from players,” it’s unlikely that users lost much at Pitbull.

Though they opened their doors in 2004, Pitbull was never a large poker site and was mostly a non-player in the market. They survived due to their small no-deposit bonus offer, paying propositions players, and ripping off the few players that deposited.

JetSet Poker Went Down Badly

JetSet was another site that I frequented as a prop player during online poker’s heyday in the United States. They, like Pitbull Poker, used a stable of prop players in many of their games but did attract considerably more customers. JetSet was much more successful than Pitbull but was still a small room for the time.

They had a vibrant micro and low-limits player base and offered plenty of freeroll tournaments. Most of their action topped out in the middle limits. They also had some of the best software around. Their product could be best described as an earlier version of Full Tilt Poker’s. Players could choose multiple avatars, and the software was quite advanced for the time, especially for a small site.

Just about a week after the UIGEA passed through Congress in October, JetSet sent a message to players through their software that they were shutting down their operations. They later posted on their website that they were forced to close down due to US regulations.

The site shut down within 15 minutes, and despite issuing a statement, there was no promise to repay players or even a mention of balances. Making matters even more suspicious, they accepted deposits up until the minute they told players they were shutting down. It doesn’t get much worse than that for poker players.

Casinomeister reported that players could email JetSet management and provide a name and address to receive their funds. JetSet said it would take 6–12 weeks to process these payments. Though some players later report being paid in forums, it appears the vast majority were not.

There were also allegations that JetSet was operating illegally in the United States. Their parent company, JSP Interactive, had offices in Malta, but their phone numbers were fake. The company’s only email contact was to a dormant address.

JetSet’s software company, BH Development, filed for bankruptcy back in 2008 but was bought clandestinely by Cardroom International. They sued Full Tilt and PokerStars in 2011 after Black Friday, alleging that these companies monopolized advertising on major US television networks.

That claim was dismissed but was followed by a lawsuit claiming that Full Tilt illegally acquired JetSet’s software. Cardroom International bought BH Development in 2006. The case has yet to be fully settled, and, in what seems to be an uphill battle for Cardroom International in court, even more charges were dismissed in the latest update.

Regardless of the lawsuit, players were never paid in full. JetSet can offer all the excuses they want, but they could have easily paid players through a number of different methods after their closure. They also lured players into depositing up until their final minutes of operation and had several slow-pays dating back a few months before the time they closed their virtual doors.

It’s unclear how much JetSet stole from players when they went under, but many reported losing accounts in the four-figure range and some in the low five-figures. It was at least several hundred thousand dollars and possibly upwards of half a million. Again, if you start receiving bad customer service, long withdrawal times, or start reading bad reviews on certain poker websites, stay away from them. It’s mostly likely a red flag something is going on and they are up to no good.

World Poker Exchange (WSEX)

The World Poker Exchange was the product of WSEX.com, which was one of the largest online sportsbooks before their closure in April 2013. The sportsbook, which was formed in 1996, was one of the largest in the world until things started going downhill for the business in 2009.

In April 2006, WSEX launched the World Poker Exchange (WPEX). What made WPEX different from other online poker rooms was that players received 100% rakeback. This model had been tried previously by other sites and had failed.

Since their poker room took no rake (though it did take a rake from other network skins), they operated at a net loss. However, their goal was to drive customers to the site, hoping that the increased poker traffic would lead to more poker players wandering over to the sportsbook and casino sections of the site.

Traffic quickly grew at WPEX, and the room quickly developed a solid player base. The room’s success was short-lived, however, as there were many complaints about bots and cheating. WPEX didn’t respond accordingly with their security team and offered little or no oversight to the play at their room. They eventually made changes, but there were still issues with collusion and security.

This caused many players to leave the room, despite the lucrative promotion. The software was also far inferior to the many other more advanced poker clients. There were frequent slowdowns and crashes.

The lack of trust in game’s integrity and software issues ultimately led to a massive decrease in traffic, and WPEX was now labeled as a bad poker site to play at. About a year after opening their doors, WPEX reduced the rakeback percentage to 90%. In the coming months, the rate began to go lower and lower. After about a year, the rakeback percentage was at 50%. Soon after, the room decided to end their rakeback promotion altogether.

After the room had been dormant for many years and WSEX had had payout issues of their own, WPEX closed in February 2012. At the time of their closure, the room only had a few dozen players per week frequenting their rooms.

The closure of their WPEX was a sign of things to come for the sportsbook. Slow-pay complaints began to surface around 2009. By 2013, they owed players more than $1 million in backed withdrawals requests.

In March of that year, they closed their doors without paying players. Rumor has it that they even stiffed their local employees on their final paychecks. The staff left a message on WSEX.com saying that they, “sincerely apologized for this unfortunate situation” and they would do the best they could to rectify it.

That was the last players had heard from WSEX before it went offline completely. It’s a sad story that saw some of the industry’s most innovative and popular sportsbooks end in failure. One of WSEX’s co-founders, Steve Schillinger, committed suicide a month later in Antigua.

PokerSpot Was The First Poker Site

PokerSpot was one of the very first online poker rooms. It may have been the second to go online after Planet Poker launched in January 1998. The site was founded by professional poker player Dutch Boyd[D].

PokerSpot launched in May 2000 and was one of the first rooms in all of online poker to offer tournaments. They grabbed many players who craved tournament action, something that many other sites in the industry did not yet offer.

Online poker at this time was an emerging industry, with only a handful of players and sites. This was several years before the “Poker Boom”[E], which began in 2003. There were no such things as e-wallets or electronic checks. Players’ only deposit option was credit or debit cards, and they could only request withdrawals via mail.

PokerSpot ran into troubles in 2001. Withdrawals slowed to a crawl, and it is widely believed that Dutch Boyd ordered his staff to stop processing withdrawals while also telling players that it was business as usual at PokerSpot.

Boyd, along with his other investors, hoped that the recent surge in online poker’s popularity would provide an influx of deposits, which could help them process their already backlogged withdrawals. In the online sports betting world, this is known as operating “on the float.”

PokerSpot closed their doors in the fall of 2001, and players were out in excess of $400,000. Bailout packages were discussed, with several online casinos and poker rooms showing interested in PokerSpot’s software platform.

However, a deal never did materialize. Boyd reportedly wanted more money for his software and turned down a deal that would have had his players reimbursed. After screwing over his players at PokerSpot, Boyd started RakeFree.com, a subscription-based online poker room. This project also failed.

Dutch Boyd did go onto to gain popularity on the tournament circuit as a player. He won over $2 million from tournaments and won two WSOP bracelets. At no time did he attempt to pay back PokerSpot’s players after winning his millions.

Boyd is still active in the online poker community, which has changed drastically since the days of PokerSpot. In 2013, he launched a Kick-starter campaign to fund an autobiography called Poker Tilt, which chronicles his last decade in the poker world.

As of mid-2015, the book has still yet to be released but is sold through his website for the pre-order price of $24.99. Considering all the people he has wronged in the poker world, I doubt he will sell many copies of his forthcoming book.

Cereus Network (Absolute Poker and UltimateBet)

The Cereus Network, which consisted of Absolute Poker and UltimateBet, will go down as one of the worst online poker scams of all time. UltimateBet was launched in 2001, and Absolute Poker was first launched in 2003, based out of Costa Rica.

They were licensed by well-known regulators the Kahnawake Gaming Commission[F], which operates out of Indian Territory in Canada. The sites were both eventually part of the Cereus umbrella but didn’t merge until Absolute’s parent company, Blanca Games, bought them after the passage of the UIGEA.

Like many sites during this period, Absolute Poker used proposition players to start games and create action so that others would sign up and deposit. I had the pleasure of propping at Absolute Poker for the first few years of my online poker career. We got paid 100% rakeback but had special seating rules that required us to start games. It was an excellent program and perfect for players learning the game. Overall, I enjoyed playing there, and the action was good.

Of course, like other sites, the fact that it used proposition players was not openly advertised. There wasn’t anything wrong with this, as it was common practice at many other poker rooms at the time. The prop program did end eventually, once the site became more popular and achieved strong liquidity for their games.

After some small hiccups after launching, Absolute did quite well and were a mid-level online poker site in the crowded market that existed until the UIGEA was passed in late 2006. After the law had been passed, many other sites left the market, giving Absolute more market share. However, their early years of success were short-lived, as they were implicated in perhaps the biggest cheating scandal the online poker world has ever seen.

In 2007, a cheating scandal emerged at both Absolute Poker and UltimateBet. The scandal was such big news that is even made the television program 60 Minutes as a lead story. Not only were large amounts of theft committed, but for the first time, we saw an online poker room cheat its own players at the tables.

Using an exploit in the software that was originally put in for test purposes, some of Absolute’s higher-ups had the ability to see the hole cards of the entire table as the action played out each hand. “User 365” was the screen name that had this ability, and though the account was not able to play at the tables, it could see everyone’s cards in real-time.

It was soon discovered that User 365 was observing a significant number of games at Absolute Poker, including high-limit cash games and large tournaments. The observer account was also tied to the user “Potripper.” Wherever Potripper was playing, User 365 was also spectating at the same tables.

Potripper’s win rate was shockingly high. At 2+2 Forum, posters discovered that AP had a compromised “super user” account that could see players’ hole cards. Here’s a link to the archived thread[G] from October 2007.

Potripper’s win rate was impossible for even the best online poker players. The red dot on this graph[H] represents Potripper’s win rate compared to some of the best players on Absolute Poker at the time. As you can see, there’s no doubt that Potripper had an unfair advantage. No poker player, despite their skill level, could produce this kind of win rate.

After further examination of the hands, it was clear that Potripper wasn’t even trying to conceal the account’s advantage. The avatar was logged in from Costa Rica, where AP’s offices were located.

Furthermore, he did nothing to disguise his play with the fact that he could see other players’ hole cards. He regularly called down opponents with meager holdings. His play during a $1,000 NL tournament raised huge red flags. The entire tournament (where User 365 fed him hole card information) and his play are still available on YouTube which is shown below; it’s pretty mind-boggling to watch.

UltimateBet had a similar cheating scandal that had gone on since 2005. Shortly after the sites merged to form the Cereus Network, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission stated that it found clear and convincing evidence of cheating at UltimateBet and Absolute Poker from 2004–2008, which resulted in both sites getting the worst reviews on poker forums and news articles.

Their report alleged that Russ Hamilton, poker professional and consultant for UltimateBet, was the ringleader of the cheating scandal. The Commission ordered that Cereus refund victims of Potripper and other users at both sites, which amounted to $22 million in refunds into victims’ accounts.

The Cereus Network never fully regained the trust of players, but it was still a relatively popular network for several years, up until April 15th, 2011. On that day, the US Department of Justice charged several online poker site operators and payment processors with UIGEA violations and other crimes. The Cereus Network, both Absolute Poker and UltimateBet, were named in the indictment. Dubbed “Black Friday” for online poker the United States, it was a crushing blow to the industry.

Like Full Title Poker, Cereus had mismanaged their finances for a long time, and that became abundantly clear after the Black Friday indictments. Unlike PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, they still allowed US players to log in and play at their tables. However, they didn’t process any withdrawals to US customers after the indictments.

The amount lost by players to Cererus is estimated to be at least $50 million, which marked them as two of the worst poker websites in the history of online poker. The company had just a few million dollars after Black Friday and stayed open for several more months before ultimately shutting down for good.

Brett Beckley, one of the few names attached to the Cereus Network, turned himself into US authorities shortly after Black Friday. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 months in jail in 2012. He was released in 2014.

His half brother, Scott Tom, who also had a part in the founding of Absolute Poker, continues to reside in Antigua. He faces a potential 80-year prison sentence if he leaves the island, though the US government is aware of his whereabouts.

Author Ben Mezrich wrote the book Straight Flush[I], which chronicles the rise and fall of Absolute Poker and the Cereus Network. It has interviews with Scott Tom, Brett Beckley, and others involved in the formation of the site.

Blanca Games, the parent company behind the Cereus Network and both Absolute Poker and UltimateBet, reached an agreement with the US Department of Justice in November 2012. However, the deal provided little relief to players, as funds from the liquidation had already been promised to other parties.

Players will be able file for a remission if there are funds left over, but as of April 2015, the remission process has not started. It’s unknown how much of the 50+ million dollars owed to players will be available for repayment. It’s likely players will have to settle for 10 cents on the dollar or less, and it’s certainly possible players won’t receive any remission at all.

Full Tilt Poker

Full Tilt Poker’s fall from grace was the biggest in online poker’s history. All it took was one afternoon for Full Tilt to fall from the second largest poker site in history to a company that was later proven to be insolvent.

Full Tilt first launched in 2004 in the midst of the golden age of online poker. They were the first site that was professional-player focused and used the fame of many of the poker world’s biggest stars in their marketing.

Poker professionals Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, and many more were all heavily involved in the company. FTP was almost an overnight success. Their heavy poker-pro marketing drew players to the tables. They had many commercials across US television that advertised their play money software and had the slogan, “Learn, Chat and Play with the Pros”.

Their software was also likely the best in the industry. As mentioned above, it’s alleged that Full Tilt Poker illegally acquired JetSet Poker’s software, but the lawsuit alleged by Cardroom International has never gone anywhere in court.

The similarities between the two clients are striking. JetSet’s client was already fantastic, and Full Tilt’s product seemed like an upgraded version. Both had similar avatars that only those two sites utilized at the time.

The passage of the UIGEA in 2006 criminalized online gambling operators who took bets or provided online poker to US citizens, which caused a large number of sites to leave the market. Most notable was Party Poker, which was the largest site for much of the earlier years of online poker.

Any company operating in the country that was publicly traded on a large stock exchange was virtually forced out because their shareholders could be criminally liable. This included Party Poker and many gaming industry giants based out of Europe. The online casino and sportsbook industry servicing the United States was also drastically affected.

Full Tilt and rival PokerStars made the decision to stay in the market, and their business went to the next level. PokerStars started a run that made them the world’s largest poker site, a title they still hold today. Full Tilt Poker also grew rapidly. They were easily the second largest site in the world behind PokerStars.

Both sites enjoyed an unprecedented level of success in the next five years. However, little did they know that the US Department of Justice had been building a case against both sites that would bring them to their knees.

On April 11th, 2011, the US Southern District Court of New York unsealed an indictment against the founders of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and the Cererus Network. The indictment alleged that the online poker companies violated the UIGEA and engaged in money laundering and bank fraud. They also froze hundreds of millions in assets across several sites.

Within hours after the indictment, real-money play by US players was suspended at Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars. The sites had just dealt their final hands in the US online poker market.

To cut a long story short, PokerStars and Full Tilt both agreed to leave the US market, and the DOJ allowed them a period of one week to return funds to their customers through electronic checks transfers a few weeks later. However, while PokerStars paid all of their players within a week, Full Tilt Poker’s payments were delayed.

Both Full Tilt and PokerStars continued their operations in overseas markets, but unbeknownst to many, Full Tilt Poker was insolvent. After getting large portions of their cash frozen by the US government, they weren’t able to process more than 100 million dollars in e-checks.

Despite knowing their coffers were bare, they continued to accept player deposits from international players for several months while US players waited for payment. This led to many updates by Full Tilt representatives that assured players that a resolution would soon be worked out.

However, Full Tilt’s problems were too numerous. Not only did they have issues with defunct e-checks, loss of payment processors, and funds frozen by the US government, but the inner dealings of the company were also a mess. Player deposits were being used for withdrawals, and professional players involved with FTP had taken money off the top while some owed millions of dollars in loans; bad news for players who had money in their accounts at Full Tilt.

Full Tilt had their Alderney Gaming Commission license suspended in July 2011, and operations at the poker room ceased immediately worldwide. As the situation became clearer to the public, the once mighty poker room was looking for a bailout. They owed over $334 million in player funds that they did not have.

During the next year, there were many suitors for Full Tilt, but a deal wasn’t made quickly. A French gambling company Groupe Bernard Tapie came close to purchasing FTP, but with so many issues and parties involved, it fell through. Hopes of getting paid began to look bleak for players, but in July 2012, a surprise buyer emerged.

PokerStars worked out a deal[J] with the DOJ to pay them $546 million over three years, which would reimburse all players and give them control of Full Tilt’s holdings, including their software.

The sale to PokerStars saved players worldwide from losing their bankrolls and included terms that allowed PokerStars to re-enter the market if online poker was legalized in the United States. So far, it has been legalized in Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey. PokerStars was approved to operate in New Jersey on September 30, 2015, and plans to be operational a few months after.

Even though PokerStars purchased Full Tilt in 2012, it would take another two years or more for US players to receive their bankrolls. The rest of the world’s players were paid much sooner, but US citizens had to go through a lengthy remission process. As of November 2015, 92% of petitioners have been paid, but the process has still yet to be fully completed[K].

Full Tilt Poker launched again in November 2012, and while they haven’t come close to their player numbers pre-Black Friday, they have settled in as the fifth most popular poker site in the world.

Many of the professional players associated with Full Tilt, especially Chris Ferguson and Howard Lederer came out of the debacle with tarnished reputations. Their greed, mismanagement of the poker room, and outright theft of player funds make this well deserved.

Full Tilt’s story could have easily ended up with the loss of $334 million in player funds, but luckily, PokerStars came in and saved the day. No one from the outside could have predicted the financial shape the company was in when they were indicted in 2011. Fortunately, players were paid, and disaster was averted.

Lock Poker – ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, THE WORST EVER!

UPDATE May, 2015: Lock Poker has gone offline as of April 17, 2015. While LockPoker.eu is still active, the client and poker network are both no longer active. On April 29th, they also lost their license by the Curacao Gaming license. Their sister network skin, Superwins also still has an active webpage. Support has gone offline for both email and live chat.

Estimates lost by players is between $13-15 million. That money is almost certainly gone for good, as Lock Poker funds were trading as low as 10 cents on the dollar on 2+2 Forum. At this time, there appears to be no options for players to receive funds lost to Lock Poker and its properties.

Lock Poker is the only site on our list that is still operating today. At this point, they will likely go down in history as one of the worst online poker scams in history. As of April 2015, Lock owes players more than $1 million in backlogged withdrawals.

Lock Poker originally launched in 2008 on the Cake Poker Network. They were relatively unknown on that network but gained a lot more popularity after moving to the Merge Gaming Network in 2010.

Lock got off on the wrong foot with Merge Gaming from the start. They advertised promotions that broke network rules and had bonus and VIP programs for players that seemed too good to be true. They were also accused by many other network sites of “poaching” players from other network skins. Others worried about their small margins due to their high overhead and seemingly limitless promotions.

After burning their bridges with Merge management, Lock then rejoined the Cake Poker Network in 2012, which was renamed the Revolution Gaming Network. At the time, many outlets reported that Lock Poker had purchased Cake Poker and the network, but this turned out not to be the case.

Lock cash-out issues also began around this time and bad reviews on the site started popping up all over the internet. Other network skins had issues with Lock Poker not paying their network fees. Lock began to ring-fence some of their cash game tables from the rest of the network. In late 2013, they left Revolution Gaming altogether and formed a new network with new software.

Lock even tried to launch a skin for their network in 2014 under the name Superwins Poker. The site uses Lock Poker’s software, and their website has a nearly identical layout. It should go without saying that Superwins should be avoided.

Lock is still operating, but almost no players populate their tables. At this point, funds on Lock Poker are basically worthless, and the prospect of players being paid is close to zero. However, many poker portals and other online gambling sites still tout Lock Poker as a legitimate online poker room. Some even give them positive reviews.

Lock Poker’s promotions and poor margins likely doomed them from the start, but their management has long been deceptive to both the industry and their clients. Support no longer answers emails relating to withdrawal issues but is still happy to help players deposit.

It’s unfortunate that some unsuspecting players are still tricked into depositing at Lock Poker. Who knows how long they can have their doors open with almost no money coming in these days – hopefully, not for much longer.

Author:Joseph Falchetti (twitter)
(C) Copyright PokerWebsites.com, 2018

References and Citations

In the following article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about poker sites. We’ll even give you our recommendations for the best poker sites, and we’ll explain why those sites rank better than their competitors. On top of that, we’ll talk about the different types of
games you can play at poker sites, while also answering important questions you may have about the process. To get you started, here’s our list of the best poker sites on the internet.

Online poker sites provide the same kind of exciting action that you would find at your local casino or poker room. Games are set up with other poker players, and the stakes found online can be similar as in-person casinos. The convenience and ease of this action gives poker enthusiasts many reasons to consider playing online instead of in person.

The world of poker took off around the turn of the new millennium and hasn’t really stopped growing since. More than ever, that growth is driven by gamblers who are now heading to poker sites to play online for real money. But admittedly, the online poker world might be a little bit difficult for new players to navigate and understand.

Best Sites to Play Real Money Online Poker

As we said above, it can be tricky for newcomers to figure out where to play poker online with money. And the first thing you have to do is choose a site to play your favorite games. To get you started, here’s our list of the best poker sites on the internet.

It’s important for you to understand that we did a lot of research before coming up with our list of the best online poker sites. We reviewed a lot of feedback from hardcore players, so it’s not like we came up with this list at random.

In fact, all of the listed sites on this page offer the best possible experience for poker players who want to win real money.

What is it that makes these poker websites and mobile poker apps so valuable to players? To understand that, it’s important to dive into the process behind playing poker online. And by that, we mean highlighting the qualities that the best poker sites should have to give you the most complete gambling experience.

What Makes a Great Online Poker Site?

When it comes to choosing the best poker sites, there isn’t just one factor that stands out among the rest. As a matter of fact, there are several components to the process. Let’s take a close look so that you’ll know what to look for when you go searching for sites to play poker games online on your own.

Safety and Security

If you’re going to be playing at poker sites for real money, that means you have to provide personal and financial information. In addition, when it comes to leaving money in your gambling account, you have to trust that the site is reliable and has security protocols in place. The best poker sites always reassure you that they are trustworthy and that they’ll never scam you out of your money.

Reputation and History

It can be tempting to join a new poker site when it’s throwing out decent promotions offers. But the benefit of choosing established poker sites is that they’ve already been around long enough to have perfected and streamlined the entire process. That’s why it’s important to choose the best real money online poker sites that have respectable and trusted reputations among other online poker players.

Real Money Poker Game Variety

As we’ll see in a later section, there are many different games that fall under the umbrella of poker and, ideally, you should have access to most of the same games played in poker rooms throughout the world. But variety goes beyond that. The best poker sites should also let you play other casino games as well. In fact, it would be great if you could place sports bets too, which would keep all your gambling action in one place.

Bonuses and Promotions

Getting a little something extra to help with your bankroll when gambling on poker is something that every player covets. The best poker sites deliver this by handing out bonuses when you sign up, when you reload your account, when you hit VIP levels, and so on. They’ll also spice things up with promotions that arrive periodically to help you make the most out of your betting money.

Banking Options

This is an underrated part of the online gambling process, but it’s one that you shouldn’t overlook. You should always try to choose the best real money poker sites that give you the most possibilities for withdrawing and depositing money. That will give you some flexibility if, for example, your favorite credit card doesn’t allow you to use funds for online gambling.

Popularity and Player Count

Unlike some casino games—like video poker, online slots, or blackjack—that can be played by a single person, you need multiple people to play poker. As a result, the best poker sites are those that attract a wide base of customers. Once that’s in place, you can rest assured knowing there will never be a shortage of games going on or, more importantly, a shortage of players for those games.

User Interface and Overall Experience

When you’re dealing with technology, which can sometimes be confusing for people, it’s always better if the process is simple and smooth. The best poker sites can bring that to you with an intuitive interface that is easy to understand. In addition, these sites should be free from technical difficulties that might interrupt a game and possibly cost you money.

Poker Games You Can Play Online

We mentioned above that there is great variety to be found at the top real money online poker sites. Here are some of the games that you can expect to play:

Texas Hold’em

This is the game that popularized the poker boom at the turn of the millennium, and it continues to be the most popular. Texas Hold’em is unpredictable and requires both luck and great savvy in terms of figuring out probabilities and making clever bets to be able to win.

Omaha Hi-Lo

This game can be an exciting one if you can get a grasp on the rules. You get four cards and have to pair them with three community cards. If more than one player survives the betting rounds, players will compete for two halves of the pot—one going to the high hand and one going to the low hand.

Razz

This is a play on Seven-Card Stud, but in an upside-down kind of fashion. You’ll be competing to see who forms the worst possible poker hand. Once you get a grasp on how poker hands are ranked, it’s just a matter of trying to think about whether your cards can go “lower” than others at the table.

Omaha

This game takes the concept of community cards from Hold’em but changes up the math. You’ll receive four hole cards, while three community cards are dealt to the table. The goal is to make the best five-card hand out of two of your hole cards and the three community cards.

Seven Card Stud

Betting plays an important part of this game at poker gambling sites, as there are more rounds of wagering than in other forms of poker. You’ll get two face-down cards, followed by another four that other players can see, followed by one more face-down card. Trying to guess what others have while deceiving them about what you have is the key.

Five Card Draw

Unlike the other games here, this variant actually allows you to improve your hand. You’ll get five cards, unknown to the other players, and you’ll have a chance to discard ones you don’t want for others drawn from the deck. This might be the most well-known of all card games by casual players who have tried it at home.

Different Types of Real Money Poker Sites

Below you’ll find information regarding the different types of poker websites you’ll encounter online. We also included information about poker bonuses as they are critical to consider when playing poker online.

Mobile Poker Apps

If you want to play real money poker online anytime and anywhere, you can’t be tethered to a computer. Mobile poker sites, usually achieved through gambling apps, solve this problem for you. With these apps, you can play online whenever you want. Some sites are already mobile-friendly and don’t require downloading an app. Just visit the poker site through your mobile browser, and you should be ready to go!

No-Download Poker Sites

No-download poker sites are beneficial if you have issues with downloading software for some reason. It could be because of specific download requirements or because you have certain limitations on your device. When you visit these real money online poker sites, everything you need is fully-functional without having to download a poker specific program.

Poker Sites for Beginners

These poker sites are best suited to those who are just starting out and learning how to play the various poker games available. They’ll usually offer lower betting limits and might also be filled with other players who are just starting out. Using poker sites for beginners can help you get your feet wet when it comes to playing online.

Texas Holdem Poker Sites

If you want to play the most popular version of poker—the same variant you’d find at the World Series of Poker—then these Texas Hold’em poker sites are ideal for you. In fact, they are focused on Texas Hold’em exclusively. Because of the intense popularity of this style of poker, you’ll always find plenty of action on these sites.

New Poker Sites for 2021

The online gambling industry is always growing and expanding. As a result of this, new poker sites are popping up all the time. With that in mind, we give you an in-depth look at which new real money online poker sites are worth your time and your business.

Bonuses for Real Money Online Poker

If you tend to judge your poker sites by the bonuses offered to you, then you should check out this page. We rank the sites based on which ones give you the best rewards for playing. Knowing this will help you make the most informed decision. For more on poker bonuses, scroll down to the next section.

Best Online Poker Bonuses for 2021

These days, it’s difficult to beat the experience of playing poker online. Thanks to the internet, it has never been easier to play real money poker than it is today. There are countless online sites out there offering real money games and fun variations on poker.

One of the aspects that sets the online poker experience apart from the classic, in-person version is the prevalence of bonuses. Online poker sites know they have plenty of competitors vying for your business. One way the best sites are able to separate themselves from said competition is by offering users special bonus offers. By taking advantage of these bonuses, you can vastly improve your bankroll before you have even played your first hand!

Not all bonuses are created equal, of course. Fortunately, we’ve done the hard part for you and arranged the best online poker bonuses in the industry into a handy list. The following are the most advantageous bonuses for those looking to win money playing poker in the USA today.

BetOnline – 100% Up To $1,000

If you have spent much time on our site in the past, you’re probably well aware that BetOnline is one of the best sports betting sites on the web. However, what you may not have realized is that BetOnline is also home to one of the best online poker sites and mobile poker apps you’ll find anywhere in the online gambling industry!

BetOnline has a special offer for poker players, too. New users looking to play real money poker online would be silly not to take advantage of BetOnline’s unique poker sign-up bonus. If you type in the promo code “NEWBOL” before you make your first deposit, you can redeem a bonus offer of 100% on top of the amount of your first deposit up to $1,000! After you grab your bonus, BetOnline will subsequently release $5 worth of bonus funds for every chunk of $50 you accrue in rake.

Bovada – 100% Up To $500

As is the case with BetOnline, most will be familiar with Bovada thanks to the site’s popular online sportsbook. However, Bovada is another site that also comes with a stellar online casino, too! And, yes, you can play real money poker at Bovada in their online poker room if you so choose. There is no dropoff in Bovada’s excellence from their sportsbook to their poker room, and both provide an outstanding online gambling experience.

Bovada’s poker bonus is a good one. After you have created your Bovada betting account, use the promo code “PWB500” when you make your initial deposit to grab a 100% poker bonus of up to $500! You will receive your bonus money in $5 increments for every 150 points you earn online via Bovada’s Rewards program. You can then use those bonus funds to play any of the exciting poker variants available at Bovada’s online poker room.

SportsBetting.ag – 100% Up To $1,000

SportsBetting.ag is operated by the same fine folks that run BetOnline. So, it should come as no surprise that SportsBetting.ag is another site that comes with a phenomenal poker bonus offering! If you’re looking for a safe site to play online poker in the United States that also offers an excellent bonus, SportsBetting.ag is your place.

In fact, it may look familiar. You can take advantage of the same poker sign-up bonus here that you will find at BetOnline. With the promo code “NEWSB,” you can redeem a bonus of 100% up to $1,000 when you make your first deposit at SportsBetting.ag. The money will be released to you in $5 increments for every $50 you generate in rake.

Ignition Poker – 100% Up To $1,000

Ignition Casino is one of the fastest-growing names in the online gambling space and one of the best poker websites. Unlike the other poker bonuses mentioned here, though, you don’t even need to remember a bonus code in order to grab Ignition’s poker bonus! New players stand to pad their bankroll by 100% up to $1,000 in all simply by playing real money poker games over at Ignition. Let us take a further look inside this poker bonus offer from Ignition Casino.

Any type of poker applies to your efforts to grab your extra funds. Ignition will release $1 into your account with every 30 Ignition Miles you earn on the site! This bonus applies to both new and existing users at Ignition, so what are you waiting for? This is one of the best online poker bonuses you will find anywhere in the industry.

USA Poker Sites

Before you can get started playing at poker sites in the US, you should think about legality. Depending on which sites you use, you could technically be doing something illegal. Thankfully, you won’t ever face any legal ramifications for it, although, there could be some hassles.

There are two laws which, according to some, make gambling at certain US poker sites illegal:

• The Federal Wire Act: This was established in 1961 with the aim of stopping illegal sports gambling. It includes a provision that says gambling by wire communications is illegal. Some interpret “wire communications” to mean the internet, but the internet wasn’t around in 1961.
• The UIGEA: This act came around in 2006. It was intended to stop payment processors, such as credit card companies and banks, from allowing their funds to be used for illegal gambling at US poker sites.

While these two laws might seem daunting, you have to consider which entities actually face legal ramifications if they spurn these laws:

• The sites, such as USA poker sites, that accept the wagers
• The payment processors who facilitate funding accounts

At no point have individual gamblers at poker sites ever faced any kind of legal action because of these two laws. Your biggest hassle from these two laws might be finding that one of your payment methods isn’t allowed. But it’s unlikely to have to worry about prosecution or fines if you’re an individual playing at poker sites online.

Which Poker Sites Allow US Players?

BetOnline Poker

BetOnline has consistently ranked as arguably the best online poker site in the industry for American players. BetOnline launched its online poker operation back in 2011, and it wasted little time in quickly becoming one of the best sites for Americans to play real money poker games online. BetOnline’s poker product uses up-to-date software offering an easy-to-navigate experience. Their poker game variety is second-to-none, as well.

Bovada Poker

Bovada is most well-known as a quality online sportsbook, but don’t underrate Bovada’s prowess in the online poker game. Bovada has one of the largest online poker rooms in the world featuring unique games, fast payouts, and speedy cashouts. Bovada also offers a unique bonus just for online poker players! If you sign up to play poker at Bovada, you can boost your bankroll with a 100% match bonus up to $500 at the time you make your first deposit.

SportsBetting.ag Poker

SportsBetting.ag may sound like an online sportsbook, but this site is also home to one of the largest and best US poker rooms. SportsBetting.ag’s poker operation has been in existence since 2013. If you like what you see in the poker offerings at BetOnline, there is no reason to expect anything different from its sister site, SportsBetting.ag.

Ignition Poker

Ignition Casino’s online poker offerings are available to players in 45 of the US’ 50 states. This makes Ignition one of the biggest United States poker sites with games taking place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s easy to redeem your first deposit bonus with Ignition, and you can enjoy a comprehensive experience whether you’re a new player or a high-roller looking to play at high stakes.

Which US Poker Sites Can I Use in My State?

In addition to the federal laws listed above, some laws affect real money poker sites and poker apps within each state. Some states have already legalized online poker gambling and allow sites to operate legally within their jurisdictions. Some states don’t allow online gambling of any kind.

If you’re considering playing US online poker, the key thing to remember is that they are located overseas and outside US jurisdictions. In addition, the same thing applies here as it did when we talked about the United States online gambling laws: The legal burden is on the operator, not on the gambler. As a result, you are in the clear using these sites to play online poker in the United States, but some don’t offer services in specific states.

For that reason, we have put together these pages breaking down where to play online poker in the US based on which state you live in!

How to Get Started Playing Online Poker for Money

Tips for Playing at Online Poker Sites

What Are The Best Free Online Poker Sites

• Be aware of betting limits when playing online poker with money. You don’t want to get caught up in a game where the antes and blind bets will cause your bankroll to run down too fast, which might mean you get less of a chance to play. Also, you should stick to lower-limit games if your level of play isn’t quite near where other players might be.
• Make sure you understand all the rules before committing to a table. It can certainly be fun to try out different games offered by real money poker sites. But that decision could come back to haunt you if you end up playing games where you’re not quite sure what you’re doing, which could lead to mistakes and big losses.
• Try playing at more than one site or use multiple poker apps. This tip comes with the caveat that you should only choose from our approved list of poker sites or at least from ones that you’ve thoroughly researched. The benefit from choosing different sites is that you can get more bonuses that way.
• Decide what type of player you are, then stick with it. Based on your tolerance for risk, you might decide you want to play tight (only betting with certain hands) or loose (getting in lots of different pots and bluffing with frequency.) Either style is fine, but you should choose one to perfect, rather than playing inconsistently.
• Know when to fold ‘em! Kenny Rogers knew what he was talking about all those years ago. Part of the skill of being a good online poker player at poker sites is to understand when it’s best to cut your losses and walk away from a table you can’t handle, rather than getting in over your head and risking huge losses.
• Never play catch-up. One of the biggest mistakes that newcomers make is when gambling on poker is they keep digging into their bankroll in an attempt to make up for losses they have already suffered. It’s best to stick to a betting budget where you only risk what you can afford.

Real Money Online Poker FAQ

Is Online Poker Legal in the US?

Depending on the interpretation of the law, it could technically be illegal in some jurisdictions. But because of the ambiguity of these laws, players aren’t responsible for any consequences when it comes to gambling online. Operators are typically on the receiving end of any fines or violations. In short, if you gamble at real money online poker rooms, it’s unlikely that you will be prosecuted for it.

Which Poker Sites Allow Non-US Players?

The United States is far from the only country in the world without a fully operational and legalized online poker industry. While many online poker gambling sites are geared toward attracting Americans, there are plenty of other quality online casinos and sites for real money poker out there targeting players in Canada, the United Kingdom, and beyond. A few of the best online poker sites for non-US players are listed below:

Bodog Poker – Canada’s #1 Online Poker Site

Bodog is one of the longest-serving online poker sites in the industry available to Canadian players. Bodog operates under the same umbrella as Bovada, and you can expect the same comprehensive online gambling experience that you have come to expect from its counterpart. In addition to its robust sportsbook, Canadian players can also enjoy a top-notch online real money poker experience at Bodog. Check out our review of Bodog to see if this site meets your needs.

Worst Online Poker Sites For Us Players

Sports Interaction Poker – Excellent Bonuses for Canadian Poker Players

Another option for Canadian players to win money playing poker online is Sports Interaction. In case you couldn’t guess, Sports Interaction prides itself on its sports betting offerings. This site offers one of the cleanest, most user-friendly sports betting experiences you’ll find anywhere thanks to their top-of-the-line software. Sports Interaction also makes the deposit and withdrawal processes incredibly simple in addition to accepting wagers on a wide variety of sports taking place all over the world. There are plenty of reasons that Sports Interaction almost always ranks near the top of our rankings for poker sites geared toward Canadian bettors. If you’re thinking about signing up at Sports Interaction, consider reading our review of their operations.

888 Poker – Best Real Money Poker Site in the UK

British players can enjoy a fine online poker experience at 888 Poker. The Gibraltar-based operator has been one of the most reputable online poker sites in the industry for nearly 20 years since its inception in 2002. 888 Poker accepts a bevy of different payment methods while offering an online poker experience that is second-to-none. You don’t last nearly 20 years in the online gambling space without offering a quality, well-rounded product. 888 poker provides an experience unlike any other. To read more about this top-rated poker site, check out our 888 Poker review below.

What Is the Best Online Poker Site?

We don’t take the title of “best online poker site” lightly. In fact, our team of experts is always hard at work trying to figure out which of the many options is the single best poker site in the online industry. While there are plenty of quality contenders, it’s hard to find a better site for online poker than BetOnline. BetOnline has everything you’re looking for in an internet-based poker site. Game variety, a wealth of banking options, fast payouts, quick withdrawal speeds, and attractive poker bonus offers are just a few of the perks that come with the online poker experience you’ll find at BetOnline.

Can You Play at Poker Sites for Real Money?

As long as you are putting real money at stake, you can win real money in return. Different poker gambling sites might have different limits, both low and high, for certain games. But the bottom line is that you can win at poker sites in the same way you might win at the casino.

Where Can I Play Poker Online for Money?

You can do an internet search for “the best poker sites that allow you to play poker for real money.” Make sure to look into each site to ensure that they meet high standards. If you don’t, you could end up with poker gambling sites that either aren’t effective or, worse, they try to scam you. If you’re not stoked about doing research, you can scroll up to the top of the page for our recommendations.

Which Poker Site Has the Most Players?

Players tend to move between sites often, so the most popular site today might be passed by another tomorrow. But we can tell you that the poker sites we’ve listed above are always well-stocked with players, which means the action will always be competitive.

Is My Money Safe With These Poker Sites?

Yes. These poker rooms online have been around long enough to have established excellent reputations within the industry. You can put money into your account at these sites without having to worry about it being misused in any way.

Are Poker Sites Rigged?

As mentioned, there are some operators out there that don’t have your best interests in mind. That’s why it’s of the utmost importance that you only risk your hard-earned money at reputable sites with strong reputations for fairness, safety, and security. We will only steer you in the direction of online poker sites that offer fair games with a level playing field for players of all experience levels.

Are There Any Fair Online Poker Sites?

Unfortunately, not every online poker site operates with your best interests in mind. There are plenty of sketchy sites out there looking to scam you for your money. On the bright side, you will never find any of those dicey sites recommended on this page. This page is solely dedicated to helping you find the best, safest, and fairest sites at which to play real money poker online. There are thousands of fair and safe online poker sites out there, with the best of the best appearing in the table on this very page.

What Are The Safest Online Poker Sites

Are There Any Apps That Let You Play Online Poker for Money?

Worst Online Poker Sites

There are many poker apps which let you play for real money on your smart devices. Just remember that you should choose these apps with the same care that you would use in choosing poker sites.