Top Us Friendly Poker Sites

The Best US Poker Sites: Freerolls and More. So now we’ve given you an overview of the business of poker sites, freerolls and everything in-between, it’s time to point you in the direction of our best recommended poker rooms. When it comes to our top US poker sites. PokerSites.com categorizes the best poker sites online by: features, deposit methods, currency,country, games and software/network. Each real money site is rated out of 5, allowing you to easily make side-by-side comparisons, decide which to visit and then select the top sites offering the best poker online and overall gaming experience. BetOnline Poker is one of the highest-ranking card rooms for US players for a number of reasons, among which is the fact that the site offers some of the highest clearance rates for credit and debit cards as depositing methods. Poker Rooms The linked sites offer opportunities to learn and enjoy poker by providing articles, odds, and play money games. Card Player recommends these poker sites for those purposes. Best US Friendly Poker Sites 2020. Before getting to the list of the current US poker rooms, I should note some recent changes. The biggest single poker site is Ignition Poker - which is also very new. Ignition took over from Bovada in the fall - instantly becoming the biggest US site.

888 Poker is one of the big players in the online poker world.

They have been around for almost 20 years which gives them a stellar trust in my book.

888 Poker is especially suitable for new and amateur players.

Why?

Firstly, because they offer a no deposit bonus of up to $88 – this is unmatched in the industry. T&Cs apply.

Secondly, since they have a reputation for attracting just new and amateur players, it is easier not to lose your money, but rather win some while playing on 888 Poker.

In my 2020 case study of 888 poker I managed to turn $50 into $600, see screenshot below.

Hands: 20,699 Won: $600

888 Poker will offer you state of the art gameplay on practically any device you want to play on (PC, MAC, Android, iPhone, etc.).

The main drawback of 888 Poker is that they are quite strict on which players are allowed to play. US players are for example not allowed, but for you guys, we have Americas Cardroom.

You can now read my in-depth full review of 888 Poker or jump right into the action yourself.

Americas Cardroom is one heck of a cool poker site.

I will tell you why:

This poker site accepts US players playing poker with real money. And, if you are not a USA player, there is nothing to worry about. Americas Cardroom is open for players all over the world with no restrictions.

It has one of the absolute best first deposit bonus systems I’ve ever seen.

You will receive $2 to $6 free real money cash EVERY DAY for 20 consecutive days.

This means that even if you lose all your money the first day, you will receive a steady stream of real money for the next 20 days.

If you enjoy playing on your mobile device, you have great options, on both Android and iPhone through their web app.

I would say that for new players who can take advantage of the incredibly generous bonus, this is site is your best option.

In my 2020 case study of Americas Cardroom I managed to turn $25 to $430, see screenshot below.

For more information and thoughts about Americas Cardroom check out my in-depth review or go crazy and play there right now.

Unibet is one of the big poker players out there. They have been around since 1999 and that long history gives them a stellar trust in my book.

Their first player bonus package is really nice and offers you free cash in the form of tournament tickets, in addition to a nice €200 play-through bonus.

They support players from almost all over the world and you can play on any device, be it on your computer or mobile phone. That way you never miss out on poker when the urge sets in.

In my 2020 case study of Unibet poker, I managed to turn $50 to $515, by playing 20,707 micro cash hands.

For more information and thoughts about Unibet Poker check out my in-depth review or go crazy and play there right now.

Best Us Friendly Poker Sites

Top 50 Best Online Poker Sites

Offshore Poker Sites Welcoming Players from the US

A lot has changed for US poker since the boom years a decade ago. You will still find a thriving ecosystem of US friendly online poker sites – most of them are based out in the Caribbean. On those island states, gambling is regulated and fully legal. In fact the governments actively defend their rights to accept players from anywhere in the world through organizations like the WTO.

As long as you are prepared to be flexible with your deposit and withdrawal methods – you can play online poker from the US no problem at all.

This page gives you an overview of the offshore real money poker scene for US based players in 2020. Here is what you will find below:

• The best US friendly poker sites, with the pros and cons of each room covered.

• A quick guide to payments covering both deposits and withdrawals.

• An overview of the legal situation (which is different to how many players imagine) and note on the regulated in-state sites.

• My top pick for 2020

Best US Friendly Poker Sites 2020

Before getting to the list of the current US poker rooms, I should note some recent changes. The biggest single poker site is Ignition Poker - which is also very new. Ignition took over from Bovada in the fall - instantly becoming the biggest US site. Everything is the same, the games, the software and the tournament schedule... I fully expect 'business as usual' and (since 3rd party sites were not allowed to promote Bovada Poker) I will look forward to covering them in more detail.

Other changes, include Carbon Poker (Merge) dropping off if the list completely.

#1 – BetOnline Poker on the Chico Network

BetOnline has been a big brand in offshore sports betting for US players for more than 10 years now and are based in Panama. Over the last couple of years they expanded operations to include a casino and a poker site. The poker is based on the Chico Network, which has grown to be the 2^nd biggest US online poker room in 2020. The emphasis is on real money cash game poker, with the tournament side developing more slowly.

Positives include a huge 100% welcome bonus, a lot of promotions (including cross-over promos with the sportsbook and casino) and very easy games. This is an easy recommendation for players who prefer the cash game format. See the latest player promos over at www.betonline.ag

Main Reason to Play at BetOnline: Soft games (thanks to huge sports betting player base)

#2 - Ignition Poker (Part of the Bodog / Bovada Network)

Ignition are part if the PaiWangLuo Network - which includes Bovada.lv and Bodog.eu. They share players on a common back-end system, so everyone can reach the same games. This has grown to be the biggest US poker network by a wide margin. There are some great reasons for this - explained below:

First, the recreational player model (anonymous games, 4 tables max, tools restrictions) is still in place, which keeps the games entertaining and profitable. Second, Bovada must have been planning the sale for a while, since there were not too many moves / new innovations or promos with the poker room. With the room in new hands, the marketing and development might well start again.

Ignition offer the only fast-fold cash games for US players (Zone Poker), and have the biggest weekly tournament guarantees list too. Add to that a super fast $100 welcome bonus (for me this is too good to last long, and I recommend you grab it while it is available). Check out the latest at www.ignitioncasino.eu/poker

#3 – America’s Cardroom on the Winning Poker Network

This site has a history going back even further than BetOnline’s. Starting in 2001, America’s Cardroom more recently took over from Doyle’s Room and joined the Winning Poker Network.

Tournaments are a strong point at ‘ACR’, this site host the biggest US friendly online tournaments you will find anywhere. These include the regular $1 million guaranteed events and the ‘Online Super Series’ mini-festivals. You can win seats in the bigger buy-in games via qualifiers.

While there are a lot of cash games and sit n go tournaments too, these are a little tougher to beat than the equivalent games at other sites. The reason is leaderboard promos (called ‘the beast’ and ‘sit n crush’) which reward high volume of play. As a result you will find a lot of break even or small winner type players grinding 8+ tables to make some cash… obviously having several nits at each table is not the best for overall game dynamics! Having said that the games are still beatable for those players with some strategy knowledge and discipline.

If you enjoy online poker tournaments, then ACR is an easy top pick. Check out www.americascardroom.eu for the latest events!

#4 – Full Flush Poker on the Equity Poker Network

The equity network showed a lot of promise a couple of years ago, though has not really managed to live up to the initial hopes. By having the sites own the network (software and back end systems) it was hoped that some of the costs normally given as profit to the network would be returned to players in the form of lower fees and bigger benefits.

A couple of years down the road and this is still a very small player pool, which does not appear to be fighting hard for further share. At the moment I am recommending a ‘wait and see’ policy for HTG readers.

Update: They closed!

#5 – Carbon Poker on the Merge Network

A former star of the US online poker sites world, which has now disappeared. At one point Carbon Poker were my top rec, with excellent software, big rewards and tournament events that put other sites in the shade. They have given up the ghost by the looks of things and the promos, variety and events have all but gone – along with most of their players.

A shame to see such a good site fade away.

#6 – Intertops Poker on the Revolution Poker Network

This site has the potential to move onwards and upwards, with Intertops recently allowing US players again after a gap of many years. This brand has 15 years of history (2 casinos and a well-known sportsbook are the main features).

A combination of their trusted brand name and cross over players from the sports / casino areas will have given the Revolution Network a boost. I have high hopes that 2020 will see this site grow big enough to run guaranteed prize tournaments and bigger promos – which could well kick-start their rise up through the rankings. I'm not holding my breath though!

Top Us Friendly Poker Sites Near Me

Check out the latest player specials at www.intertops.eu!

Depositing and Withdrawing from US Friendly Poker Sites in 2020

Getting your money onboard is the single biggest factor when it comes to enjoying the thriving offshore poker sites from the US. With the banking system trying to block your transactions, some creativity is often needed to get that money through. Withdrawals are actually easier, with paper checks being the usual method (these are accepted by banks).

This topic is covered in a lot of detail elsewhere here at High Tech Gambling. For this article, here is a quick summary of the most popular methods:

• International Credit Card Transactions: Visa and MasterCard (and sometimes Amex) are prevented from depositing at gambling sites domestically, though as long as they are able to make international purchases they can still be used. Success depends on payment gateways operated by the sites. With the biggest sites above you will get your money through first time surprisingly often.

• BitCoin Deposits: This used to be a niche method, though in 2020 it is now mainstream. Once you set up a BitCoin wallet and fund it via your bank, you can use that wallet to deposit on most of the poker sites. You can also use alternative currencies including Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and others.

• Money Transfer Options: Primarily this is Western Union and MoneyGram. These services will not allow direct transactions with gambling sites, so you’ll wire cash to a named individual who collects on behalf of the sites. This is a reliable enough method, though it does mean you’ll need to visit your local branch office.

• PrePaid Card / Voucher Options: This deposit method changes frequently as types of prepaid Visa or vouchers come and go. I recommend you contact your site, then head to your local convenience store to pick up a card.

As a final note on payments, I strongly recommend that you take advantage of the knowledge and experience of the sites themselves. In order to exist, they have to be ninjas when it comes to payments! Make sure you call or text chat with them and find out what easy methods are available to you.

US Friendly Poker Sites – Legal and History

One question which comes up over and over again is whether playing online poker for real money from the US is legal. Before getting into the details, here is a quick summary:

• There are no Federal laws which make playing online poker a crime (those laws there are only target financial institutions)

• There are some State laws which prohibit online poker, though no individual has ever been indicted for simply playing real money games.

The law which is often referred to is the UIGEA, which stands for ‘Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act’ and was passed in 2006. Press at the time stated that it made online poker illegal. This is wrong. All it does is make banks transacting with gambling sites illegal. Not individuals, banks and financial institutions are the target. In fact, there is no mention at all of individual players breaking any laws by enjoying games for real money!

State Regulations

Some states have allowed real money online poker sites to operate within their borders. These include New Jersey (currently the biggest player pool), Nevada and Delaware. These sites are set up as partnerships between the international operators and local casinos. A great example is 888 Poker New Jersey. While it is hoped that other States will join them soon and open their own US poker rooms, there has not been too much movement in this direction lately.

Top Us Friendly Poker Sites To Play

Summing Up – My Pick for the Best US Poker Site in 2020

There are only 2 candidates which really tick all the right boxes in terms of size, promos, easy payment methods and trust. These are BetOnline and America’s Cardroom (Ignition will be in this list soon, though I want to make sure that everything is running smoothly after the move from Bovada before I recommend them to HTG readers)

While the big tournaments at ACR are a real attraction, the games there overall have more grinders and lower stakes nits than at other sites. For this reason I’m recommending the super soft games full of regular / recreational gamblers that you will find at BetOnline.

I love the innovation at BetOnline – as well as the many promotions which cover all of the different gambling verticals. Check out www.betonline.ag for yourself now!

- Ignition Poker Review