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We review the best legit poker sites so you can safely choose where to play real money poker online. Our top pick for September 2021 is Intertops Poker.
US players accepted
With the hundreds of poker rooms available, it's easy to become overwhelmed. They all sound great on the surface, so that's why our expert reviewers dive deeply into each room, in order to give you the real story.
Here are some rooms that might appear to be competitive, but that failed to pass our rigorous screens for real-money poker games:
Accused in the past of embezzling players' funds, OddsPoker is still operating through its Antigua license, but that doesn't make it a safe place to play.
Although one of the biggest US-facing sites right now, this Merge network skin has had some erratic records with player payouts recently and i's wise to tread carefully. Not only that, but affiliates were informed that the program shut down in June 2015.
You will only find sites that are safe and secure to play on which have been independently regulated.
All poker sites hold legitimate certifications and are 128-bit SSL encrypted (the strongest type of protective measure).
Only reliable poker sites that can offer you fast payouts are recommended.
All recommended poker sites make it easy to cash out and withdraw funds as fast and as smooth as possible.
Sites must allow you to easily deposit funds and withdraw them to make our shortlist.
All sites provide a good choice of payment methods and ensure it's easy to utilise the bonus offers when making a deposit.
Only sites using reliable gaming software and poker games that provide you with a great gaming experience are recommended.
All recommended sites provide poker games designed by leading developers like Netent and Microgaming.
This ensures all poker site games and software is easy to use and super reliable.
We only recommend sites that provide a superb customer experience and resolve queries effectively.
All sites offer a swift complaint resolution process, with multiple communication methods and fast response times.
We only approve and recommend sites that exceed all of our strict criteria. You can see our Top Rated Poker Sites for August here
Intertops Poker, online since 1996, guarantees fairness by using an RNG that produces a card or slots-spin result indiscriminately when activated. The site also offers two of the most popular poker games: Texas Hold'em and Omaha, both available via their mobile app, so playing on the go just became easier. Luckily for most players, Intertops provides different betting levels starting as low as 2-cent and 4-cent blinds, while catering to high-end players with no limits. Many are attracted by the online poker site's incentive of sponsoring of tournaments that players can travel to, it's always an exciting location. The perks don't end there. Collect Frequent Player Points (FPP) and create yourself the chance to win a share of $4,000 every week in the FPP Race Promotion. Since the top prize is $400, there's enough money to be divided each week among the remaining top FPP winners.
Read moreWhether it's from your desktop (Mac and Windows compatible) or your mobile, sign up with BetOnline to join thousands of other players at an authentic poker room. Enhance your experience by using their free-to-use BetOnline Poker Odds Calculator to see instantaneous odds and outs in an easy interface. Get excited by their promotions because there's always a big pot up for grabs. Take part in the $15,000 weekly cash race (leaderboard challenge) and give yourself the opportunity to claim the $2,500 cash prize for first place. Or get your adrenaline pumping with Six Plus Hold'em – a standard Texas Hold'em game with a few entertaining twists loved by high-stake players around the world. With fast deposits available now, BetOnline will have you playing poker in no time.
Read moreLaunched in 2004, Bovada Poker is a hugely popular poker site with US players. It actually closed for a year in 2016, but still manages to be the poker site with the heaviest US player traffic. This is largely thanks to its fast and reliable payouts, mobile app and decent range of banking options. You can play different variations of poker online, including Texas Hold'em and Omaha, plus plenty of other table games at the Bovada casino. There are always plenty of promotions on offer, which can be accessed on iOS and Android devices, as well as Windows.
Read moreUS Poker players, and others around the globe, will be thrilled by one of the largest selection of tournaments offered online by America's Cardroom, which has been running since 2001. The site, part of the Winning Poker Network, uses SSL and 256-encryptions with banking level security to keep your money safe. Deposits are held in a separate account, ready to be transferred back to you in no time.
Read moreWith fast and safe payouts of between five to 10 days, and the option to use Bitcoin for free, Ignition Casino has the poker community in its grip. The online gaming site, which gives its players total anonymity, also offers a bunch of promotions to entice them. Get yourself the popular $1,000 poker welcome bonus (made available immediately) and start accumulating poker points. Collect enough and you may just be able to take a free shot at one of Ignition's huge weekend tournaments that offer five to six-figure prizes to its winners. Play on the move with Ignition's mobile poker feature and don't get bogged down by high-resolution graphics that create game lags – you will be rewarded with their fast and smooth interface instead. Download it straight to your desktop or if using your mobile or tablet, simply log in to their mobile site and start playing. For any trouble, their 24/7 customer service support will help rid you of any issues and maximize user experience.
Read moreRenowned for being the world's largest poker room, as well as holding the biggest poker tournaments online – Pokerstars needs little introduction to veteran players. Operating since 2001, Pokerstars is playable in both mobile and download versions. Constantly experiencing very high traffic, tables, especially for tournaments, fill very quickly – meaning you'll never be short on opponents or opportunities to win big. Offering new players a Pokerstars welcome bonus of $600, the site boasts a wide variety of games with a range of stakes to suit beginners and pros alike.
Read moreA lot of members in the CardsChat forum ask, "What's the best US real money poker site?" Some of the best poker sites for USA players are Ignition Casino, Intertops Poker, Bovada, America's Cardroom and BetOnline.
Want to find out more? We've compiled some helpful tips in our poker reviews to help you decide where to play and which of the poker sites are best suited to USA players. We only list the best poker websites, and with that in mind, we follow the below guidelines:
See below for the best online poker sites for 2021.
| Rank | Poker Site | Exclusive Bonus | Rating (10) | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Intertops Poker | $1000 | 9.7 | Read Review |
| #2 | BetOnline | $1500 | 9.4 | Read Review |
| #3 | Bovada | $1000 | 9.2 | Read Review |
| #4 | America's cardroom | $1000 | 8.7 | Read Review |
| #5 | Ignition | $2000 | 8.4 | Read Review |
As well as the poker site reviews listed in the table above, we also have more reviews of where to play the Texas Hold'em card game. Other notable poker sites to play online include the following:
As a new player, poker bonuses (such as freerolls) for poker sites are an important consideration when choosing which one of the best poker websites to sign-up with. Sites in the United States offer bonuses to try and entice new players away from the competition, allowing poker players to boost their bankroll - everyone's a winner!
Currently in the US, just four US states currently offer regulated online real money poker. These are:
Poker rooms are shared between the first three states mentioned, while Pennsylvania players play amongst themselves for now. Meanwhile, West Virginia, Maryland, Missouri and New York are all expected to offer legal online real money poker to its citizens in the near future. US players who live in states that do not currently offer regulated online poker often choose to access poker sites in other international countries.
All good poker players know that relying on luck is not a suitable long-term, or even short-term, strategy. Poker software is the best option to gain access to the facts, figures, and statistics that will give you a real upper hand. Not to be confused with the gaming software you use to play at poker rooms, poker software is a third party application which can:
While there are many different poker software packages available, each has the same aim – to give you the edge on your opponents. The size of this 'edge' will most likely be determined by which package you choose to buy and how much you're willing to pay. For more information on different products, you can read our PokerTracker 4 review and Holdem Manager 2 review.
Of course, even the best poker tools won't play on your behalf, so you'll need to make sure you interpret the data you're provided with correctly. Poker software with Heads Up Display will even display statistics you need right on your table, so make sure you're paying attention to this information.
Unfortunately, poker software can be considered cheating by many popular real money poker rooms so is effectively banned on certain sites. Make sure you read the terms and conditions of each site when you sign up. If you're suspected of using prohibited poker software on the best poker sites, you may be barred from playing or even have your funds frozen.
Central to playing at the best poker sites, is the ability to play for real money. The difference between playing real money poker and free money poker is huge, as the potential to both take home the pot or lose your entire bankroll adds to the tension and helps you and your opponents stay sharp.
To ensure you and your funds are safe and secure when depositing or withdrawing, it is vital you use the best poker deposit methods from merchants such as Visa, MasterCard and PaySafe.
All of the best reviewed poker sites on CardsChat offer licensed and regulated deposit and withdrawal options, ensuring your funds won't be stolen or unlawfully seized.
One of the most important things to look at when reviewing the best online poker sites is how much player traffic the site receives.
The amount of traffic a poker site receives directly impacts player experience as the more traffic, the more tables there are to choose from.
At a massive site like Intertops Poker you can have hundreds of tables running simultaneously, meaning players can choose a stake that suits them. This also makes it easier to spot 'softer' tables, where it can be easier to win real money against weaker opponents.
Our poker site reviews are in depth and objective, sighting both the positive and negative aspects of each website based on their individual merits. As well as offering comprehensive reviews of the best poker sites for US players online, we have partnered with many of 2021's best USA online poker sites to bring our visitors exclusive bonuses and freerolls.
In addition to our exclusive online poker real money promotions, our top poker site reviews also cover the important aspects of gambling at poker sites such as poker games variety, competition levels, software quality, bonuses, banking options and currency, personal opinions and much more.
For information more local to you, check out our sitemap to find guides about the best poker rooms for residents of each region. Check out other real money poker games and classics available to play online:
We rank poker sites by using a complex algorithm that takes into account scores from both regular players and our team of expert reviewers. With more than 30 years combined experience playing at the best online poker sites, our experts know what makes a fantastic site. Any sites included in our top rated lists are the best of the best and have all scored top marks in this five-point audit:
Only sites that easily pass our five-point inspection can be featured on our top ranked lists. This means that the poker site is licensed, has outstanding customer service and an above average response time to issues. It will have minimal complaints, a decently sized players base and fast, hassle-free payouts. On top of all this we make sure they have a history of honoring bonuses and loyalty rewards.
So in short, you can't go wrong with any of the sites found in our top rated lists, especially as you'll be covered by our satisfaction guarantee. However, if none of the sites meet your requirements it's a good idea to check out our blacklisted sites so you can avoid rogue operators.
Loyalty bonuses and promotions are ways for the best online poker sites to say thanks for choosing us. They are also a great way for you to build up your bankroll so don't underestimate the importance of free bonuses when choosing a site.
With 348,288+ members CardsChat.com is one of the biggest poker forums out there, and that size allows us to negotiate exclusive bonuses for our users. We offer a BEST BONUS GUARANTEE on all of our top ranked poker sites, meaning you will not find a better welcome bonus anywhere else online within 24 hours of sign-up or we'll match that offer.
Having fast, reliable payouts is a key factor for many of our users when choosing a poker site. Our expert reviewers anonymously play on poker sites for real money to check bonuses are honored, deposits are easy and payouts are speedy.
Any sites that fail on these points are automatically blacklisted as rooms you need to avoid. Trustworthy sites that have proven to be extra speedy in paying out cash to players are listed on our fastest payouts page.
Not all online poker sites are equal, and if you're not going with one of our trusted sites, then it's important to do a little research first. You'll want to check that your chosen site has a good reputation, pays out, and is financially stable. Without that information, you won't know if your money is safe or the games are fair.
To help you know which sites to avoid we keep a list of unsafe or disreputable sites. Check out the most recent additions to our blacklist before choosing a real money poker site.
Just because a site is new does not mean it can be automatically trusted. The main thing to remember when trying out anything new is that it's okay to test the waters. Before depositing money on any poker site you'll want answers to the following questions:
If you're not sure whether a poker site can be trusted, check out our listings for proven trustworthy new poker sites.
All of the top rated sites that we list have large amounts of beginner players and recreational players. That means that your chances of success on these sites are higher than normal, as most of the players here are playing casually and for fun. They may not have the perfect strategy for the game, which means that you have a better chance to win.
Yes, online poker is legal in the United States but it depends on the state. Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia have all legalized online poker. Many other states are considering legalization, plus there are sites that operate outside of these states that are legally operating as they offer alternative ways to gamble. However, in some states, such as Washington, online gambling is illegal.
Those looking to play real money poker will find that there are many sites open to them. The best of these sites have been reviewed and recommended here at CardsChat.com. Any poker site we recommend offers a few key attributes, including big bonuses, a wide selection of poker options and a really safe place to play. So, to find the best online poker real money site, just read through our many comprehensive reviews.
Don't forget: it is possible to sign-up with more than one online poker site. Doing so allows a player to test the sites out for themselves, plus the player can also earn multiple welcome bonuses.
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this website. However, online gambling laws vary from country to country and are subject to change. We therefore urge you to check the current laws of your country of residence before gambling online. CardsChat.com in no way condones breaking the law for online gambling purposes.
