We review the best legit poker sites so you can safely choose where to play real money poker online. Our top pick for May 2022 is Replay Poker.
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
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:
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!
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 Replay 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:
Online poker sites are all the rage and are expected to exceed live casino revenues over the next couple of years. That reality raises a great number of questions and we have the answers. Here are some of the most common questions we get from our users:
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 365,296+ 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.
