After a year-long wait, poker fans in the US can now enjoy this game from the comfort of their homes. The legalization scenes for online poker gaming have seen a drastic shift lately. That said, some US states recently revised the poker gambling laws in their region.
However, the existing regulations are still intricate in other states, while some are considering responsible expansion of online poker gaming.
Let’s dig into the current online poker gaming laws in different parts of the US.
Where Can You Play Online Poker in the US Legally?
The USA is truly past the Black Friday era due to the growing acceptance of online poker within specific jurisdictions. Here’s a list of five states that officially launched online poker sites.
Nevada
In February 2013, the world’s gambling hub became the first US state to launch a legal online poker platform for the residents. Right now, players can only wager on the WSOP site.
New Jersey
The Garden State also passed a bill to legalize poker sites in February 2013. The player can enjoy online poker gambling sessions on PokerStars, PartyPoker, BetMGM Poker, Borgata, and WSOP.
Delaware
Next, Delaware followed suit. The state authorities legalized online poker games in June 2013. Initially, 888poker provided digital poker rooms, but it stopped operations in 2023 after its license expired.
Rush Street Interactive is now in talks to relaunch the card game after it acquired Run It Once Poker.
Pennsylvania
In 2017, poker enthusiasts from Pennsylvania also got legal online poker rooms. However, it took two years for the state to approve licenses. Today, renowned casino gaming sites operate in Pennsylvania, including BetMGM, PokerStars, and WSOP.
Michigan
2023 was a good year for poker lovers in Michigan. The lawmakers signed the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). With this, PokerStars started providing poker gambling activities to Michiganders legally.
Currently, it’s the only operator in the state.
States in the Waiting Queue
There are cases where the states passed the online poker bills, but no operator exists in the market. So, what’s happening in those regions? Let’s find out.
- Connecticut
Although Connecticut authorities legalized online gambling in 2021, the state still has no poker site. The residents are waiting eagerly for the legal platforms to kick off! All hopes lie on West Virginia signing the MSIGA for pool sharing with other states.
- West Virginia
The West Virginia lawmakers passed the new online poker gambling law in 2019. However, the state is waiting to get its first official poker site.
- Rhode Island
This US state also joined the digital poker legalization in late 2023. Bally’s Corporation will license and run poker gambling events in this state. When? Nobody knows yet!
Licensing of Online Poker Platforms in Regulated States
Poker site operators can function legally only after acquiring a licensing certificate from the state-authorized gambling commissions. Each American state that lifted the ban on online poker gambling has its own license approval rules.
Further, these gambling commissions ensure that online poker operators provide a fair, secure, and responsible gaming environment. They perform regular audits to validate that the operator follows all poker gambling standards.
Here are those regulatory bodies
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
- West Virginia State Lottery
- PA Gaming Control Board
- Delaware Lottery
- State of Nevada Gaming Control Board
To Legalize or Not To?
Sadly, playing poker online in various US states is still not legal. When will online poker be legal in US entirely?
The good news is that some state lawmakers are reconsidering the amendments in the past bills. Certain regions already have legally functioning offline casinos. Besides, others have a vested interest in removing the ban to boost tax revenue and the state economy.
States that actively support online poker gaming are New York, Colorado, Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Iowa, and Ohio.
So stay tuned for positive change in the coming years if you reside in one of these jurisdictions.
Tips to Select Legal & Credible Online Poker Rooms
Here are the key metrics to play only on legal online poker platforms.
- Verify the poker site’s license. Usually, you’ll find it on the footer section of the homepage or terms and conditions page.
- Next, check the poker site’s security system to protect your valuable data from bad actors. The website with a padlock icon in the URL ensures it uses cutting-edge SSL encryption technology.
- Online poker rooms should allow deposits and withdrawals only via secure payment processors.
- Review rake for cash games and poker tournament fees.
- There should be regular audits to verify the RNG of online poker games, ensuring fairness for every gambler.
- A reliable online poker operator will also strictly follow responsible gambling practices. They’ll provide online community resources and self-exclusion programs for problem gamblers.
FAQs
1. Is online poker secure?
Yes, as long as you’re playing on the state-regulated poker site. Licensed online poker platforms ensure games aren’t rigged.
2. Where is online poker legal in the world?
Online poker gambling is legal in the UK, Malta, Ireland, Gibraltar, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Isle of Man, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland. Some US and Canadian states have also recently legalized poker sites.
3. What is WSOP?
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a state-licensed poker site where you can participate in annual game tournaments.
In a Nutshell
Online poker gambling looks promising with the gradual state-by-state legalization in America. Indeed, the situation still needs to be clarified in some parts, but sooner or later, they can also bring new regulations.
Till then, poker fans can visit neighborhood states to play real-money online poker games.
