Best Online Poker Real Money Sites (2024)

Playing online poker for real money is a different experience compared to a casual home game or playing at a casino. It can be intimidating and some players struggle taking their first steps into the world of online betting.

With such a wide array of operators, game types, and variations, it’s tough to know which poker room is ideal for your skill-set. This guide will provide you with tips on choosing a poker site and avoiding common mistakes when starting to play online poker with real money.

Things to Know About Playing Online Poker for Real Money

In this video, we break down everything you need to know about poker sites, including how you can fund your account, why playing online is better than playing at a real casino, and how you can get started playing poker for real money online.

Why Play at an Online Poker Site?

Playingonline poker for real moneyoffers players certain perks and learning experiences that are difficult to replicate when there is no money on the line. There is a reason the best players play online for real money: it makes you a better player. Players are much more cautious and protect their chips with smart play.

This is how you learn how to utilize basic strategy in real time, because you are putting yourself in situations where careless play will cost you money. This will force you to start considering position, calculating pot odds, assigning ranges, and using other strategic tools in order to make better decisions.

How We Review Real Money Poker Sites

When we sit down to review online poker sites, there are 9 elements that Legal US Poker Sites team evaluates:

1. Licensing and Security
2. Reputation
3. Software & Functionality
4. Game Selection
5. Bonuses / Rewards
6. Competition
7. Rake and Fees
8. Payment Options
9. Site Traffic

Each of these criteria help us determine whether an online poker site is worth our money. Let’s take a look at each of these elements in more detail:

1. Licensing and Security

A crucial aspect to consider when evaluating poker rooms is the regulatory and legal status of the platform. While there isn’t a universal regulation governing online poker real money globally, numerous poker sites obtain licensing from European Union (EU) jurisdictions. The presence of a license at a poker site helps to ensure legal assurance for players accessing these platforms. Some of the most popular jurisdictions include Curaçao, Panama, The Isle of Man, Malta, and Kahnawake in Canada.

2. Reputation

When considering a real money poker site, we take a close look at their reputation. We examine the site’s history, including its record for fair play and security measures. User feedback and reviews are also important, as they provide valuable insight into player satisfaction and trustworthiness. A positive reputation indicates that a site is reliable and provides a safe environment for players. We prioritize those with solid reputations to ensure a positive experience for our users.

3. Software & Functionality

When assessing real money poker software, several crucial aspects come into play:

• Firstly, an intuitive interface is paramount, ensuring ease of use for players navigating the platform.
• The software should offer customization options. This allows users to adjust color schemes, hotkeys, and betting amounts to suit their preferences.
• Availability of a dedicated real money poker app for both Android and iPhone devices enhances accessibility and convenience for on-the-go players.
• All available games should be accessible and easy to find.
• A straightforward layout of the poker tables further enhances user experience.
• Lastly, the presence of a downloadable poker client for desktop provides an additional layer of convenience for players seeking a seamless gaming experience across devices.

4. Game Selection

We ensure that the site offers a wide range of games and variations to suit a wide variety of player preferences. It’s vital to have a variety of options such as cash games, sit-and-go tournaments, multi-table tournaments, and heads-up matches to ensure an engaging poker experience.

We look for popular options like:

• Texas Hold’em
• Omaha Hi-Lo
• Seven Card Stud
• Five Card Draw
• Short Deck

5. Bonuses / Rewards

Every real money poker site tries to attract new players with poker bonuses. It’s essential to take a close look at these bonuses. We rank platforms based on their bonuses ability to help you grow your bankroll and reward your play.

Speaking of rewards, considering a reward system is crucial as it can significantly impact your overall experience and profitability, providing additional value for your time and investment in the platform. These programs reward players for their play through various perks such as cashback, freerolls, or loyalty points.

6. Competition

An essential factor to consider in online poker platforms is the caliber of your opponents. The profitability of your games often hinges on the skill level of the players you’re up against. We favor poker rooms that cater more to recreational players, with a minimal presence of professional players, as opposed to those with tough competition that make it much more tough to turn a profit.

7. Rake and Fees

Playing real money poker online or in live casinos incurs costs in the form of rake in cash games and fees in tournaments. In tournaments, a fixed percentage of the buy-ins, typically ranging from 5 to 10 percent, is collected as fees. Cash game rake involves two key elements:

• Rake Percentage: A set percentage is deducted from each hand, usually falling between 3 and 5 percent in online cash games.
• Rake Cap: There’s a limit to how much rake can be taken from a hand, typically ranging from $3 to $5. Once this cap is reached, no more rake is deducted.

Poker rooms are rated higher by us if they take less rake.

8. Payment Options

We thoroughly assess the payment methods available. We take into account the efficiency and safety of both withdrawals and deposits to ensure transactions are fee-free. Poker players need to know about any and all fees related to depositing or withdrawing from their online account. An unanticipated charge or an unfavorable currency conversion rate can act like a secondary rake to your bankroll.

When it comes to the available banking options, most real money poker sites will offer options like:

• Credit Cards: Widely accepted for deposit but rarely accepted for withdrawals. Credit cards are quick and easy when available.
• Bitcoin / Other Cryptocurrencies: One-off setup needed, though once you have a cryptocurrency ‘wallet’ these coins will solve your deposit and withdrawal problems completely.
• Money Transfer: Send cash from your local Western Union or MoneyGram office. This is great if you don’t use crypto, but is often subject to high fees and limits.

Make sure you check for minimum withdrawal amounts and any fees. Withdrawal options and administration charges may differ.

9. Site Traffic

Our priority lies in assessing the active player base engaged in real money poker games on the platform. A larger player pool translates to more vibrant cash game tables. With increased participation, you can anticipate encountering a higher number of inexperienced players, and a richer array of table dynamics.

For instance, some poker rooms host daily tournaments with thousands of participants. In saying that, smaller sites with limited tournaments have their appeal; they offer a higher likelihood of claiming top tournament spots, with overlays occurring more frequently. For a full rundown of site traffic, check out PokerScout.

Where to Legally Play Poker for Real Money in the US

So, you’ve picked a well-reviewed poker room that meets all of your requirements. But what if you can’t access it from your state?

The largest and busiest poker rooms operate from offshore locations. They are licensed by their host country, but welcome players from all over the USA. While there are no federal laws against individual players enjoying online poker, state laws do vary. Some states have already legalized and regulated online poker rooms:

• Nevada
• Delaware
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Michigan
• West Virginia
• Connecticut
• Rhode Island

For players in those states, online poker is available from sites like BetMGM and WSOP. For everyone in the remaining 43 states, there’s offshore poker sites like the ones we review.

If you’re unsure about the state of online poker where you live, then check it out in the table below:

Real Money vs. Free Play Poker Sites

Real Money Poker Games

Depending on the game and tournament, the stakes can vary greatly. Here’s a breakdown of the different games and tournaments, along with their buy-in costs and stakes:

Cash Games

A cash game is a poker game where the chips on the table are worth real money. These games are often played short-handed online, with a maximum of six players. This creates a lot more action than nine-handed games. You’re free to come and go as you please, so you’re not locked in for hours when you start playing. You can also buy back in if you lose all your chips. These games are great if you want to make some money without being tied to a long commitment.

• Buy-In and Costs: Buy-in costs for cash game tables have a wide range. Players can find games for as low as $1 at some real money poker sites. The stake levels at most sites range from $0.01/$0.02 with a $1 minimum buy-in to $50/$100 with a $5000 minimum buy-in. However, you’ll find the majority of the traffic is centered around or below the $1/$2 games, with limited action at the higher stakes.

Online Poker Tournaments

In poker tournaments you buy-in for a set amount of money in exchange for tournament chips. The money goes towards a prize pool that all the players compete for. When the tournament starts, players sit at a table with their tournament chips and compete. When players lose all their chips, they’re eliminated from the tournament and cannot buy back in (unless it’s a rebuy/re-entry tournament). The most common tournaments you will see at a real money poker site are Turbo, Sit and Gos, Multi-table, Bounty, and Shootouts.

• Buy-In and Costs: Tournaments typically require a fairly inexpensive buy-in but come with the potential of 100x your original buy-in. Your buy-ins can be as low as a few cents, while highest-stakes tournaments can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to enter. However, just like with cash games, most of the action is at the lower-stakes tournaments. High stakes tournaments have been growing in popularity as of late though.

Sit and Gos

If you’re a fan of the tournament format but don’t want to spend a ton of hours playing, check out sit and gos. They offer all the action of tournaments with a limited number of players. This means that games often last between 30 minutes and an hour, rather than the multiple hours. While the rewards aren’t as big for winning sit and gos, they’re great for players who want that tournament experience in a short amount of time.

• Buy-In and Costs: Just like tournaments, sit and gos have a range of buy-in amounts. You can buy in for as little as a quarter, all the way up to $1000. This quick format allows you to play a lot more per hour meaning you’ll want to have a bigger bankroll if you’re planning on playing multiple in sit-and-gos.

The Steps to Start Playing Online Poker with Real Money

1. Find A Site: Compare all the options available in your state, and find the one that best suits your needs. If you’re having trouble with this, check out our reviews to see if the site you’re considering is worth your time.
2. Register an Account: Once you’ve found your poker room, you need to create an account. You’ll need to provide information such as your name, address, email address, date of birth, and telephone number. You’ll also need to confirm that you’re of legal gambling age in your area. Anyone found using an online poker site who is not of legal gambling age will have their account permanently banned.
3. Deposit Funds: In order to play for money, you need to deposit it. Choose a deposit method that works for you and load up your bankroll.
4. Collect Your Welcome Bonus:During the deposit phase, you may be asked if you want to claim a welcome bonus. If you want to pad your bankroll and extend your play time, this is a good thing to take advantage of—just read the terms and conditions.
5. Hit the Tables: You’ve done the hard part; now it’s time to start enjoying yourself! Find a game you want to play, load up a table, and start playing.

Risks of Playing Poker for Money

Given the nature of playing online poker for money, there are some risks and downsides that you should be aware of:

Losing Money

First, there is always potential for you to lose money. While there are strategies you can learn to improve your prospect of winning, poker is still a game of chance. There’s always a possibility you can lose some of your hard-earned cash.So, don’t gamble with money you can’t afford to lose.

Time Commitment

Second, if you want to be successful in the online poker world, it requires dedication and many hours of playing in order to hone your skills. You should be conscious of the time and money you’re spending playing, and ensure you aren’t developing any type of addiction. Your health and safety should always be top priority.

State Restrictions

Lastly, online poker rooms are becoming more sophisticated, using geo-location tools to restrict players from unlicensed states. This limitation can narrow the competition pool. So, if you have aspirations of playing poker for a living, this is something to consider.

Our Conclusion

To sum things up, playing online poker for money can be an exhilarating experience. This is especially so if you’ve found a great site that provides everything you are looking for. Read reviews, talk to people who have played at the real money poker sites you’re considering, and make sure you understand what you’re looking for. If you’re not ready to play for money, then practice for free. Most importantly, play with disposable income and not rent payments. We hope this guide prepare you for finding your next online poker site.