USA Poker Sites
USA poker sites tend to be the largest internet poker rooms because the USA market for online poker is massive. Poker has become an international phenomenon over the past few years, but the United States is still by far the home of the most poker fans. On this page, we have listed the best USA poker sites based on game selection, deposit options and overall quality.
One good thing about all the USA poker sites on this list is that these sites accept players from all over the world. They aren’t just limited to players who live in the United States. These poker sites have tons of players from all around the world and games that run at all hours.
1. Sportsbook Poker
Sportsbook Poker is our favorite USA poker site because it demonstrates quality in every aspect of its site. First of all, they have made sure that depositing is easy for USA players by offering deposit methods that work well in the United States. Players can deposit with credit cards and e-wallets that are open to customers from all around the world.
We also like Sportsbook Poker for the actual poker experience. It is a medium sized poker room that has been growing quickly in recent times and has expanded its table offering significantly over the past couple years. Players today will find action at all stakes from low to high.
On top of all that, Sportsbook Poker has a spotless track record. The Sportsbook.com company has been in business for a very long time and they have always offered fair games and fast transactions. In short, we have yet to find a reason not to recommend Sportsbook Poker.
2. Absolute Poker
Absolute Poker is a massive poker room that has been online since the beginning of internet poker. It was once a small and struggling poker room thanks to clunky software and weak promotions, but they really got their act together in 2006 and have come out with incredibly fast software and better promotions than just about anywhere else on the internet.
Player traffic is also a major strength for Absolute Poker. They constantly have games running at all levels and tournaments of all sizes. Absolute Poker is always running satellites and giving away packages to major tournaments such as the World Series of Poker. Their weekly $200,000 Guarantee is also responsible for awarding lots of cash to players every Sunday.
USA players can deposit and cash out of Absolute Poker through a variety of methods. They offer basic services such as credit cards and e-wallets plus withdrawals via e-check and bank wire. Whether you’re moving money to or from Absolute Poker, you’ll find it fast and free.
3. Bodog Poker
Bodog Poker is a smaller poker site that has been fighting for its place in the poker world for years. There is enough player traffic here to keep the games running around the clock but you won’t find as many multi-tabling sharks as you will at some other poker sites. They also host a weekly $100,000 Guarantee that almost always has a large overlay.
The cash games at Bodog Poker are softer than anywhere else on the internet. We believe this is because their player traffic is not yet high enough to attract all the 12-tabling pros from other poker sites. The fact that the Bodog poker room is attached to a casino and sportsbook may also play a role in keeping the games juicy.
As a USA poker site, Bodog also has a nice variety of deposit options. Players from the United States can deposit via credit card, debit card and e-wallet. Cashing out of Bodog is the same story: fast and free. If you’d like to give a small and soft poker room a try, Bodog should be your first stop.
Legal Issues of USA Poker Sites
USA poker sites have had to deal with a confusing set of legal issues thanks to the burdensome US government. The gist of the problem is that although playing poker online is not a criminal activity, owning a poker site is. This has been made even more confusing because poker sites are headquartered all over the world and are not subject to US law.
Fortunately for you, there’s not as much confusion. You should always check the law for yourself, of course, but internet poker is not something you’re going to get in trouble over. Millions of Americans play poker on the internet every day and we have yet to hear of a single account of someone getting in trouble for the simple act of playing poker.
The one way in which you might be affected by USA poker legislation is when it comes to making deposits. The US government has pressured the banking industry to automatically block credit card transactions to poker sites. Not all banks have agreed or complied with these regulations, but a few large ones have. As a result, some people are unable to deposit via credit card.
The good news is that the credit card is not the only deposit method for USA poker sites. Players can also deposit with e-wallets that act as intermediaries between personal banks and poker sites. If you sign up at any of the USA poker sites on this page and visit the cashier, you will see a full list of USA deposit methods.