Playing Poker Online In the USA
As casino gaming fans, it’s natural to look for locations where we can enjoy ourselves. But visiting casino floors requires you to set aside time for the journey and your session. You can’t set aside ten minutes for a quick session when you’ve got time to spare. That’s why we recommend trying out trusted USA online poker websites, like the ones on Top 10 Poker Sites.
You can enjoy a single round or more online. It all depends on how much time you have on your hands. The best part is that most of these sites are also accessible on mobile. So even if you’re in transit, in a queue, or stuck in traffic, you can choose a game and play for real money in the US.
The UIGEA and Black Friday
If you’re new to casino gaming online, then you may not have heard about Black Friday. This is what fans call April 15, 2011, when online poker got banned in the US. The DOJ issued an indictment against Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, and Absolute Poker based on laws within the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The UIGEA was a controversial piece of legislation that made most online gambling options in North America illegal.
After the UIGEA passed in 2006, it created a grey area for how online poker would operate. But what was clear was that it was illegal for banks to receive player funds from unlicensed sites. So, operators risked hefty fines for offering real money games to their members. As a result, industry giants like PartyPoker and 888poker chose to exit the region.
Players only had sites like Full Tilt Poker, PartyPoker, and PokerStars. These are the same platforms that got indicted on Black Friday. In the process, they were forcibly shut down. Additionally, they got charged with various gambling crimes. This move caused other unlicensed operators that considered serving the US market to steer clear.
Which States Can You Play Online Poker?
In the US, players need to be aware of the legislation around where they can enjoy these real money games online. This is something lawmakers have looked into since the Black Friday incident. Besides chasing some of the best operators away, it’s also a revenue loss for the country since players still look for somewhere to enjoy themselves.
For various reasons, there wasn’t any consensus on how to regulate the online market for the whole country. So, gambling legislation got left to legislators in individual states. Then depending on where you live, you may be able to legally play poker online. At the moment, these are the states where you can enjoy online poker in the US.
- Nevada
- Delaware
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- West Virginia
Enjoy Your Favorite Games at Offshore Platforms
If you live in any of the above, you can find state-regulated gambling sites online. We advise players to seek such sites since you’ll have access to conflict resolution options in case of any disputes. But since not all residents can enjoy these privileges, the next best thing is finding offshore sites.
You may hear such poker platforms called unlicensed casinos. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t safe. It just refers to the fact that they’re sites not licensed by North American regulators.
You can still find safe and secure casinos monitored by Curacao, the UKGC, and the MGA, among others. These are some of the best global regulators for online gambling activities. So even if you’re in a state with legal online poker, you can still browse offshore sites to see what’s available.
Perks of Visiting Offshore Sites
Once you find a legit casino run by overseas operators, the next step is to see what’s available. We’ve noticed that these sites come with a host of perks so long as they accept US-based members. Some of the advantages you can look forward to include:
- A wider poker gaming variety – with globally recognized licenses, more software developers supply the available poker assortment.
- More generous promotions – since they don’t comply with any US legislation, they can offer bigger bonuses than locally managed sites.
- Global payment solutions – players on the site can use globally accepted payment options like cryptos and eWallets to transact on the site faster.
- No registration – depending on the sites you choose, some even allow you to play without lengthy registration processes.
- Access to tournaments – through these sites, you can participate in global poker contests since players join in from anywhere.
