Introduction
Everyone loves a fun game of online poker –– but only if it’s safe, regulated, and player-friendly. With a vast plethora of poker websites available, it can be difficult when deciphering which ones are legal, and which are not. If you’re looking for a fun, safe, legal platform to hone some poker skills, you can make an account here to find out more.
Types Of Legal Sites
PokerStars
Launched in 2019, this platform acts as an in-state-only online poker site in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Currently, it operates as the only state-regulated online poker site for poker players from Pennsylvania. New players can enjoy a 100% deposit match bonus worth $600, and receive a $30 free play bonus upon depositing at least $20. If you’re a fan of mobile poker, you might be glad to hear of PokerStars’ recent online mobile application, which recently launched in January 2021.
This website offers the largest variety of poker cash games. Aside from the ever-popular No-Limit Hold’em games, PokerStars also offers Razz, Badugi, 8-Game Mix, 2-7 Triple Draw, Pot-Limit Omaha, Stud, Limit Hold’em, and many more.
PokerStars holds their largest scheduled tournaments on Sundays, in the form of a Sunday Warm-Up (with a $50 buy-in, and $4000 guarantee) and a Sunday High-Roller (with a $500 buy-in, and $8000 guarantee).
BetMGM poker
BetMGM poker is one of the best online poker websites in the United States for online casinos and sports gambling. It’s founded by one of the largest and renowned casinos in the world, so you need not worry about it being insecure and untrustworthy. New players can use the promotional code ‘SHARPCHIP’ to enjoy a 100% match deposit worth up to $600, and a $25 deposit bonus upon signing up.
BetMGM mainly features popular games such as Pot Limit Omaha and Texas No-Limit Hold’em. Active poker players would also be able to find daily tournaments to participate in. For example, their popular ‘Mega Tuesday’ promotion offers up to $12,000 every Tuesday, at 8 pm. BetMGM also has daily $10,000 promotions that you can try your hand out. Spending $100 and topping up with $9 allows you to earn a stack of chips and a position at the virtual table.
888poker
Who could forget how this classic online poker website made its forays into the United States market? With 888poker Delaware first dominating the US market and 888poker New Jersey quickly following suit, poker players haven’t gotten enough of this website yet!
Because 888poker shares the same network player pool with the World Series of Poker (WSOP), they function together as the only poker network with a shared player pool across multiple states. As of now, WSOP Nevada and New Jersey share liquidity with the 888poker Delaware network, which was established through a compact known as the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).
World Series Of Poker (WSOP)
Launched in 2013, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) has become one of the first players to officially launch a regulated online poker site in the US market. WSOP has since gone live in Nevada, New Jersey, and most recently, Pennsylvania. In particular, WSOP New Jersey allows its players to participate in official WSOP bracelet events each year –– of which, the first New Jersey player won the first bracelet for them in 2018.
As mentioned above, WSOP and 888poker share network pools across its Nevada and New Jersey platforms.
Partypoker
Similar to heavyweight players 888poker and WSOP, partypoker made similar entries in the U.S. market during the initial “poker-boom” era of online power. Although it left temporarily due to charges from the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act, it has since returned to America with the launch of partypoker New Jersey (NJ). As of now, partypoker NJ has shared liquidity with similar New Jersey online poker platforms BetMGM and Borgata Poker. In January 2020, Partypoker conducted a rebranding, where instead of calling it the New Jersey online poker network, it is now known as the partypoker US network. This rebranding came with a rise in major tournament series offered throughout the network. Not to mention, the welcome bonus for the partypoker US network now stands at a 100% deposit match, which is worth up to $600.
Similar to 888poker and WSOP, partypoker runs cash games that feature signature staples, such as Limit Hold’em, Pot-LimitOmaha, and Stud. Both No-Limit Hold’em and Omaha go up to $25/$50 stakes, whilst Limit Hold’em has $30/$60 limits.
Partypoker holds regular weekly tournaments on Sundays. With a grand prize of $35,000, these tournaments have a $215 buy-in and offer unlimited re-entry until the end of the registration period.
Types Of Bonuses Offered
Deposit Match Bonuses
Many legal mobile gaming platforms provide you with a deposit match bonus upon registering at the site. This bonus works by matching a percentage of your deposit with the respective amount from your bonus funds –– and may even end up doubling the amount of your first deposit. For example, WSOP offers a 100% deposit match bonus that offers up to $1,000 in bonus funds. To be eligible for this bonus, players must first be willing to put in a certain amount of funds.
Another example of a deposit match bonus is loyalty schemes. Within WSOP, poker players can earn Action Player Points (APP) from playing. For example, you can earn 2 APPs for every $1 spent, and WSOP will award $5 with every 50 APPs donated.
No-Deposit Match Bonuses
Unlike its counterpart, no-deposit match bonuses do not require players to put in money before being entitled to a reward. Players can simply access free playing credits from registering at the platform.
For example, 888poker holds a $20 no-deposit promotion for first-time players. This holds true within the 888poker New Jersey and Delaware networks.
Checking Legality
All legal poker sites are regulated by state-level governmental agencies, which oversee the state’s overall legal gambling industry. As such, these online websites are also subjected to the same level of transparency, auditing, and accountability as their live poker counterparts. Currently, the majority of state-regulated online poker rooms have the backing of internationally-famous gambling brands –– such as WSOP, PokerStars, 888poker, and partypoker.
If you want to go one step further, you can look at the site’s deposit and withdrawal options to find out which banks and payment processes are affiliated with these websites. All of the state-regulated websites have backed up and encrypted deposits and cashouts at the highest degree possible.
Sweepstakes Poker
Alternatively, sweepstakes poker offers players the opportunity to play in-state poker without going through state-regulated websites. Although they don’t offer real-money games, players are still able to participate and win cash prizes.
The most well-known sweepstakes poker site is Global Poker, which can be found in 49 states, although most are concentrated within Canada and Washington. This sweepstakes model functions by allowing players to use in-game credits (Gold Coins) as currency, which are made available for purchase. By using Gold Coins, players can amass “Sweep Coins” –– gifts provided by Global Poker which can be redeemed for cash prizes. These usually come in mail-in offers, social media promotions, and Gold Coin purchases.
Conclusion
We hope that you’ve learned more about in-state poker websites through our guide. Although it’s always to have some fun, remember to stay safe whilst doing so!
