Texas Hold’em, otherwise known as Hold’em is the world’s favorite poker variant. This game is played fast and furious, at bricks and mortar Las Vegas casinos, and at the top-ranking online poker rooms like 888poker. This game of skill, wit, and strategy has won the hearts of poker players everywhere. These United States Texas Holdem sites for real money are enjoyable at no risk, and are non-rigged for those seeking to make real money deposits. In fact, much of the best rising poker phenoms have accounts with these brands. Where else could we play, considering the tightening selection offered to USA -Facing players.
Not all poker rooms currently accept US players, but thankfully there’s still a handful of reliable places to choose from…
Best US friendly poker sites.
RoomReviewRatingTrafficCompetitionMacBonusVisitIgnition PokerA+OkayWeak$1,000VisitAmericas CardroomALowAverage$1,000VisitBetcoin.agBAwfulWeak฿1VisitBookmakerCLowAverage$500Visit
These are the best real-money US friendly poker roomsthat I’ve played at. I think they’re the most reliable online poker sites available to Americans as of January 2020.
I haven’t bothered listing the ones I don’t trust.
Is it legal to play online poker in the US?
I’m a better poker player than I am a lawyer. So I wouldn’t want you to completely trust everything I say on this topic. However, I’ve been involved with online poker for years, so I’m just going to give you my opinion on playing poker on the the Internet in the US anyway.
Aside from a few states (see below), it appears to be perfectly legal to play online poker for real money in the US. Thousands of American players play online poker for real money every week. No players have ever been arrested.
If online poker is was illegal, the online poker rooms would not be accepting US players. US-facing rooms are vigilant about staying on top of the law. So unless the poker rooms prevents you from creating an account, you are good to go.
It is safe to play online poker in most US states, which is why we have these US friendly poker rooms. If you would like further reassurance from a legal expert in this area, read this article by I. Nelson Rose.
Here’s a reassuring quote for you:
You are not going to go to jail for merely playing poker online. It is not a federal crime to make a bet. Half the states do have ancient laws on the books making it a crime, sometimes, to make a bet. But these are never enforced. I have been unable to find anyone who has been charged, let alone convicted, for playing Internet poker.– I. Nelson Rose (Is it safe to play poker online?)
And here’s another reassuring quote from VegasClick.com:
No American has ever been arrested, indicted, or prosecuted by the feds for gambling online, because there’s no law against it.– Michael Bluejay (Is online gambling legal in the U.S.?)
The UIGEA.
The UIGEA was passed in September 2006. It stands for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, and it was attached to the SAFE Port Act. Official details can be found between 31 USC § 5361 and 31 USC § 5367.
Contrary to what some people believe, this did not make online poker illegal. It simply made it a little more difficult to process transactions to and from online poker rooms and online casinos. It does not make the act of playing poker online for real money illegal, so it’s not aimed at you.
(I don’t write much about casino stuff here, so if you’re looking for a casino to play at you should check out my friend’s casino bonus site.)
Black Friday.
On Friday 15th April 2011, the FBI seized the domains of the top 4 US-facing online poker rooms. This is known in the industry as Black Friday. The 4 main affected sites were:
- UB Poker & Absolute Poker
These poker rooms were indicted for apparent bank fraud offenses, although it definitely appeared to just be an attempt to reduce the number of online poker sites that could cater to US citizens. You can’t let that kind of money go untaxed, so best to slow the issue down until the Government can think of a solution for getting a slice of the action.
This did nothing to change the legality of online poker — it simply resulted in these poker rooms no longer accepting or offering real money play to US poker players. This was the biggest change in online poker for US players since the UIGEA came in to effect in September 2006.
The major US poker sites were kicked out, leaving behind a handful of smaller US-facing rooms to pick up the slack. Their software isn’t as fancy as the old big boys’, but they work and most importantly the (majority) are dependable companies to play with — it’s not a Wild West of rogues.
US online poker law by state.
Each state has their own laws when it comes to gambling online. Here’s a quick overview on playing online poker in the US by state.
A map that highlights US states that have problems or issues with real money online poker. Last updated: August 2012
States that have big problems with online poker.
- Washington
These states have explicitly stated that online poker is a felony. Some online poker rooms that accept US players have restricted access to players in these states.
States that have issues with online poker.
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Missouri
- New York
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Wisconsin
These states have issues with online poker and online gambling, but it’s a bit of a grey area. It may be the case that there are some sort of laws in place, but they are not heavily enforced. I’m sure that there are many people in these states playing online poker on a regular basis, but there must be some element of risk.
As you may have spotted, I’m not a lawyer, so it’s definitely in your best interest to do a bit of research for these particular states. This state gambling law summary at Gambling-Laws-US.com has a lot of helpful information, so check that out.
States that are regulating online poker.
- Nevada
- New Jersey
These states are beginning to allow regulated online poker through online gambling companies that have acquired permits.
It’s early days though, so it’s nothing to get excited about. Expect it to be a while before this regulated state-by-state poker situation gains traction and is a worth getting involved in as a serious poker player.
States that seem okay.
- All the rest
As far as I’m aware, the states in white do not seem to have any problems or issues with online poker. You’d obviously want to do a bit of checking around first to be sure, but unless you find anything blindingly obvious on the Internet you’re probably fine.
For even more information on the current laws in each individual state (and general thoughts on the risks in each one), have a look at my friend’s site: pokerlaws.org/united-states/. He writes more about it than I do, and is also a lot more American than I am.
Why aren’t all poker rooms US friendly?
In a nutshell, it is easier for some rooms to operate by not accepting any US players at all.
The UIGEA has made processing deposits and withdrawals trickier, so some rooms prefer to stick with non-US players to make their life easier.
Poker companies have limited resources, so some have decided to focus on developing their product and servicing players rather than constantly dealing with difficult payment processing. Other’s are happy to put up with the effort. Different poker rooms, different plans and ideas.
There are a lot of poker players outside the US, so some have just decided to focus their attention on other markets. Fair enough.
Best US poker deposit methods.
Although deposit and withdrawal options are slightly limited for US players, it is still easy to add funds and withdraw money from your online poker account. Some of the more popular deposit options for US players include:
- Bitcoin — This is the most utterly restriction-free way to send money across the Internet. You just have to be prepared to put up with the volatility of a fledgling currency. Having said that, I think it’s amazing.
- Credit Card — The success rate of this method varies greatly from room to room. It’s hit and miss, but worth a shot. VISA cards have the highest success rate.
- Western Union / MoneyGram
Different poker rooms will have different deposit and withdrawal methods on offer for you, so don’t expect to find the exact same methods everywhere. The poker room will let you know your options in the cashier, so your best bet is to just sign up and see what they’ve got. They’ll usually highlight options for US players.
Note: Don’t be surprised to have to pay fees for these methods, and higher ones than players outside of the US might be paying. They’re not terriby large, but they’re noticeable. If you make a deposit/withdrawal without paying a fee, consider it a bonus.
Other useful links.
As I say, I’m not a lawyer (not yet anyway), so I don’t have all the answers. Here are a few helpful pages with more in-depth information:
Go back to the Texas Hold’em rooms.
Table Of Contents
Who said free poker games are boring? From freeroll tournaments to mobile poker apps, there are a lot of ways for you to play poker online for free and enjoy it!
Get a glimpse of the best free poker sites as we get into 2020 and be prepared: the cards will soon be in the air!
Finding a reliable place to play free online poker can be an overwhelming task, especially if you are looking for some fun and you don’t want to spend anything.
In case you are new to the poker scene, several online poker rooms offer these types of free poker games with no registration.
The best and most realistic of all free poker sites is the WSOP Poker app.
The World’s #1 Free Poker App!
Play free poker games and tournaments to win a WSOP bracelet!
Use the MASSIVE no deposit bonus to get started and grind your way to the top. Now accepts US Players!
Play Now
That’s where you find the best free online poker games with fake money to play with other poker players from all over the world and engage in exciting Texas Holdem Poker and Omaha ring games and tournaments.
Playing on these play money poker sites helps you understand how poker works and how to use the right strategy to beat your opponents.
Many players started playing online poker from the free games. That’s because playing free poker online you can develop your poker skills and learn the ins and outs of popular games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha poker before you decide to play for real money.
Think of Anette Obrestad.
Once poker wunderkind, Obrestad started playing online poker for free — and then, one freeroll tournament after the other, she built the insane bankroll that helped finance games and tournaments for real money.
Use the free poker games online to become a better player.
The best online, free poker sites are essential to get some free poker practice. How else could you try our proven poker tips without risking a single cent of your bankroll?
In this article, you find all your best option to play free online poker in 2020.
All these sites have options to play free online poker games with fake money and help hone your poker skills with some good poker practice.
All the site in the list offer mobile poker apps or platforms, so you can play with other poker players on desktop, Android, and iOS.
The mobile poker apps feature the same games and tournaments you find on the desktop versions. Some (like the World Series of Poker (WSOP) app, Zynga Poker, and the World Poker Tour (WPT) Poker app) do not offer options to play for real money.
Others (like PokerStars, PartyPoker, and 888Poker) combine free poker games and tournaments with real money ones — so you can have an authentic ‘full poker experience’ always playing on the same website.
So, are you ready to start playing some poker? Join tens of thousands of other poker players on these exciting websites, claim all the poker bonuses available right now, and get busy with your first poker hand.
Best Free Poker Sites
Need more information to choose where to play some good free Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and stud games online? Check out the description of all the free poker sites and don’t forget you can read even more about them on the reviews published on our list of the top online poker sites.
WSOP Poker
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Social Poker site is the best free-to-play poker sites in the world. This poker site and mobile poker app comes from the kitchens of Playtika, the same social Casino giant that came up with uber-successful apps like Slotomania and House of Fun.
WSOP Poker is the only option to play no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha cash games against friends, family, and opponents from all around the world.
US players can play online poker games on the WSOP free mobile poker app.
Compared to other free poker sites, WSOP Poker hosts some massive games and tournaments where you compete for awesome prizes, including virtual WSOP bracelets.
Link the WSOP free poker app to your Facebook account to challenge your friends and brag to them when you beat them in a big pot or major free poker tournament.
The WSOP poker app offers the best free poker games online. Crown casino high roller theft. It is a superb place to practise poker for free and hone your skills without any financial risk to your bankroll.
Play free poker games on WSOP Poker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
PokerStars
If you already play poker, you know about PokerStars already.
PokerStars is like a mecca for Poker. It is:
- The largest online poker site in the world
- The host of the most successful online poker series
- The only real money PA poker site in 2019
PokerStars is also known for providing great free poker games online — although this isn’t a 100% free poker site like the one that operates under the World Series of Poker brand.
This online poker site is known for the breadth of poker games and tournament formats that you can get accustomed to if you’re starting and learning to play online.
Playing free poker games on PokerStars is simple:
- Register a gaming account (it’s free)
- Select the ‘Play Money’ option.
From there, you are good to go. Ready to take on the world.
Pro tip: when you run out of chips, you can top up by taking a seat at a ring game table. That way, you can continue with your free poker games.
PokerStars Team ProBarry Greenstein joins the action of free Texas hold’em games on PokerStars very often.
As an American player, Greenstein can’t play real money poker in the US. So he often shows up at the play-money tables over at PokerStars.
To play free poker games with Barry Greenstein, you’ll need to work yourself up to the highest play-money stakes and grow a bankroll able to survive those limits.
Play free poker games on PokerStars:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
888poker
888poker is another behemoth in the poker scene. They too offer both real-money and free poker games.
The free poker practice mode helps you familiarise yourself with the poker rules and learn how to avoid all the most common mistakes beginners make.
To play free poker games on 888poker:
- Register a gaming account (it’s free)
- Head to the 888poker Practice Play Lobby
If you qualify for their welcome bonus, you can also play free online poker games to win real money.
Just for registering with 888poker, you get a free $8 instant bonus to play free poker games and an additional $80 free bonus as you collect status points.
888poker is where you get non-stop cash games, giving you the ultimate freedom to decide when and for how long you want to play poker online.
With the number of players who have signed up for 888, free games for play money are always on offer. You never have to wait long to play a play money cash game or free poker tournament.
And, when you’re finally ready to stretch into real-money games, you can take your first deposit, get 888poker to double it, and gain entry into nine free tournaments.
Play free poker games on 888poker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
partypoker
Partypoker also allows you to play online poker free and for real money. These games allow you to explore your ability, strategy, and luck.
If you’re serious about playing, you can jump right into a free game in the ‘Play Money’ tab or even go to the free poker school to learn about how to play online.
New players can receive a money bonus for when they decide to step up their game and try real-money poker.
On Partypoker, you can track your progress, take free poker missions for rewards, and grab free poker promotions for a wide variety of prizes and tournament offerings.
Like on 888poker and PokerStars, there are plenty of players on the free partypoker client, so you should never be bored. Free poker awaits!
Play free poker games on Partypoker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker is still a force to be reckoned with.
While it’s not the poker site it once was, you can still play on your favourite software against players from all over the world.
Full Tilt now uses the poker platform of PokerStars, but the avatars and other perks of the site are still alive and kicking.
Playing free poker on Full Tilt is as easy as it can be.
Like the other sites, they offer play money games so you can give poker a try without risking any of your hard-earned money.
Go ahead and give the play money games a try; it’s a lot of fun.
- Register a gaming account (it’s free)
- Choose your free poker games and play
Like almost all the other real money free poker sites on this page, Full Tilt gives you the option to transition to real money play — if you want to.
You can do so by making a deposit and choosing any of the real money games on the platform, or by going for one of the many freeroll tournaments available.
Don’t you know what a freeroll tournament is? Great. You just qualified for the next chapter of this free poker guide.
Play free poker games on Full Tilt Poker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
Free Poker vs Freeroll
Freeroll tournaments are online multiplayer events that cost nothing to enter.
The difference between these free games and the ones with play money is that these are the event where you can win real money.
No other free poker event let you win real money for free. That’s why freeroll poker tournaments are hugely popular with beginners.
Slot machines burst onto the American gambling scene in the 1930’s and have captivated risk-takers with their bright lights, shiny reels and a chance of striking it rich with their jackpots. Class 2 vs class 3 slots. For the most part the same remains true today. Fast-forward to the 1980’s, and slot machines were deemed to be more profitable than table games like black jack or craps.
Play is often reckless on these free poker events, so you have to be patient and smart about it.
Free Online Poker FAQ
What is the best free online poker site?
According to our latest survey and market data, the best all-free online poker site is the World Series of Poker mobile poker app. In terms of hybrid sites (those where you can choose to free and real money poker games), the world’s best poker site in 2020 is still PokerStars.
Can you play poker online for free?
You can play free poker games in various forms. You can use a no deposit bonus to play real money games and tournaments (e.g. the one at 888poker), open an account on a hybrid site to combine play money and real money games (e.g. PokerStars), enter a freeroll tournament, or download a free mobile poker (e.g. WSOP Poker).
In what states can you play online poker?
As of January 2020, the only states where you can play online poker in the United States for real money are Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
To know what operators offer legal online poker games in these states, check our pages dedicated to PA Poker Sites and NJ Poker Sites. Also, you can follow the legislative process and know when more states are likely to regulate online poker via our US Poker Map.
The WSOP Poker app is legal in all US states.
Additional Readings
- PokerStars freeroll events (PokerNews-exclusive): full list of online, free poker tournaments available only to the readers of PokerNews.com.
- The best poker app in 2020: a complete overview of the top free poker apps available today with tips to play the best games of Texas hold’em, Omaha, and more.
- Best online poker sites in 2020: all the top websites to play online poker in 2019, ranked from the most beginner-friendly to the hardest ones.
This article was originally published on Feb. 17, 2017. Last update: November 28, 2019.
Everybody needs an account at one of these online poker rooms! They’re the biggest, the best, and we get you the best poker bonuses. Check out our online poker section for details on all the online poker rooms around.
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