Which is the biggest online poker site in the world? That would be IGNITION CASINO, which took over from PokerStars as traffic declined during 2021-22.
Roared Drop's poker traffic analysis shows that total traffic is down significantly since its pandemic peak. However, it’s still possible to play a full range of games against large fields at the top sites. And several poker operators are running healthy promotions to encourage you to join.
The following list focuses on real money online poker sites with a legitimate licence. It only includes card rooms where you can make a deposits in your own name - no Ponzi schemes here. All of these poker sites also provide excellent security and anti-hacking protocols to safeguard your bankroll.
Top 10 Largest Online Poker Sites by Traffic
This is a listing of the ten largest internet poker websites by average daily players as compiled by multiple industry sources including PokerScape, and our own estimates. This list represents the total number of players across all cash game and tournament tables at each site - not unique logins or user accounts. Please see disclosure at bottom of page.
Great Jobs You Can Get With an Online Gambling OperatorSome of those names could change in the future but the top ten online poker sites list will always exist - and it’s great news for poker players around the world that it does. No matter what time of day it is, wherever you live, you can fire up the world’s biggest poker sites and find a game. Even better, you can find plenty of soft spots in the tactics department when you compare them to a .
As well as allowing you to grind away on the felt, these leading poker sites also offer a series of tantalizing bonuses and promos to help lure you in. Meanwhile, there are always high stakes games humming along if you fancy splashing some cash, while freerolls are on tap for those just starting out on their poker journey.
Ways How to Win at Poker - Tips from a ProWhile the biggest online poker sites might not be quite as juicy as they were in the early 2000s – an era headed by PartyPoker – they still shift enough chips to keep even the most cynical among us happy. As ever, the best poker sites also boast sparkling welcome bonuses, reliable software and a strong roster of tournaments to keep everybody happy.
Why Play on the Biggest Online Poker Sites?
If you want to play poker online, why limit yourself to small sites with tiny playerpools? Surely it makes more sense to on the biggest online poker sites, where the action never stops and the standard of play can be questionable at times? Here are some reasons why you should consider playing on the biggest online poker sites.
Lots of Games & Tables
The best poker sites feature a wealth of cash games and tournaments running around the clock. You’ll never have to wait long for a seat, even on the busy online Texas Holdem tables. Indeed, one of the benefits of playing on big poker sites is that you can often skip to the front of the queue by choosing a table with multiple seats available. If you prefer to play more niche variants such as ** Stud**, 5 Card Draw or Badugi, you might not find many games running on smaller sites. But these variants are commonplace on the busiest poker operators.
Soft Competition
It’s a well-known fact that the best poker players in the world gravitate towards the smallest sites. Why? Because they know the quality of opposition will be weaker. Conversely, the biggest online poker sites tend to attract recreational players, affiliates, poker streamers and poker professionals that are soft on the basics. Yes, the fishy players may be sharp to fundamental strategies and moves, meaning the overall skill level has risen in recent years. However, there's still lots of juice in the top poker sites to make it worth your time.
Biggest Bonuses & Promotions
The best online poker sites with the most traffic usually offer the biggest bonuses and promotions. Why? Because they want to attract as many players as possible to generate maximum rake. You can often get a bigger sign up bonus at the larger poker sites. Plus there tends to be more recurring promotional offers throughout the year, such as leaderboard competitions and special weekly/monthly poker freerolls offering cash prizes and tickets to live events.
Better Tracking Software
The more successful poker sites have their own tracking software available. Third party programs aren’t allowed which levels the playing field slightly. However, even small sites may have their own built-in poker stats tracker to help you analyze your game. But the biggest sites tend to have the resources to develop and license this type of software.
Speed & Stability
The best poker sites with the most traffic can normally afford to invest in faster software and better servers. This means games won’t freeze or drop, and you won’t experience delays between clicking buttons. Smaller poker rooms don’t necessarily have the budget to maintain speedy, stable software especially when facing dwwindling real money online poker traffic.
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You’ll usually find the largest online poker sites in the USA accept a wider variety of deposit and withdrawal methods than smaller competitors. This is because they often operate in multiple countries and have economies of scale on their side.
More Languages
Poker sites with more traffic can typically support more languages on their software. This breaks down language barriers and allows international players to communicate and chat with each other in their native tongue. Languages like English, Spanish and French are commonly found on major poker sites.
Easy Ways to Withdraw Casino Winnings OnlineWhat Makes a Good Online Poker Site?
There are hundreds of places where you can play poker online. But how do you choose the best site to play online poker for real money? The answer depends on your personal preferences and priorities. Some players seek out the toughest competition, while others look for weak players. Some are concerned mainly with poker software quality and visual appeal, while others are interested primarily in signing bonus offers.
For many players, however, safety and security of an online poker site is the single most important concern. Knowing an online poker site will be there to pay you your winnings quickly and conveniently when you want to withdraw your bankroll is paramount. One good indicator of this is how long the poker site has been in business. New poker sites sometimes pop up overnight, only to disappear a few days (and many player deposits) later.
The best poker sites have been around for years and have established reputations. Also check to make sure the online poker site is licensed in a reputable jurisdiction, preferably one that firmly regulates its license holders. For example, UK Overseas Territories like the Isle of Man and Gibraltar tend to provide solid regulatory oversight.
Even the best-run poker sites can have the occasional problem, though. Therefore it's a good idea to make sure the poker room is licensed in the customer's country too. This gives you additional legal avenues to pursue if need be.
Finally play money poker is nice, but you came to play for real, right? The best poker sites offer attractive signup bonuses with decent terms and conditions, reward loyalty with VIP incentives and give you plenty of options for banking at the site.
How Do Poker Sites Attract Players?
The online poker industry offers numerous choices for players looking for the best poker sites to play online. So to attract new players, the best poker sites offer sign-up and reload bonuses. These give you extra money to play with.
Usually the amount of the bonus is tied to your level of deposit. Most online poker sites match your first deposit with up to a certain percentage in free bonus money. Then again, the best online poker sites in the US usually offer low minimum deposit amounts so that everyone can take part in the fun.
Online poker sites also use bonus money as a way to reward existing customers. Reload bonuses for repeat customers are another common marketing tool. Poker rooms may also offer special event bonuses or limited-time promotions. Make sure you read the entire terms sheet before accepting any sign-up or reload bonuses, though.
Terms sheets vary widely among different poker rooms. In some cases you may have to play much higher stakes than you’re used to in order to clear your bonus. Other poker rooms require you to play much greater volumes of hands before you can collect your free bonus money. Always pay attention to the details so there are no unpleasant surprises.
Roulette Mistakes That You Need to Stop Making Right NowBest Online Poker Sign Up Bonuses
All of the best online poker sites in the USA offer sign-up bonuses to tempt new players through their virtual doors. It’s an attractive prospect - simply open an account, make an initial deposit and you’ll receive extra funds to play with.
But hang on a sec. Things aren’t always as they seem. From the poker site’s perspective, it would lose money if it just gave away free credits with no strings attached. So all of the best online poker sites will attach certain conditions to their sign-up bonuses.
Most commonly, you’ll be required to play a certain number of hands at a particular stake before you can collect your bonus. Alternatively, you may have to earn a specific number of ‘loyalty points’ by playing cash games or tournaments. Whatever method a poker room chooses, the aim is the same - to encourage new customers to play lots of poker and spend plenty of time on the site.
Surprising Types of Gambling Apps Tennessee Residents Can UseAnother thing to note is that poker sites rarely pay sign-up bonuses straight away. Instead the extra funds are paid into your account balance gradually - usually in increments of $10 or $25 as you earn rewards points or play a certain number of qualifying hands. In some cases you may never even receive the bonus - like when play money tournaments where no real money is at stake.
In light of all this, it becomes apparent that some poker sites’ sign-up bonuses are more generous than others. We’ve compared like with like to bring you a list of the best sign-up bonuses online - as well as the ones with catches you should look out for.
Ignition Casino Poker Sign Up Bonus
New players at Ignition Casino get an amazing $3,000 welcome bonus. And unlike some other poker sites, you get the full $3k when you put $3,000 or more into your account. There are no cumbersome conditions either - your bonus is dropped into your account balance straight away. Of course Ignation Casino hasn’t left themselves wide open so obviously you're going to have to play a tonne of hands on the felt to lose your bonus. Overall this is one of the strongest sign-up offers in the industry.
Bovada Poker Sign Up Bonus
We also recommend the Bovada sign-up bonus. Why? Well new customers can claim up to $500 when they join and deposit into their account. Again there are wagering requirements attached but at least you keep every cent of the bonus without delay. As ever with the best online poker sites in the US, the fine print states that you have to earn a certain number of reward points to clear your bonus in full.
Are Online Poker Sites Safe?
Yes, assuming you play at the best online poker sites in regulated markets, using licensed software provided by trustworthy operators. The best online poker sites use sophisticated technical security to protect your bankroll. Measures include SSL encryption compliance, firewalls, managed fraud systems, and sophisticated password and database protections.
Furthermore all trusted poker sites use authentication features to verify it’s really you logging into your account. For example, you might need to input a unique password or code that changes regularly. Some poker sites now ask you to validate your mobile phone number to receive SMS and text messages. Others request a four-digit code via an smartphone app before permitting a login.
Trust is understandably a key factor when you play internet poker for real money. It’s natural to worry about poker sites’ ability to pay you when you win and get your winnings to you promptly. After all, it’s no use playing online poker and winning if you can’t get your money out, is it? The best online poker sites recognize this issue and most process most cashouts within 48-72 hours. Many also use automated systems to expedite payments to loyal customers.
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Withdrawal Limit: $3000
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Cash Out Time: 1-2 Days
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Payment Sources: Visa, Mastercard, Person2Person, Bank Transfer, Check, Skrill, Neteller, PaySafeCard, RapidTransfer
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Withdrawal Limit: $5,000
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Cash Out Time: 24 Hours
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Payment Sources: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Visa, Mastercard, ecopayz, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafecard, EcoVouchu, Muchbetter, Interac Online, Instant Banking
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Withdrawal Limit: $5,000
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Cash Out Time: 1-2 business days
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Payment Sources: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, Skrill, Neteller, Ukash, PaySafeCard, Ecocard, Click2Pay, Instadebit, MyPayLogin, Payzen, UseMyWallet, Envoy, Cheque
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Withdrawal Limit: $5,000
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Cash Out Time: 1-2 business days
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Payment Sources: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, Skrill, Neteller, Ukash, PaySafeCard, Ecocard, Click2Pay, Instadebit, MyPayLogin, Payzen, UseMyWallet, Envoy, Cheque
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Withdrawal Limit: $5,000
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Cash Out Time: 1-2 business days
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Payment Sources: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, Skrill, Neteller, Ukash, PaySafeCard, Ecocard, Click2Pay, Instadebit, MyPayLogin, Payzen, UseMyWallet, Envoy, Cheque
Tips for Beating More Casual Poker Players
Now you know what the biggest online poker sites are, let’s end with some helpful tips. By beating your opponents into subsiquence, you’ll maximize your profitability at the virtual tables. Read the following advice carefully and remember to bookmark our site - because we have loads more valuable guidance on various poker pages. Let’s begin with three golden rules for taking down more pots against casual poker players.
- Don’t bluff - A lot of casual players like to call down strong turns and rivers, especially if they’re playing against tight players who aren’t very aggressive. They don’t want to risk losing a pot they think they might win. Use this to your advantage by value betting a lot more than you would against better players.
- Value bet more - When better players are making fewer calling mistakes, you have to extract maximum value when you hit a big hand. Don’t be afraid to bet more when you think you can get paid off.
- Bet more frequently - Loose-aggressive play is rewarded at the lower levels because your opponents call so often. Don’t be scared to make probes bets and continue when you miss. Sometimes your opponent will call with worse hands because they’re hoping you’re bluffing.
Follow these guidelines next time you sit down at the best online poker sites and you should notice an instant boost to your profits. Of course there’s a lot more to learn if you want to dominate against less experienced poker players. We strongly advise you to read as many free strategy guides as possible.
Check out the articles below for more essential tips on beating casual poker players:
Find a fast and easy way to join one of the today and start enjoying non-stop poker action!
Biggest Online Poker Sites by Traffic Quick Facts
What is online poker traffic?
Real time data on the numbers of players currently logged into a poker site or network. Online poker traffic data helps players pick the busiest poker sites with the largest player pools.
Who has the most traffic on Pokerstars?
Currently Ignition Casino Poker holds the most traffic and is ranked #1 on the list. Meanwhile Pokerstmac is ranked second, while GGPoker ranks third. The remaining seven sites on the list - from 4) to 10) - are respectively: Truetoken Poker, Juicy Stakes, Bovada, BetOnline, Americas Cardroom, BlackChip Poker, and Everygame Poker.
Why is online poker traffic important?
It determines the number of real money games and tournaments running at any one time. It also affects the overall skill level of opponents you're facing, and the potential earnings you can make. Generally, bigger poker traffic equals bigger prize pools and softer games at the lower stakes.
Where can I find the biggest online poker tournaments?
Generally the biggest online poker tournaments are held at PokerStars, GGPoker and 888poker. Progressively, other online poker platforms such as Partypoker and Unibet Poker are investing in their online tournament offerings. The biggest online poker tournaments are often held during live tournament series like WCOOP, SCOOP and MicroMillions.
Do all online poker sites use USD currency?
Yes, most platforms do. But others allow players to use alternative currencies - known as stable coins like USDT (Tether). This is a cryptocurrency pegged to the USD price. Meaning 1 USDT always equals $1 in value, providing a stable store of value for online poker transactions.
Top 10 Largest Online Poker Sites by Traffic List
- Ignition Casino Poker - 2,600 players**
- PokerStars - 1,950 players
- GGPoker - 1,650 players
- TrueOdds Poker (formerly TruePoker) - 1,200 players
- Juicy Stakes - 750 players
- Bovada - 700 players
- BetOnline - 600 players
- Americas Cardroom - 500 players
- Blackchip Poker - 450 players
- Everygame Poker - 400 players
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Which is the biggest online poker site in the US?
Currently, Ignition Casino Poker is the biggest online poker site in the United States.
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What is online poker traffic?
Online poker traffic refers to the number of real money players logged into a poker client or network at any one time.
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What are the best online poker sites?
The best online poker sites in the US are Ignition Casino Poker, Bovada and others featured on this page.
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Where is the most traffic on Pokerstars?
Players in the following regions can access PokerStars: Netherlands, Schleswig-Holstein, Belgium, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Mexico, Romania, Spain, Chile, Russia, Panama, Bratislava, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Italy, France, Portugal, Japan, Korea, Canada, Latin America, Africa, Oceania, and the United Kingdom.
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Who has the most traffic on Pokerstars?
Ignition Casino Poker gets the most traffic out of all the poker sites on this page.
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Why is Pokerstars banned in the US?
PokerStars was active in the US market before being forced out due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. Since then the site worked hard to gain a legal license and finally returned to the New Jersey division in 2016. Today PokerStars is legal in Michigan and Pennsylvania too.
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What is the best online poker site for US players?
The best online poker site for US players is Ignition Casino Poker, closely followed by Bovada.
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Do poker sites use your IP address?
Poker sites often prohibit players from certain areas or countries. To do this they check the player's IP address when registering or logging in.
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Are poker sites safe?
Reputable poker sites like the ones on this page use sophisticated technical security to protect your bankroll. Additionally they encrypt connections with SSL certificates, authenticate users and validate devices.
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Are online poker winnings taxed?
Residents of the US with online poker winnings are subject to federal income tax as per Publication 525. Non resident aliens and visitors are generally subject to a 30% backup withholding under section 1441(e).
