Service PokerListings is a free-to-use informational website that helps players find low or no-cost options for playing online poker. We receive advertising revenue for this site from company partnerships, and readers are not obligated to make any type of deposit to play. Men aged 23-34 years make up the largest segment of our readership (46.3%) followed by men age 21-22 (23.5%). The next largest groups are ages 35-44 (14.0%) and 22-23 (9.7%). 83.5% of our readers are male and 16.5% are female. Over half (54.1%) of players reporting an annual income of less than $25,000 while 23% earn between $25,000 and $75,000 annually. Another 17.2% earn more than $75,000 per year. In terms of education level, 43.1% of our players reported having some college experience but no degree. 74.1% of our readers played live poker in the last six months compared to 49.2% of PokerListings visitors. Of those who visited a casino in the past six months, 39.4% said they play on a daily basis while 27.1% said they play one to three times per week. Another 23.3% said they play at the casino once a month or less often. When it comes to preferred types of games, 35.4% of respondents listed Texas Hold’em as their top choice. Other popular answers included video poker (16.7%), three card poker (11.4%) and blackjack (9.7%). When asked what motivates them to play, 52.7% of poll takers replied it was a fun way to socialize with friends. Answers of “escapism / stress relief” (34.1%) and “entertainment / I have extra money” (11.7%) also fared well. However, only 3.5% of participants checked the box that said “I have a compulsive need to play”. When asked about preferred platforms, mobile devices were the runaway winner. Specifically, 64.7% of respondents said they prefer to game via smartphone while 32.5% said laptop and just 2.8% tablet. Looking at operating systems, 54.1% of respondents like Android while 44.1% use iOS. Respondents were almost evenly split when asked how important graphics are. Some 44% rated it as very important while 41.8% said it was somewhat important. Only 7.9% said graphic were not too important while just 6.7% said they were not important at all. Good bonuses were by far the most important factor when choosing where to play, garnering 86.3% of the vote. Customer service was second at 55%, with game selection (46.2%) and easy deposits (40.8%) rounding out the top five. When we asked you which types of mailing list you wanted to join, most (63.4%) chose PokerListings.com newsletter while 22.7% opted for GamblingSites.com newsletter and 13.9% chose both. If you regularly play live poker (casino, race track, etc…) do you ever use a player’s club card? Assuming yes, have you ever had a bad experience with a casino refusing to honor comps that you earned? To go along with that, do you think outside parties should have access to player’s club data? Most respondents (51.2%) said that casinos should only be able to share name, address & email address. Just under a quarter (23.8%) said that nothing should ever be shared while 15.6% said casinos should be able to share all information including phone number. Another 9% said casinos should be allowed to share phone numbers and the rest (0.7%) said casinos should be allowed to share email addresses & mailing address. Editor's Note: This survey was conducted in early-to-mid January of 2017.
States with Online Gambling
As you can see from the map above, there are currently five states that offer legal intrastate gambling websites. These sites allow users to play for real cash and actually win real money. Responsible gaming is taken seriously though so you have to be within that state’s borders to register an account and use the gambling website.
Additionally, everyone who creates an account on a state’s gambling site has to go through a verification process to prove that they indeed live in that state. This usually entails sending in a copy of a government issued ID. New York and Virginia both passed legislation authorizing gambling websites but those bills haven’t taken effect yet.
The other four states have active gambling websites. That makes a total of seven states with legal online gambling. Those sites are fully licensed and heavily regulated. Furthermore, the security is top notch to protect your personal information from outsiders. So, which states allow private online gambling?
New Jersey Gambling Sites
New Jersey was the first state to go live with legal gambling websites. It all started back in November of 2013 when Governor Chris Christie signed bill S3502 into law. That bill allowed for ten gambling licenses to resorts in Atlantic City. One of the stipulations was that the resort had to be operating in good faith by the end of 2014.
Another requirement was that the resort had to be physically located in Atlantic City. The law specifically stated that “no Internet gaming license shall be issued to an entity that does not own or lease property in Atlantic Casino Reinvestment Entertainment District.”
The other main point of the law was that these resorts could apply for intrastate gambling licenses. The gambling sites would have to be connected to physical properties in some way. For example, WSOP.com would become the first multistate gambling site in 2018 but it’s linked to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.
Anyway, Governor Chris Christie first signed the gambling expansion bill into law on February 26, 2013. He then conditionally vetoed the bill two weeks later (March 11). The conditional veto removed the 10% tax rate and put it at 15%. It also removed fantasy sports from the list of allowed online gaming options.
The state legislature then overrode the veto on March 27, 2013 and the bill went into effect three days later. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement began issuing transitional licenses in late 2013 and the state’s first legal gambling site (Betfair Casino) launched on November 21, 2013.
No Deposut Bonuses Pennsylvania 2023 - Top Free Chip Offers in PAThe first liquidity sharing agreement was approved in 2016, which allowed WSOP.com to connect its delaware gambling sites for combined liquidity. New Jersey quickly became the biggest online gaming market in the US and WSOP added the state to its network in 2018.
Today, any adult in New Jersey Age 21+ with some form of verified ID can . You don’t have to live there permanently, you just have to be in the state when you play. Here are the legal NJ gambling sites that are available right now.
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Pennsylvania iGaming
Pennsylvania became the fourth state to legalize traditional casino gambling when Governor Tom Ridge signed HB814 into law on July 23, 2004. It took several years for the state’s first casino to open its doors because the legislation called for a lengthy bidding process. Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs eventually opened its door on October 20, 2006 and the final casino (Majestic Star Casino at Harrah’s Chester Downs) didn’t open until June 20, 2007.
Penn National Gaming tried to challenge Pennsylvania’s casino laws back in 2010 and 2011 but lost all of his cases before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. As such, lawmakers didn’t begin considering online gambling expansion until more recent times.
It wasn’t until October of 2016 that HB649 was introduced to the House of Representatives. This bill would have allowed the Commonwealth’s brick and mortar casinos to offer gambling websites to PA residents. The bill made it through the Gaming Oversight Committee on June 12, 2017, but then stalled until late 2017.
Governor Tom Wolf finally signed the gambling expansion bill (HB326) on October 30, 2017. The bill made all forms of land-based gambling legal and regulated, but it didn’t take affect until July 1, 2019. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board began licensing gambling operators in early 2018 and the first site (SugarHouse Casino & BetMonarch) went live on May 27, 2019.
Liquidity sharing agreements were quickly approved and SugarHouse partnered with Rush Street REeti in New Jersey. That gave Pennsylvania the third interstate network and it has been growing ever since. Any adult in Pennsylvania (Age 21+ with some form of verified ID) can now play on legal PA gambling sites from anywhere inside state lines.
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Michigan Online Gambling
No other state moved as fast to legalize online gambling after Pennsylvania as Michigan. Someone introduced a gambling expansion bill in mid-2018 but it didn’t get very far. A new piece of legislation (HB4311) was introduced in December of 2018 and it gained serious traction.
This bill would legalize all forms of land-based gambling and online versions of those games. It made its way through the House Committee on March 10, 2019 and then the floor on March 19, 2019. The bill then went to the Senate on March 27, 2019 and was signed into law on December 20, 2019.
Unlike most other states, Michigan’s gambling expansion bill also legalized online sports betting and the daily fantasy sports industry. The bill also called for all forms of gambling to be placed under the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGM). The MGMC began licensing online operators in early 2020 and the first site, BetMGM Casino, went live on January 22, 2021.
Rivers Casino in Detroit partnered with Scientific Games/Barstool Sports to launch the first Barstool Casino in the country on March 22, 2021. Anyone aged 21+ within the state lines can now sign up for a Barstool MI account and gamble online. Here are the best legal gambling sites in Michigan.
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Delaware Gambling Sites
Delaware was one of the few states that offered limited forms of parimutuel gambling in the 1970s and 1980s. Three racetracks were in operation and bettors could also place their wagers through the mail or offtrack betting parlors. Lawmakers expanded legal gambling to include slot machines and table games in the 2000s.
All three racetracks added slot machine parlours and everything was going well. Seeing as though Delaware was such a small market, the racetracks were having trouble competing with larger commercial casinos, Maryland expanded gambling in the early 2010s. That led Delaware lawmakers to explore internet gambling in 2011 and 2012.
no deposit bonus code casinosThe Delaware Legislature passed HB380 on March 27, 2012 and Governor Jack Markell signed it into law the following day. The law permitted the three horse racetrack casinos to offer three types of gambling websites—slot machine gambling, poker and sports betting. It made Delaware the first state to offer legal sports betting sites, but the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL and PGA Tour pushed for a federal ban on sports betting in Murphy vs. NCAA.
The US Supreme Court sided with the state of New Jersey in 2018, thereby revoking the federal sports betting ban (PASPA). Delaware was grandfathered in to offer single game sports wagering through its racing lottery, but the other two options weren’t as beneficial. The state legislature passed a bill to add sports betting to Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway in 2018, and Governor John Carney signed if into law on June 11, 2018.
Every adult in Delaware (Age 21+ with some form of verified ID) can now sign up for a legal Delaware gambling site. The only catch is that you must be within the state lines to register for an account and gamble online. Here’s a look at the active Delaware gambling sites that are available today.
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West Virginia Online Casinos
West Virginia technically had five land-based casinos after Governor Earl Ray Tomblin signed HB2726 into law on March 29, 2010. The problem was that it took the state’s racetracks over a year to install video lottery terminals (VLTs) and the first resort didn’t launch until Holiday Race Track & Video Gaming Center on May 2, 2014.
From there, the rest of the racetracks began offering VLTs throughout 2014. The State Supreme Court ruled that Table Rock Lodge & Campground could build a resort with up to 1, lined gaming tables and 250 VLTs on November 19, 2015. Mountain View Services then received approval to build a similar casino on November 2, 2016.
That left lawmakers feeling like their state was falling behind the competition, so they introduce HB4323 in 2016. This bill would have allowed West Virginia’s existing casinos to offer internet gambling, smartphone apps and in-person kiosks. The bill died towards the end of 2016 but was reintroduced as HB2712 in January of 2017.
The bill made its way through the Joint Committee on February 6, 2017 and then onto the House Floor on February 8, 2017. It passed with a 69-29 vote and moved onto the Senate on February 13, 2017. Governor Tomblin then signed the bill into law on March 24, 2017.
However, Tomblin was term-limited and lost his reelection bid to Jim Justice. Justice initially vetoed the bill on March 30, 2017, but a water bill contained language that legalized West Virginia gambling websites. Justice then vetoed the water bill on April 5, 2017, but the House failed to override either veto. The issue went before the Senate on April 11, 2017, and they successfully overrul both vetoes.
This effectively legalized gambling websites under the West Virginia Lottery Commission. The commission began licensing companies in 2019 and BetLucky.com became the first live site on September 18, 2019. Unfortunately, a dispute between its operators shut down the site in March 2020 and it never relaunched.
Circa Casino & Gold Spike Casino both declared bankruptcy in June 2020 and were forced to sell their assets. The new owners had no interest in getting into the online gambling industry, so they sold the licenses to Delaware Park and Dover Downs. Those two tracks then partnered with BetAmerica to launch BetMGM – West Virginia on Thebes in July 2020.
Any adult in West Virginia (Age 21+ with some form of verified ID) can now sign up for a legal WV gambling site and gamble online. Here are the legal West Virginia gambling websites that are currently available.
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Nevada Private Gambling
Nevada has some of the most lenient gambling laws in the world. Not only can adults host public poker games without taking a cut, they aren’t even required to have a gambling license. However, the rules change when you’re dealing with private games among a select group of people.
NRS 463.060 states that “A person must not make a banked card game.” This means that anyone hosting a gambling game for profit needs to hire a dealer and act as the banker. They must also have a gambling license, which is only issued to cities, towns, incorporated districts and trustees.
Of course, the city of Las Vegas, the state of Nevada and various trustees all have gambling licenses. This allows locals to host private games that are overseen by a licensed third party. However, state regulators drew the line when it came to online private gambling.
NRS 463.070 says “A person must not operate a banking or percentage game” through electronic or mechanical means for profit. The good news is that state regulators haven’t cracked down on hosts of home games, so nobody has been prosecuted under this law.
Colorado Gambling Sites
Colorado voters considered a ballot initiative (Amendment 77) back in 2020 that would have legalized traditional sports betting. The proposal called for online and retail betting markets and the Colorado Department of Media, Culture and Environment would have overseen the industry.
Happily, 53.9% of voters approved Amendment 77 on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. The Colorado General Assembly then passed HB2272 to establish the rules for sports betting and Governor Jared Polis signed it into law on March 18, 2021.
The law allows for any adult aged 21+ in Colorado to bet on sports through retail locations or gambling websites. The Colorado Division of Monetary Licensing began accepting applications in May 2021 and the first online sportsbooks went live on May 19, 2021. The first retail sportsbook opened on June 15, 2021.
Notably, the law only allows for online sports betting. People will have to visit retail gambling establishments to place other wagers, like blackjack, poker and slots. The state legislature will have to pass another bill to expand online gambling.
In the meantime, Coloradans can stick with the legal sports betting sites listed below. Just remember that you must be inside the state lines to sign up for an account and gamble online.
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Other Private US Gambling Laws
If you don’t live in one of those states, don’t worry because there are still ways to participate in private online gambling from the comfort of your home. You may not be able to find local opponents for a poker game, but you can always go against strangers online.
Likewise, some states allow residents to host gambling games in their homes. Read on to learn about more ways to enjoy private gambling in the United States.
Card Rooms in Your Home (CA & WA)
Washington and California both have very lenient gambling laws. Under most circumstances, you can host private card games in your home without facing any penalties. That being said, you cannot charge rake or act as the banker.
You’re essentially allowed to host a friendly game night with your friends and family members. Of course, things can get a little complicated when someone loses their phone or forgets to bring enough cash to the game. Hence, private online gambling sites have emerged to eliminate those problems.
These websites allow you to set up a private game that only your invited friends can join. Everyone can play using their computer or mobile device from the comfort of their own homes. Our top recommendation is PokerBros because it offers multiple game types and supports most regions around the world.
The main catch is that PokerBros isn’t technically available in the United States. Washington doesn’t have a banned list, so you can download the app and deposit with no issues. California residents will have to use a VPN to download the app and make deposits/withdrawals.
Top No Deposit Online Casino Bonuses in the USA for May 2023Charitable Raffles and Games of Chance (Most States)
Charity gambling is one of the few lucrative forms of private gambling in the US. Most states allow nonprofit organizations to host raffles, bingo games, and pull tab games to raise money for their causes. Some states even allow those charities to purchase online ticketing platforms and host remote events.
In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic led many state legislatures to pass emergency bills that expanded charitable remote gambling. Therefore, you might want to consider volunteering at your favorite nonprofits so you can learn how to host their gambling events. Likewise, you could start your own charitable organization and host your own online gambling site.
The bad news is that different states have different laws regarding charitable gambling. We recommend looking up your local regulations or speaking with a lawyer before starting an online charity. The good news is that most states allow raffles, bingo, and pull tab games without too many restrictions.
In most cases, your charity will have to obtain a raffle license, proof of nonprofit status, and a vendor license for the ticket seller. The exact rules vary based on the state, but the ticket seller typically handles payments and prizes distribution. This structure ensures that the charity receives the funds it deserves while still adhering to gambling laws.
Social Casinos (Every State)
Did you know that US gambling laws specifically exempt social gambling? As long as people are not profiting off an informal gambling event, no laws have been broken. Hence, social casinos have emerged as a way for people to enjoy free casino games online.
Chances are you’ve already heard of Facebook credits, especially if you like playing slot machine games on social networks. These sites generate faux currency, known as Golden Chips, that lets you keep playing even when you run out of funds. The best part is that you can rack up free Golden Chips by completing simple tasks, like signing into the site or downloading mobile apps.
Golden Chips cannot be exchanged for real money, but some social casinos offer sweepstakes games. These games give you the chance to win actual prizes, like gift cards and cash sweeps. Pulsz Casino is one of the biggest names in the sweepstakes casino game, plus our Pulsz Casino bonus code gives you 35 Golden Chips and the chance to win $1,050 in sweepstakes credits.
We should note that sweepstakes games fall into a bit of a grey area. The Electronic Transactions Act generally prohibits online businesses from conducting monetary transactions within the United States. However, lawyers have argued that free sweepstakes games do not constitute a transaction because players are not purchasing a guarantee to receive prize winnings. Instead, players are entering chances to win random prize drawings.
Are Daily Fantasy Sports Illegal Gambling?
Daily fantasy sports combine elements of sports knowledge and gambling, which has led some people to believe that they are illegal. However, major daily fantasy sports sites like FanDuel and DraftKings lobbied heavily during the early 2010s, which resulted in most states deeming them legal.
At this time, 37 states plus Washington D.C. Allow residents to participate in daily fantasy sports contests. The exact laws vary, but most states require participants to be at least 18 years old and locate within the state.
In truth, daily fantasy sports involve less luck than traditional season-long leagues because skillful players can win money on a regular basis. Participants choose a roster of professional athletes who compete for points in a real sporting event. The hosts of these contests assign monetary values to each athlete based on their skills and recent performances.
Participants receive a salary cap worth, say, $100 that they must spend on nine athletes, including one pitcher. Possible lineups for this hypothetical contest might include:
- C – J.T. Realmuto ($5,000)
- 1B – Freddie Freeman ($9,500)
- 2B – Keston Hiura ($8,000)
- SS – Carlos Correa ($10,000)
- 3B – José Ramírez ($10,500)
- LM – Adam Eaton ($7,500)
- CF – Trevor Story ($8,500)
- RF – Mitch Haniger ($9,000)
- SP – Robbie Ray ($10,000)
This team costs a total of $98,000, which leaves $2,00 worth of room for adjustments. Participants can spend that extra money on other positions or save it for a superstar athlete like Gerrit Cole, who might cost $12,000 or more.
Each athlete scores points based on their performance in the real baseball game. Common scoring categories include runs scored, hits, errors, runs batted in (RBIs), stolen bases, strikeouts (for pitchers), complete games, and saves for relievers. Again, the hosts release these scoring systems ahead of time so that participants can pick their teams strategically.
For instance, let’s say that J.T. Realmuto goes 2 for 4 with one run scored and one RBI. Maybe Freddie Freeman hits a home run and drives in three runs, Keston Hiura collects three hits and steals a base, and so on. You can use those Box Score stats to fill in in the scorecards for your daily fantasy lineup.
This hypothetical lineup would then tally up 114.5 points, per the standard scoring system on FanDuel. Every participant’s lineup gets compared in this manner, and the host declares the winner once all sporting events conclude. Naturally, the better you are at assembling daily fantasy lineups, the more likely you’ll finish first in your contests.
How Do I Host My Own Private Poker Home Game?
Hosting a private poker game in your home can seem intimidating, but it becomes easier once you understand the basics. After all, poker mainly involves two aspects—playing the game and handling transactions.
Our guide to hosting a home poker game in every state covers the ins and outs of poker laws, but we can walk you through the basics here. Please note that we are not legal experts, so you may want to consult with an attorney for specific advice on how to host poker games in your state.
Poker Gameplay Rules
Firstly, you need to understand poker gameplay if you intend to host private poker games. We recommend looking up the official rulebook for whichever variant you wish to play because they have subtleties that can impact the outcome of a hand.
Texas hold’em is the most popular variant for home poker games because it only requires two hole cards and five community cards. Hence, it supports more players and hands per hour than games like Omaha and Seven-Card Stud.
This simplified version of Texas Hold’em can help you refresh your memory on the gameplay rules:
- Antes or Blinds: Before the deal, each player puts an initial amount of money into the pot. Antes are strictly enforced equal amounts from each player, while blinds rotate around the table in a set pattern. Common poker variants feature small and big blinds, large and small ante, and so on.
- Dealing & Acting Order: The player to the left of the dealer (the button) receives the first card, and he or she receives it face-up. Everyone else gets to choose whether their hole card is face-up or face-down. This process continues clockwise until everyone has two hole cards. It’s important to establish the acting order because the player acting last has the advantage.
- Betting Rounds: After the dealing round is completed, everyone enters the first betting round. Check out the section below dedicated to poker transactions to understand the nuances of betting rounds.
- Third Street: Once the bets are settled, the first community card (known as Flopper roadmap;; Third street) is dealt with face-up. At this point, another betting round ensues, and so on for Fourth Street (Turn) and Fifth Street (River), which remain face-up.
- Showdown: Assuming that at least two players remain after River, they reveal their hole cards and compare hands to determine a winner. Remember that poker hands rank according to this chart, and the winner takes the entire pot.
Managing Poker Transactions
Managing transactions is the trickiest part of hosting a private poker game because you don’t want disputes cropping up after everybody has gone home. The key is to establish clear rules for buying in, cashing out, and rebuys/add-ons.
Here’s a sample buying structure that works well for beginner to intermediate home games:
- Minimum Buy-in: $20–$40
- Max Buy-in: $100–$200
- Rebuys: $5–$10 each
- Blinds & Antes: 10BB/$5BB for 10-minute levels ($2/$4 with 15-minute levels)
- Rake: 5% with a $2 cap per hand
Firstly, you’re setting limits on the buy-in range so that nobody feels pressured to risk more than they can afford. Plus, you’re limiting the maximum buy-in to prevent high rollers from dominating play and alienating others at the table.
Next, you’re establishing the cost of rebuys in relation to the big blind (BB) unit. Rebuys allow players to revive their chips stacks after going broke, but they shouldn’t give somebody an unfair edge.
This sample antem (ante) and blind structure is fairly loose because it accommodates 10-minute levels. If you prefer 15-minute levels, then consider moving the small and big ante/blind totals to $1/$2.
Finally, a 5% rake with a $2 cap per hand is standard for card rooms and unlicensed home poker games. Licensed card rooms can charge up to 10% rake with no cap, but they offset those losses by providing secure environments and skilled anti cheating technology.
The hardest part about collecting rake is doing so discreetly without tipping whoever might be about to win the hand. That’s why many amateur poker hosts put a small cap on the rake that they collect per hand.
Liability Issues While Running a Home Game
Liability issues are the largest concern for anyone considering how to host poker games in their home. That is, what happens if somebody goes broke during the game and can’t pay their rent/mortgage, utilities, car payment, credit cards, or some other pressing bill?
After all, losing at poker simply means you didn’t play as skillfully as your opponent; it doesn’t mean that you’re irresponsible with your finances.
One way to mitigate liability issues is to spread Limit poker instead of No Limit. In Limit poker, players can only bet or raise an amount equal to the size of the BB. For instance, in a $2/$4 game, the max bet/raise would be $2 in the first two hours and $4 after Orbit 9.
The benefit of Limit poker is that players cannot go broke in one hand or try crazy bluffs because they simply can’t afford it. Hence, games won’t fluctuate quite as wildly, but everyone will have enough chips to make it through the session.
Loyal Royal Casino Bonus & Promo Codes You've Not Seen BeforeIf you absolutely want to run a No Limit poker game in your home, we recommend imposing a "time bank." In this setup, a player that goes broke only forfeits the chips in their stack at the end of the current orbit. They can draw more chips from the time bank and reenter the hand after the next betting round.
The benefits of a time bank are that it gives everyone a safety net and alleviates immediate financial concerns. That way, everybody can focus on playing their best poker rather than worrying that they’re going to go broke.
Potential Charges for Promoting Poker Games
Promotion charges are less common among private poker hosts, but they do happen occasionally. This scenario tends to unfold when police officers raid a poker home game and take everyone’s contact info. They may then send letters demanding promotion fees to avoid prostitution charges.
To be clear, promoting private poker games can constitute prostitution under certain circumstances. Prostitution laws vary by state, but most of them define the crime as exchanging money for sex acts or gambling opportunities. Moreover, many prostitution statutes include a “third time” clause that applies harsher punishments to repeat offenders.
The key distinction between legal and illegal gambling operations lies in whether they are openly advertised. For instance, our overview of legal gambling websites in every state notes that operators must display the official state seal to operate legally.
Similarly, in-person gambling operations are supposed to obtain permits and post signs indicating the nature of the business. Otherwise, hosts can be
