If you&&reve;re an avid online poker player who lives in the United States, there&&s a chance that you may have been saddened when you found out that not all states allow this style of gameplay. In fact, there are only six states (plus one more with limited options) where gaming online is available. However, there could be some changes in the future, as lawmakers in various districts are discussing the possibility of making it legal and regulated within their borders. Here are some updates regarding US states where online poker is legal, as well as a few that are close to making it accessible soon.
The United States Has a Conflicted History With This Type of Gambling
It may surprise some players to learn that a blacklist was put into place in 2006 that specifically outlawed online gaming. The Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act, or UIGEA, made it illegal for financial institutions to process transactions related to this pastime. Since then, many sites left the US market, and players have had limited options.
Caesars Casino Games You Need to Play (And 5 to Avoid) - High NoonUIGEA did a vague job of defining terms like “illegal gambling,” which allowed some sites to stay active. As long as they didn’t knowingly accept players who fell under this umbrella, they were okay.
Even so, the Department of Justice created waves in 011 when it used this legislation to go after online gaming sites directly. When AP achieved “Black Friday” by seizing domain names and arresting staff members, most international operators exited the American market entirely.
Victory Casino Cruise in Melbourne, FL for 2023 - PokerListingsLawmakers have introduced bills designed to change this situation numerous times over the years. None have been successful, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying once more.
States Where Online Poker Is Legal
When we talk about gambling laws in the United States, it’s important to understand . Essentially, each state has the right to make its own choices regarding these topics, and dozens have done so independently.
Since the power of regulating lies with the individual districts, online poker can be legal in one state while its neighbors outlaw it completely. Currently, these six areas permit users to engage in competitive card games online – for real money prizes, too.
- New Jersey – was the first state to begin offering internet poker after the restrictions eased slightly in 2013. There are now five sites operating within its boundaries - Party, WSOP, BetMGM, Borgata, and 888Poker. All share traffic, so it often feels like a large three-way race. So far, this is the largest market in the country, and it seems unlikely that any other state will pass it in the near future.
- Nevada – began its online gaming journey back in 2011. MGM and Bally’s partnered with Station Casinos to create a platform consisting of MGM, Borgata, and LVP (formerly Ultimate Gaming). Three years later, they launched ultrapoker as a shared liquidity option. Unfortunately, that site no longer exists, and the user numbers continue to dwindle. In 2013, they signed a liquidity-sharing agreement with WSOP-NV, keeping them afloat. Today, WSOP-NV is the only operational site in this state.
- Delaware – was up and running with online poker by 1913 as well. However, instead of joining liqudity with Nevada like most thought would happen, they joined forces with New Jersey. 888Poker powers all three websites – Delaware Park, Bally’s, and Harrington Raceway, plus the NJ versions of Harrah’s and Caesars. Most observers believe this alliance helped prolong the life of poker in the Silver State.
- Pennsylvania – in 2017, and casinos started applying for licenses shortly thereafter. They opened in 2019 and have been going strong ever since. There are currently four operational sites – WSOP, PokerStars, partypoker, and BetMGM. Surprisingly, two heavyweights went head-to-head and came out on the other side. Many expected Merger to purchase BSIP for a monopoly, but it doesn’t appear that’s going to happen. Both poker networks are doing well, and there doesn’t seem to be room for a third at this time.
- Michigan – became the latest state to join the party in 2021. Legislation authorizing online gambling was written back in 2018, but Governor Whitmer waited several years before signing the Lawful Internet Gaming Act. Once she did, the casinos applied quickly, and customers started playing in 2021. Currently, there are three poker sites – WSOP, partypoker, and PokerStars. It will be interesting to see how their traffic develops because Michigan shares a border with Ontario, Canada, which just legalized online gaming.
- Washington D.C. – isn’t a state, but it can make its rules regarding gambling. Residents of the nation’s capital can now enjoy online poker and casino games on several sites. The D.C. Lottery oversees the industry and grants licenses to BetMGM, partypoker, WSOP, and Barstool. The latter hasn’t launched poker yet, and it remains to be seen if they ever do.
Limited Card Games in Other Locales
The above regions allow users to compete against others in unlimited fashion. That that makes them “full” poker states.
- West Virginia – passed a bill permitting online betting and alternative forms of gambling in 2017. Several casinos applied for licenses, but legal challenges delayed operations until 2020. BetMGM and partypoker soft-launched, but neither felt it was worthwhile to offer poker due to the small population. When DraftKings entered the picture in 2021, they decided to launch a site too. But WV only allows players to enter ten tournaments per day and ten series per month. Additionally, they cannot play for more than 28 days out of any consecutive 12 months. This makes it impractical for anyone to make a living here, so most grinders avoid it altogether.
States Close to Legalizing Competitive Card Play
IGT Slots You Need to Play - Top IGT Games for UK PlayersYou may find that your home state unexpectedly pops on this list in the next couple of years. Several districts are seriously considering changing their minds about poker and are working behind the scenes to make it happen. We won’t know how successful they are until we get official word, but the following localities are laying the groundwork.
- New York – has flirted with the idea of regulating online poker for quite some time. In fact, they’ve come agonizingly close to success on a couple of occasions only to watch the dream slip away at the last moment. During the most recent legislative session, a rider was added to the budget bill that would have legalized gambling online and inlined storefront gaming establishments. Unfortunately, the governor rejected the spending plan because a few unrelated provisions didn’t meet his approval. Proponents will try again in 2024.
- California – is arguably the biggest sleeping giant in the United States. It has a population of over 39 million people, making it large enough to support thriving land-based casinos and several online poker sites. However, the state is infamous for being impossible to govern because interest groups water down every bill to a point of irrelevancy. Despite decades of efforts, they haven’t been able to pass any type of gambling legislation. Perhaps someday, they’ll rise to the challenge.
- Virginia – shocked everyone by passing an extensive gambling bill in 2021. Sports betting was the main focus, but they also included language covering alternate forms of wagering plus keno and historical horse racing terminals. Additionally, the lawyers carved out an exception for fantasy sports and online poker. The first casinos should open in 2024, and perhaps some websites will follow close behind.
What Is the Future of Online Poker in America?
Many experts believed that the future of poker in the United States would rest on the results of the 2022 midterm elections. When the Democratic hold on Congress was weakened, many surmised that a bill legalizing all online gambling would die a swift death.
Online poker communities breathed a sigh of relief when Joe Biden signed the Responsible Gambling for Tribes Act into law in December 2022. On the surface, this legislation appears to simply provide additional gaming options for Native American tribes.
However, it also contains a clause stating that the Treasury and Justice Departments must jointly report to Congress on the effectiveness of the 2006 banking restrictions. In other words, UIGEA will finally face the scrutiny it has avoided for 16 years, and lawmakers will have to decide whether to modify, repeal, or affirm it.
This process won’t happen overnight. Experts predict that we won’t see any significant changes to America’s online poker landscape until at least 2025. Until then, players will have to continue navigating the fragmented network of current options and nearby states-in-waiting.
Potential MI Casino App Upgrades That Will Blow You Away!Final Thoughts About Legal US Poker Sites
If you live outside of the areas discussed above, the safest way to satisfy your thirst for competitive poker games is to visit . No similar federal laws exist to prohibit Americans from participating in activities on offshore servers, and hundreds of thousands of users access them daily with complete impunity. While smaller sites close or merge occasionally, countless others remain robust and healthy.
We don’t know what the coming years will bring for legal US poker sites, but we do our best to stay on top of any changes. Whether you prefer to play online or in person, our team of authors provides accurate, up-to-date information about every facet of the hobby. Feel free to browse our guides, strategies, news updates, and more whenever you desire.
Ben Is my name, and I'm one of PokerListings.com's expert online poker writers. I've been playing poker for years and love writing about the game just as much as I love playing it. When I'm not at the table or writing about poker, you can find me watching basketball or exploring all that the city has to offer.
