Real Money Texas Holdem Poker Online Usa

Posted on 3/15/2022 admin

It’s one thing to just play poker for real money, but being able to play has made playing and winning even more fun. Being able to play online poker for real money has never been easier today with all the different sites that are out there. If you search Best Online poker sites US players, you’ll find a ton of different websites out there. Real money Ultimate Texas Hold’em is a popular game for players that enjoy winning big. The world series of poker have made this Texas Hold’em variant extremely popular. OUSC will give you the top online casinos and which variants are available to US players. I recommend you BetOnline - they operate for 16 years and accept US residents from all states. Their poker client recently was updated and looks on par with the best sites. Betonline poker is part of the biggest US friendly poker networks so there are always players online.

Are you looking for the best US legal online poker sites or a real money poker app? If the answer is yes, then you came to the right place. This is one of our many online poker reviews where you can find more about the best online poker options.

Without further ado, keep reading to discover how to play the best online poker for money and how to form an online poker strategy. So, let’s get started!

Best Legal Online Poker Sites

WSOP
PartyPoker
PokerStars
Pala Poker
888poker
Global Poker

Is online poker legal? It's not always the same as legal online casinos and legal online sportsbooks. All new players who decide to explore the vast universe of real money poker sites should know that federally, online poker sites are illegal. However, on the individual level, online poker is legal in some of the states.

Some websites such as Global Poker (which is a sweepstakes poker site) are allowed in 49 out of 50 US states. Only Washington does not allow it. At the moment of writing our online poker reviews, only four states offer legal online poker websites in the United States. These are the following: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware.

For more information about some of the available sites, make sure to consult our Global Poker review.

US Legal Online Poker: State by State

Is online poker legal in your state? If the answer is no, keep in mind that the situation can change pretty quickly. Unsurprisingly, Nevada was the leader of regulated online poker. Once the ice was broken, the domino-effect followed.

One by one, many states tried or are still trying to pass the legislation. As you can see, some of them even succeeded. The last one to recently pass online poker is West Virginia, and we expect more legal US poker sites to be launched in the future.

When it comes to future predictions, we believe that chances are pretty good for some of the states to overcome all the legal obstacles and finally launch real money poker sites so their residents become able to play legal online poker.

Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, New York are some of the states that’ll probably make some innovations when it comes to the possibilities of playing poker online. These are the states that have active supporters of online poker in the state senate.

What’s more, regulated real money poker sites in neighboring states can only have a positive effect on public opinion. Additionally, within the borders of the aforementioned states, you can find a considerable number of land-based casinos.

Many of them come with the best online poker rooms where you can play various variants of poker, including the most popular one - Texas Hold’em. In other words, these poker offline options make it easier to launch legal poker sites and eventually start to offer legal online poker.

States Where Legal Online Poker Seems Like a Distant Dream

From this point of view, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah are just some of the states where we can see a certain legislative hostility towards online gambling. Therefore, we don’t believe that we won’t be able to play Texas Hold’em online there for quite some time.

Sweepstakes Legal Online Poker - Play Poker Free No Matter Which State You’re In

As said before, Global Poker, a sweepstakes legal online poker site, can be accessed in all US states except for the state of Washington. This legal online poker platform was launched in 2106, and since then, many players use its services. The virtual currency gaming business model is what makes it unique.

Instead of playing for real money, players play poker free, using gold coins or sweeps cash. That’s why Global Poker often appears when players search for “play poker free” or “play poker online, free”.

To understand how sweepstakes poker works, let’s start with some poker basics and make sure to understand sweeps poker terminology clearly. There’s a difference between gold coins and sweeps cash, and there’s a reason for which “play poker online, free” is actually a bit of a misnomer here.

Gold Coins are the name for the virtual currency in Global Poker, and they are equivalent to what regular legal online poker sites usually call “play money”. In other words, you can’t cash them out, but you can use them to play Texas Hold’em online or participate in some of the available tournaments with other players. On the other hand, “$weeps cash” is a promotional, virtual currency that can be cashed out through PayPal.

To sum up, you can buy gold coins that don’t have any monetary value and can’t be cashed out. “$weeps cash” is obtained as free of charge once you buy Gold Coins. Because of this virtual currency online poker model, Global Poker is not quite considered an online gambling activity. Therefore, it’s allowed in almost all of the US.

Where Can I Play Legal Online Poker in the US?

Pennsylvania is the last state where online poker had become legal when PokerStars was launched there at the end of 2019. Right now that’s also the only available option to play online poker for money in Pennsylvania.

If we don’t count Global Poker, which can be accessed in 49 states, all the other legal online poker sites come with pretty restricted access. For example, Pala Poker and PartyPoker are only available in the state of New Jersey.

However, they are not the only NJ poker sites one can access. WSOP, America's top legal online poker site, is available in the Garden State, and it’s also accessible to all Nevada online poker fans as well. Likewise, PokerStars NJ, available both independently and within the FOX Bet app

Claim the WSOP promo code in New Jersey and Nevada to get a $1,000 signup bonus

Real Money Texas Holdem Poker Online Usa No Deposit

Where Can I Play Poker Live?

Most of the land-based casinos across different states include special poker rooms where you can play live poker. Playing Texas Hold’em online is definitely the most popular option. After all, poker is an American thing, so it’s no wonder to see it available in the vast majority of mortar and bricks casinos.

In fact, instead of listing all the states where you can sit back, relax and try out your luck with live poker, it’s better to list all those where you can’t play poker online. It’ll be easier to remember this list:

Alaska
Georgia
Hawaii
New Hampshire
Tennessee
Texas
Utah

We must add that in Texas, private poker clubs aren’t forbidden. As long as no house makes a profit from the game, poker can be played in private places for fun.

US Online Poker Basics

When talking about the current status of legal US poker sites, there are two especially important laws that you should be aware of. Let’s take a look at these two federal laws that govern online poker in the country.

The Wire Act

The first one is the Interstate Wire Act of 1961, often called the Federal Wire Act. As you can see, it passed long before online poker or even the internet existed. However, it prohibits certain types of betting businesses to operate via wired communications.

In 2011, the US Department of Justice concluded that the scope of the act was limited to sporting events. Therefore, states, where online poker is now regulated, found that the bill didn’t apply to online poker nor other forms of gambling.

However, in 2019, the US Department of Justice reversed its opinion. The new opinion concludes that the Wire Act applies to all types of online gambling.

The UIGEA

The other relevant law is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) from 2006. This law made it illegal for US banks to proceed with transactions for offshore gambling companies. That’s how they were pushed out of the market.

History of US Legal Online Poker

Online casinos started to appear back in 1994. They were usually situated in Antigua or the Isle of Man. However, the vast majority of their users were US-based customers. Two years later, in 1996, online gambling was also brought to the North American market soil.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission was established just outside Montreal. They started issuing licenses, and pretty soon, it was possible to find hundreds of new online gambling websites.

Once again, two years later and again in Canada, the first-ever poker online website saw the light of day. Planet Poker was the favorite source of fun to thousands of Americans who were spending endless hours playing the first real-money online Texas Hold’em.

Over the next few years, thanks to technological advances, better online poker software was developed, while the number of websites kept increasing. These online poker operators also started to offer various tournaments and cash games and got a solid fan base all over the world.

The Industry Kept Growing & Then It Collapsed

Even though there were different interpretations of the law, especially of the famous Wire Act, the newly developed industry kept growing.

The year 2003 is especially important in the evolution of online poker. Using an account from Tennessee, Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker after participating in the event through an online satellite. In Chris Moneymaker's case, we guess, it's okay to say that name determines destiny.

This online poker strategy was live-streamed on ESPN. Suddenly, the whole nation knew about Chris's story. A good number of Americans were hoping to be the next. All of a sudden, poker was everywhere on TV. Live games were followed carefully, and commercial breaks had one purpose: promoting online poker for money and playing Texas Hold 'em online.

The great number of promoted sites were, in fact, offshore online poker sites. A lot of them disappeared from American browsers after Congress passed the above-mentioned UIGEA in 2006.

However, even though a lot of sites weren't accessible anymore, online poker couldn't be erased that easily. Some of the offshore gambling companies had found a way around the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, but not for long.

In 2011, some of the largest online poker operators, including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker/Ultimate Bet, were accused of violating UIGEA and money laundering. These websites were definitely excluded from the significant US online poker market, which seemed to come to an end at the time.

Legal Online Poker Sites Rise Again

Also in 2011, the DOJ released a legal opinion that the Federal Wire act exclusively applied only to one form of gambling: sports betting. A few states saw this as a possibility, paving the way to regulated online casinos and legal US poker sites.

In 2012, Delaware was the first state that managed to do just that. Then, in December 2013, Nevada followed the example of passing online poker legislation. A week later, the Garden State became the third to legalize online gambling, and plans for NJ poker sites were made.

The first-ever regulated US online poker site was launched in Nevada in April 2013. Delaware and NJ poker sites went live that same year, a few months later. In 2017, Pennsylvania became the fourth state to join this group. West Virginia is the fifth state where online poker was regulated in 2019. Probably, more states will try to do the same thing in the near future.

Which State is Next?

Is online poker legal in California or New York? This is one of the frequently asked questions that people search for in the USA. They also search for different terms of poker terminology that sound unfamiliar to them. However, that’s another question that we could discuss on some other occasion.

Let’s get back to our question of legal online poker sites and the possible new markets in the USA. Michigan has made significant efforts to legalize online gambling, particularly online poker, while California, New York, and Massachusetts also seem to be moving in the right direction.

Real Money Poker App: How to Find the Best Poker App

It doesn’t matter if you are a Pennsylvania online poker fan or a regular visitor of NJ poker sites, the good news is that you can play poker whenever you want, anywhere within the borders of one or the other state.

Many of the best online poker websites have launched a dedicated real money poker app that you can easily download and install on your device. The best poker apps are available for both iOS and Android operating systems.

In order to find the best poker app, make sure you visit one of the websites we listed at the beginning of our review.

Also, before you replace your poker offline adventure with the one that can be found on the internet, make sure to read some of the online poker reviews and get to know the poker terminology used by the players worldwide. After a brief introduction to the poker basics, it’s time to create your own online poker strategy and join one of the legal online poker communities!

Texas Hold’Em has evolved into one of the most popular poker games in the world both online and offline. The game is believed to have originated in Texas but cannot be pinpointed to a specific location although the state of Texas has officially acknowledged the game’s birthplace as Robstown, Texas.

Online poker has further increased the game’s popularity, providing players with easy, 24/7 access to Texas Hold’Em. This page was created to relay the advantages and disadvantages of online Texas Hold’Em for US players and to give insight on what to expect when playing online.

Is Playing Online Texas Hold’Em Legal?

Yes, there are no US federal gambling laws that make online poker illegal. Playing Texas Hold’Em online is allowed in 48 of 50 states excluding Washington and Connecticut. Those states have specific laws directed towards online gambling while the other 48 have no such legislation directed towards offshore online poker rooms.

Best Legal Online Texas Hold’Em Poker Sites

The following sites have been vetted by our team of industry professionals and determined to be the best options for USA online poker players. Each of theses sites are located offshore and have the legal licenses to service the US. In addition they all have a trusted reputation and multiple bonus options.

Site Name	Bonus	Rating
$500	Poker	Visit Site
$1000	Poker	Visit Site
$1000	Poker	Visit Site

Intro To Texas HoldEm Poker

When Playing Texas Hold’Em the dealer will give each player two cards face down. These cards are what you will use to place a bet. Three community cards are then drawn face up. The first three community cards dealt face up is known as the flop.

After bets are placed, a 4^th community card will then be dealt. This 4^th community card is known as the turn. Players are then given a chance to raise their bet, call, or fold their hand. A 5^th community card is then dealt (the River), players are given a chance to raise their bets, call or fold. The player with the best 5cards, including their two cards and 3 of the community cards, is declared the winner.

Can I play Real Money Texas Holdem Games On Mobile Devices?

Yes, thanks to the modern advances in mobile technology, playing Texas Hold’em, Stud poker, HORSE, or Omaha on a smartphone or tablet is easier than ever. Most sites have a responsive HTML5 design that will allow users to sign in on the homepage and play on a mobile device with just a few simple clicks.

Are There Online Texas Hold’Em Bonuses?

Yes there are poker bonuses online that can be utilized for playing Texas Holdem. These bonuses are one of the components that make online poker quite attractive since these offers are not usually found at brick and mortar poker rooms. There are several types of bonus options available, but if you are signing up for the first time the Welcome Bonus is what you should look for.

The welcome bonus is known as the industry standard incentive and entails a deposit match up to a determined percentage. Reload bonuses, referral bonuses, and various tournament promotions and freeroll offers are also plentiful.

Poker sites usually release their bonus funds in increments as the wagering requirements are met. Make sure to read the terms and conditions before accepting any online bonus offer.

Hold’Em Terminology

Texas Hold’Em terminology is based of poker terminology in general. While seasoned poker players know all these terms and more, it is helpful for beginners to understand the lingo. The following terms are common when playing poker or Texas Hold’Em

Button – The button or dealer button is a chip or button that represents who the dealer is. Everything in poker goes clockwise, so the player to the left of the dealer button would be known as the small blind, the player to the left of the small blind is known as the big blind.

Blind – When playing poker there is a big blind and a small blind. The small blind is the player located to the immediate left of the dealer, the big blind is located on the immediate left of the small blind. Small and big blinds are the players who must throw in a certain amount to play a hand, that just gets the game started.

Pre-Flop – After seeing the cards you were dealt, and the blinds have been paid, the player next to bet is the player to the left of the big blind. The player has the option to fold, call or raise the big blind. To calla player must match the big blind, to raise a player must bet more than the big blind. Betting before the community cards are dealt is betting on the pre-flop.

The Flop – The first 3 community cards dealt by the dealer are known as the flop.

The Turn – The turn is the 4^th community card dealt by the dealer in a game.

The River – The fifth and final community card dealt in a game. When someone says bet on the river, that means that all community cards have been dealt.

The Showdown – The showdown occurs if there are more than one player left after the river. The last player to bet shows their cards first or if there is no bet in the last round the player closest to the dealer button’s clockwise side shows their cards first.

Texas Hold’Em Variations

Texas Hold’Em is a very popular legal online poker game and since it is so well known there are several different ways to play. The game is the same with a few exceptions, but the betting rules change across the variations of TexasHold’Em.

Limit Texas Hold’Em – With Limit Texas Hold’Em betting is predetermined. Pre-flop and on the flop all bets are the same as the big blind. On the turn or the river, the bets and raises are double the big blind.

No Limit Texas Hold’Em – With No Limit Hold’Em the minimum bet is the same as the big blind bet, but players can bet a lot more if they want, hence the name No Limit.

Pot Limit Texas Hold’Em – The minimum bet is the same as the big blind in Pot Limit Hold’Em, but players can bet up to the amount that is in the pot.

Mixed Texas Hold’Em – Mixed Hold’Em is when the game switches between different types of Hold’em, in most cases it goes from Limit to NoLimit Hold’Em

Real Money Texas Holdem Poker Online Usa Poker

What To Expect Playing Texas Hold’Em Online

When playing online there are some obvious differences. Online players open up a browser or in some cases download a poker program or interface to get to the platform where they can choose their preferred variation of poker. Online interfaces host a variety of tools including, cashier, poker variations, note taking, hand histories, and other casino-style games that can also be wagered on.

Online Vs. Traditional Hold’Em

When playing online there are a few major differences than when playing at a physical table with other players. For one, in online card games, you can’t see who you are playing against. A lot of seasoned Holdem players tend to look for tells or ticks that other players often give away when holding a good or bad hand. Online poker tells are completely different than face to face games.

Online Hold’em can be played faster than face to face games and bets are often played more conservatively. Online there are multiple table options such as limit or no limit Hold’Em, there are multiple buy-ins such as micro, low, medium, or high, and players can also choose between a variety of other online poker games to play in the same visit. You can also play multiple hands at multiple tables simultaneously.

How To Calculate Odds For Hold’em

If you have a strong knowledge of poker odds you will have a better chance of winning in the long run. The best way to calculate odds is to compare the number of unknown cards to the number of cards that can help you.

For example, say you have pocket ace’s and there are 3 cards on the river, you can account for 5 cards. You know there are 2 more ace’s in the deck or in your opponent’s hand. Since there are 52cards, you now know that there are 47 unaccounted for cards since there are 2 more aces, your odds are approximately 23/1of drawing another ace.

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