The best online poker sites offer everything from enticing welcome bonuses and rakeback deals to consistently high traffic and packed tournament schedules. Whether you’re looking for cash games running 24/7 across all stakes or tournaments with multi-million dollar prize pools, our recommendations have them all.
Add to that manageable rake structures, excellent multi-table software, and quick withdrawals, and there’s good reason why our picks are some of the top online poker sites around.
Top Online Poker Sites to Play in 2026
- Get 33% online poker rakeback every Monday
- High-stakes cash games
- No deposit and withdrawal fees
- Home of the biggest tournaments
- Fastest payouts & Instant payouts when reaching ITM
- Up to 65% rakeback
- Generous Bad Beat Jackpot
- More than 20 cryptos available for deposits
- Ongoing tournaments with freerolls
- Play fantasy poker league Monte Carlo
- Offers sportsbetting and casino while playing poker
- Accepts crypto payments since 2015
- Tourney series - Sunday Majors & Progressive Bounties
- Modern client with 3D visuals, straddle, odds & features
- New Bad Beat Jackpot 2.0 can exceed $30,000 online
- Bomb Pot tables for extra fun
- Minimum of two big MTTs every day
- The Beast weekly leaderboard
- Free tournament tickets as welcome bonus
- Bomb pots in cash games
- Large payout MTTs available
- Team of high-profile ambassadors
- Only poker site that makes every player an owner
- Powered by Polygon
- Zone Poker & anonymous tables for casual play
- $2 million in weekly poker tournament guarantees
- Mobile poker client with up to four tables at one time
- $2 million in weekly poker tournament guarantees
- Zone Poker and anonymous tables for casual play
- Mobile poker client with up to four tables at one time
In This Guide
- Top Online Poker Sites to Play in 2026
- Comparing the Best Poker Sites in December 2025
- How We Rate the Best Online Poker Sites
- The Best Online Poker Site for Intermediate Players
- The Best Poker Website for Expert Poker Players
- The Best Poker Site Online for Tournaments
- The Best Poker Site for Beginners
- Top Online Poker Sites by Player Traffic
- Why Traffic Matters for Poker Players
- Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in the US?
- Best Online Poker Sites for US Players
- Top Online Poker Sites Around the World
- Latest Online Poker News
- Online Poker for Real Money – Payment Options
- Are Online Poker Sites Safe?
- Our Tips for Playing Poker Online in the US
- Best Online Poker Sites – FAQs
Comparing the Best Poker Sites in December 2025
We take a look at how the best online poker sites compare based on their welcome bonuses, rakeback, and the variety of poker games on offer.
| Poker Site | Welcome Bonus | Rakeback | Available Poker Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoinPoker | 150% deposit bonus up to $2,000 | 33% | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, PLO5 |
| ACR Poker | 100% deposit bonus up to $2,000 | 27% | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, PLO5, 7-Card Stud |
| Stake Poker | 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins | 5% | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo |
| Black Chip Poker | 100% deposit bonus up to $2,000 | 27% | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, PLO5, 7-Card Stud |
| BetOnline Poker | 100% deposit bonus up to $1,000 | Loyalty program | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, PLO5, PLO6, Open Face Chinese Poker |
| Bovada Poker | 100% deposit bonus up to $500 | Loyalty program | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo |
| Ignition Poker | 100% poker bonus + 100% casino bonus up to $3,000 | Loyalty program | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo |
| SportsBetting Poker | 100% deposit bonus up to $1,000 | 25% | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo |
| Ya Poker | 100% deposit bonus up to $2,000 | 27% | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, PLO5, 7-Card Stud |
How We Rate the Best Online Poker Sites
We’ve been playing at the best poker sites for real money for decades, playing cash games and tournaments, testing the software, and evaluating traffic. These are some of the qualities we look for when picking our top poker sites.
Licensing
Before recommending any online poker room, we verify each site’s license and operating credentials. We only include platforms that are licensed by an official governing body, such as the UK Gambling Commission or a US state regulator, or by well-known international authorities, like Curaçao eGaming or the Malta Gaming Authority.
We cross-check every operator’s licensing number, review their responsible gaming policies, and confirm that the license remains active.
Bonuses and Promos
Bonuses and promos are a great way to boost your bankroll at the best online poker sites, even if you aren’t on a winning streak. The sites we recommend have enticing welcome bonuses and reload offers, along with extras like leaderboards, spins, and other promos.
More importantly, we also check playthrough requirements, like how much rake you have to pay and how long you have to claim the full bonus amounts, to make sure it’s easy to actually claim these bonuses.
Game variety
We also consider the types of poker games available. Texas Hold’em and Omaha are the most popular variants, so you’ll usually find them everywhere.
But our picks include poker rooms that offer games like Omaha 5, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7-Card Stud, OFC Poker, and others, for those looking to spice up their online poker play with exciting variations.
Tournaments
The best online poker sites we recommend have packed tournament schedules and offer MTTs for players of all skill levels. You’ll find everything from freerolls, daily hyper, and turbo tournaments to multi-day events with million-dollar prize pools with our picks.
Traffic
It’s a given, but consistently high traffic is a significant consideration. After all, there’s no point in a poker site offering multiple game varieties and hundreds of tournaments if there aren’t players filling the tables.
Lots of players joining online poker tournaments also help boost the prize pool when it isn’t a guaranteed amount.
Player Pool
A lot of our picks also have connected casino and sportsbook sections. You’ll find a steady stream of casual players making their way over to the poker tables. Not only does this help boost traffic, but with a generally below-average level of play, you’ll find some of the softest games around.
Software and User Experience
Poor, glitchy software can completely break your online poker experience. We tested our picks to make sure that they not only have excellent, feature-packed desktop software, but also impressive smartphone apps and mobile sites, so you can ante up wherever you are.
Banking Options and Payout Speed
There’s no point in winning if you can’t access your funds right away. Most top online poker sites accept cryptocurrency transactions and offer instant withdrawals.
But if you prefer traditional banking methods, we found that these also don’t take more than a day or two.
The Best Online Poker Site for Intermediate Players
First off, what is an intermediate poker player? It’s a little subjective, but you probably fall into this category if you’ve mastered the basics but are still struggling to cut it at the high stakes.
If you enjoy some wins here and there but would like to add a bit more strategy and consistency to your game, you’re likely in the intermediate category.
Intermediate players should target online poker sites with a mix of skill levels, game formats, and tournaments. This sets you up to progress without having to open new accounts at poker sites every five minutes.
Why CoinPoker is the Best All-Rounder Site for Intermediate Players
- Poker Network: Independent
- Rakeback: 33%
- Payments Accepted: BTC, ETH, USDT, BNB, POL, CHP
If you’ve already seen our CoinPoker review, you’ll know that this is one of the best poker sites out there.
Cash game stakes range from $0.01/$0.02 to $1,000/$2,000, so you’ll find all kinds of players, from complete beginners to high rollers, on the site. Sundays are packed with big tourneys, and yet somehow the overall field is still soft. It’s not reg-infested like some of the more established poker sites.
It’s not the highest traffic we’ve seen for an online poker room, but it’s a consistent thousand, with peaks at more than 3,000 players. We had no trouble finding a cash game or tournament to jump into, regardless of the time of day, because CoinPoker accepts players from all over the world.
On top of that, it uses its own token, Chip (CHP), to award players with an impressive 33% rakeback. If you’re making the step up from beginner to intermediate, you’ll want to consider this, as it’s a chance to earn cash rewards for playing regularly.
CoinPoker also has reliable software on desktop and mobile. As an intermediate player, you’re likely looking to play at multiple tables simultaneously, and the software had no issues during our multi-tabling test.
And of course, with crypto the primary method of transaction on CoinPoker, our withdrawals were pretty much instant.
- Get 33% online poker rakeback every Monday
- High-stakes cash games
- No deposit and withdrawal fees
The Best Poker Website for Expert Poker Players
You’ve put in the hours, you’ve studied the charts, and you’re crushing online poker. Now you need a poker site fitting for a player of your stature.
The best poker sites for experienced players will feature non-stop action at higher stakes, MTTs with huge guarantees and big buy-ins, and a rewards system that benefits those of you who spend huge chunks of time at the digital felt.
And we’ve got the perfect candidate.
Why ACR Poker is Where the Pros Play
- Poker Network: Winning Poker Network
- Rakeback: 27% flat or up to 65%
- Payments Accepted: Fiat and Crypto, including credit card, Luxon, and BTC
ACR Poker, formerly Americas Cardroom, has everything you need as an experienced player.
Every single week, ACR pumps out more than $10 million in MTT guarantees. And there’s also the Venom series, where the main event has previously hit a record-breaking guarantee of $12.5m. To come anywhere near the FT, you’ll need to really brush up on your online poker strategy and play top-tier poker.
Pros can switch from the basic rakeback program to a more lucrative one specifically for high-volume players, called the Elite Benefits Program. The rewards are no joke, with cash bonuses of up to $20,000 on the line.
Player traffic at ACR is strong, with it sharing a player pool with other sites on the Winning Poker Network – Black Chip Poker and Ya Poker. You’ll find consistent, steady action at the Texas Hold’Em, Omaha, and 7-Card Stud cash tables, and there’s always a table or tournament for you to jump into.
But again, with high traffic and big payouts comes a higher skill requirement, so ACR is better suited for more seasoned players. Beginners aren’t left out, though, with many low-stakes cash tables and freerolls available on the site.
- Home of the biggest tournaments
- Fastest payouts & Instant payouts when reaching ITM
- Up to 65% rakeback
The Best Poker Site Online for Tournaments
Finding consistent success from playing online poker tournaments is a whole other skill. While the payouts are significant, making it in the money and reaching final tables are pretty rare.
But if you’re willing to grind it out and play a variety of tournaments to boost your bankroll, the ROI is fantastic.
The best US poker sites for tournaments offer a mix of freerolls, daily events, weekly specials, and signature multi-day tournaments. And, of course, the site should have consistent traffic to ensure that tournaments aren’t running empty or that the prize pool isn’t being topped up.
There are a few options that come to mind here, and they’re all a part of the Winning Poker Network.
Why Tournament Grinders Will Love Black Chip Poker
- Poker Network: Winning Poker Network
- Rakeback: 27% flat or up to 65%
- Payments Accepted: Fiat and Crypto, including credit card, Luxon, and BTC
Black Chip Poker shares a player pool with ACR and Ya Poker as a part of the Winning Poker Network. And this huge player base is one of the many reasons these sites have incredibly packed tournament schedules.
On Black Chip Poker, you’ll find more than 300 online poker tournaments every day, with plenty of hyper, super hyper, turbo, lightning, and bounty MTTs in the mix. It’s mostly Texas Hold’em and Omaha, but you’ll find Omaha 5, Omaha 6, Omaha Hi Lo, Stud, and Stud Hi-Lo throughout the day as well.
Apart from freerolls, tournament buy-ins range from $0.11 to more than $1,000. The payouts look good even in the $3 to $20 range, with lots of options to win big.
And that’s just the daily schedule. You also have specials like the Moneymaker Mystery Million, satellites for live WSOP events, and the signature Venom series that rolls around annually.
In fact, we found so many online poker tournament options on Black Chip Poker that we needed to strategize picking the best options with the highest ROI, even at the micro- and low-stakes levels. But if you’re a tournament grinder, it doesn’t get much better than this.
- Play fantasy poker league Monte Carlo
- Offers sportsbetting and casino while playing poker
- Accepts crypto payments since 2015
The Best Poker Site for Beginners
You can play poker online for real money at any of the sites on our list, but some are more suitable for beginners.
You don’t want a confusing lobby packed with super satellites, hyper PKOS, or obscure formats like Stud. You just want to play a few hands of Hold’em and maybe win some money.
You’re also more likely to want to play at low stakes to minimize your risk. These limited prize pools can deter more experienced players, who feel it isn’t worth their time. It’s a win-win situation.
Why BetOnline is Best for New Poker Players
- Poker Network: Chico Poker Network
- Rakeback: N/A
- Payments Accepted: Fiat and crypto, including bank transfer, Visa, and BTC
BetOnline has everything you’d expect from an online poker site to help make things comfortable for beginners. That starts right from the sign-up process.
You can download easy-to-install apps for macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. But if you don’t want the hassle or are just trying things out, BetOnline has an Instant Play option on both desktop and mobile that works just as smoothly as the apps.
The software is simple and reliable. It includes features that are fun for new players, like throwables and the ability to straddle. That’s when you chuck some chips in before seeing your cards, which often leads to a bigger pot.
Joining a game is just a click away if you’re looking for quick action. And to help beginners, BetOnline has a built-in HUD that gives you info on an opponent’s pre-flop style, post-flop aggressiveness, and a “luck” rating that shows you how often they beat the odds.
BetOnline offers an enticing welcome bonus: a 100% deposit match up to $1,000. You’ll have 30 days to claim the bonus amount, which is released in $5 increments.
But more exciting, if you’re starting out, is the 8 days’ worth of free online poker tournament tickets. The option to play cash-prize tournaments without spending your own money is a huge plus. BetOnline’s tournament schedule has a lot of beginner-friendly options, with buy-ins as low as $1.10.
And, crucially, BetOnline is also a sportsbook and casino. This brings over a ton of recreational players who aren’t poker experts, which is what you need when you’re starting out. We found some of the softest cash games around on BetOnline.
- Tourney series - Sunday Majors & Progressive Bounties
- Modern client with 3D visuals, straddle, odds & features
- New Bad Beat Jackpot 2.0 can exceed $30,000 online
Top Online Poker Sites by Player Traffic
Traffic is the main deciding factor for poker players. Below are some of the best online poker sites for traffic, with estimates based on publicly available poker-tracking data and network-reported activity.
| Poker Site | Average Weekly Players/Day | Peak 24-hour Traffic |
|---|---|---|
| CoinPoker | 1000+ | 3,000+ |
| Winning Poker Network (ACR, Black Chip, Ya Poker) | 6000+ | 12,000+ |
| BetOnline | 2,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Bovada | 2000+ | 4,500+ |
| GGNetwork | 11,000+ | 15,000+ |
Why Traffic Matters for Poker Players
On our list of the best online poker sites for traffic, you’ll always find a table or tournament to join, whether you’re looking for micro-stakes or high roller cash games, or freerolls and tournaments with million-dollar prize pools.
A poker site might offer the best bonuses, the most intuitive user interface, and all the poker game varieties you can think of. But none of that matters if it doesn’t have the player pool to take advantage of everything.
After all, when you join a poker room, you likely want to join a cash table or tournament instantly instead of being greeted by a sea of empty tables and zero sign-up tournaments.
But depending on your skill level, joining high-traffic sites might not always be the best idea. Sure, you’ll always find a game of online poker. These are the best sites for traffic because they have large bases of regular players, though. And unsurprisingly, sites with giant tournaments will attract experts.
Sites with mid-tier traffic are a great option if you’re looking for generally softer games and tournaments. BetOnline is a great example. It’s not the biggest payouts or the most packed tournament schedule, but you’ll have a higher chance of winning.
How to Check a Poker Site’s Traffic
You can check a poker site’s traffic by referring to live traffic data available on sites like PokerScout. These will give you a detailed breakdown of current traffic, 7- and 30-day averages, peak traffic numbers, and more.
But the best bet is to check out the poker site lobby. You’ll find the number of people currently online and in the lobby. And while not all of them will be playing, it’ll give you a general idea of the traffic. You can see how many cash tables are open and whether a lot of people are joining tournaments to see where the action is.
Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in the US?
Yes, it is legal to play online poker for real money in the US. While there are state-specific considerations when it comes to US-based poker rooms, you can play at most offshore poker sites without issue.
The answer depends on the type of online poker site you’re playing at, which falls into two categories.
The first refers to US states where poker is fully operational. These are states where you can open a new poker room, and local players can join without qualms.
As of January 2026, poker is fully operational in:
- Nevada (NV)
- Delaware (DE)
- Michigan (MI)
- New Jersey (NJ)
- Pennsylvania (PA)
In addition, poker has been authorized but is not yet operational in:
- Connecticut (CT)
- Rhode Island (RI)
- West Virginia (WV)
The second category of legal poker in the US is offshore online poker rooms. And this is a whole different ball game, as it’s legal for almost all players to enjoy offshore poker sites. Because of their international licenses, these poker websites can accept players from all over the world, and you can use crypto to keep your transactions safe and anonymous.
The one exception is the state of Washington (WA), where even offshore poker rooms are banned outright.
Best Online Poker Sites for US Players
Online poker availability in the US varies by state due to legal restrictions, and that’s why we provide state-specific guides. For each state below, you’ll find specific legal information, the best sites you can access, and the difference between regulated and offshore poker sites.
Top Online Poker Sites Around the World
Poker availability, traffic, and legality vary by country, so below, you can check dedicated guides for other regions. Each guide provides localized recommendations based on regulations and active online poker rooms in that specific market.
| Global Poker Sites | ||
|---|---|---|
| UK poker sites | India | Singapore |
| Canadian poker sites | Malaysia | Australian poker sites |
Latest Online Poker News
If you’re serious about poker, it pays to keep up with the latest news. First off, it’s a hell of a lot of fun, as there are some really zany characters in poker. News stories about multi-million tournament wins, eye-watering prop bets and juicy rivalries are all pretty common.
On top of that, you’ll be first to hear about new online poker sites – which often have softer fields – and exciting tournaments, live events, chances to play on television with the pros, and more. Plus, you’ll pick up on the latest in-game trends, like pre-flop raise sizes that are currently in fashion.
Check out the latest poker news stories to get that extra edge.
Online Poker for Real Money – Payment Options
You can’t play online poker for real money without funds in your account, and you’ll need reputable payment processors.
That is why real money poker sites offer these safe ways to pay:
Cryptocurrencies – Fastest Withdrawals
One of the main reasons to use crypto poker sites is that you can cash out almost immediately. Cryptocurrencies are also universal, which means you don’t need to worry about currency conversion fees or local banking restrictions.
Add to this the fact that transactions are anonymous, and you can see why Bitcoin is a great option for anyone wanting to play online poker.
Our picks for the best online poker websites accept a wide range of cryptocurrencies, everything from BTC and USDT to Tron and Ripple.
Only the first withdrawal may take up to 24 hours if additional verification is required. But after that, crypto withdrawals are nearly instant.
With more than 16 crypto deposit options, BetOnline is one of the best poker sites for crypto around.
Online Bank Transfer – Reliable but Slow
Most players will be familiar with bank transfers, and we sometimes recommend it as a starting point for newbies. It allows you to send both small and large sums of money.
The main issue with this payment method is that certain banks might not authorize transfers to online poker sites. Additionally, if bank transfers are available, the average wait time can be up to 10 days, which is too long.
There are usually hefty transfer fees to deal with, up to $50 in some cases.
Debit and Credit Cards – Decent for Deposits
Debit and credit cards are another traditional and safe way to make online payments. Almost all of the best online poker sites accept Visa and Mastercard deposits, while a few also accept AMEX and Discover deposits.
As it is with bank transfers, debit/credit cards are easy to use and safe, and deposits are nearly instant. The downside to this payment method is that it’s typically not available for withdrawals.
There may be deposit and withdrawal fees to deal with, too. For example, on ACR Poker, there’s a 10% fee when depositing with a Visa card.
eWallets – Hard to Find
Unfortunately, nearly all of the top online poker sites in the US don’t offer direct eWallet payments. But they’re still quite popular in Europe and elsewhere.
eWallets are designed for online transactions, so they’re not subject to many of the cumbersome processes that legacy banking methods suffer from. The average processing time for eWallet withdrawals is 24 hours. If available, this is one of the best payment options for efficiency and safety.
In Europe, you’ll be able to make deposits and withdrawals directly via PayPal, Skrill, and other popular eWallets.
In the US, things are different. At Ignition Poker, for example, you’ll be able to make eWallet withdrawals to PayPal et al., but only via a third-party platform called MatchPay. But, in the absence of any other options, it’s still an easy way to make withdrawals.
Are Online Poker Sites Safe?
Yes, online poker sites are safe as long as they are licensed, real-money sites like CoinPoker, ACR Poker, Bovada, and our other picks for the best online poker sites in the US. Licensed online poker sites adhere to stringent standards regarding safety, payment processing, and game integrity.
They have various security features for banking transactions and protections to prevent cheating and collusion. If you want a safe place to play online poker, any of our recommendations is worth considering.
Our Tips for Playing Poker Online in the US
Want an advantage over your online poker opponents? Follow these straightforward tips to give yourself the best possible chance at the tables:
- Be patient. This is really important in poker. Don’t rush in at the start of a tournament or cash game, and don’t escalate your stakes until you have a deep enough bank roll. If you’re impatient, you have no shot at becoming a long-term winner in online poker.
- Target amateurs. Instead of going after the toughest guy in the room, try to go up against the weakest players. This is the easiest way to increase your chip stack. Use the notes feature that most online poker rooms have to easily remember which players have made mistakes.
- Use your tickets. Too many players forget about or can’t be bothered using their free poker tournament tickets. That’s value in the gutter – so make sure you use your tickets before they expire.