Future Of USA Online Poker In Your StateEach state has different laws regarding online gambling |
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The online gambling industry is changing fast in the US. Ever since the first online casinos appeared, excited poker players wanted to know when they would be able to play their favorite card games online.
Each state has different laws regarding online gambling. On one hand, there are states that are more liberal in terms of online sportsbooks and casinos. On the other hand, some states are extremely rigid and have strict regulations when it comes to gambling in general.
Even though there are a handful of states that have a regulated online gambling market, we are hopeful things will start to change for the better, and more states will join the group. Read our review and find out exactly which states have legalized online poker, which ones will do it in the future, and what are the best US poker sites.
Is Online Poker Legal in the US?
Given the fact that a large number of WSOP champions come from the US, poker is without a doubt one of the most popular casino card games in casinos all over the state. This is a new era for real money poker. With the arrival of online poker platforms, more players will have the opportunity to put their poker skills to the test.
According to Adam Mason from OnlinePokerAmerica.com there are currently four states have legalized online poker — New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Delaware. They already have live online poker platforms. Recently, two more states have introduced new laws that make online poker legal — West Virginia and Michigan. They have yet to launch online poker platforms, and we expect them to do so sometime in 2020.
In order for an operator to receive a license to operate, they need to partner up with licensed and regulated brick and mortar casinos. Let’s take a look at the current offer in the states that have legalized online poker.
New Jersey Online Poker
New Jersey was among the first states to legalize online sportsbooks and casinos. Online poker was the last one to join the party. 888 (WSOP) was the first operator to open its online poker room for players in NJ. Then, PokerStars came along and is now the most popular online poker site in NJ.
Additionally, poker players can enjoy poker opportunities on these sites:
Pennsylvania Online Poker
The online gambling market is already well-developed in the state of Pennsylvania. PokerStars was the first operator to launch an online poker platform in November 2019, and the other followed their example, but haven’t yet launched their websites.
Soon, Pennsylvania will greet Party Poker and 888 (WSOP). They are expected to launch before the end of 2020.
Nevada Online Poker
Nevada is the home of the first WSOP poker room that uses software from the world-renowned 888 operator. WSOP partnered up with Caesars Entertainment where they run poker events online.
Even though Nevada doesn’t have that many residents, they profit a lot from their visitors. Hopefully, there will be more online poker sites coming to Nevada in the future.
Delaware Online Poker
The small state of Delaware has 3 online poker platforms that operate through horse-racing based online gambling sites: Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway. They all use online poker software provided by the giant in the industry — 888 Holdings.
Since 2015, Nevada and Delaware have been sharing online poker traffic.
What State Will Legalize Online Poker Next?
We’ve already mentioned that two states have joined the online poker club — West Virginia and Michigan. They have legalized online poker in late 2019, and are expected to launch online poker platforms in 2020.
While some states have made some steps forward in legalizing and regulating online gambling markets, we can only guess which ones are the next in line to introduce online poker platforms.
These states have legalized online sports betting:
These states should introduce online casinos and online poker next. But, at the moment, we don’t have any concrete information about their plans for the future. At the moment, players can always visit the closest state where online poker is legalized, and try their hand in a couple of games.
Where Can I Play Poker in the US?
Currently, you can enjoy a game of online poker in the states we mentioned above. You can still enjoy a free poker game, where you don’t have to stress about your strategy. But, once you choose to play real money poker, you will soon lose interest in free play poker.
In addition to the online poker platforms we mentioned above, there is one more option that is available to all players located in the US— Global Poker. This is a sweepstakes-based online platform. It allows you to win prizes playing poker and cash them out for US dollars. Just like big online poker sites, this one has a poker welcome bonus as well.
Global Poker uses state gambling laws that apply to sweepstakes contests. This allows for a real poker action in states that still haven’t regulated the online poker industry. You will get Sweeps Coins and play poker with them. Once you’ve collected a certain amount of Sweeps Coins, you can swap them out for US dollars.
Our Final Thoughts
Even though online poker has been present in the US for some time, with new laws and regulations, the industry has come a long way. Of course, there still aren’t that many states with a regulated online poker market. But, we are hoping the states that have legalized online sports betting will understand and recognize the potential online poker has.