Online Poker Sites for US Gamblers
Is it Legal, Dude?
A bill passed by the United States Government in 2006 caused many of the biggest and
best online poker sites in the world to stop accepting US players as it made the legality of online gambling a very gray area that has yet to be decided.
As of now, your American government is clamping down on payment methods, not players. Legally speaking, you should always respect the laws in your State, of course. But we don’t know of anyone getting into trouble for playing poker online.
There are still quite a few sites that accept American poker players, but only a handful are truly great. Like in everything, you gotta sort through lots of crap before you hit gold.
Full Tilt
Full Tilt Poker is a popular site with US Players, and makes much of its’ professional association with such WSOP superstars as Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey and Chris Ferguson. The site offers a good range of game options, and will help U.S players find creative ways to fund their real money accounts (as many US banks and credit card companies automatically block transactions to online gambling sites.)
Sportsbook Poker
Sportsbook Poker offers poker gaming to US residents as a part of its large and well established site which also features popular casino games and limited sports betting.
UltimateBet.com
UltimateBet.com is another fast growing site that specifically aims itself at the U.S. market, although last year the site was embroiled in a cheating scandal that tarnished its’ credibility. However Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth, the two WSOP superstars who helped create the site, have continued to be vocal public supporters, insisting that a new management staff has solved all the problems of the past.
Try Before You Buy
All of these sites offer a wide range of bonuses to attract new players, including matching initial deposits and offering players the chance to compete in various money tournaments in the real world. Finding the right site for you is very much up to personal taste, and most reputable rooms offer the option to try a hand or two online to get a feel for their gameplay. The freeplay is free, of course, so you have nothing to lose but your precious time.
