Poker is one of the world‘s most popular casino games. While there is plenty of choice of where to play, players should always look for the best online poker sites – because the more reputable the platform, the better the overall gaming experience will be. 

The best sites are not only licensed and regulated, but they host a greater number of games supplied by the industry‘s top-rated providers. 

To help you get off to the best possible start, this article gives you all the information you need to play online poker for money. It also covers the bonuses you can expect when you sign up with one of the most engaging platforms. 

Best Online Poker Sites for Real Money 

We know it‘s difficult to find the best online poker platform, so we decided to do the hard work for you. Our team of experts has studied and reviewed the features of countless poker sites and come out with the top-ranked platforms listed below. 

Golden Nugget 

The Golden Nugget online casino is one of the most reputable US platforms where you can play poker games. It features tons of quality titles by some of the best providers in the world, and its library is very dynamic. Some of the featured poker games at this site are: 

• Casino Hold’em Poker  
• Texas Hold’em Plus 
• Let it Ride 

To make things even better, Golden Nugget has a variety of bonuses and promotions that you can use. Get lucky, and these can boost your potential winnings substantially.  

Caesars 

Next up, we have Caesars, which is the best online casino if you are a fan of video poker. There are 16 video poker titles on this site, with the most popular ones being Destiny Poker, Ultimate X Poker Five Play, Five Play Draw Poker, Deuces Wild, and Jacks or Better. 

Registering an account at Caesars is simple, and the casino offers a lucrative welcome bonus worth up to $500 on your first deposit. 

DraftKings 

There are not many sites that can match the popularity and reputation of DraftKings, and this operator benefits from top ratings for its quality poker games. 

Not only will you receive a 100% match deposit bonus of up to $2000 and $50 in free casino credits as a welcome offer, but you can instantly use the bonuses and promotions to play a variety of top online poker titles.

BetMGM 

BetMGM is a highly reputable site from one of the biggest entertainment brands in the US. Poker is one of the most popular categories on this site, so you can access the best poker games any time you like.  

There is a formidable list to try, including Three Card Poker, Let it Ride, Game King Video Poker, Four Card Poker, Ten Play Draw Poker and 10’s or Better. 

Foxbet 

Finally, we have a site dedicated to casino and poker games, beautifully designed to bring you the most entertaining experience. Foxbet is also known for featuring tons of payment methods, fast withdrawals and offers numerous bonuses and promotions.  

To gain access, you just need to register an account. The registration process can be completed via mobile or desktop, and it won’t take more than a minute or so.

You’re dealt these cards in blackjack. ⤵️

Do you hit, stand, or split? 🤔

— FOX Bet Sportsbook (@FOXBet) April 14, 2020

How to Find the Best Online Poker Sites 

Of course, you don‘t have to trust our word for it. You can always go online and search for the top online poker sites yourself. There are a couple of features that you should be on the lookout for as they will help you determine whether it’s worth registering and playing poker games or not.  

License and Security 

The first and most important feature is the license. All reputable sites that offer poker online for real money will be licensed. This demonstrates that the site can provide players with its services legally and has gone through a strict vetting process with regulators. Plus, you can trust that the games are fair.  

Checking for a license is relatively simple. Just access the poker site home page and scroll to the bottom, where the license should be displayed. Double-check the information with the regulator, and if all is in order, then you can proceed to the next step.  

Checking for security is also a must. SSL powers the best sites that offer poker online for real money. To check whether this security system applies to your poker platform of choice, look at the URL – if there is an “S” next to “HTTP” then all is well.  

Providers 

Earlier, we mentioned that for poker sites to be considered reputable, they need to feature quality games. Most sites will have a page dedicated to their providers, the companies that make and distribute the games to the site. Look for big names like NetEnt, IGT, Microgaming, and Evolution. 

Payment Methods  

If you play the best free online poker games, you won’t receive real money rewards. However, if you play real money poker, you can win cash. There will be a wide choice of payment methods to deposit funds into your account and withdraw any winnings. 

Check if the poker site features the following banking options: 

• Credit and debit cards 
• PayPal 
• Skrill 
• Neteller 
• Cryptocurrencies 
• Neosurf 
• Paysafecard 
• ecoPayz 
• Rapid 

The more payment methods are featured, the better. Additionally, check the withdrawal processing period, minimum and maximum deposit/withdrawal, and whether fees are charged on these transactions.  

Customer Service 

If you happen to come across a problem, the best online poker sites should assign responsive agents that will help you resolve it fast. A reputable poker site should allow you to contact the support team via Live chat, email, and phone.  

The more responsive and more effective the customer support team is, the higher your levels of customer satisfaction. Additionally, you should check if a FAQ page is available or not. Usually, detailed FAQ pages will solve most of your queries. 

Bonus – Free Poker  

Some platforms offer demo versions of their games before you sign up. This is a good way for you to get familiar with their game library before committing yourself to creating an account. 

This is not a common feature, but it is worth being on the lookout for it, since it allows you to understand how some games work, particularly the more quirky ones like Let it Ride. 

Bonuses at Online Poker Sites 

Apart from being able to play the best poker games, the top-rated poker sites will also provide you with deposit and no deposit bonuses. 

These bonuses can boost your rewards. However, remember that they come with a few terms and conditions that must be met. Below, we’ve listed some of the most common bonuses that you will find at the best online poker sites and noted some of the related T&Cs. Let’s check them out.  

Welcome Offers 

The first and most popular bonus that players can come across is welcome offers. These bonuses will match players’ first deposits at the poker site and give them extra money that they can use to play the featured games. 

However, it is important to know that welcome offers come laden with terms and conditions that you need to meet. If you wish to claim them, you need to make the minimum required deposit for starters. Not every payment method is considered eligible, and in most cases, you cannot use e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller if you want to claim this bonus.  

Next up, welcome offers are subject to wagering requirements. They state the amount that you need to wager before you can withdraw winnings made with the bonus itself. Suppose the welcome offer has a $10 minimum deposit, and its wagering requirement is set at x35. In that case, you will have to wager a total of $350 before being able to withdraw bonus winnings – wagering requirement multiplied by the deposit.  

These wagering requirements need to be met within the bonus validity period, which differs from one online casino to another. Finally, regional restrictions may apply. 

Cashback  

One of the things that makes cashback so popular at poker sites is the fact that it comes with just a few terms and conditions. You must play poker games for real money for a certain period. If you lose money over that time, then you will be eligible to claim a pre-determined percentage of that lost amount back. 

Cashback is often given as non-withdrawable money, and you will have to use the bonus cash again on games determined by the terms and conditions. There will also likely be a time limit during which you must use the bonus cash or lose it.  

Reload Bonuses  

A reload bonus is a match deposit bonus that you receive should you wish to top up your account with additional cash. Wagering requirements are the most important T&C of reload bonuses. The lower they are, the easier it will be to claim the bonus money.  

Watch out for the latest reload bonuses on offer on the site’s promotions page. Sometimes they are only available on certain days of the week. Check also if you need to use a bonus code when you make the deposit – and what the minimum deposit must be.  

Free Money 

Many players mistake free money for cashback, but they are not the same. Free money is given by some poker sites immediately after registering an account. You don’t always have to deposit to claim this bonus.  

However, free money comes with quite a lot of terms and conditions, and this bonus is often limited in terms of the available games that you can use it on.  

Loyalty Programs  

Finally, we have good, old-fashioned loyalty programs, where members can move up the VIP levels to access greater rewards. To be a loyalty program member, you need to wager real money at the best online poker sites. The more money you wager, the more points you will collect, and hence, the higher your level will be.  

Some of the benefits that VIP members of poker sites experience are: 

• Higher withdrawal limits 
• Exclusive birthday gifts  
• Better cashback offers 
• Dedicated account managers  
• Access to VIP tournaments  
• Frequently Asked Questions: 

Is It Safe To Play Internet Poker?  

Internet poker is safe to play if two conditions are met. First, online poker needs to be legal in your residing area. And secondly, you must make sure that you register and deposit funds at a licensed and regulated site. 

Is Online Poker Legal in The United States?  

The legality of online poker in the US depends on the state. Some states have legalized online poker and online gambling, in general, whereas some are still in the process of legalizing it.  

How Do I Get My Poker Bonus? 

To get a poker bonus, you must register at any of the best online poker sites that we list on this page. Then, you should meet the terms and conditions within the bonus validity period.  

Can You Make Money Playing Online Poker? 

Skilled players, also known as professional players, can make a living off playing poker. However, that shouldn’t necessarily be your goal. Your aim should be entertainment and fun. So, make sure that you gamble responsibly.  

Is Online Poker Rigged? 

Online poker at licensed and regulated sites is not rigged. Anti-fraud systems power the games, which use random number generators that promote fair play and thus, create random outcomes for each round. 

Are Online Poker Winnings Taxed? 

Yes, winnings made by playing online poker in the US are taxed. However, specific information on this topic varies from one state to another.