Is Online Poker Legal In The USA?
We hear the question over the whether online poker is legal in the United States more than anything. The issue has practically been beaten to death, but we are still going to give you the run down on the legality of online poker, from both the player's standpoint and the standpoint of the online poker room. The issue is multi-faceted, and we are going to explain it to the best of our ability. While we are not lawyers, we can at least explain to you the basis of the laws as they pertain to players in the United States.
The ability to play online poker has been heavily debated, as federal and state laws are all being written discussing online gambling. We are not here to tell our players that there is no consequence to playing online, though we have never heard of anyone getting arrested or otherwise punished for playing through online poker rooms. We have found that online poker rooms are many and various, and you should not have too much trouble playing despite the more negative thoughts toward online poker that have pervaded the national consciousness. We cannot tell you that you will never have anything to worry about, but the current legal climate regarding online poker does not actually prohibit players from enjoying the game. Let us take a few minutes to explore why.
Online Poker & The United States Federal Government
The only federal law that really has anything to do with the industry of online poker is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The UIGEA has only made one thing illegal - it has become illegal for online gambling providers and payment processors to accept payments related to online gambling. There is no where in the text of this law that says online gambling - online poker included - is illegal. Since the Wire Act has been claimed to only relate to sports gambling, there is nothing anywhere that says players are doing something that violates federal law.
The States' Stance On Online Poker
Where the issue truly glows complicated is on a state by state scale. In every state you will be faced with a set of gambling laws, and each state handles things different. We cannot tell you if your individual state has banned online gambling. What we can tell you is that there is only one state that has made it a major point to ban online gambling, and that is the state of Washington. If you live in Washington, there is a good chance that trying to play online poker is more trouble than it is worth. We can recommend you find your state's gambling laws and bring them to an attorney if you want the question answered. Some states have made it a point to ban the games online, and we are not attorneys that can tell you what is legal and what is not illegal.
| The Online Poker Sites We Play At | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Poker Room | Online Poker Bonuses | Visit |
| 1 | Bodog Poker | 110% Sign Up Bonus Worth $1,100 | VISIT |
| 2 | Intertops Poker | 100% Match Good To $600 | VISIT |
| 3 | PDC Poker | $600 By Way Of 100% Match | VISIT |
| 4 | Carbon Poker | 100% Bonus Worth Up To $600 | VISIT |
Current State Of Playing Poker Online
The one thing that we can tell you is that there is no federal law prohibiting online gambling. There are a few states that ban online gambling, and these are few and far between. We will tell you that there has not as of yet, as far as we know, been a prosecution for playing online poker. Use prudence and your best judgement in trying to proceed, as you could other wise be faced with some trouble if you decide to play. Online poker's legal status in the United States is constantly being debated, and the laws may soon change to actually legalize online poker.
