1. The “truth” about legal real money online poker rooms still open to USA players can vary depending on where you look. I’ve spent 13+ years studying the US poker market and busting myths for American players. Here’s what I’m going to cover in detail: The only USA online poker sites I still trust in 2020.
2. US Real Money Texas Holdem Texas Holdem is the most popular variation of poker that you can find. Real money Texas Holdem online has been a pastime for people for many years. You probably are used to playing Texas Holdem for money with friends, but the good news is you can play online at real money poker sites as well.

888poker is blazing a trail with players in New Jersey who play online poker for real money. Enjoy exciting games, fun-filled features, and massive poker pots! Rack’em and stack’em with real money poker play in the USA! 888poker is fully licensed and regulated to offer real money online poker in New Jersey.

Online poker is simply the most popular game of online poker played across the Internet. As it is being played by millions of people, there are hundreds and even thousands of online poker sites. These websites offer an interactive interface for the players can play in a very realistic environment. Poker is a great place to win cash and play with a friend as it is free to play and the house advantage is much smaller than in land-based casinos.

Can You Play Online Poker In The Us For Real Money

There are literally thousands of brick and mortar casinos scattered around the world. The Internet offers the perfect alternative for players from any part of the world. Poker has gradually pulled in more players and there are now millions of online poker players from Canada to the US. Poker is the leading online gambling in both Australia and Europe and accounts for about half the volume of online gambling as e-gamers. It also accounts for about half the volume of online poker players in the USA.

Recently the government of the states of Delaware and Nevada passed laws encouraging online gambling. Many people fear that the internet will replace traditional gambling and therefore the need to regulate online gambling is necessary. The concern over online poker games is not limited to the jurisdictions, it is a general concern among the public. This is because there is still very little or no regulation of gambling in the US. The concern over online poker games in the states is mainly due to the fact that some states have not yet passed legislation to legalize or tax online gambling.

One of the latest developments regarding the online poker was the launch of the World Series of Poker (WPT) in Las Vegas. Many poker players were against the idea of regulating online poker games because they did not like the idea of government control over online poker. Several US representatives were quoted as opposing the idea of legalizing online poker in their States. The US representatives said that there was insufficient evidence supporting the claim that legalized gambling would reduce crime. However this issue has still not been taken up in Congress and is largely a matter of public opinion.

The US authorities do not appear to be very keen on the idea of regulating online gambling or setting restrictions. On the other hand, the European Commission considers that online casinos should follow strict guidelines regarding prevention of online poker fraud. In the European perspective of the online gambling industry needs more State regulation rather than allowing the free market to decide which online casino gambling games to offer. There are certain principles that the online gambling businesses must follow in order to stay in business in the United States. It is believed that the online gambling industry is only recently getting into the United States due to the fact that in earlier years the companies from Europe did not want to engage in any dealings with the United States. Now, however, they are looking at entering the American market because of the need for their products.

Many US companies are involved in online poker sites and they are licensed by the Department of Justice to do so. However there are still many questions surrounding the operation of these companies as it is not clear how the state laws will apply to them. Therefore there is a possibility that some players are playing for real money and getting cheated out of their winnings.

Some of the world’s top poker stars such as Dan Bilzeris, Mark Hurne and Barry Greenstein are invested in some of the most popular online poker sites. These poker stars allow players to play poker against each other and earn virtual money. They usually do not participate in the live gaming, although there are a select few that have been known to compete in live tournaments. The reason why these men are willing to engage in this form of gaming is due to the fact that they believe that it gives them the same experience as if they were gambling in the real world. There are even promotions through some of the sites that allow you to earn free tournament entries if you sign up at certain websites.

Recently the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that makes it illegal for companies to act as intermediaries for unlawful gambling. This makes it illegal for online poker websites to pay affiliates for letting them promote certain sites and give them commission for every successful referral that they make. This makes the U.S government attempting to protect the interests of the public by ensuring that individuals are not able to benefit unfairly from playing poker online. This is another way in which the powers that be attempt to curb the growing phenomenon of unlawful gambling.

Back in New Jersey & More States to Come in 2021?

Currently, PokerStars is only available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Updated Jan. 3, 2021 – PokerStars launched in Pennsylvania and has the highest traffic of all regulated poker sites in America. It also hosted the Pennsylvania Online Championship of Poker. This was a huge series with more than $1 million in guaranteed prizes. It took years, but it looks like it was worth the wait for Pennsylvania players.

PokerStars has been running strong in New Jersey since 2016, but it hasn’t reached the size Pennsylvania has. A shared player pool could really kick things up a notch though. We’ll see if success in Pennsylvania leads to PokerStars in more states.

Online Poker in the USA

Six states have legalized poker. Out of those, four currently have sites up-and-running. Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Two more states legalized poker but are still working on setting sites up. West Virginia, legalized it in 2019, but poker sites there aren’t expected to launch until 2021. The same goes for Michigan.

When it comes to PokerStars, only two states have Poker Stars software. PokerStars gained approval to operate in New Jersey in 2015. Their site, pokerstarsnj.com, went live on March 21, 2016. Of course, you have to be physically located in New Jersey to play. It’s play money for all other states. PokerStars NJ also offers casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette and more.

PokerStars then launched in Pennsylvania in late 2019. They kicked things off with the Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker that drew thousands of players and culminated in a $300 buy-in main event with a $100,000-guaranteed prize pool.

If you’re not in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, PokerStars could still come to your state further down the line. If you want to play today though, there are still plenty of great alternatives.

Best PokerStars Alternatives for US Players

We recommend Ignition Poker as the best alternative. A lot of people prefer it to non-state run sites since they accept players from all 50 states. Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, ACR, Black Chip Poker and Intertops also rank highly. As state by state rollouts occur, we will continue to keep you updated on when PokerStars makes it to your state.

Can You Play PokerStars in the USA?

PokerStars is only available if you are physically in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. PokerStars will be in more US states soon though. West Virginia and Michigan are the current front-runners to join the party.

PokerStars, which also owns Full Tilt Poker, is currently owned by The Stars Group, formerly called Amaya Gaming Group and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. PokerStars is partnered with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, and their main competition in the state is WSOP/888 and Borgata/PartyPoker. In Pennsylvania, they teamed up with FoxBet, which is the real-money wagering provided by FOX Sports.

While there are poker sits in Delaware and Nevada, but PokerStars has yet to get a license in either state. If you do not live in either New Jersey or Pennsylvania, we recommend Ignition Poker or Betonline.ag. They are safe and trusted sites that service all 50 states. Check out our reviews for a comprehensive look at each poker site. We detail the most important factors to look at when picking a poker site.

Make no mistake. Online poker is legal in the USA. It’s 100% legal for you to play. Don’t have to worry about getting arrested.

How Many Players on Pokerstars?

PokerStars remains the largest poker site on the internet with tens of thousands of players logging in weekly. PokerStars traffic is far superior to any other poker website and it controls over 50% of the market.

The sale of PokerStars has now changed the game in the US market. It is a prerequisite for any online casino that operates with a US license to also have or be partners with a US operated “land-based” casino. PokerStars partnered with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ. Unfortunately, PokerStars has struggled with its NJ-based traffic. On the bright side, Pennsylvania has been a traffic bonanza for PokerStars since it launched in late 2019.

PokerStars also made a massive deal with gigantic casino conglomerate Eldorado Resorts, which operates properties across 12 different states. The US government has to be pleased that PokerStars is playing ball and infusing the US market with plenty of cash.

When Will PokerStars Return to the USA?

It kind of already is. If you’re in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, just download the software. If you’re in another state, then you’ll have to wait. Regulated poker has been moving pretty slow. Even then, some states that have legalized it haven’t let PokerStars in. That’s because they have another obstacle. Some important gaming groups in the USA see the brand as a bad actor because it operated without a license in the USA for years.

The brand is still incredibly popular around the world though. The site also paid over an estimated $850 million in fines because of Black Friday. It might take some time, but PokerStars will make its way back to the USA on a broader scale.

Good Faith Will Not Prevail?

While some US states have been reluctant to allow PokerStars back, it should be noted that the company bailed out tens of thousands of American poker players. Full Tilt famously didn’t have funds on hand to repay its players after Black Friday. PokerStars then bought Full Tilt and repaid all its players for millions and millions of dollars.

PokerStars was simply a better-run business and separated their player accounts from operating expenses. It was, therefore, an easy task for PokerStars to immediately pay back its players after they were forced out of the US market in 2011. PokerStars was also better at becoming a global poker business. Most of its player traffic came from outside the USA.

This act of good faith was on top of the hundreds of millions they paid out in penalties to US officials. It was an example of responsible gaming. As more and more casinos based in the USA secure their licenses to operate, PokerStars will likely be entering several of these state-regulated markets.

When Will I Be Able to Play PokerStars in my State?

We have in-depth poker guides for many of the US states that are updated whenever there are changes to state legislation. Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut guide to when it will be legalized in each US state. For now, it appears that progress will only occur at the state level and a federal online poker bill is still just a pipe dream.

Some states have a higher chance of legalizing and regulating online poker in the near future, however. We keep close track of some of the more progressive states and try to give our readers some insight into which states could be closing in on legalization. You can take a deeper dive into your states specific laws in regards to PokerStars and all poker laws with our state-by-state guides.

Online Poker USA Law State-by-State Guides

You can refer to the legal status of online poker in every US state here:
Alabama – Arizona – Arkansas – California – Colorado – Connecticut – Georgia – Idaho – Iowa – Kansas – Maine – Maryland – Massachusetts – Michigan – Minnesota – Mississippi – Montana – Nebraska – New Hampshire – New Mexico – North Carolina – North Dakota – Ohio – Oklahoma – Pennsylvania – Rhode Island – South Carolina – Tennessee – Vermont – West Virginia – Wyoming

The Entire History of PokerStars in the USA

PokerStars has a fascinating history in the online poker industry with a substantial portion of it taking place in the USA.

2000s

American Poker Sites Real Money

• Now a billion-dollar, publicly-traded company, PokerStars had rather humble beginnings.
• It began in the early 2000s as a Costa Rican company called Rational Enterprises that was majority-owned by Israeli-Canadian Isai Scheinberg.
• PokerStars was just one of many of the early real-money online poker operators including PartyPoker, Pacific Poker (Now 888poker) and Tropical Poker.

2003 – 2006

• PokerStars’ claim to fame came in 2003 when an accountant named Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP Main Event 2003-2006 Las Vegas after qualifying on the site.
• Moneymaker was the first player to win the Main Event after qualifying online and helped create the so-called “poker boom” of the early 2000s.
• PokerStars quickly became a favorite amongst poker players for its secure deposits, reliable support team and booming cash games.

2006 – 2011

• The poker boom was stifled early on when the US government passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 that led to publicly-traded companies like PartyPoker getting forced to leave the US market altogether.
• UIGEA had the opposite effect on PokerStars because it was a privately-held company, it remained in the US market and quickly took the reins as the most popular online poker site in the world.

Online Real Money Poker In The United States

2011 – 2016

• The gravy train came to an end in 2011 when the Department of Justice seized the .com addresses of three online poker sites: PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute/UltimateBet.
• Online poker players referred to the day as “Black Friday”. It would be years before PokerStars would be allowed to re-enter the US market.

2016 – Today

• PokerStars continued to flourish on the international market and was purchased by Amaya Gaming in a massive $4.9 billion deal in 2014. Subsequently the first officially licensed online poker sites in the USA start to pop up in 2014.
• New Jersey became the first state to allow PokerStars back in 2016.
• In late 2019 Pennsylvania follows suit and allows PokerStars to officially open its doors to players in the state.

Unfortunately, many other states remain a pipe dream and it will likely be decades before PokerStars is allowed to operate in the entirety of the USA.