Casual poker fans are accustomed to seeing the game portrayed in the most sanitized of settings. Major tournament events such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and World Poker Tour (WPT) are held at glitzy casino resorts in locales like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. These tournaments are governed by both house rules and local gaming regulations, and strict oversight is provided to ensure that every dollar and every chip is always accounted for.
- But underground poker is illegal in Canada and on the unlikely chance the club is raided, I do have a slight risk of jail but more likely a federal record which end my ability to go to the US, which would SUCK!
- By Ben Garcia Kuwait police arrested several expatriates involved in an illegal gambling scheme in Mahboula recently. The men engaged in a variety of games including running numbers, poker and other card games organized at an apartment in Mahboula. They also took bets from gamblers across the coun.
- However, local activities such as poker parties in a professional area, underaged gambling with those under the age of 21, dogfights and human fight clubs are normally illegal. Some states may legalize certain activities to support colleges or for local businesses, and it is important to know the difference based on the state.
It's more or less common knowledge that underground poker games happen regularly in London, but they aren't as infamous as United States poker rooms like the ones in New York. Underground Poker in Canada. As in the United States, it's illegal to run an unlicensed gambling business in Canada – and that includes poker games. The two major exceptions where playing online poker is an illegal activity are in the states of Washington (where playing is a felony) and Utah, (where it's a class B misdemeanor). On the opposite side of the coin are three states that fully embraced the legality on online poker: Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey.
And even in the world of cash game play, the biggest games in the world go down at Bobby's Room – a secluded section within the Bellagio poker room reserved for legends like Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey. Speaking of Ivey, he has his own eponymous high-stakes room over at the Aria, home to the newly constructed Poker Central stage where broadcast features like Poker After Dark are filmed in front of live audiences.
In states like Utah and Texas – both no-go zones for commercial casinos – card players are forced to enter the murky world of underground poker rooms. And even if you live in one of the dozens of states where commercial and/or tribal casinos can be found, these establishments are typically reserved for the big cities and their surrounding suburbs.
That leaves a wide swath of the American public living in areas that lack convenient access to legitimate casinos and card rooms. Accordingly, a 'black market' of sorts has sprung up to fill that void, with underground poker clubs cropping up from coast to coast. Portland, Oregon is home to a growing network of extremely popular public poker clubs. The rapid growth of underground poker operations in Texas has attracted the attention of authorities.
And in New York City – home to the original hidden poker hotspot the Mayfair Club – players still honor the legacy of local legends like Erik Seidel, Dan Harrington, and Howard Lederer. Odds are, you've passed right by a private poker club operating in your community without ever even noticing. In the urban setting, these enterprises are typically housed in nondescript suites tucked away in shopping centers and strip malls. Out in the ‘burbs, poker clubs can be found in rec rooms, garages, and even entire apartments.
For those reasons, and many others, underground poker rooms have become big business across America. Every day, millions of players compete in thousands of unregulated games all over the country, from privately owned 'mini-casinos' to the kitchen table. Easy access to poker may seem like a 'win-win' for supporters of the game, but as is usually the case, some things are simply too good to be true. As underground poker games have proliferated, so too have the problems associated with card rooms that lack any form of regulation.
Simply put, players lack the basic protections that licensed casinos provide. Onsite security, internal oversight, and ethical conduct are among the many benefits poker players take for granted when sitting down in a private game. To help you avoid the most common pitfalls plaguing underground poker enthusiasts everywhere, be sure to watch out for the seven dangers inherent to private games outlined below:
One of the main reasons behind the rise of regulated casinos in places like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and tribal reservations in dozens of states, is the demand for game integrity.
As recently as the 1950s, gamblers could reliably expect to be cheated, hustled, or scammed while playing almost any game of chance or skill. The creation of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) in 1955 brought an end to that era of 'Wild West' gambling lawlessness within the gambling industry. Even so, as underground poker clubs and card rooms began to proliferate – a trend which began in earnest in 2003 when Chris Moneymaker's WSOP Main Event win launched the 'poker boom' – the specter of inmates running the asylum returned.
But when you venture out into the wilderness of underground poker rooms, the dynamic flips entirely on its head. Instead of a corporate casino chain in charge the operation, these games are run by random gamblers – usually poker players themselves hoping to turn their passion into a profession.
And as much as you'd like to think actual human beings beat corporations when it comes to ethical conduct, major companies actually have much more to offer in that regard. The demands of shareholders who must be satisfied with a steady stream of profits, coupled with local gaming regulators who leave no stone unturned, corporate casinos have every incentive to target and weed out cheaters. Private poker room operators, on the other hand, might just be cheaters in their own right.
Check out the following description of an elaborate cheating scheme uncovered in a New York City card game, as covered by the New York Post in a 2017 profile:
'One poker participant recounted a high-tech cheating ploy in which the dealer and a planted player collaborated.The dealer slipped in a deck of cards implanted with unnoticeable Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) computer chips. The cards silently transmitted their order to a computer that was able to figure out who at the table would be dealt the winning hand; the computer then transmitted that intel to the player via an earpiece.
The scam came to light after hidden sensors were discovered under the table. The guys behind it were found out, but had already split and were, allegedly, never punished.' (Quote)
And while the house collaborating with cheaters is the most common scam underground poker players encounter, nefarious figures can also manage to get over on the game without any assistance from the dealers.
Players who want to win at any costs can mark the cards, using invisible ink detectable only through their specialized eyeglasses, in order to gain an unfair advantage. So-called 'mechanics' can use their turn shuffling the deck to dole out premium hands to their playing partner. And as you can see in this informative article on poker cheating devices, technology is continually being adapted to help folks fleece you during a 'friendly' game of cards.
Any poker player worth their salt can be counted on to quote the cult classic 'Rounders' on command. But unforgettable lines about how 'women are the rake' and the thrill of 'check-raising stupid tourists and taking huge pots them' aside, a particular Mike McD monologue speaks to the heart of underground poker's dubious nature.
During this highly entertaining montage scene , Matt Damon's lawyer-turned-grinder Mike and his partner 'Worm' score an invite to a private Stud game played amongst prep school students. As he takes his seat and feigns ignorance over the rules, Mike offers the following insight into the scheme playing out onscreen between Worm and himself:
'Worm and I fall into our old rhythm like Clyde Frazier and Pearl Monroe.We bring out all the old school tricks, stuff that would never play in the city. Signaling, chip placing, trapping… we even run the old best hand play.
I can probably crack the game just as quickly straight up, but there's no risk in this room. As 'Canada' Bill Jones said, it's immoral to let a sucker keep his money.' (Quote)
Rounders may appear to be a relic of a bygone age in poker, a time when true hustlers were the biggest sharks in the sea, but the cloud of collusion still lingers over any game. Even on a respected tournament circuit like the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), two players have been caught assisting one another through collusion.
In this case, romantic couple and professional players Alex Foxen and Kristen Bicknell played their way to the final three of a $5,000 event. From there, an extremely curious hand played out in front of the cameras and a live stream audience. Bicknell held pocket Aces while her boyfriend found pocket Jacks in the hole, before the flop fell Jack-high to give Foxen the commanding lead with top set.
When you think about how easily collusion can occur in a high-profile poker game like the MSPT, just imagine what goes on at your local underground card club. Playing partners can signal one another using chip placement, conspire to build big pots while boxing out opponents with huge bets, or even use the mechanic tricks employed by Worm in the earlier clip.
Just ask 'Johnny M.,' a Brooklyn hustler who was profiled by the New York Post in 2016:
'We played because we liked playing, always being in action, always having cash — and we cheated when we could. There was collusion.To pull it off, we spoke in a code – funny meant four, nice was nine, very was three of a kind: This is a very nice guy here meant that you held three nines – and the suckers had no idea what we were saying to each other.' (Quote)
Up until November of 2007, underground poker games in New York City flourished with little scrutiny from local police and lawmakers. That all changed when a team of robbers wearing ski masks and brandishing shotguns entered an office building on 5th Avenue and 28th Street. The thieves immediately targeted the card club's high-limit table, scooping up cash, jewelry, and other valuables from the well-heeled businessmen and pro players present.
Robberies like this had become a looming threat to the city's underground poker scene in recent years, but this one turned deadly when an assailant dropped their gun. The subsequent discharge resulted in the death of 55-year old Frank DeSena, along with renewed pressure on local authorities to clamp down on the bustling underground poker scene.
In a profile of that scene published by ESPN one year before, an anonymous regular recounted his own experience coping with armed robberies and other violence as the cost of doing business:
'Last year, when the current spate of robberies started, thugs raided a nearby room. They had bigger guns, but apparently not nearly the same guts.One of the heavies was shaking so hard that the club's employees went out of their way to cooperate so he would calm down and not accidentally kill someone.' (Quote)
It's not just the big city environs either, as a poker player in Austin, Texas was left in critical condition after he was shot during a robbery. Whatever complaints you may have about corporate casinos, your chances of enduring a violent encounter in a regulated card club decrease exponentially.
If it's not a criminal sticking their gun in your face, it might just be the cops. Police departments around the country are becoming increasingly hostile to the underground poker industry. Phoenix, Arizona – home to one of the most energetic private poker scenes of all during the last decade – recently experienced a wave of police raids.
In a public statement, Arizona Department of Gaming spokeswoman Amanda Jacinto told local news outlets that underground poker operators and players alike would receive little in the way of leniency:
'During the joint operation several people were arrested in connection to the business and will be facing multiple charges including operating an illegal gaming facility, promotion of illegal gambling, and racketeering.One of the things that made it illegal – versus your normal poker game that you might have at your own home – is the business was profiting off of the folks that were in here playing poker. No matter win or lose, the business would typically take a portion of the money.'
Depending on the house rules utilized by private games in your area, you might be forced to pay an exorbitant fee – known as 'rake' to poker people – just for the privilege of playing. Thai flower slots free play. In poker parlance, the rake is simply the surcharge collected by poker rooms in exchange for providing cards, chips, dealers, security, and other accoutrements.
This one goes without saying, but once you pony up a pile of cash to play an unregulated card game, there's no assurance you'll be repaid when the game breaks. Of course, underground card clubs that make a habit of stiffing their players won't last long, so this danger isn't as pronounced as the others on this list. Businesses, even illegal ones, survive and thrive by ensuring customer satisfaction, so absconding with somebody's bankroll isn't exactly a recipe for success.
Nonetheless, unscrupulous operators are part and parcel of any industry, and underground poker is no different. Horror stories abound on the online forums, with players reporting an evening of grinding and camaraderie, only to discover that the heavies in charge of the game had no intention of cashing out chip stacks.
7 – You Might be the Fish
It stands to reason that the best poker players in any given area would put their work in at the best casino card room around. But in a counterintuitive twist, many of the most talented cardsharps to ever play the game cut their teeth in underground games. Legends like Stu Ungar and Howard Lederer learned the ropes at the Mayfair Club in NYC, which means up and coming grinders back in the 1980s played low-stakes games alongside future WSOP gold bracelet winners.
That might not be the case today – as the most proficient young players are probably grinding online somewhere in Canada or Europe – but you can still find the veritable 'Murderer's Row' frequenting private card clubs. These players are pros in their own right, earning a tough living at the tables through their own strategy and skill.
For many casual players who hope to have a little fun at their local underground poker game, the scene can quickly provide a rude awakening. These guys are true sharks, sitting day in and day out while a steady stream of fish provide an endless supply of rent money.
Just imagine yourself sitting in the shoes of 'Matthew21v13,' an anonymous underground poker player profiled by ESPN in 2006 who instantly realized where he stood on his local card club's totem pole:
Underground card clubs may seem like the perfect alternative to regulated poker rooms, but players should proceed with caution. The ancient rule of caveat emptor, or 'buyer beware,' definitely applies here, as players who patronize private games can be targeted from all angles. Cheating and collusion, robberies and raids, high rake and refusal to pay out are just a few of the threats facing underground poker players in 2019 and beyond.
Why Is Underground Poker Illegal In America
The scam came to light after hidden sensors were discovered under the table. The guys behind it were found out, but had already split and were, allegedly, never punished.' (Quote)
And while the house collaborating with cheaters is the most common scam underground poker players encounter, nefarious figures can also manage to get over on the game without any assistance from the dealers.
Players who want to win at any costs can mark the cards, using invisible ink detectable only through their specialized eyeglasses, in order to gain an unfair advantage. So-called 'mechanics' can use their turn shuffling the deck to dole out premium hands to their playing partner. And as you can see in this informative article on poker cheating devices, technology is continually being adapted to help folks fleece you during a 'friendly' game of cards.
Any poker player worth their salt can be counted on to quote the cult classic 'Rounders' on command. But unforgettable lines about how 'women are the rake' and the thrill of 'check-raising stupid tourists and taking huge pots them' aside, a particular Mike McD monologue speaks to the heart of underground poker's dubious nature.
During this highly entertaining montage scene , Matt Damon's lawyer-turned-grinder Mike and his partner 'Worm' score an invite to a private Stud game played amongst prep school students. As he takes his seat and feigns ignorance over the rules, Mike offers the following insight into the scheme playing out onscreen between Worm and himself:
'Worm and I fall into our old rhythm like Clyde Frazier and Pearl Monroe.We bring out all the old school tricks, stuff that would never play in the city. Signaling, chip placing, trapping… we even run the old best hand play.
I can probably crack the game just as quickly straight up, but there's no risk in this room. As 'Canada' Bill Jones said, it's immoral to let a sucker keep his money.' (Quote)
Rounders may appear to be a relic of a bygone age in poker, a time when true hustlers were the biggest sharks in the sea, but the cloud of collusion still lingers over any game. Even on a respected tournament circuit like the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), two players have been caught assisting one another through collusion.
In this case, romantic couple and professional players Alex Foxen and Kristen Bicknell played their way to the final three of a $5,000 event. From there, an extremely curious hand played out in front of the cameras and a live stream audience. Bicknell held pocket Aces while her boyfriend found pocket Jacks in the hole, before the flop fell Jack-high to give Foxen the commanding lead with top set.
When you think about how easily collusion can occur in a high-profile poker game like the MSPT, just imagine what goes on at your local underground card club. Playing partners can signal one another using chip placement, conspire to build big pots while boxing out opponents with huge bets, or even use the mechanic tricks employed by Worm in the earlier clip.
Just ask 'Johnny M.,' a Brooklyn hustler who was profiled by the New York Post in 2016:
'We played because we liked playing, always being in action, always having cash — and we cheated when we could. There was collusion.To pull it off, we spoke in a code – funny meant four, nice was nine, very was three of a kind: This is a very nice guy here meant that you held three nines – and the suckers had no idea what we were saying to each other.' (Quote)
Up until November of 2007, underground poker games in New York City flourished with little scrutiny from local police and lawmakers. That all changed when a team of robbers wearing ski masks and brandishing shotguns entered an office building on 5th Avenue and 28th Street. The thieves immediately targeted the card club's high-limit table, scooping up cash, jewelry, and other valuables from the well-heeled businessmen and pro players present.
Robberies like this had become a looming threat to the city's underground poker scene in recent years, but this one turned deadly when an assailant dropped their gun. The subsequent discharge resulted in the death of 55-year old Frank DeSena, along with renewed pressure on local authorities to clamp down on the bustling underground poker scene.
In a profile of that scene published by ESPN one year before, an anonymous regular recounted his own experience coping with armed robberies and other violence as the cost of doing business:
'Last year, when the current spate of robberies started, thugs raided a nearby room. They had bigger guns, but apparently not nearly the same guts.One of the heavies was shaking so hard that the club's employees went out of their way to cooperate so he would calm down and not accidentally kill someone.' (Quote)
It's not just the big city environs either, as a poker player in Austin, Texas was left in critical condition after he was shot during a robbery. Whatever complaints you may have about corporate casinos, your chances of enduring a violent encounter in a regulated card club decrease exponentially.
If it's not a criminal sticking their gun in your face, it might just be the cops. Police departments around the country are becoming increasingly hostile to the underground poker industry. Phoenix, Arizona – home to one of the most energetic private poker scenes of all during the last decade – recently experienced a wave of police raids.
In a public statement, Arizona Department of Gaming spokeswoman Amanda Jacinto told local news outlets that underground poker operators and players alike would receive little in the way of leniency:
'During the joint operation several people were arrested in connection to the business and will be facing multiple charges including operating an illegal gaming facility, promotion of illegal gambling, and racketeering.One of the things that made it illegal – versus your normal poker game that you might have at your own home – is the business was profiting off of the folks that were in here playing poker. No matter win or lose, the business would typically take a portion of the money.'
Depending on the house rules utilized by private games in your area, you might be forced to pay an exorbitant fee – known as 'rake' to poker people – just for the privilege of playing. Thai flower slots free play. In poker parlance, the rake is simply the surcharge collected by poker rooms in exchange for providing cards, chips, dealers, security, and other accoutrements.
This one goes without saying, but once you pony up a pile of cash to play an unregulated card game, there's no assurance you'll be repaid when the game breaks. Of course, underground card clubs that make a habit of stiffing their players won't last long, so this danger isn't as pronounced as the others on this list. Businesses, even illegal ones, survive and thrive by ensuring customer satisfaction, so absconding with somebody's bankroll isn't exactly a recipe for success.
Nonetheless, unscrupulous operators are part and parcel of any industry, and underground poker is no different. Horror stories abound on the online forums, with players reporting an evening of grinding and camaraderie, only to discover that the heavies in charge of the game had no intention of cashing out chip stacks.
7 – You Might be the Fish
It stands to reason that the best poker players in any given area would put their work in at the best casino card room around. But in a counterintuitive twist, many of the most talented cardsharps to ever play the game cut their teeth in underground games. Legends like Stu Ungar and Howard Lederer learned the ropes at the Mayfair Club in NYC, which means up and coming grinders back in the 1980s played low-stakes games alongside future WSOP gold bracelet winners.
That might not be the case today – as the most proficient young players are probably grinding online somewhere in Canada or Europe – but you can still find the veritable 'Murderer's Row' frequenting private card clubs. These players are pros in their own right, earning a tough living at the tables through their own strategy and skill.
For many casual players who hope to have a little fun at their local underground poker game, the scene can quickly provide a rude awakening. These guys are true sharks, sitting day in and day out while a steady stream of fish provide an endless supply of rent money.
Just imagine yourself sitting in the shoes of 'Matthew21v13,' an anonymous underground poker player profiled by ESPN in 2006 who instantly realized where he stood on his local card club's totem pole:
Underground card clubs may seem like the perfect alternative to regulated poker rooms, but players should proceed with caution. The ancient rule of caveat emptor, or 'buyer beware,' definitely applies here, as players who patronize private games can be targeted from all angles. Cheating and collusion, robberies and raids, high rake and refusal to pay out are just a few of the threats facing underground poker players in 2019 and beyond.
Why Is Underground Poker Illegal In America
The legality of online poker in the United States varies according to your jurisdiction. Contrary to what some sources might have you believe, no federal law specifically forbids online poker. State laws, on the other hand, might or might not, depending on the state. Only one state (Washington) has a specific law explicitly forbidding online poker, while only Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey have legalized and regulated it.
Our goal is to provide the facts about where you can play poker online legally in the United States. You should know up front that our site isn't run by lawyers or anyone with any kind of governmental authority. If you need actual legal advice, you should contact an attorney. The information provided here is for educational and entertainment purposes only. We're not responsible for anything that happens based on your use of the information here.
That being said, the information here is accurate and reliable to the best of our knowledge.
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Why Is Underground Poker Illegal Poker
Washington State
We thought it would be a good idea to get this out of the way right away. It is illegal to play poker online for money in the state of Washington.
Why Are Underground Poker Games Illegal
The state of Washington passed a law in 2006 making online poker a felony. Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars responded by no longer offering services to residents of that state, but they continued to operate in the rest of the country. If you live in the state of Washington, it's a crime to play poker online for money. In fact, it's a serious crime. Our advice to poker players in Washington state is to not play poker on the Internet.
We don't know why the state of Washington has taken such a draconian stance against Internet poker, but if you live there, it's probably best not to play, even if you can find a site which would accept you as a player.
Games of Skill vs. Games of Chance
The amount of controversy surrounding whether or not it's legal to play poker on the Internet in the United States is strange, especially in light of the similarities between the game and the free market system, which is one of the cornerstones of the American way of life. Poker is even commonly called 'America's card game.' Expert players consider it a mind sport. Even the general public considers poker a sport; that's why it's the subject of televised events on ESPN, a TV channel that specializes in sports programming and reporting.
In August, 2012, Judge Jack B. Weinstein, a federal judge in Brooklyn, ruled that poker is predominantly a game of skill rather than chance. The reasoning is that the money doesn't flow to the luckiest players at the table, at least not in the long run. In the end, the most skilled players win the most money. The skills used in poker include reading other players, concealing your own intentions, and evaluating the odds that your hand is the best.
According to Judge Weinstein, 'The most skillful professionals earn the same celestial salaries as professional ballplayers.'
Of course, this doesn't mean that playing poker doesn't constitute gambling, at least not colloquially. What makes a game 'gambling' is the activity of betting money. Skill becomes a consideration from a legal standpoint, though. In many jurisdictions, contests of skill are treated dramatically different from games of pure chance.
You might be the best poker player in the world, but on any given hand, you face an element of risk. The same holds true for other bettors who use skill to get an edge. Blackjack card counters, expert video poker players, and skilled sports handicappers all sometimes lose.
The Interstate Wire Act of 1961
Does the Wire Act make online poker illegal?
The Interstate Wire Act of 1961, sometimes called 'the Federal Wire Act', was passed in September, 1961 in an attempt to thwart organized crime.
In 2005, the Justice Department sent threatening letters to Internet publishers and broadcasting companies, including Google, Yahoo, and Infinity Broadcasting. Their contention was that accepting advertising from companies involved in online gambling was 'aiding and abetting' illegal activities. They used the Interstate Wire Act as justification for this.
In December, 2011, The Justice Department reversed their position, stating that the Interstate Wire Act of 1961 only applies to sports betting, not to poker.
So the short answer, until the Supreme Court rules otherwise, is no, the Wire Act does not make online poker illegal.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006
Does UIGEA make online poker illegal?
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) was passed as part of the Safe Ports act. The law made it a federal crime to accept payments connected with illegal Internet gambling. It did not define 'illegal Internet gambling', and since the Wire Act only applied to sports betting, no federal law makes it illegal to play poker on the Internet for money.
So the short answer again is no, UIGEA does not make online poker illegal unless state laws make it illegal (which they seem to do in the vast majority of the states).
As a practical matter, though, UIGEA has made life harder for online rounders. Some companies, including Pacific Poker, Paradise Poker, and Party Poker, stopped accepting real money players from the United States. Other companies, including Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, and the Cereus Poker network, continued to accept players from the United States. Eventually, even those companies had to capitulate to the prevailing anti-gambling sentiment from the current U.S. governmental regime.
Black Friday
Did the events of Black Friday make online poker illegal?
In 2011, an estimated 2 million Americans played online poker for money on a regular basis. On Friday, April 15, 2011, The Justice Department eliminated most of this play when it shut down the three most trafficked poker sites (Pokerstars, Full Tilt Poker, and the Cereus Network) with charges of money laundering and fraud. The US government contended that the companies had violated UIGEA, but the poker companies operated under the understanding that online poker wasn't illegal and therefore didn't constitute a violation of the act.
The Department of Justice not only seized control of the websites for the three companies, they also froze the assets in 76 bank accounts in 14 countries. Both civil and criminal charges were filed. In July, 2012, the U.S. government dismissed 'with prejudice' the civil complaints, but not the criminal indictments. PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker settled without admitting wrongdoing. As part of the settlement, PokerStars bought Full Tilt Poker.
No, the events of Black Friday didn't make online poker illegal, but they had a chilling effect on the actual play. The industry still hasn't recovered, but there are reasons to be optimistic.
The Poker Player's Alliance
The Poker Player's Alliance (PPA) was founded in Washington D.C. in 2005 as a non-profit political advocacy group to protect the rights of poker players in the US. Their goals include overturning UIGEA and passing legislation legalizing and regulating poker on the Internet. From their about us page, their mission is as follows: 'The PPA's mission is to establish favorable laws that provide poker players with a secure, safe and regulated place to play.'
Multiple bills have been proposed in Congress to amend UIGEA with an exception for online poker and other skill games but none have passed. We encourage the civic-minded members of our readership to visit their site, consider donating, or use their other resources to write to the lawmakers who represent them in the government. If it is the will of the people, safe and regulated online poker can become a reality sooner rather than later.
Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey
Three states, Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey, have passed laws explicitly legalizing and regulating online gambling.
Delaware taxes the first $3.75 million of online gambling revenue in a year at 100%, which means that casinos need to generate a tremendous amount of activity to earn any money from online gambling activities. To legally gamble online in Delaware, a player must be of gambling age and operate their computer (or smartphone/table) within the state. The online poker market there is correspondingly small as a result, but state officials are confident that revenues from online gambling will grow as it catches on there.
Nevada has legalized online poker for two sites: UltimatePoker.com and WSOP.com. These two sites have exclusive rights to run online gambling in the state. As in Delaware, players must be of legal gambling age and operate their computer within the state. Nevada taxes online gambling revenues at the same rate (6.75%) as all other gaming revenue.
Websites offering online gambling in New Jersey are required to have a relationship with a physical casino within the state. They tax this revenue at 15% (compared to the 8% they tax their physical casinos). All gambling activities, including poker, are legal within this context, but revenues have been lower than expected. This disappointment is, at least in part, a result of credit card companies' lack of cooperation in processing these transactions.
These are not the only states where it's legal to play poker. They're just the only states to have laws on the books specifically legalizing the activity and regulating it. In the United States, an activity is legal unless a law prohibits it, so the lack of laws on the books in some states does not equate to the committing of a crime. At least nine other states have proposals to legalize and regulate poker on the Internet.
Can You Legally Play Poker for Money on the Internet in the US?
State laws vary. If you live in the state of Washington, playing poker online for money is a felony. In most cases, general state gambling laws make online poker illegal as well. To our knowledge, no one in the United States has been indicted or convicted of a crime related to playing online poker for money so far. This, of course, might change in the blink of an eye. We recommend that you only participate in online poker if it's legal where you live.
