About Us
Best Poker Sites is an independent resource for US poker players comparing where to play real money poker online. We're not a poker site, we don't deal a single hand, and we never take a seat at any table we cover. What we do is track the operators accepting US players, break down what each one actually offers, and rank them against each other on the factors that matter once you sit down to play — traffic, game selection, rake, bonuses, and how easily you can get your money in and out.
Why This Site Exists
The US online poker landscape is fragmented. There's no single federal framework — regulation happens state by state, and the sites available to you depend on where you live. Some rooms run on shared international liquidity, others are ring-fenced to specific states, and a few operate offshore. Sorting through that is a genuine headache for anyone who just wants to know where the games are good and the cashier actually pays out. That's the gap this site fills: one place to compare the options side by side instead of digging through ten different forums and outdated blog posts.
How We Evaluate Poker Sites
Every room on our list is assessed against the same criteria, whether it's a long-established brand or a newer entrant like Coinpoker or Stake. We do not accept payment for a higher ranking — commission from affiliate partnerships supports this site, but it plays no part in how a room is scored. A site can be an advertiser and still land lower on the list than a competitor that isn't.
| What we look at | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Traffic and liquidity | Bigger player pools mean faster table fills, more variety at your stakes, and generally softer games in recreational-heavy rooms |
| Game formats | Cash games, MTTs, Sit & Gos, Spin & Go-style formats, fast-fold variants, and support for No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha and mixed games |
| Rake and rakeback | How much is taken from each pot and whether loyalty or rakeback schemes give some of it back |
| Bonuses and clearing terms | The headline match, plus the playthrough requirements and time limits that decide whether it's realistic to clear |
| Deposits and withdrawals | Available methods for US players, typical cash-out speed, and any fees or verification steps involved |
| Software and mobile experience | Client stability, table speed, and whether the iOS/Android app holds up to the desktop version |
| Licensing and player protection | What regulatory oversight applies, whether player funds are segregated, and how disputes are handled |
We pull this information from operator terms, licensing bodies where verifiable, and publicly available detail on each site's offering. We do not claim to have deposited or withdrawn funds ourselves, and we don't fabricate traffic figures or bonus values — where a specific number isn't confirmed, we describe the offer in general terms instead of guessing.
What "Best" Means on This Site
There's no single best poker site for everyone. A recreational player chasing a soft cash game and an easy mobile app wants something different from a grinder tracking rakeback percentages and fish-to-reg ratios at mid-stakes. Our rankings — currently topped by rooms like Coinpoker, Bovada and Stake — reflect an overall balance across traffic, game variety, promotions and payment reliability, but we'd encourage anyone comparing options to weigh the criteria that matter most to their own game rather than take a single rating at face value.
The Money Side, Handled Honestly
We never present poker as a way to make money or replace an income. Poker involves real financial risk, skill only shifts the odds, it doesn't remove them, and every player can lose the money they deposit. Any bonus figure shown on this site comes with conditions attached — deposit minimums, wagering or playthrough requirements, and expiry windows — and we try to flag those alongside the offer rather than bury them. If a term isn't publicly confirmed, we say so instead of inventing a figure.
Online poker for real money in the US is legal only where a state has specifically regulated it, and eligibility is tied to being physically located in a permitted state and meeting the minimum age requirement, which is 21 in most regulated states (18 in a few). This site does not accept, and does not target, anyone under the applicable age limit, and nothing here should be read as legal advice for your specific state.
Playing Within Your Means
Poker should stay entertainment, not a way to cover bills or escape stress. If a session stops being fun, or you find yourself chasing losses or playing past a budget you set, it's worth stepping back. Our Responsible Gambling page has more detail on setting limits and where to find support, and the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) is available if you or someone you know needs help.
Get in Touch
If something on this site looks out of date, if a listed room has changed its terms, or if you've got a question about how we cover a particular operator, the Contact Us page is the right place to reach us. Our full terms of use are also available on the Terms and Conditions page for anyone who wants the detail behind how this site operates.