Poker in Surprise: Live, Cashgames, Tournaments
In order to play poker in Surprise in Arizona Arizona with 132.677 residents for money, you have to drive to a state casino or a poker room.
In Surprise and throughout Arizona Arizona, poker is considered a game of luck. Therefore, it is just legal in casinos to gamble for real money. On this page we show you all the various options to play poker in Surprise and explain you the legal framework in Arizona Arizona.
Legal notice: Is it legal to play poker Surprise ?
Poker Cash Games can meet in Arizona Arizona and therefore also in Surprise the criminal offence of illegal gambling. Punishment according to these regulations is possible if one hosts a public game of luck or plays in it.
Is poker a game of chance?
The problem of whether poker is a game of chance is still to be cleared. It is enough to know that the jurisdiction in United States and therefore also in Surprise defines poker as a game of chance. The difference is that state casinos in Arizona Arizona have a license. Playing poker there is ok.
Poker in restaurants in Surprise
Especially for restaurants the criminal side is very dangerous. There is high risk of losing the official permission to operate a restaurant in Surprise if you make yourself liable to prosecution.
Conclusion
- Poker cash games are in principle not allowed in United States and therefore also in Surprise.
- The casinos in United States have a permission.
- Often it is very difficult for the authorities in Surprise to verify prohibited gambling.
- Tournaments are considered a game of skill, cash games a game of luck
Please note that the information provided does not constitute legal advice under the law and cannot replace legal advice, as such advice always requires knowledge of all individual circumstances, in particular of the specific individual case.
Cashgames: Real money poker games in Surprise
Caution: Real-money games are prohibited in Surprise. You need travel to one of the various casinos in the area. Please read the section on Home Games if you are looking for further options.
Poker tournaments in Surprise
Poker tourneys in Surprise are legal under specific circumstances. Tourneys are allowed as long as there are prizes and not real money to be won. In addition, great poker tournaments are held often in Arizona Arizona! Upcoming tournaments can be seen in the tournament calendar.
Poker Clubs: The best poker rooms in Surprise
Further alternatives are available by the many poker clubs & poker rooms with in and around Surprise. The poker landscape in Surprise is organized in several clubs & rooms and every year live poker events come to the city. Here is a helpful selection:
Live poker in casinos near by Surprise
In the heart of Surprise you will currently not see a casino with poker tables. Arizona Arizona has its casinos usually in small cities and outside the heart of the city. It is though fast to visit them by car or public transport. The majority have additional their own transfer facilities. In case you want to go by your own car, all casinos offer spacious parking space for poker enthusiasts. This year, however, almost every casino in United States is offering poker games. There are different tournaments and poker events where you can participate. On this site you'll get a summary, arranged by federal states, of the best casinos running poker with their individual offering and all important facts. Within a radius of Surprise you will get to minimum two casinos with acceptable travel times and good live poker offers.
Best Poker Players from Surprise
The following list shows you the Top 10 poker players with the highest tournament winnings from Surprise.-
1. Jeff Dewitt
USD 273,905.00 -
2. Michael Kennedy
USD 129,012.00 -
3. Jerry Zickert
USD 108,070.00 -
4. Eric Saikin
USD 87,387.00 -
5. Robert Van Hoose
USD 105,560.00 -
6. Lawrence Adams
USD 61,733.00 -
7. Kevin Powell
USD 76,275.00 -
8. Mario Perez
USD 55,929.00 -
9. Brenda Dewitt
USD 52,537.00 -
10. Joseph Loebach
USD 43,961.00
Homegames: Pokern for real money in Surprise in private locations
In Surprise the laws of the federal state Arizona Arizona is in effect. In order not be prohibited to play poker home games in Surprise you must follow of the following:
Is it a public poker game?
If the poker game is not public, it can be legal in general and does not have to justify any criminal liability. A poker event is public after the jurisdiction in Arizona Arizona, if "it is made outwardly recognizably accessible to a not firmly closed circle of acquaintances". The best example of this is the poker for high stakes of money in Surprise's pubs, which normally anyone can join. Attention, this is forbidden!
Does the homegame take place in Surprise as usual?
Even a closed society can be considered public in Arizona Arizona according to § 285 II StGB, if gambling takes place there according to law.If the round takes place habitually, it is prohibited in private rooms in Surprise as well as in public. So, if money games are played for every week on the similar day, it does not matter if it is a private room or not. Both are prohibited.
The best Online Poker Rooms in comparison

Please be aware that online poker is regulated in most states. There are currently 4 states that offer legal online poker for real money in the United States – New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Pennsylvania became the latest to join this group when PokerStars went live in the state on Nov. 4, 2019.
- WSOP/888 US is currently the only poker site that shares online poker players between all three legal online poker states (NJ, Nevada & Delaware). It’s currently the #1 US online poker site by traffic.
- Poker Stars – New Jersey and Pennsylvania
- Party Poker – New Jersey only
- Pala Poker – New Jersey only
Non-regulated online poker sites in the United States are online poker platforms that operate without the oversight of a governmental regulatory body, such as a state's gaming commission. This means they do not have to adhere to the same rules and regulations that regulated sites do, which can sometimes pose significant risks for players. Important considerations for players on non-regulated sites include the potential for unfair games, lack of protection for player funds, and legal risk. Unfair games can occur if the site's software is not regularly audited for fairness. In terms of financial protection, non-regulated sites might not separate player funds from operational funds, which can pose a risk if the company goes bankrupt. Additionally, it is important to note that while playing online poker is not explicitly illegal at the federal level in the U.S., state laws vary widely and some states have laws against playing poker on non-regulated sites. Therefore, players should be well-informed about their state's specific laws before deciding to play on non-regulated sites.