Poker in United States: Live, Cashgames, Tournaments
Poker for real money in United States in with citizens, is only allowed in casinos or poker rooms.
Only in the authorized casinos in are real money tournaments of Texas Hold'em legal, because according to law in United States poker is a game of luck. On this page we present you all the available options to play poker in United States and inform you about the legal framework in .

Legal notice: Is it legal to play poker United States ?

Poker Cash Games can fulfill in and therefore also in United States the element of the offence of illegal gambling. Punishment based on these laws is possible if one helds a public game of chance or participates in it.
Is poker in ranked as a game of chance?
The problem of whether poker is a game of luck is still to be answered. It is enough to know that the jurisdiction in United States and therefore also in United States grades poker as a game of chance. The national casinos in United States have of course a license.
Poker in bars in United States
Risk for the pubs & hosts: There is possibility of losing the official permission to operate a restaurant in United States if you make yourself liable to prosecution.
Summary
- Poker cash games are basically prohibited in United States and therefore also in United States.
- The casinos in United States have a permission.
- Mostly it is very difficult for the authorities in United States to evidence 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 United States
Participation in poker cash games for real money is not legal in public. You have to use one of the various casinos in the area. Please read the information on Home Games if you are looking for more possibilities to play the game.
Poker tournaments in United States
You can find a big number of poker tournaments in United States. Tourneys are allowed as long as there are prizes and not real money to be won. In United States and the surrounding region there are frequent poker tournaments. Upcoming tournaments can be found in the tournament schedule.
Live poker in casinos near by United States

United States itself unfortunately does not provide a proper casino with a poker floor. located its casinos primarily in little places and outside the heart of the city. It is certainly no problem to get to them by car or public transport. Most have additional an own shuttle facilities. If you want to drive your own car, all casinos offer large park possibilities for poker enthusiasts. Meanwhile you can join a large selection of poker games in each casino in United States. There are both tournament series and Poker Events in which you can register. On this site you'll discover a summary, sorted by federal states, of the best places running poker with their particular games and all other facts. Around United States you will get to at least two casinos with acceptable travel times and nice live poker offers.
Best Poker Players from United States
The following list shows you the Top 10 poker players with the highest tournament winnings from United States.-
1. Hoai Duc Pham
USD 162,397.00 -
2. Frederico Dabus
USD 273,306.00 -
3. Alfred Decarolis
USD 2,384,633.00 -
4. Lap Key Chen
USD 1,234,349.00 -
5. Bill Smith
USD 1,055,488.00 -
6. Bob Veltri
USD 859,150.00 -
7. Jack Straus
USD 830,269.00 -
8. Khoueng Souvoravong
USD 650,837.00 -
9. Randy Lewis
USD 550,000.00 -
10. Albert Paik
USD 476,423.00
Homegames: Pokern for real money in United States in private locations

In United States the judisdiction of the federal state is in effect. In order be allowed to play poker home games in United States you must follow of the following:
Is the poker game in United States public?
The poker game has to be organized in public to establish criminal liability. A poker event is public after the jurisdiction in , if "it is made outwardly recognizably accessible to a not firmly closed circle of acquaintances". The best example of this is cash games in pubs in United States that anyone could access. It's forbidden.
Habituality
Even a closed society can be considered public in according to § 285 II StGB, if gambling takes place there according to law.If the poker round takes place habitually, it is illegal in private rooms in United States as well as in public. For example, if money games are held for every week on the similar day, it does not matter if it is a private room or not. Both are illegal.
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