Legal Offshore Poker Sites For US Players
Poker is one of the most beloved and respected forms of gambling entertainment available. There is a huge following that extends from local casinos to major worldwide tournaments.
For US residents, not every state hosts casinos with poker rooms. Only three US states currently offer state regulated online poker options: Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware. For the rest of us, there are some viable options for US players to engage in online poker gaming through legal offshore poker sites.
This page of our guide is designed specifically for American players who are interested in acquiring a clear and concise understanding of the legalities involved in legal offshore gambling as well as insight into accessing legally licensed and regulated offshore poker sites that accept US players. We will discuss what you can expect from a premium online poker experience, and take a look at the types of games you’ll find, the bonuses and promotions on offer, and why online poker is a suitable alternative to playing cards at a physical, brick and mortar poker room.
You’ll find a similar guide available to you covering legal offshore casinos and legal offshore sportsbooks.
Best Legal Offshore Poker Sites For US Residents In 2024
Our team of industry professionals has put together a list of the best offshore poker rooms available to US players. There are lots of online poker sites, so it is important to verify the site you are using is legitimate.
Our screening process involves checking whether or not the site has the legal licensing and certifications needed to operate and is subject to legitimate regulatory oversight. We look at how sophisticated their software solution is and how feature rich the interface is, how advanced their security profile is and what types of bonuses they offer.
Each of the brands you see represented below are among the top rated destinations located offshore that accept USA players.
| Logo | Site Name | Bonus | Rating | USA | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offshore Poker Sites | |||||
 | Bovada Poker | 100% Max $500 |  |  | PLAY NOW |
 | BetOnline Poker | 100% Max $1,000 |  | | PLAY NOW |
Are Offshore Poker Sites Legal For US Players To Visit?
There are some US federal laws that pertain to online gambling, but none that make playing online poker at offshore gambling sites illegal. As was clarified by the DOJ Formal Opinion in 2011 concerning the Federal Wire Act, each Individual state can determine whether or not they want to allow state-regulated online poker sites, but few have so far. Outside of Washington, no states have adopted laws that make betting at offshore poker rooms illegal.
Our page covering US Offshore Gambling Laws provides a more in depth look at the relevant federal laws that impact the gambling market in the United States. We will be launching this section of our guide in the very near future.
Frequently Asked Questions About Offshore Poker Sites Accepting American Players
Are US Friendly Offshore Poker Sites Legitimate?
All of the offshore poker sites we’ve recommended in this guide are legitimate. They are all legally sanctioned and regulated by a respected government. With this type of licensing comes a level of accountability, as government regulations are strict and these offshore sites want to maintain their credibility. These offshore poker sites are industry leaders and have to adhere to high ethical standards in order to remain operational, so they are both legitimate and trustworthy.
To learn more about each of the brands listed in our poker guide see our offshore gambling reviews section where we discuss everything from funding options to online gambling ventures provided by each site.
How Do I Know If Offshore Poker Games Are Fair?
Part of our screening process for these offshore poker rooms is ensuring they utilize fair play. Online poker rooms and casinos in general do this through the use of RNG (Random Number Generator) technology. We make sure these poker sites hold compliance certifications with RNG technologies. These online poker sites also use software that is highly regarded by the industry to minimize any risk of unfair play. RNG technology has developed alongside the online gambling industry and is a sign of credibility. It is also up for frequent inspection from gambling authorities to ensure it is operating smoothly without any hindrances or irregularities. T
hese online poker rooms have an incentive to remain in the good graces of the gambling community and maintaining high standards of fair play is a way of doing this. You can rest assured that the games being conducted in these online poker rooms are fair.
What Games Are Available At Legal Offshore Poker Sites?
Premium offshore poker sites offer several different poker games for players. There is the popular Texas Hold ‘Em, Draw, Omaha and more. At this time, playing poker online requires that you download some software onto your computer. When playing poker online, you are actually playing against other live players, and this type of gaming requires the support of a downloaded poker client.
The poker sites listed in this guide also offer their games through various tournaments that are available 24/7. There are often special promos associated with these tournaments and often serve as qualifiers for live events. Chris Moneymaker won his seat at the WSOP through an online poker tournament.
What Are Offshore Poker Bonuses?
Offshore gambling sites like the ones we’ve recommended offer various types of bonuses, which set them apart from domestic poker rooms or state-regulated online poker sites. These bonuses are additional funds that are added to your account, giving you more money to bet with. Poker bonuses are different than the bonuses you’ll find with offshore sportsbooks or legal offshore casinos. Poker bonuses are typically structured as a match deposit bonus, but they are awarded incrementally as you play, incentivizing you to play more. For example, bonuses can be added in $5 increments in a ‘play-more-earn-more’ structure. Bonuses act as rewards to loyal and frequent players.
How Do I Deposit And Withdraw Money If A Poker Site Is Located Overseas?
These offshore poker sites have a number of US friendly options when it comes to depositing and withdrawing money, despite them being located outside of the United States. These banking options include money transfers, credit or debit cards, and digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and so on. You can find more information about each of these funding methods (and others) from our page about how to deposit money into an offshore gambling site.
Do I Have To Worry About Currency Conversion At Poker Sites Located Outside Of The US?
No. All deposit and withdrawal transactions are processed in USD for American players at our recommended offshore gambling sites. Even poker rooms that don’t accept American players process transactions using US dollars. It is simply one of the more widely used currencies world wide.
Do Offshore Poker Rooms Offer A Mobile Poker App?
As of now, none of our featured brands have a real money mobile app or mobile optimized website. However, there is some chatter about mobile poker apps being developed so players can utilize the online poker room for their smartphones or tablets. Online poker is much more complex than online casino games due to the fact that participants are playing against other live players in real time, hence complicating the infrastructure of the game and the technological interface that drives game play. We are confident that it will not be long before mobile online poker is offered by the most respected online poker brands.