Online poker has experienced an unprecedented boom in recent decades, allowing card game lovers to enjoy exciting games from the comfort of their homes.
However, its legality has been the subject of intense debate in various countries, mainly in the United States, where live gambling is a major lobby and has been extremely reticent about lax laws with regard to online gambling. So, is online poker legal? Which are the states where online poker is legal? When did they legalized it?
Is real money online poker legal in the US?
Depends. In some states, there are regulatory laws that have allowed their citizens to enjoy online poker, but in other territories it is still an illegal activity and not allowed.
The question of the legality of real money poker in the United States is complex due to the incompatibility that occurs between federal and state laws. Historically, poker has been considered a game of chance, which led to the enforcement of blanket gambling bans in many states.
However, over time, the perception of poker has changed, and some states have chosen to regulate it and allow it under certain conditions.
The turning point occurs in 2006, when the situation changed drastically with the passage of the Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) by the United States Congress.
This law did not specifically prohibit online poker, but rather focused on restricting financial transactions related to online gambling. In other words, financial institutions were prohibited from processing payments related to online gambling, which made it extremely difficult for players to access real money poker sites.
However, the UIGEA did not completely eradicate online poker in the United States, although in practice the game was pretty much shut down.
States where online poker is legal
There are already several states that have regulated and modified their laws in favor of allowing online poker. Here you have a brief list with the states that, in chronological order, have been adapting their legislation in favor of online poker.
• Nevada. It was in 2013 when it legalized online poker, being one of the territories at the forefront in this regard. By allowing real money poker games, the state of Nevada has since been the benchmark for many other states interested in changing their laws in favor of online poker. Major cities in the state, such as Las Vegas and Reno, are famous for their poker offerings in both land-based casinos and online platforms.
• New Jersey. Before the end of 2013, New Jersey wanted to follow in the footsteps of the state of Nevada, becoming the second state to legalize online poker for real money. The gaming industry has experienced significant growth in New Jersey, with a wide variety of licensed operators and an active player base, proving that online poker regulation is most effective with pro-gaming laws.
• Delaware. Although Delaware is one of the smallest states in the US, it was one of the pioneers in the legalization of online poker, as well as other recreational activities on the Internet. Interstate agreements allow Delaware players to compete against users from other states, which has contributed to the growth of the online poker community in several key parts of the country.
• Pennsylvania. It was in 2017 that Pennsylvania became the fourth state to legalize online poker for real money. Being one of the most numerous states in terms of population density, the lifting of the ban encouraged the consolidation and expansion of online poker, opening the market and attracting new operators.
• Michigan: In 2021, Michigan joined the list of states that legalized online poker. The introduction of this market has been a resounding success, as the state boasts a growing player base and one of the best and most robust gaming infrastructures.
This diversified panorama opens the debate as to whether the ban on online poker has not been in place for too long in the United States, the cradle of live gambling. Because the positive consequences of advocating for greater regulation are perceptible, and more and more states are betting on the acceptance of laws that relax the penalties for online gambling and bet on promoting online poker in their territories.
So, is truly real money online poker legal in US? Yes, it is, but just in a few states. Make sure you know the law before trying it, so you don’t break the rules of the state you are staying.
