U.S. Poker Sites
Due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, players from the United States have to choose U.S. poker sites. When the bill was passed, many poker rooms decided to ban all U.S. players; and as a result of this, the poker-site options have narrowed a bit.
But it is not illegal to play poker online, except in some local legislations. If you choose a U.S. poker site, you can carry on playing the game you love. Here, we list the best rooms for U.S. players.
Our Favorite US Poker Rooms
| Poker Room |
U.S.  |
Bonus |
Room Reviews |
Get Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sportsbook Poker
|
local | $800 | Read Review |
|
 Full Tilt Poker
|
local | $600 | Read Review |
|
 PokerStars
|
local | $50 | Read Review |
|
 PlayersOnly Poker
|
local | $1000 | Read Review |
|
 Carbon Poker
|
local | $550 | Read Review |
|
 Bodog Poker
|
local | $550 | Read Review |
|
Poker Rooms that Welcome US Players
Since October 2006 when the US Senate passed a new legislation regarding money transfers to online gambling operators (UIGEA, see below), many poker sites have opted to close their doors to US players.
Understandably, the poker sites and their staff want to avoid the possible legal problems involved in continuing their American business, even though in practice the legal status of the new legislation is far from established yet.
Gambling CEOs arrested
Two or three gaming CEO:s being arrested by US authorities obviously contributed to making the issue very urgent for all concerned parties.
Nevertheless, some poker sites decided not to step out of the US market and continue to welcome US players in their online premises, such as Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker. PlayersOnly Poker allows US players only. We now call those 'US poker rooms'.
Pure poker may go free
One thing that distinguishes the US poker sites from many of those that chose to withdraw is the fact that these that allow US poker do not offer online casino gaming. Many observers believe that, once the actual interpretation of UIGEA by the legal system is established, online poker will enjoy a different status than pure chance games like online blackjack or online roulette.
Many of the best US poker sites also happen to be the best poker sites all categories, so US players haven't suffered any major loss of quality, even though the quantity of choice has decreased.
Top us poker sites
In this toplist, we list the US friendly poker rooms that we recommend, they're all good, solid poker rooms that offer 'poker US'.
A US poker room offers online poker for US players, but remember that at the US poker sites you'll meet the usual mix of European, Asians and players from South America ad Africa as well in the US online poker rooms. Once again with the exception for PlayersOnly Poker that is open to US players only.
The Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 is a measure that has many U.S. online gaming enthusiasts up in arms. Although online gambling would seem to be a free market enterprise, it was actually a Republican Congress that pushed the act through on a bill to protect Port Security.
Fighting the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act
Spearheading the effort to take down the act is Barney Frank, U.S. representative of Massachusetts’ 4th District. To combat the bill, Representative Franks has introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act.
What is the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act?
Representative Frank’s proposed act is designed to satisfy both the hordes of online gambling fans that populate the U.S. and those who are concerned about the proliferation of unregulated gambling. The act would create a Federal regulatory commission that would be in charge of the licensing of online wagering companies that serviced U.S. players. The regulations would contain measures to fight underage and compulsive gambling as well as fraud and money laundering, the main concerns that opponents of online gambling seem to have.
About Barney Frank
Democrat Barney Frank has served in Congress for over 25 years and is the chairman of the Financial Services Committee. He has also been an assistant to the mayor in Boston and a teacher at Boston area universities. Barney Frank was appalled at the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and has made it one of his state missions to make online gambling accessible to U.S. residents again.