Before you enjoy real money poker sites, you need to make sure your bankroll will be safe. While most trusted, legal online poker sites are reputable brands, avoiding the rogues should be a top priority for all players. This page covers the key factors involved in making sure you can play online poker safely and securely.
The information on this page will help you play legal online poker with complete peace of mind. Our guide to safe online poker covers:
One of the biggest concerns online poker players have about the hobby is whether the deal is fair. When you are on the receiving end of a bad beat, it can feel like the online poker site is rigged against you.
While this is a common concern, the math does not back up the many claims. Since online poker began, there have been billions of hands dealt. Large-scale testing, player databases and tracking services are unanimous in acknowledging that the shuffle is random.
To back up their claims, the most trusted legal online poker sites regularly use independent auditing companies. Games are tested over millions of hands, and any discrepancies highlighted. Good sites have their deal checked regularly and will display certificates or links to their results. Look out for the following names:
Of all the elements which go into making online gambling safe, website security is the easiest to check. All browsers use the ‘Secure’ tag to show sites that have valid security certificates. SSL is only the start of it. You can check the ‘about us’ information at all the main rooms for information on how your personal data is held. At the time of writing, there have been no data breaches at legit, legal online poker sites for personal or payment data.
You’ll have a lot of options for depositing at real money poker sites. Which you choose will depend on your location (U.S. sites have fewer options due to banking restrictions) and your personal attitude to risk.
Credit cards and debit cards are the easiest way to deposit for both U.S. and international players. Using these is the same as shopping online – and very fast.
Alternative deposit methods that are even safer can be found below.
Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list. You will find many local options around the world, and more brands which fit into the categories above. From a safety perspective, you can choose the method which suits your attitude to risk the best.
The mark of a good reliable poker site is that they administer their bonuses in a fair and straightforward manner. Good online poker games have clear terms and will not void bonuses for small things like playing the wrong games.
Play-through or points requirements to clear bonuses are very different across the sites. You need to ensure that an excellent bonus deal is not impossible to clear due to slow point accumulation or limited time.
Reputable brands have ongoing rewards and promotions to boost the bankroll of loyal players. If you see a big headline bonus, and no promotions, it is possible that that room is not somewhere people hang around for long.
In addition to the bonus terms, look for a responsible gaming policy. This shows how seriously the safest online poker sites take problem online gambling. The best sites have self-exclusion and deposit limits, which players can volunteer to have in place.
Many reputable sites will ask for ID. This can happen when you make a deposit, and if not, it will always happen when you make your first withdrawal. Typical requests include a picture of your photo ID, and proof of address. Some sites also ask for a picture of both sides of your credit card (you can black out some of the numbers).
Our view on these is that they protect player funds as they do the poker sites. Without them, poker games would be the target of fraud and money laundering – making the games unsafe for regular players.
Operating licenses are a great sign that you have found a secure and reputable room. There are very few reputable sites without a license.
Jurisdictions that license poker games will depend on the market they are serving. Big international sites do not accept players from the U.S. These sites are licensed in Malta, Gibraltar or the Isle of Man. In addition, many countries have their own site licensing setup. The U.K. Gambling Commission is among the strictest. A poker site licensed by them is more likely to be safe.
For U.S. sites, licenses are awarded by Caribbean nations and Central American countries. Jurisdictions include Antigua, Curacao and Panama. You will also find sites which are licensed by the Kahnawake tribe.
While the lack of a poker operations license should not stop you from playing poker at a site, it should mean your checks on reputation, RNG testing and security need to be more thorough.
Yes, despite some conflicting reports, online poker is legal. You can review all the state-by-state gambling laws on our site. However, there are no federal laws from competing in online poker or poker tournaments.
Yes, if you visit a reputable online casino. What makes them reputable and safe is that they are licensed, regulated and audited by a third-party authority like eCogra, iTech Labs and iGaming Labs, and Kahnawake. This information should be easily accessible at the bottom of the site’s home page or “About Us” section.
The most common online casino deposit options are credit card, like Mastercard and Visa, money transfer, bank wire, and cryptocurrencies. In fact, Bitcoin and the like are the most secure of all deposit methods. It is also cheaper and faster than many alternatives.
