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Online Poker

Blogs > lantz
Post a Reply
lantz
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
United States762 Posts
January 03 2015 03:02 GMT
#1
I have a few questions that someone into poker can shed some light for me.

Is it legal to play online poker in the US? I thought there was a huge seizing of poker accounts by the US government or something.

What's a good website to start that is safe and easy to use?


KelsierSC
Profile Blog Joined March 2013
United Kingdom10443 Posts
January 03 2015 04:10 GMT
#2
On January 03 2015 12:02 lantz wrote:
I have a few questions that someone into poker can shed some light for me.

Is it legal to play online poker in the US? I thought there was a huge seizing of poker accounts by the US government or something.

What's a good website to start that is safe and easy to use?


I have no idea about the legal stuff

Pokerstars is good though
Zerg for Life
Quantum314
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
England217 Posts
January 03 2015 04:18 GMT
#3
It is legal to play in most states (For example it is illegal in Washington state and at least one more that I can't remember). It has never been illegal to play poker online in the US. After black friday and such the laws introduced made it illegal to run a poker site but not to play. Something like Bovada is probably your best bet (unless you live in vegas or new jersey in which case WSOP is also an option)

On January 03 2015 13:10 KelsierSC wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 03 2015 12:02 lantz wrote:
I have a few questions that someone into poker can shed some light for me.

Is it legal to play online poker in the US? I thought there was a huge seizing of poker accounts by the US government or something.

What's a good website to start that is safe and easy to use?


I have no idea about the legal stuff

Pokerstars is good though


Although I'm sure the US players would love to play on pokerstars, unfortunately for them you're not able to play on it.
"Physicists are atoms way of thinking about atoms"
imBLIND
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
United States2626 Posts
January 03 2015 05:44 GMT
#4
It's legal to play online poker in the states, but you can't play for money, unless the state you live in allows online gambling (Nevada is the first one that comes to mind).
im deaf
TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10699 Posts
January 03 2015 06:29 GMT
#5
On January 03 2015 14:44 imBLIND wrote:
It's legal to play online poker in the states, but you can't play for money, unless the state you live in allows online gambling (Nevada is the first one that comes to mind).


I have a friend that lives in USA that plays on brovada all the time, it is still illegal even though i'm guessing brovada is located over seas, for you to do it? Guess they don't care enough since he isn't making a ridiculous amount of money or something?
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
boon2537
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States905 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-01-04 02:59:43
January 03 2015 08:18 GMT
#6
Nothing beats pokerstars, but you can't play for real money in the US.
Edit: On pokerstars, I mean.

Check this thread out:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/where-can-us-players-play-first-post-updated-dec-14-a-1238038/
TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10699 Posts
January 03 2015 09:36 GMT
#7
I'm interested in learning and getting better at poker myself, anyone have any suggestions on books / things to read to improve at a good pace? LiquidPoker still a thing?
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
imBLIND
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
United States2626 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-01-03 09:54:39
January 03 2015 09:54 GMT
#8
On January 03 2015 15:29 GGzerG wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 03 2015 14:44 imBLIND wrote:
It's legal to play online poker in the states, but you can't play for money, unless the state you live in allows online gambling (Nevada is the first one that comes to mind).


I have a friend that lives in USA that plays on brovada all the time, it is still illegal even though i'm guessing brovada is located over seas, for you to do it? Guess they don't care enough since he isn't making a ridiculous amount of money or something?


It depends on the state in which your friend lives in because each state has their own gambling laws and regulations. I live in California, and online poker for money is illegal here. If I were to drive like 300 miles east, then I could probably log on to pokerstars or something and play online poker for money and it'd be completely legal.
im deaf
Quantum314
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
England217 Posts
January 03 2015 11:21 GMT
#9
On January 03 2015 14:44 imBLIND wrote:
It's legal to play online poker in the states, but you can't play for money, unless the state you live in allows online gambling (Nevada is the first one that comes to mind).


On January 03 2015 14:44 imBLIND wrote:
It's legal to play online poker in the states, but you can't play for money, unless the state you live in allows online gambling (Nevada is the first one that comes to mind).


On January 03 2015 15:29 GGzerG wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 03 2015 14:44 imBLIND wrote:
It's legal to play online poker in the states, but you can't play for money, unless the state you live in allows online gambling (Nevada is the first one that comes to mind).


I have a friend that lives in USA that plays on brovada all the time, it is still illegal even though i'm guessing brovada is located over seas, for you to do it? Guess they don't care enough since he isn't making a ridiculous amount of money or something?


On January 03 2015 18:54 imBLIND wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 03 2015 15:29 GGzerG wrote:
On January 03 2015 14:44 imBLIND wrote:
It's legal to play online poker in the states, but you can't play for money, unless the state you live in allows online gambling (Nevada is the first one that comes to mind).


I have a friend that lives in USA that plays on brovada all the time, it is still illegal even though i'm guessing brovada is located over seas, for you to do it? Guess they don't care enough since he isn't making a ridiculous amount of money or something?


It depends on the state in which your friend lives in because each state has their own gambling laws and regulations. I live in California, and online poker for money is illegal here. If I were to drive like 300 miles east, then I could probably log on to pokerstars or something and play online poker for money and it'd be completely legal.


On January 03 2015 17:18 boon2537 wrote:
Nothing beats pokerstars, but you can't play for real money in the US.

Check this thread out:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/where-can-us-players-play-first-post-updated-dec-14-a-1238038/



All of the above quoted posts are wrong. It has never been illegal to play poker for money online in the states. A few states have made it illegal, but the majority have not. For example the poster above who said it is illegal in California, it is not.
Check your state here: http://www.cardschat.com/states/

The only federal law ever passed regarding poker online restricted people operating poker sites in America. As long as you're not wanting to do that you have no problem playing offshore sites.
Obviously this isn't as good as other countries where things are more heavily regulated and such, but many sites have a good reputation. Just follow sensible guidelines like not holding too much money on a site.
"Physicists are atoms way of thinking about atoms"
Teoita
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Italy12246 Posts
January 03 2015 12:07 GMT
#10
+1 for pokerstars if you want to start playing poker.
ModeratorProtoss all-ins are like a wok. You can throw whatever you want in there and it will turn out alright.
Liquid`Jinro
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
Sweden33719 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-01-03 15:47:58
January 03 2015 15:47 GMT
#11
On January 03 2015 20:21 Quantum314 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 03 2015 14:44 imBLIND wrote:
It's legal to play online poker in the states, but you can't play for money, unless the state you live in allows online gambling (Nevada is the first one that comes to mind).


Show nested quote +
On January 03 2015 14:44 imBLIND wrote:
It's legal to play online poker in the states, but you can't play for money, unless the state you live in allows online gambling (Nevada is the first one that comes to mind).


Show nested quote +
On January 03 2015 15:29 GGzerG wrote:
On January 03 2015 14:44 imBLIND wrote:
It's legal to play online poker in the states, but you can't play for money, unless the state you live in allows online gambling (Nevada is the first one that comes to mind).


I have a friend that lives in USA that plays on brovada all the time, it is still illegal even though i'm guessing brovada is located over seas, for you to do it? Guess they don't care enough since he isn't making a ridiculous amount of money or something?


Show nested quote +
On January 03 2015 18:54 imBLIND wrote:
On January 03 2015 15:29 GGzerG wrote:
On January 03 2015 14:44 imBLIND wrote:
It's legal to play online poker in the states, but you can't play for money, unless the state you live in allows online gambling (Nevada is the first one that comes to mind).


I have a friend that lives in USA that plays on brovada all the time, it is still illegal even though i'm guessing brovada is located over seas, for you to do it? Guess they don't care enough since he isn't making a ridiculous amount of money or something?


It depends on the state in which your friend lives in because each state has their own gambling laws and regulations. I live in California, and online poker for money is illegal here. If I were to drive like 300 miles east, then I could probably log on to pokerstars or something and play online poker for money and it'd be completely legal.


Show nested quote +
On January 03 2015 17:18 boon2537 wrote:
Nothing beats pokerstars, but you can't play for real money in the US.

Check this thread out:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/where-can-us-players-play-first-post-updated-dec-14-a-1238038/



All of the above quoted posts are wrong. It has never been illegal to play poker for money online in the states. A few states have made it illegal, but the majority have not. For example the poster above who said it is illegal in California, it is not.
Check your state here: http://www.cardschat.com/states/

The only federal law ever passed regarding poker online restricted people operating poker sites in America. As long as you're not wanting to do that you have no problem playing offshore sites.
Obviously this isn't as good as other countries where things are more heavily regulated and such, but many sites have a good reputation. Just follow sensible guidelines like not holding too much money on a site.

+1 basically, common misconception tho.

If you are in New Jersey or Nevada you have a few options of completely legitimate/regulated intra-state sites, otherwise it's the aforementioned Bovada, Merge and the Winning networks. www.pokerscout.com has a list of networks (bodog = bovada)

Sites catering to US customers tend to carry some risk with them tho so dont put any huge amounts of money on there.

There's one more alternative as a US player: bitcoin poker. I believe SealsWithClubs is the biggest site, and as far as I know it serves americans.

Liquidpoker is still around but pretty slow. http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com is probably your best bet for advice.

Wherever you end up playing, make sure you get rakeback.
Moderatortell the guy that interplanatar interaction is pivotal to terrans variety of optionitudals in the pre-midgame preperatories as well as the protosstinal deterriggation of elite zergling strikes - Stimey n | Formerly FrozenArbiter
oBlade
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
United States5915 Posts
January 03 2015 20:18 GMT
#12
The government seized a lot of stuff in 2011 because someone didn't like the manner in which the sites were operating as financial institutions (which was definitely a valid criticism for FTP at that time but not really for PS). Not really about the gambling per se. As a player you're not going to get in trouble for anything.

You can definitely play on Bovada or ACR. Bitcoin sites are possible like Jinro says and although the rake can be lower (half as much or less than on sites that use fiat currency) they won't have as much traffic and there'll be some questions about game security.

There's an I think new site called VietBet out of Vietnam and it has quite low traffic, but they do have a free $15 bankroll offer which as far as I know is the only free bankroll available to US players. So if you want to play without depositing anything I think that'd be your only option. Other sites like Party and others have free bankroll options but in the US those offers won't be available to you since the sites don't accept you. The site YourPokerCash has that offer as well as some deposit bonuses you can look at.

Alternatively you can play Pokerstars play money. Whenever you go bust you can always reload to 1000 play chips but they also have options now for buying millions of play chips at a time which I think is available to the US playerbase also.
"I read it. You know how to read, you ignorant fuck?" - Andy Dufresne
Liquid`Zephyr
Profile Blog Joined October 2006
United States996 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-01-03 20:46:34
January 03 2015 20:45 GMT
#13
On January 03 2015 13:18 Quantum314 wrote:
It is legal to play in most states (For example it is illegal in Washington state and at least one more that I can't remember). It has never been illegal to play poker online in the US. After black friday and such the laws introduced made it illegal to run a poker site but not to play. Something like Bovada is probably your best bet (unless you live in vegas or new jersey in which case WSOP is also an option)

Show nested quote +
On January 03 2015 13:10 KelsierSC wrote:
On January 03 2015 12:02 lantz wrote:
I have a few questions that someone into poker can shed some light for me.

Is it legal to play online poker in the US? I thought there was a huge seizing of poker accounts by the US government or something.

What's a good website to start that is safe and easy to use?


I have no idea about the legal stuff

Pokerstars is good though


Although I'm sure the US players would love to play on pokerstars, unfortunately for them you're not able to play on it.

just wanted to quote this as being correct as a lot of other posts in here are not. to add, while bovada is your best bet outside of new jersey or nevada, getting money on is a pain and, while its been three years since black friday happened and nothing has happened since, theres no guarantee that they wont have to stop service to US at some point. wouldnt advise keeping a serious amount of money on there
Team LiquidPoorUser
QuanticHawk
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
United States32130 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-01-04 00:03:26
January 03 2015 23:40 GMT
#14
The legal NJ sites suck ass though. Very sparsely populated. I've tried a bunch of times and never could find anyone. I had a betfair account, and apparently they just closed. I should probably go track down my money.

but yeah even though there are offsite places you can use (bovoda, etc) I personally wouldnt put a ton of money in it lest something happen like the pokerstars shutdown again
PROFESSIONAL GAMER - SEND ME OFFERS TO JOIN YOUR TEAM - USA USA USA
JieXian
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
Malaysia4677 Posts
January 04 2015 07:20 GMT
#15

pokerstars though
Please send me a PM of any song you like that I most probably never heard of! I am looking for people to chat about writing and producing music | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noD-bsOcxuU |
endy
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Switzerland8970 Posts
January 04 2015 09:05 GMT
#16
On January 04 2015 16:20 JieXian wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuBvAWwRY_o
pokerstars though

what a stupid video
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