Currently, online poker in the USA is in a state of transition. While the passage of the UIGEA laws in 2006 slowed down the progress of online poker in America, recent developments have made the eventual regulation of online poker in the United States seem more like an inevitability rather than a dim possibility.
Play Real Money Texas Hold'em Online; 888 Poker Review 888 poker details for real money poker games. Check reliability security, graphics, freerolls bonus giveaways. Reputation, customer service, fun. Online poker with the #1 free poker game, PlayWSOP. Play free poker online 24/7 with the official World Series of Poker game! Texas holdem, omaha, poker tournaments, and more poker games! PlayWSOP is the only place where players can win a World Series of Poker Bracelet. Each of them has options that let you play texas hold em poker. Here are some of the best sites that let you play Texas Holdem online. If Texas poker is the game you’re looking for, Ignition Casino is one of the place places around that let you play Texas Holdem poker.
Texas Holdem Poker Free No Real Money
In most recent times, a number of US poker sites have been shut down under the UIGEA. We have worked hard and handpicked the best legal US poker sites that are still accepting US poker players. Check out the table below where we have listed our top ranked poker sites for people in the USA.
Best US Poker Sites
- RankLogoSiteBonusMacLinuxReviewVisit Site
- 1Bovada Poker$1000Reviewwww.Bovada.eu
- 1BetOnline Poker$900Reviewwww.BetOnline.com
- 2Sportsbetting$900Reviewwww.SportsBetting.com
Legality of Online Poker in the USA
By and large, the act of playing online poker in the United States is not illegal – probably. At times, the Justice Department has tried to say that online gambling should be covered by the 1961 Federal Wire Act; however, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that this only applies to sports betting, and not other forms of online gambling. Some states have restrictions on online poker: most notably, Washington State has made playing online poker a felony offense.
On the federal level, the most confusing bit of legislation in this regard has been the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, also known as UIGEA.
Issues with Depositing from the USA
While this law did not make online gambling illegal in the United States, it did make it illegal for banks and other financial institutions to allow money to be wagered or deposited at gambling businesses with their knowledge. UIGEA is the major issue facing USA players who wish to deposit money into online poker accounts, or on other online gambling sites.
Current US Poker Deposit Methods
Despite the restrictions placed on American gamblers due to UIGEA, most online poker sites still have plenty of deposit methods available to USA players. Some players have found that credit and (more rarely) debit cards are still an effective method for funding their online poker accounts. In other cases, players may be able to use bank transfers or bank wires, or deposit by check (or electronic checks, also known as e-checks). Finally, while most e-wallets have stopped allowing American players to use their services to fund online gambling accounts, a few sites still have agreements with specified e-wallets that will do business with USA customers.
Many online poker rooms have also come up with their own unique or innovative solutions to allow USA players to deposit on their sites. Check your favorite poker room’s website for a complete list of deposit methods available.
Taxes on Online Poker Winnings In The USA
Regardless of the legality of where and how you gamble online, the income made from playing online poker is considered taxable income by the IRS. Worse yet, for most players, the method for computing taxes is one that may result in a significant tax burden on winnings.
Texas Holdem For Money Online
In order to properly claim online gambling income (or offline gambling winnings, for that matter), a player must add up the total amount they’ve won in all winning sessions they’ve played during that calendar year. How to compute ‘sessions’ is a thorny issue; players have been known to use each day as a session, while others choose to get more in depth, keeping track of each table/tournament they’ve played or each time they’ve stopped playing. Adding up all of these winning sessions will allow you to computer your gross gambling income.
You may then add up your losing sessions from the year, and treat these losses as deductions. However, you may not take more in deductions than you have made in gross gambling winnings. If you wish to file your taxes correctly, this can really hurt, as the IRS expects gambling income to be reported even if you suffer a net loss for the year! Thus, a $10,000 win can only be offset with $10,000 in losses, even if you lost much more during the year. The worst part of this for most gamblers is that by itemizing deductions in this manner, you will lose the standard deduction you may have otherwise taken.
However, things are not quite as bad if you can file as a professional poker player. Professional players have the advantage of claiming only their net win on Schedule C, rather than adding wins and deducting losses. You may also be able to claim other business deductions associated with your profession, just as you would when operating a business. On the other hand, you will now have to pay a 15% self-employment tax on your income. It is also difficult to achieve professional gambler status in the eyes of the IRS; if you hold another job while you play online poker, it is unlikely they will accept your claim.
Future Outlook for Online Poker in the USA
The future outlook for online poker in the United States is optimistic. While efforts at the federal level haven’t yet been successful, there has been increasing momentum since 2010 to repeal UIGEA and regulate online poker inside the USA, as has been done in France, Italy, and other major nations. Additionally, there has been great interest by a number of states in creating their own intrastate online poker networks in the absence of federal legislation. New Jersey recently became the first state to have such a bill pass their legislature, while Florida, California and Iowa have all had similar legislation debated in the past year. It seems likely that several states will give the green light for online poker in the near future, with federal regulation also a distinct possibility in the medium-term.
Gambling Laws In The USA State by State
In this section, we’ll be adding all the latest news and happenings with regards to online gambling legislation as it takes place, on a state by state basis. The list below provides reviews of state laws. This site (www.legaluspokersites.com) has a list of every state if you don’t see what you are looking for here. We look at the current laws, any pending bills or legislation in the state, as well as a general history of gambling in each state and the future outlook.
888 Poker
Voted #1
PartyPoker
Popular
PokerStars
Top Rated
Texas Hold'em Videos
888 Poker Review 888 poker details for real money poker games . Check reliability security, graphics, freerolls bonus giveaways. reputation, customer service, fun factor and more....Read More
PokerStars Find out what to expect when you sign up for real money poker at PokerStars... Check reliability security, graphics, freerolls bonus giveaways. reputation, customer service, fun factor and more Read More
PartyPoker Should you play for real money at PartyPoker.com? Find out how PartyPoker ranks for reliability security, graphics customer service and more... Read More
Titan Pokier Who runs this poker room? How long as it been in business? Is it safe to play for real money on Titan Poker? These are the questions you should ask before jumping into real money games. Find out the pro and cons of each listed poker site.. Read More
Full Tilt Poker From the soaring heights of spectacular success to the crashing reality of the consequences of mismanagement hails the saga of FullTilt Poker. How can you protect yourself from poker room meltdown Read More
iPoker Network Gather a Hodgepodge of brands put them under the same roof and what do you get? Why a poker network of course. What does iPoker Network have to offer? Read up research understand and proceed with caution. Read More
Ongame Network Who is on this network how many players are available to play? Find out what you need to know before venturing onto Ongame territory.. Read More
Merge Poker Network Another Network? How many of these things are there? Should you merge your hard earned money into their accounts? How long have they been around and what markets are they serving. Do they offer games to USA players? What are the risks? .. Read More
PKR Poker PKR? What does it stand for... who knows. Poker rooms are a dime a dozen these days. Who can keep track of them all .. Read More
MicroGaming Network What sites are on this network, who provides the software? How many players do they have at the tables. How long have they been in business ... Read More