Legal To Play Poker Online For Money

Play legal and licensed online Poker sites in the Michigan State area by checking out our top rated Poker sites. Play for free or for real money Michigan welcome you. Play legal and licensed online Poker sites in the Michigan State area by checking out our top rated Poker sites. Play for free or for real money Michigan welcome you. The US online poker for real money scene continues to grow, and a number of fantastic poker sites for real money games are now available to play here. There are many to choose from, but this article will focus on only a few of the best US friendly poker sites available right now. Legal poker real money online play isn't just about finding other players; it's also about making the websites give you something in return for your valued patronage. Every legal poker US real money room worth its salt offers tasty welcome bonuses for new customers. Poker players in California have a good chance of eventually being able to play poker online at legal US poker rooms. Regulated Gambling Options In California California is home to more gambling facilities than every state in the US outside of Nevada. Oct 12, 2017  They have a dedicated poker room that you can download onto your desktop or enjoy instant play from your mobile device. Here you can join numerous real money poker tournaments and choose from a wide selection of poker tables to play at. Payouts at Ignition are fast and you can enjoy a $2,350 welcome bonus. Australian Online Poker: What Happened?

There are several common reactions to learning that a person is a professional poker player:

“Oh wow! That’s interesting!”

“Have I seen you on TV?”

Isn’t online poker illegal?

This is the place to help address that last question.

When the United States Department of Justice issued a ruling on the Wire Act in 2011, it made clear that the law’s prohibitions did not apply to online gaming and lotteries. The reading of the decision clarified that each state in America could legalize and regulate online poker, casino games, lotteries, and other forms of online gambling as they deemed appropriate.

That opened the doors for Nevada and Delaware to legalize online poker, and New Jersey,Pennsylvania and Michigan followed in subsequent years. Other states have debated this as well and considered bills, with several states likely to legalize online poker in the coming year.

Online Poker Still Booming in America

There is no doubt that states can legally offer real-money online poker. The federal government has yet to take a stand on the issue because some people still consider poker a form of gambling rather than a game favored by skill. As legislators on the state and federal levels begin to learn more about the true skill-involved nature of poker, organizations are helping to inform them and push for bills that officially legalize the game.

One poker site, www.Betonline.com, has accepted player deposits for over 15 years because they are licensed to accept players in the all 50 states. Their stance is that poker is legal on the internet, and they are licensed for global jurisdiction. This is not a criminal matter, rather one of freedom and individual rights. So is BetOnline legal? Yes.

BetOnline isn’t the only site that operates in the USA either with Bovada.lv, Ignition and America’s Cardroom all accepting deposits from US players.

The Poker Alliance, former Poker Players Alliance (PPA), is the strongest lobbying force in the poker industry. The organization promotes legal live and online poker, ensuring that any lawmakers around the country who discuss any type of online gaming or sports betting also consider that online poker offers a bigger skill component and should be legal in the United States.

Poker Alliance is working closely with many states. Illinois, and Massachusetts are the states with pending legislation that could still pass in the near future. While those are the three states currently giving online poker the most serious consideration, others like New York, Connecticut, California, and Washington have advanced bills in the past and could easily do so again.

Is it Legal to Play Real Money Online Poker?

The answer to this a definite “yes,” as it is perfectly legal to deposit for online poker in USA, for all different types of poker games. Players in the United States are not in any legal jeopardy for playing poker online, and there have been no instances of the US government – or even state governments – trying to penalize players.

To the best of our knowledge, there are no federal laws that make it illegal to deposit or play online poker from the US. There are some states that have inserted somewhat harsh language about the operations of online gaming aimed at their residents, with Utah being the most anti-gambling state in America, but most laws are either convoluted or ambiguous at best.

Of course, we’re not attorneys, nor do we come from a legal background. Licensed and legal professionals should always be consulted when an actual situation arises in which someone may be (or feel they are) in legal jeopardy.

Specific State-by-State Laws

Alabama – Arizona – Arkansas – California – Colorado – Connecticut – Georgia – Idaho – Iowa – Kansas – Maine – Maryland – Massachusetts – Michigan – Minnesota – Mississippi – Montana – Nebraska – New Hampshire – New Mexico – North Carolina – North Dakota – Ohio – Oklahoma – Pennsylvania – Rhode Island – South Carolina – Tennessee – Vermont – West Virginia – Wyoming

Didn’t the US Ban Online Poker in 2006?

No. The US government did pass the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006 (UIGEA for short), which made it illegal for banks and financial institutions to aid in the processing of “illegal” online gambling transactions.

Experts on this law have asserted that the bill itself did not create any new laws, and most believe it only complicated internet laws. The 2011 Department of Justice decision regarding the Wire Act ‘clarified’ it enough on the legal level, though, to say that the law does not apply to online poker and other forms of online gambling when the state allows those activities.

Later in 2011 the US Department of Justice indicted several sites that still operating incorrectly in the USA in a misguided move that is referred to as Black Friday by online poker players in the USA. Even Black Friday wasn’t enough to slow the steady growth of online poker in the USA and there are still plenty of options for poker players and organizations like the Poker Players Alliance are fighting to legalize poker in more states.

What About the Wire Act?

As noted above, the interpretation of the 1961 Wire Act was clarified by the 2011 DOJ decision, noting the law only pertained to sports betting, not other forms of online lotteries and gambling.

On top of that, the US Supreme Court ruled on a case that pitted the state of New Jersey against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and other professional US sports teams. The law in question was the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, better known as PASPA, and the Supreme Court overturned that law to allow all states in America – not just Nevada – to legalize and regulate sports betting. This, in effect, renders the last part of the standing Wire Act irrelevant and unenforceable in the arena of states’ rights.

However, there is a danger to the Wire Act decision in its entirety. Casino mogul and billionaire Sheldon Adelson has made it his life’s mission to ban online gambling of all sorts in the United States. He has spent millions (at least) of dollars in supporting political candidates and lawmakers who are likely to overturn the 2011 Wire Act decision or simply pass a prohibition-style law to ban all online gaming. Of course Adelson has a lot to gain by restricting players so that they can only play in brick & mortar casinos.

The law that Adelson’s friends have tried to pass is RAWA, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act, but those politicians have had no success. Not only is online poker and gaming popular and the wave of the future, it is legal in four states already and more to come. To pass a law like RAWA or to overturn the Wire Act now would create a legal nightmare, as states would challenge the law in court and likely win.

The bottom line in the US is simple: States can legalize online poker, and several have done so. There are no laws specifically outlawing online poker.

Some, like Adelson, have challenged this and will continue to do so, but they are fighting a losing battle in a war of their own creation. You’ll probably see poker and sports betting legalized on a federal level in the next decade.

New State Laws Regarding Online Poker

Nevada took the first step to legalize online poker and paved the way for others to do the same. Delaware followed, legalizing online poker, along with lottery and casino games. New Jersey did all of this on an even larger scale. The latest to join the group was Pennsylvania, which passed its law in 2017 and finally launched regulated online poker in late 2019.

Michigan has passed online poker legislation but won’t launch until late 2020 at the earliest. Other states are seriously considering doing the same. Lawmakers in Illinois and Massachusetts are in the process of seeking final votes to pass gambling expansion bills that will allow casinos and racinos to partner with online poker and gaming sites to expand their businesses and produce additional revenue for themselves and the states. New York and California have been considering the same types of bills, with Connecticut, Louisiana, Washington, New Hampshire, West Virginia, and others starting to explore the issue as well.

These laws, as passed by individual states offer licenses to poker sites online to partner with land-based casinos and racetracks. Licensed poker sites may then offer games to players who are physically located within that state’s borders when playing, and there are many protections to ensure that the players are of legal age and aware of all responsible gambling resources.

The benefit to more states legalizing online poker is also that the states can sign contracts to join their online poker sites. A multi-state network has already begun, starting with Nevada and Delaware offering shared online poker liquidity and joint player pools, with New Jersey joining the network in the spring of 2018. It is very likely that Pennsylvania will do the same at some point in the near future.

What About Online Sportsbooks?

Sportsbooks actually have a lot in common with online poker in the way that they are perceived by legislators. Both games feature elements of luck and skill and both are incredibly popular.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that there’s been a lot more movement on the sports betting side of things with many states quickly moving to legalize and regulate sportsbooks in an attempt to cash in on the rampant betting on US-based leagues such as the NBA, NFL and NBA.

So, is it Legal to Deposit for Online Poker in the USA?

The answer is an emphatic yes. The laws may be confusing, but we tried to break down the individual components of those laws to make it easier to understand. And as things change, we will update these pages with the most current online poker information.

Even so, we recommend talking to a gaming attorney with any specific questions for your particular jurisdiction. In our eyes people are always going to want to play poker and no matter what restrictions lawmakers put in place there will always be a game running for people who truly want it. You can check our poker reviews to learn about potential places to play.

If you’re ready to play online poker, let’s get to it. We’ll see you at the tables!

CA is home to nearly 100 real money poker card rooms, 68 tribal casinos and a plethora of horseracing tracks and thanks to all those real cash gambling options, many people say California, and not Las Vegas, is the gambling capital of the United States. High stakes poker betting pros and rich businessmen alike flock to the state to play in some of the biggest real cash poker and casino games and tournaments in the world. Gigantic casinos like the Commerce attract millions of tourists to California each and every year, rivalling historic landmarks like the Hollywood Walk of Fame in popularity. Remember though, all these 2020 betting options are at land based casinos not poker websites or Internet casinos.

Due to its nearly 38 million residents, California is on the radar of just about every state that has already passed, or is in the process of passing, laws that legalize regulated Internet gambling and lawful real money Internet poker. Interstate compacts involving California would do wonders for the popularity of online poker websites in the United States.

However, although committees have been trying to hash out a plan that would bring legal Internet poker to California for some time, no new gambling legislation has actually been passed yet. But make no mistake; California is undoubtedly the state most likely to pass an iGaming bill in the very near future and open up casinos and poker websites to CA residents.

Avid poker players in The Golden State will have no trouble at all signing up for an account at any one of our real money US poker sites.

PokerStars Forges Historic Partnership With Morongo Tribe, California Cardrooms

Quick Jump

  • 6 The Facts
In a joint press release submitted by the Rational Group, the Morongo Tribe of Mission Indians and three of California’s largest real cash poker cardrooms (the Commerce, the Bicycle and the Hawaii Gardens Casino), the group announced its plans to bring regulated online poker to the Golden State. PokerStars would not only serve as a sub-contractor for the conglomerate, but become their front facing brand and provide lawful Internet poker to betting fans in CA.

In a display of impeccable timing, the release was issued during a hearing held by the State Assembly’s Committee on Governmental Organization to discuss the fiscal and public policy implications of legalizing online real money poker in California.

Currently in 2020, the bills up for consideration by legislatures both call for a “bad actor” clause, which would effectively eliminate the world’s biggest Internet poker gambling provider, PokerStars from the equation.

The bad actor issue may inevitably delay the passage of a regulatory gaming act in California and cause serious delays on bringing legit poker gambling on the Internet to long suffering players in CA.

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Can Players from California Play Online Poker?

Yes. Although online Internet poker will likely not be regulated by the state of California for another year, players are free to sign up with over a dozen real-money poker websites offering real money poker gambling to United States citizens, which is great news for poker gambling fans. Compare this to other states, like New York and Washington that make it difficult for players to start betting on Internet poker anywhere.

Is Online Poker Legal in California?

Although we are not an authority on the legality of Internet poker in California, we have researched this issue extensively. Listed below are several points of interest concerning 2020‘s current California real cash gambling laws:

  • Online poker is not regulated by the state of California.
  • Commercial casinos are authorized by the state of CA, however games where the outcome of each bet is determined by dice alone, such as craps, cannot be operated by card rooms that offer games like real money poker.
  • Tribal casinos are authorized by the state and can house non-card games like craps.
  • Sports betting is not authorized by the state of California.
  • Various forms of lotteries are authorized by the state
  • All forms of real money poker gambling are authorized by the state, except online Internet poker.
  • There is no California law directly prohibiting or criminalizing the act of placing a wager at a poker websites online.
  • Internet horseracing is authorized.

For a more comprehensive look at California gambling laws, interested parties are encouraged to read the latest edition of the Gambling Law, Regulations, and Resource Information – 2020 edition [1].

Poker players in California are advised to research the CA state laws before concluding as to whether online Internet poker is legal or not. Remember, there is a distinct difference between something being ‘prohibited’ and ‘non-regulated.’ Brian Mickers wrote a great article on the topic of lawful poker websites; one that provides in-depth insight into the issue of Internet poker [2].

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Recent Developments

In 2013, three separate pieces of real cash Internet poker legislation were introduced in California. They were:

Poker online for money
  • SB 51 – Senator Roderick Wright’s “Internet Gambling Consumer Protection and Public-Private Partnership Act of 2013”
  • SB 678 – Senator Lou Correa’s “Authorization and Regulation of Internet Poker and Consumer Protection Act of 2013”
  • The Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2013 – An online poker bill sponsored by eight California tribes.

The Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2015 was filed by Assemblyman Mark Gatto. The bill would legalize Internet poker but keep the ‘bad actor’ clause which bans poker operators who have violated the law before.

Besides Gatto’s 2015 Act, the he aforementioned lawful poker bills have all failed to generate much momentum in government, largely because of the influx of infighting among California State’s varied gambling interests at the time. Tribal casinos enjoy several tax advantages in the real money betting world, and may not be willing to give up a piece of revenue generated through real cash poker website profits. They’re also adamantly against interstate compacts and racetrack participation. Others feel that online Internet poker companies should only be allowed to operate through card rooms based in CA and bring betting fans a slice of the Internet Texas Hold’em action.

That, and there was little evidence from other states besides California as to the viability of a lawful Internet poker market.

Joe Correa made SB 678 severable. This means that if any portion of the gambling websites bill is deemed unacceptable it can be made invalid immediately. By taking this urgent measure, Correa hoped to get SB 678 enacted into law before the September 6, 2013 deadline. It didn’t work, and the issue of legit real money Internet poker was put off until 2014 [3].

Then, at the February 2014 legislative deadline, two new poker gambling website bills were introduced:

  • SB 1366: Effectively a rehash of SB 678; backed by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
  • AB 2291: Introduced by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, AB 2291 is essentially the assembly version of SB 1366.

Unfortunately, all parties could not reach an agreement about the terms of the new regulations before the end of the 2014 session, meaning the bills were dumped.

In December 2014, Assemblyman Mike Gatto took over the online poker cause and filed a new bill, AB9. Its full title is the Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2015 and it aims to bring regulated legal online poker to CA.

Notable aspects of the bills include:

  • The real cash poker Internet bill would require provisions that would ensure the safety of player funds.
  • The minimum age to play online Internet poker in the state of California would be 21.
  • Players must be located within the State of California in order to start gambling on real money poker websites.
  • Betting companies that violate federal law would not be permitted to set up poker gambling and casino operations.
  • All online poker website software would have to include self-exclusion features such as loss limits and time-outs for real cash poker players to implement themselves.
  • Licenses for real money Internet poker would be valid for 10 years, non-transferable and cost $5 million.
  • Regulations would go into effect within 270 days of passage.

The Facts

The History of Gambling in California

1850

1850

Even before California became a state, card rooms have been up and running since 1850. These were also known as “California Casinos” or “Card Clubs”.

1933

1933

California’s gambling industry grew in 1933, with the introduction of horse race wagering. The California Constitution was amended for this to take place and 6 major horse racetracks were introduced to the state. In addition, over 30 off-track betting locations were spread throughout the state.

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1984

1984

Due to Proposition 37, State lottery was introduced to California, which has been incredibly successful to this day.

1988

1988

The ‘Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’ was the main reason why gambling became even more popular throughout the State in the late 90’s. As a result of this, negotiations began with tribes (more than 50) and Bingo type games were the premise of these negotiations.

2000

2000

A law was passed in this year which fully legalised casino gambling on tribal lands. This gave the tribes an opportunity to negotiate their compacts and come to an agreement of what machines and table games they can offer in their casinos.

2010

2010

With the rise of internet gambling , California joined the craze and introduced horse racing betting over the internet. Which ultimately led to other forms of internet gambling being introduced in the near future.

2012

Can You Play Online Poker For Money

2012

The Californian Senate had a busy year with various bills to legalize and regulate online poker being put forward. It wasn’t clear whether the tribes would be a part of regulating and licensing online poker operators, but the idea was definitely being pushed forward.

2014

2014

Poker Online For Money

Due to other states in the country legalising online poker, California was beginning to look like the next one on the list as two more bills were introduced to the Senate. Online poker is still up in the air in this state, but it is showing signs of potential for the near future.

California’s gambling roots can be traced all the way back to the gold rush and the ever popular Texas Hold’em poker game. As early as 1850, the predominately male population of prospectors and miners in CA demanded a masculine form of entertainment. Within mere months, licensed and unsolicited card rooms offering real cash poker games began popping up everywhere. Throughout the next several decades gambling’s popularity died down in California, not re-emerging until the early 1930’s.

In 1907, the Santa Anita Park – one of the most prestigious horseracing tracks in the entire world – opened its doors. However, it wouldn’t be until 1933 that real money gambling on horseracing was legalized in CA. Its legalization caused the relatively dormant poker betting and casino gambling industry to thrive. With the passing of a proposition in 1984 that legalized a statewide lottery, gambling became somewhat of a leisurely, everyday activity for real cash poker fans in CA and for other betting fans.

Around this time countless casinos were constructed; many of them home to poker rooms featuring upwards of 100 to 200 tables and offering classic Texas Hold’em real money poker games and many other popular poker variants. At 240 tables strong, the Los Angeles Commerce Casino [4] houses one of the largest poker gambling rooms not only in California but in the entire world.

Native American owned casinos became popular in the early 2000s. Tribal casinos enjoy several distinct advantages over traditional real cash legit poker card rooms including tax regulation, governing lease arrangements and the ability to offer legal gambling games besides real money poker, such as craps and roulette.

Poker players in California have a good chance of eventually being able to play poker online at legal US poker rooms.

Regulated Gambling Options In California

California is home to more gambling facilities than every state in the US outside of Nevada. It features over 100 legal poker card rooms, 68 tribal casinos, six racetracks and over 21,000 retail outlets licensed to sell lottery tickets. All told, citizens of the Golden State can rarely walk a block without running into some sort of lawful gambling outlet.

The Future Of Regulated Online Gambling In California

Right now, residents of California are permitted to engage in Internet betting on horseracing. All other forms of gambling, including online Internet poker for real cash, are not regulated by the state in 2020. However, it does appear that most of the CA State’s gambling powers are finally on board with online Internet poker-only website legislation. Expect them to come to terms shortly.

The Bottom Line

Given its massive population, if California passes legislation legalizing online poker in The Golden State the Federal Government would be forced to notice – especially if it decides to hold firm on its stance regarding interstate compacts. In fact, some say that California could easily dominate the real money Internet poker website market.

California will undoubtedly enter the Internet poker and gambling arena at some point. The real question is when the legal poker and casino betting websites will start to hit the web. Before PokerStars re-entered the picture, it appeared as though CA State was on target for a mid-2015 launch of legit Internet poker. Now, whether legal online poker comes to California depends on how quickly rival factions can come to terms regarding the inclusion or exclusion of a bad actor clause.

References

[1] ↑ California – Gambling Law, Regulations, and Resource Information

[2] ↑California Online Poker Bill Filed Away Until Next Year

[3] ↑The Commerce Casino and Hotel

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