About Us — How We Review Online Poker Sites

Poker is an independent research and comparison site for real money poker players in the US. We look at the poker rooms and apps competing for your action and break down what actually separates them — traffic, game selection, rake, bonus terms, and how easy it is to get your money in and out — so you can pick a room that fits how you play, not just the one shouting loudest.

We don't operate a poker room ourselves. We don't deal cards, hold player funds, or process withdrawals. Our job is to research publicly available information on each operator — licensing, promotions, banking options, traffic patterns, game formats — and lay it out clearly so recreational players, grinders, and anyone switching sites can compare their options without wading through marketing pages.

Why We Built This Comparison

The US real money poker landscape is fragmented. Regulation happens state by state rather than at the federal level, offshore-facing sites operate under different rules than state-licensed ones, and bonus structures vary wildly in how much they actually pay out once wagering requirements are applied. That makes it easy for a casual player to sign up somewhere unsuited to their bankroll or stakes, and just as easy for an experienced grinder to overlook a room with better rakeback or softer games simply because it's less heavily advertised.

Our aim is to close that gap: give straightforward, current comparisons on the criteria that actually matter, whether you're chasing a welcome bonus, hunting for soft cash games, or looking for a crypto-friendly option after a previous site stopped serving your state.

How We Assess Poker Sites

Every room in our rankings, including Coinpoker, Bovada, Stake, Ignition, and the others listed on this site, is reviewed against the same set of criteria. No operator can pay for a higher position — commission from affiliate links, where it exists, plays no part in how sites are scored or ordered.

Traffic and liquidity — how many players are typically active at various stakes, since this affects table availability and how quickly tournaments fill
Game variety — coverage across No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, mixed games, fast-fold formats, and lottery-style Spin & Go tables where offered
Rake and rewards — how the rake structure compares, and whether a loyalty or rakeback scheme returns meaningful value over time
Bonus terms — we look past the headline deposit match figure to the playthrough requirements, time limits, and eligible games attached to it
Banking — the deposit and withdrawal methods on offer, typical cash-out timeframes, and any fees or verification steps involved
Software and mobile experience — client stability, HUD compatibility where relevant, and how the iOS and Android apps hold up at the table
Licensing and player protection — what regulatory framework or licence the operator holds, and how transparent it is about fund segregation and fair-play testing

We update our research periodically as bonuses, banking options, and traffic patterns shift, but promotional terms in particular can change quickly on the operator's side — always confirm the current offer and its conditions directly with the site before you deposit.

What "Best" Means on This Site

We don't rank purely on bonus size. A large headline number attached to a steep playthrough requirement or a short expiry window can end up worth less than a smaller, cleaner offer. Our ratings weigh the bonus alongside traffic, game quality, and payment reliability together, because a generous welcome offer means little if the site is thin on soft games at your stakes or slow to pay out.

We also draw a distinction between formats. A room strong in fast-fold cash games (Zoom-style formats) won't necessarily be the best choice for a tournament grinder chasing deep MTT fields, and a site built around crypto deposits suits a different player than one relying on cards and ACH transfers. Where that distinction matters, we say so rather than presenting every room as a fit for everyone.

Money, Payments, and Eligibility

In the US, real money poker is regulated state by state — there's no single federal licence covering online poker nationwide, and availability, minimum age, and legal status vary depending on where you live. Some states set the minimum gambling age at 21, others at 18; you must meet your state's minimum and confirm the site you're considering accepts players from your location before signing up. Deposit and withdrawal methods commonly seen across this market include debit and credit cards, ACH bank transfers, PayPal, PayNearMe cash deposits, and operator-issued prepaid cards, alongside cryptocurrency options at some rooms. Processing times, minimums, and fees differ by operator and method, and we note the material terms of any bonus — deposit requirements, wagering conditions, and time limits — alongside the offer itself rather than burying them elsewhere.

Our Commercial Relationships

Poker may earn a commission when a reader signs up with a poker site through a link on this page. This is how independent comparison sites like ours stay free to use. It does not change our ratings, our write-ups, or the order sites appear in — an operator's placement reflects our research, not its marketing budget. Where a room has a limitation worth knowing, whether that's thinner traffic outside peak hours, a demanding wagering requirement, or a restricted state list, we include it.

Play Within Your Means

Poker is a game of skill mixed with variance, and no amount of skill removes the risk of losing money. We never present real money poker as a source of income or a way to solve financial pressure, and nothing on this site should be read that way. If you or someone you know is struggling to keep gambling under control, free confidential support is available around the clock through 1-800-GAMBLER. For more on setting limits and recognizing warning signs, see our Responsible Gambling page. Real money poker on this site is intended for adults who meet the legal age and location requirements in their state.

Get In Touch

If you've spotted outdated information, want to flag a change at one of the operators we cover, or have a question about how we put a review together, our Contact Us page is the place to reach us. Full details on how the site operates, including our terms of use, are available on our Terms and Conditions page.