The Best Online Poker Games in the US for 2024

Mike J. Davies By Mike J. Davies Senior Editor at Casinos.US Updated: March 18, 2024
Mike J. Davies Mike J. Davies Senior Editor at Casinos.US See Full Bio

Mike is our Senior Editor and experienced gambling strategist. A former hockey player, he transitioned to the casino industry after finishing his B.A. in English. Blackjack systems, online casino guides, gambling terms, and more - Mike is familiar with all fine points of gambling.

Best Online Poker Games for Real Money in the United States

US Online Poker Game Poker Site Welcome Bonus Bonus Code Highlights Legal In Site Rating Secure Link Terms
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Every online poker operator we recommend here holds a valid license. Legal poker websites have a statutory duty to protect players, meaning your personal details will always be safe. You can check if the operator of your choice is legal by looking for your state regulator's logo in the footer of any online poker site.

Naturally, our recommended operators have an assortment of poker games. That means you can choose any of our best online poker sites in the US to play many classic and modern variations. Some factors to consider include the tournaments and software features, while we also recommend checking the bonus rules and liquidity before you register an account.

The Top Online Poker Games by Category

⭐ Best US Poker Games WSOP
👨‍💼 #1 Live Poker Game Site BetMGM
#️ Most Poker Games PokerStars
♦️ #1 Texas Hold'em Site PartyPoker
♠️ Top Omaha Hi-Lo US Site BetMGM

Since online poker players have different preferences when choosing which online poker sites in the US to join, we have split our recommended operators by category to make the choice easier. With so many variations and formats of poker available online, choosing the right one is hugely important.

To come up with our list, we've rated all operators with legal poker games in the US and noted their stand-out features. All recommended picks have valid licenses and accept players from two or more states, so players can be certain they will be making a safe choice.

The Best Legal Site to Play Poker Games in April 2024

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Our recommended online poker sites feature many of different poker games, each of which varies in style and complexity. And with so many variations available, deciding which game to play will often come down to personal preference. That’s why we have created this guide to explain the main differences between the games.

While many poker players prefer popular classics such as Texas Hold’em, poker sites offer many other variants to cater to all types of players, no matter your experience level. This section explores the most popular online poker games in the US, so keep reading to see what each one is about.

The online poker games we discuss in this section are all safe to play at our recommended operators. However, keep in mind that different poker rooms will have different games. Make sure to check out the catalog to see if your favorite variant is available before registering an account. You can even widen your scope with the slot twist versions offered by leading online video poker sites.

Nevertheless, you will have plenty of chances to test your skills against real players. Many poker rooms have daily tournaments, so you will have plenty of time to explore all the best online poker games. If you prefer playing poker while on the move, check out our guide on the top online poker apps in the US.

Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em is among the most popular online poker games. The simplicity of the rules and hand rankings make the game easy to learn but difficult to master. That’s because there are many complex strategies you need to understand before you can compete at the highest level.

That said, you won’t struggle to find an operator where you can learn the basics of Texas Hold’em and compete against real players for real money. Here is the best site where you can play Texas Hold’em in the US:

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The main goal in Texas Hold’em is to win the pot by building the best five-card hand. It is possible to bluff and make your opponents fold, meaning you don’t necessarily have to hold the strongest hand to win. It’s all about concentrating on your opponents and using your table position to your advantage.

BetMGM is among the highly recommended operators where fans will find daily events with real money prizes. Newcomers can also check out the poker school to learn how to play all the poker variations, including Texas Hold’em. You are also welcome to visit our guide to Texas Hold’em online poker sites for more options.

Omaha Poker

Black and gold playing cards flying through the air.

Omaha shares many similarities with Texas Hold’em. The main difference is the number of hole cards each player receives. In Texas Hold’em poker online, each player receives two hole cards, while players receive four hole cards in Omaha. Players must use at least two hole cards in combination with the community cards to build the strongest five-card hand.

Also, there are several variations of Omaha, such as Omaha Hi/Lo. They are available at the leading Omaha websites. This is a split-pot version of Omaha, where players compete for the highest and lowest hand for a share of the prize pool. You can play Pot Limit, Fixed Limit, and No Limit Omaha at several legal online poker operators in the US, including:

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BetMGM offers many types of online poker. Beginners can learn how to play Omaha by selecting practice mode. The latter uses virtual money and allows you to sharpen your skills without taking unnecessary financial risks. Similar option is often available at other operators like the best slot apps.

We also selected BetMGM because the operator offers many other advantages to players, especially new ones. Weekly prizes, freerolls, and attractive welcome bonuses are just some part of them. For more legit online poker operators in the US, check out our Omaha online poker sites page.

Seven-Card Stud

Seven-Card Stud is another classic online poker game played with two-eight players. Seven-Card Stud starts two downcards and one upcard during the first round of betting. This is followed by another three downcards and one downcard. Players can use any of their seven cards to complete the best five-card hand.

Legal online poker rooms in the US offer several variations of Seven-Card Stud. These include Seven-Card Stud High-Low and Razz. Here is our favorite operator where you can play Seven-Card Stud for real money:

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As with other internet poker games, Seven-Card Stud uses standard poker hand rankings, the strongest of which is a royal flush. Operators such as WSOP.com have a comprehensive guide on how to play Seven-Card Stud online. You will also come across several tips and strategies to help improve your game.

Seven-Card Stud players can enter several weekly events when joining operators like WSOP.com. This operator also has excellent software features, which include player notes – meaning you can keep track of opponents and how they play. To learn more about stud poker, check out our Seven-Card Stud online poker guide.

Five-Card Draw

Five-Card Draw used to be the best online poker game before the explosive rise of Texas Hold’em. However, the game is easy to learn and an excellent option for novice players. In Five-Card Draw, players receive five cards before a round of betting takes place.

If more than one player remains after the first round of betting, they can discard and replace up to five cards to build the best five-card hand. This is followed by another round of betting before the remaining players reveal their hands. Here’s our recommended operator with Five-Card Draw:

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There are many other Five Card Draw websites for US players. The simple rules and fast-paced nature of the game make it ideal for real money online poker. Five-Card Draw is also available in Fixed Limit, Pot Limit, and No Limit. The latter is perhaps the most popular format and allows you to bet your entire stack at any point during a hand.

Five-Card Draw is among the top 10 online poker games in the US, so you won’t struggle to find a reputable operator where you can compete against real players. If you need some tips on how to play, visit our page for information on Five-Card Draw online poker in the US.

2-7 Triple Draw

A smartphone projecting playing cards in the air.

2-7 Triple Draw is a lowball variant of Five-Card Draw. Each player is dealt five cards and must try to make the lowest five-card hand possible. There are four rounds of betting in 2-7 Triple Draw. After each round of betting, players can choose to replace up to five cards.

As with all good online poker games, your position on the table is important. Knowing what your opponents are doing can significantly increase your chances of winning. With that said, here is the best 2-7 Triple Draw poker site in the US:

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Because the aim is to make the lowest possible five-card hand, straights and flushes are among the weakest hands. Therefore, the best possible hand is 7, 5, 4, 3, and 2. Another factor to note is that you will only receive four cards if you choose to discard your entire hand.

On such occasions, you will only get your fifth card once all other players have received their cards. At the same time, you can choose not to discard any of your cards. In poker, this is known as standing pat. For more information on the rules, visit our page on how to play 2-7 Triple Draw.

HORSE Poker

HORSE is a variant of poker that combines five popular games: H – Hold'em, O – Omaha, R – Razz, S – Seven-Card Stud, and E – Stud Hi/Lo (Eight or Better). Each game lasts for one round before moving to the next. Also, there are no Pot Limit or No Limit games for HORSE.

Top online poker games like HORSE are popular because they test your skills across all poker formats. Therefore, you should learn the basic rules before playing for real money. We recommend the below operator for the best HORSE online poker:

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If you need to brush up on your poker skills before playing HORSE, we recommend checking out the poker school offered by PokerStars. The poker school covers many topics, including advanced strategies to improve your game. You can also select ‘play money’ in the software to practice before switching to real money games.

In addition, keep in mind that this game is not as widely available. Therefore, you might need to do some in-depth research before finding a suitable operator. Online poker in Nevada is pretty popular, so we assume players from there will have no issues. Nevertheless, the operator highlighted above is also active in Michigan and Pennsylvania, so gamblers from these states should also be set.

Poker Games That Pay Real Money

Even though many online poker operators provide the option to play games in practice mode, switching to real money is by far the most exciting way to compete against other players. Poker games that pay real money require more skill when you have skin in the game.

On the contrary, the games are much looser when you don’t use your own money. However, we recommend that you practice before playing real money games. Many operators have poker schools you can check out to hone your skills. Here is our recommended site with the best online poker games for real money:

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Even though the above operator is our recommended site for real money games, it does not mean that other online poker rooms are necessarily inferior. All our recommendations provide world-class action and feature many daily events for a chance to win your share of the prize pool.

How much money you can win during real money poker games will depend on the stakes. Games with micro stakes tend to have smaller pots, while events with buy-ins often pay out thousands of dollars. At the same time, we recommend checking out real money online casinos in the US for more ways to win cash prizes.

Strategies for Increased Winning Chances

 

Since the best online poker games allow you to make strategic decisions to influence each hand's outcome, smart players learn every facet of the game to overcome any situation. Beginner players should start by learning poker hand rankings to identify potential winning hands. A-A and K-K are examples of excellent starting hands.

To enhance their profitability, expert players will often rely on mathematics to determine the probability of winning. While a good starting hand will give you an edge preflop, understanding how to calculate the odds of winning as the game progresses is a far better way of determining whether you should, call, raise, or fold.

Our website has several online poker strategies you can check out to improve your game. These are suitable for all types of players and cover beginner and advanced strategies, such as how to use your table position to outplay opponents. We also know a little bit about blackjack strategies if you ever find yourself playing blackjack games online

Online Poker Tournaments

Online poker tournaments are extremely popular and form an integral part of your poker experience. Many of the best online poker rooms in the US host regular tournaments with real money prize pools. These include single and multi-table tournaments (MTTs), while any tournament schedule will feature several satellite events with low buy-ins.

The prizes up for grabs during satellite tournaments often include tickets to other online and offline events, such as the WSOP. However, the most popular events are Sit & Go and MTTs. The latter have scheduled start times and usually run for several hours, giving you ample opportunity to turn a small bankroll into a massive payday.

Poker Site Bonus Bonus Code Poker Tournaments Highest Prize Eligible States Secure Link
BetMGM 100% up to $1,000 + $25 On the House Not Needed 70+ Daily $100,000 Guaranteeed in Prizes MI NJPA PLAY NOW! Valid only for new NJ players over 21 years of age. Opt-in required. Min. deposit $10. Full T&C's apply.
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The above table provides an overview of several lucrative tournaments with the best online poker games. All our recommended online poker sites have many more events available, so check out the tournament schedule on your preferred site for a selection of poker tournaments with real money prizes.

The quality of the tournaments provided by US online poker operators often comes down to the software. Different poker rooms use different poker software, so always test each operator in your state to compare the user interface, betting tools, and overall performance. That said, we are confident that our top-rated online poker sites won’t disappoint.

Are Online WSOP Poker Games an Option?

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is considered the pinnacle of poker tournaments and is held annually in Nevada. Each year, the tournament attracts thousands of entrants and culminates with the main event, a $10,000 No Limit Hold’em championship that lasts several weeks. The winner typically receives a multi-million dollar cash prize.

The WSOP has grown exponentially and now features over 100 events since 2020. Most major poker variants are represented in these, while over 50% of events feature variations of Texas Hold’em. The total prize money depends on the number of entrants and buy-ins. In 2022, the WSOP reportedly paid over $300 million in prize money.

📛 Official Name World Series of Poker
📅 Founded 1970
👨‍💼 Founder Benny Bunion
⌚ Tournament Duration Approx. 3 weeks
🃏 Included Poker Games Texas Hold`em, Omaha Hold`em, Seven card stud, HORSE, SHOE
🔞 Age Requirement 21+
💵 Participation Fee $10,000
💰 Grand Prize $10,000,000 + Bracelet
🤑 Record-Breaking Win $20,334,110
👑 Most WSOP Main Event Wins Stu 'The Kid' Ungar
ℹ️ Official Website www.wsop.com

Winning a WSOP bracelet is one of the most coveted prizes in the poker community. Interestingly, the first person to win a bracelet was Johnny Moss in 1971. The WSOP bracelets of today look a lot different and are worth around $1,500. However, many bracelets have been auctioned for record-breaking amounts.

Online poker players can enter WSOP online qualifiers to win a ticket to the showdown in Nevada. You will find satellite events at several online poker operators and in some casinos in Las Vegas. The buy-in for satellite events varies, so refer to your favorite online poker site to avoid missing out.

For a long time, the only place you could play poker was at land-based casinos. However, this changed in 2013 when Nevada became the first state to legalize online poker. Several other states have followed, and today, you can play at poker sites in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

In the meantime, other states are considering expanding their gambling markets as well. As of 2021, online poker is allowed in Connecticut, but currently, there are no poker platforms in the state. Remember that PvP poker is not available at the best CT casino sites.

You must be at least 21 years old in most states to legally play online poker for real money. You also need to be physically located within the legal US state. Meanwhile, many states have joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) to create shared player pools across state lines.

The multi-state agreement makes it possible for poker players from different states to compete against each other. However, to benefit from the MSIGA, poker sites must have a license to operate in multiple markets. US states where you can legally play online poker are listed in the table below:

All States with Legal Online Poker Games

Naturally, there are other ways to gamble online. It is no secret that US online slots websites have been legal since 2013 and provide access to classic and modern slot titles as well as a wide range of table games, such as blackjack and roulette. Many of these are available in the live casino and feature real dealers.

The same goes for betting on sports in the US. Legal online sports betting sites were introduced in 2018 when the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Around 33 states in the US have legalized online sports betting to date and offer markets for local and international sports.

Responsible Gambling for Poker Players

ICRG logo with poker chips and an American flag.

Anyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, can develop a gambling addiction. Therefore, you need to make sure that you follow responsible gambling practices. An example is to set a budget in advance and stick to it. Often, problem gamblers will spend more money than they can afford to and end up chasing losses.

The US has many independent resources available to assist those affected by gambling addiction. If you or anyone you know is struggling with problem gambling, you can contact any of the following organizations for support:

Frequently Asked Questions

Our guide to the best online poker games covers several topics to help you choose an online poker operator. Still, some of our visitors may need a recap. As a result, we have collected the most frequently asked questions and answered them in detail below. You can also contact us should you need information on a specific topic.

Are online poker games legal in the US?

Yes, online poker is legal in the US, although not in every state. Nevertheless, some of the most exciting and licensed US online poker sites attract numerous fans every day, where the local gambling laws allow it.

Which online poker games site is the best for real money?

The best online poker operator will depend on your playing style. We recommend checking out our best online poker site of the month to see what it’s about. All our featured online poker sites are licensed and regulated in the US and offer excellent welcome bonuses, poker software features, and games.

Are online poker games rigged in the USA?

No, online poker is not rigged. That’s because the legal poker situation in the US only allows and employs reputable software providers. They also gets tested by third-party agencies to ensure the games are fair and safe.

Can you play poker tournaments online?

Yes, most online poker sites provide daily tournaments. Our tournaments section covers some of the most popular tournament formats, which include single and multi-table events. You will also come across several satellite tournaments for a chance to win entry to online and land-based events without using your own money for the buy-in.

Can you play WSOP online poker in the USA?

Yes, online poker operators in the US provide many satellite events for a chance to win a ticket to the World Series of Poker. Reputable online poker sites typically host qualifier rounds for several WSOP events. To enter, you will need to purchase the buy-in for the satellite event or check if your preferred operator runs any special promotions for entry.

Conclusion – The Best Site for Online Poker Games for 2024

Our recommended operators with the top online poker games are among the most reputable sites in the US. All have licenses with the main gambling authorities in the states in which they operate, meaning your personal and financial details are always secure. Join any of our top-rated sites to play the best online poker games.

Mike J. Davies
Mike J. Davies Senior Editor at Casinos.US

Mike is one of our most senior team members and contributes with over 20 years of experience in the gambling industry. He's our online and land-based casino review expert and a blackjack enthusiast. Mike's a table games strategist and is dedicated to helping you make informed decisions.

More about Mike

At the same time, the operators with the best online poker games all have generous welcome bonuses. You can claim yours as soon as you register an account. We typically cover the wagering requirements in our reviews to ensure the bonuses are safe. So, check out our reviews to compare the best online poker sites in your state.

References

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