As of 2019, online poker in the United States is legal. US residents can play poker for real money at any site that is compliant with US gambling regulations.
The vast majority of online poker sites are compliant, so playing online for real money in the US is a safe and legal option.
While there are a few rogue operators that are not compliant with US gambling regulations, they are a minority and generally do not affect most players. The biggest concern for players is knowing which sites are compliant and which are not. There are a few ways to check if a site is compliant:
The first way to check if a site is compliant is to look at their licensing. All US-licensed sites must have a license from the appropriate governing body, such as the Nevada Gaming Control Board or the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
If a site does not have a license, it is not legal and you should avoid it.
The second way to check if a site is compliant is to look at their terms of service. Sites that are not compliant may have terms of service that prohibit players from playing for real money.
The final way to check if a site is compliant is to look at their customer service department. Sites that are not compliant may refuse to process payments or may be unhelpful when questions about compliance arise.
