Online Poker Laws in the US
On this page, we will go over:
Stay informed about current legislation, pending poker bills, and the evolving landscape of gambling laws across the nation.
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Poker and Gambling Laws by State
Is Online Poker Legal in the US?
As of September 2026, nine states have authorized regulated online poker: Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Connecticut, Michigan, Rhode Island and Maine. Six have launched state-regulated real-money poker sites, while Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine have yet to launch licensed online poker rooms.
Every one of the 50 states has a unique view of internet poker:
It’s certainly not a sweet home for gamblers, who face stiff penalties on both the business and player sides of the illegal gambling equation. There are few options, and the likelihood of regulated online poker in the near term is essentially nil.
State gambling law does not directly handle gambling conducted online. The general attitude toward gambling is restrictive, and chances of expansion seem pretty low. Poker occupies something of a grey area in Alaska law.
A litany of regulated options for playing real-money poker coexists with an aggressive stance toward unregulated gambling in Arizona. Internet gambling is addressed in state law. Poker is handled directly by statute.
Arkansas takes an aggressive approach to prosecuting illegal gambling. Enforcement is aimed primarily at those who operate, finance or otherwise facilitate the activity. Opportunities for regulated online gambling seem dim.
Lawmakers tried to legalize online poker for more than ten years before quitting after an incredibly frustrating 2016 legislative session. Online poker appeared possible, but lawmakers reached a stalemate over a bad actor clause involving PokerStars. The disagreement ultimately ended the talks.
Law is clear regarding poker but less so when it comes to the online version of the game. They could be a candidate for regulated online poker, but a lack of obvious support undermines their potential. Very tough on unregulated gambling in general.
The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes pushed for igaming for years. Connecticut lawmakers ultimately approved it, including online poker, in 2021. While online casinos have been beneficial for Connecticut thus far, online poker has yet to find license applicants.
One of only a few states in America to legalize and regulate online gambling, including online poker. The state’s first regulated online poker and casino sites launched in November 2013. Delaware offers regulated online poker through BetRivers Poker, which shares a player pool with Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia. The state previously participated in the 888poker network alongside Nevada and New Jersey.
This state is frequently mentioned as a possible place where regulated online poker could both come to pass and thrive. Current law does not directly intersect with the issue of gambling that happens online. Regulated choices abound for land-based poker players.
Lawmakers have been open to discussing gambling expansion in recent years. However, the focus has been on land-based casinos and sports betting. Online poker and igaming are not on the table.
More Hawaii lawmakers have been open to discussing sports betting. However, only a select few have entertained the idea of casinos on the islands. While igaming could be a median solution, most in the legislature are unwilling to even discuss it.
Gambling isn’t small potatoes in Idaho, where the law takes an expansive approach to defining illegal gambling. While poker may be a question in some states, Idaho law singles it out as a prohibited form of gambling. Online gambling is less clear.
A long history with gambling played a part in expanded options of late, including video gaming terminals and sports betting. Lawmakers have seriously considered online poker and casino games. However, the proposals have yet to gain enough support to pass.
The Hoosier State has emerged as a contender for regulated igaming. Lawmakers have seriously considered several bills in recent years. While brick-and-mortar casinos appear to support igaming, unfounded concerns of cannibalization keep the bills from progressing.
Iowa has considered regulated online poker for several years. The state takes a middling stance on unregulated gambling. Penalties for operators can be quite harsh, less so for poker players.
Online gambling is not covered directly by state gambling law. Kansas offers a wide range of regulated gambling options. However, online gambling does not appear likely to join them anytime soon.
Kentucky took a harsh stance on internet gambling in 2008, when the governor ordered more than 140 gambling domains seized. The state later sued PokerStars for close to $1B. Years later, his son became governor and urged lawmakers to consider sports betting and online poker. Bills have come surprisingly close to passage in the past few years.
The state law is complicated by a flawed and incomplete definition of gambling. All parts of the law are subject to interpretation. There was an effort to legalize online poker by voter referendums, but nothing has moved on since 2018.
Maine authorized tribal-operated online gambling in January 2026 when LD 1164 became law. The legislation allows the Wabanaki Nations to offer regulated online gambling, including poker. Operators must meet state licensing and regulatory requirements. The authorization does not mean that licensed online poker sites are already operational.
One of the more complex webs of state gambling law thanks to an additional level of county law regarding gambling. Maryland considered online poker legislation in 2026. However, the bill received an unfavorable committee report and was withdrawn by its sponsor in March.
Gambling-friendly state started seriously considering online poker and casino games in 2017, opening its first land-based casino in 2018. No serious online gambling bills have been proposed in recent years. However, the state remains a possibility for future expansion.
Years of efforts to legalize online poker and igaming paid off. Legalization in late 2019 led to a massive influx of revenue from igaming. Online poker grew as well. The governor signed an interstate agreement allowing operators to share poker liquidity across state lines. PokerStars began sharing its Michigan and New Jersey player pools in January 2023. WSOP launched interstate poker in Michigan in May 2024, followed by BetMGM in November 2024 and BetRivers in June 2025. DraftKings also launched multistate poker in July 2026, joining Michigan’s existing interstate poker offerings.
There are many ways to play poker legally in the state. However, questions remain about how the law applies to online gambling. Law is unclear both on the issue of internet gambling in general and internet poker precisely.
Mississippi law clearly treats poker as a form of gambling. Poker is specifically included in the state’s statutory definition of gambling. To date, some past rumblings regarding online poker regulation have amounted to nothing in the way of tangible action.
Missouri launched regulated sports betting on December 1, 2025, following voter approval in November 2024. However, the state has not legalized online poker or online casino games.
Big Sky Country is also home to some significant penalties for engaging in actions that the state considers illegal gambling. Online gambling is directly handled by Montana gambling law. Few poker options.
Online poker seems unlikely in coming years, but Nebraska lawmaker proposed legal live poker in 2021 as a skill game. Law is not garnering much support, but movement is possible.
No surprise that the nation’s gambling capital was the first to offer regulated online poker. However, only one site is available for players in the state. Online casino games are not permitted.
A literal reading of New Hampshire laws puts online gambling in a legal grey area, but lawmakers have recently opened up to discussing online gaming. With neighboring states benefiting from the games, NH may consider bills in the future.
A pioneer of regulated online gaming in the US, New Jersey long ago eclipsed $1B in igaming revenue. It has become a model for other states and guided some of them through the legalization and regulation process. Now with sports betting as well, NJ is as much a gambling state as it can be.
New Mexico allows some regulated forms of real-money poker. However, unregulated games may be subject to the state’s anti-gambling laws. Online poker is not specifically addressed, but other gambling laws may still apply.
Lawmakers have introduced online poker bills for years, but none have advanced far enough to pass. In 2023 and 2024, State Senator Addabbo shifted his focus toward broader igaming legislation.
Like its twin to the south, North Carolina takes a dim view of nearly all forms of gambling. Unlike South Carolina, the law in North Carolina offers little risk to players in illegal gambling games. Poker is likely, although not definitively, included in the statutory definition of gambling.
Longtime ND Rep. Kasper has been a fan of poker since the Moneymaker era. He has been working to legalize online poker since 2005 but fails to gain enough support. His last attempt in 2021 failed again, as Kasper’s fellow legislators don’t share his passion for or knowledge of the game.
Ohio lawmakers have discussed igaming regulation in recent years, but no legislation has advanced to a vote. Several proposals have been introduced, suggesting the issue remains under consideration.
Existing laws aimed at cracking down on sports betting may apply to wagering over the internet, but that is one of many conclusions you might reach after reviewing the law regarding gambling in Oklahoma. Chances for regulated online poker in the near term are exceedingly slight.
The state takes a rigid approach to gambling that includes a law banning financial activity related to online gambling. Unclear whether poker players are included under the scope of the law. Legal poker is available in several land-based formats.
After legalizing igaming and sports betting in 2017, igaming didn’t launch until 2019. PokerStars opened its online poker site in PA in late 2019 and remained the only operator for more than a year. Pennsylvania is one of the largest regulated online poker markets in the US. It joined MSIGA in April 2025, allowing licensed operators to share player pools with other participating states.
Bally’s Corporation, based in Rhode Island, put igaming on the table in 2023 with its own proposal submitted to lawmakers to regulate online casino games and poker. It passed, and Bally’s launched regulated online casino games on March 5, 2024. Although Rhode Island authorized online poker, no state-licensed online poker platform has launched.
South Carolina is often cited for its strict approach to gambling. State laws are broad enough to potentially make some games illegal even when no wagering is involved.
It’s illegal to operate an online betting website or similar business in South Dakota. What’s less clear is how poker players merely engage in online poker games fare under South Dakota’s gambling law.
Despite a prohibitionist approach to gambling that is outdone only by Utah and a handful of similar states, Tennessee does not have any law on the books that offers a special legal status for online gambling.
Texas has not legalized regulated real-money online poker. State law permits certain private poker games under specific conditions, while the legality of commercial poker clubs remains contested. Even so, current law has allowed poker rooms to operate around the state and become hubs for live poker. Lawmakers have also considered casinos and sports betting in recent years. Online poker, however, remains off the table.
They are the only state to decide to pass a law essentially forbidding any participation in any federal online gambling network. Few – some would argue no – types of gambling can be conducted legally in Utah.
State gambling laws reflect the more significant attitude of Vermont toward individual freedoms. While some laws on the books forbid particular acts related to gambling, the charges (and interest in enforcement) appear far less intense than in the typical state.
Virginia has yet to commit to a specific legislative approach to online gambling. Existing laws regarding land-based gambling may apply. Poker players left with something of a mixed bag in Virginia.
In theory, the absolute worst state for online poker players as participating in a real-money game online appears to merit a felony charge. The future of online gambling in the state is constantly in flux. Multiple regulated options for poker exist.
After expanding land-based gambling, West Virginia lawmakers included online poker and casino games in its regulatory scheme in 2019. Online casinos have proven a revenue plus for the state. West Virginia joined MSIGA in late 2023, and BetRivers Poker became the state’s first regulated online poker operator on June 10, 2025. The platform shares its player pool with Pennsylvania, Michigan and Delaware.
Poker players can legally play real-money poker in various ways. State law lacks absolute clarity regarding the online variant. The overall legal approach to gambling is relatively strict, thanks partly to protections built in for the state-approved gambling outlets.
Few regulated gambling options are available except on tribal lands. Lawmakers did consider a bill regarding games of skill in 2020, but there has not been enough progress on any poker front to constitute realistic gains.
Which States Have Legalized Online Poker in the USA?
Since the 2011 DOJ decision clarifying the 1961 Wire Act, states have moved to legalize and regulate online poker and casino games. Several states have since done so. Pennsylvania became the fourth state to legalize online poker in 2017.
Online poker sites operate within a complex legal landscape in the US, with no federal regulatory system for internet gaming. The 2011 US Department of Justice Wire Act opinion allowed states to establish their own online poker and gaming frameworks. Requirements vary by state, with some requiring partnerships with land-based casinos or existing gaming operators.
West Virginia legalized iGaming, including poker, in 2019. Connecticut and Michigan both followed. Rhode Island authorized online poker in 2023, followed by Maine in January 2026. Neither state has launched state-licensed online poker rooms.
#1 – First State to Legalize Online Poker – Nevada
As the first state to legalize online poker, Nevada continued its tradition as a trailblazer in gambling. The law became official in February 2013, though the Nevada Gaming Commission began drafting regulations in December 2011, just one month after the DOJ decision regarding the Wire Act.
Ultimate Gaming was the first company to launch online poker for residents of Nevada in April 2013 via a partnership with Station Casinos. WSOP launched its online poker site in September 2013 with Caesars casinos. South Point then launched its site, Real Gaming, in February 2014 but never gained any traction or enough players to be a viable competitor. Ultimate Poker then left the market in November 2014, with WSOP the only internet poker site continuing to operate today.
Revenue numbers and statistics are not available for much of Nevada’s online poker history because regulations stipulate that there are not enough sites to warrant the distribution of that information.
#2 – Delaware Legalizes Online Poker in 2013
Legislators in Delaware weren’t going to get left in the dust regarding online poker regulation. The state legislature leaped into action soon after and legalized online poker and casino games in June 2013. The Delaware Lottery dictated laws, and online casino games launched in October 2013, with internet poker close behind in early November 2013.
Delaware’s three racinos originally offered online poker through 888poker. Following the end of that arrangement, BetRivers Poker launched in Delaware in June 2025, sharing its player pool with Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia. Revenue for the online poker sites started with $348K in the first full year of 2014, increased to $392K in 2015 after joining forces with Nevada in an interstate shared online poker partnership and slowed somewhat in 2016 with revenue of nearly $376K.
Revenue continued to grow at a slow but steady pace until 2023. The Delaware Lottery allowed its contract with 888 to expire and opened bidding for a new platform provider for poker and casino games online. The end of the year saw a deal with Rush Street Interactive, which relaunched casino games in early 2024. Rush Street Interactive launched BetRivers Poker in Delaware on June 10, 2025, ending an approximately 18-month period without regulated real-money online poker in the state.
#3 – New Jersey Launches its First Poker Site in 2013
New Jersey was the first state of the initial three to consider online gambling. Its legislature passed a bill to legalize internet poker and casino games in January 2011, even before the DOJ’s Wire Act decision, but Governor Chris Christie vetoed it. Christie’s concerns were addressed in a new bill passed overwhelmingly by the legislature in February 2013, and Christie signed it. The original legislation included a 10-year authorization period, which was subsequently extended.
The online gaming sites launched in November 2013, and a brief testing period led to open sites for all people within the borders of New Jersey. Ultimate Gaming and Betfair were two of the original sites that failed to prosper enough to continue doing business, but 888poker and WSOP merged their sites to compete with Borgata/PartyPoker. PokerStars received regulatory approval in 2015 and launched its New Jersey site in March 2016.
#4 – Pennsylvania Regulates Online Poker in 2017
After several years of states being unable to pass online gaming legislation despite significant efforts, Pennsylvania accomplished the feat in late 2017. The legislature passed a comprehensive gambling expansion package in October, including the legalization of online poker and casino games. Governor Tom Wolf signed it into law in the first week of November.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board took much longer than expected to finalize its regulations and issue licenses for online casinos and poker sites. Still, several sites did obtain licenses to offer both. As a result, several online casino sites went live in mid-2019, but poker operators remained silent until November neared. At that point, PokerStars announced its plan to launch during the first week of November.
PokerStars was Pennsylvania’s only regulated online poker operator throughout 2020. WSOP and BetMGM entered the market in 2021, followed by BetRivers in October 2024. The state’s licensed poker offerings have since expanded to include additional brands and interstate networks. The end of 2021 showed more than $32.4M in online poker revenue, which increased slightly in 2022 to $33.7M.
Pennsylvania joined MSIGA in April 2025, allowing licensed poker operators to share player pools with other participating states.
#5 – West Virginia Joins the Party in 2019
In late March of 2019, West Virginia officially passed a law to legalize and regulate online gaming, including online poker. West Virginia is a relatively small market with an estimated population of just under two million people. Still, it could be a significant market if it’s allowed to share player pools with other states. The West Virginia State Lottery is responsible for devising the regulations, accepting licensing applications, issuing licenses, and overseeing the new internet gaming industry. By the end of 2019, the lottery’s director and a delegation had traveled to Pennsylvania to discuss online gaming.
West Virginia joined MSIGA in late 2023, paving the way for regulated interstate online poker. BetRivers Poker launched in the state on June 10, 2025, connecting West Virginia players with its existing network in Pennsylvania and newly launched platforms in Michigan and Delaware.
#6 – Michigan Legalizes Online Poker in Late 2019
Michigan lawmakers had worked to legalize online poker for several years. Now-former State Senator Mike Kowall started in 2017, and State Representative Brandt Iden joined his efforts. In 2018, the duo made progress by passing their Lawful Internet Gaming Act through the House first and then the Senate late in the year. During the week before Christmas and after a few amendments, the bill passed by a wide margin and went to then-Governor Rick Snyder for his signature. But instead, he vetoed it on December 28, 2018.
Several months into 2019, and after Kowall retired, Iden partnered with State Senator Curtis Hertel Jr. to introduce another set of Lawful Internet Gaming Act bills. It soon became apparent that new Governor Gretchen Whitmer had concerns about online gambling taking money away from land-based gambling revenues that benefited Michigan students. Iden rebuffed a counterproposal from Whitmer for internet gambling options, and a standstill ensued.
In December 2019, however, Hertel stepped in. He was able to work with another lawmaker representing Whitmer’s views to work out a compromise-laden bill to amend the original one. That bill sailed through the legislature with the promise of the governor’s signature, and she did sign the bill on December 20.
PokerStars moved quickly and launched its online poker site in Michigan in January 2021. BetMGM followed several months later, while WSOP waited to launch its online poker service to Michiganders until March 2022.
Later in the spring of 2022, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed MSIGA to allow poker sites to join their player pools across state lines with New Jersey. Nevada and Delaware were already members of MSIGA when Michigan joined. Delaware subsequently changed poker providers, launching BetRivers Poker in June 2025. PokerStars immediately got to work and launched its combined Michigan-New Jersey site on the first day of 2023. WSOP launched interstate poker in Michigan in May 2024, followed by BetMGM in November 2024. BetRivers joined the state’s interstate poker market in June 2025. FanDuel received approval to offer multistate poker under the PokerStars brand in April 2026, and DraftKings launched multistate poker in July 2026.
#7 – Connecticut Welcomes Online Poker in 2021
In May 2021, the Connecticut legislature passed a comprehensive gambling expansion bill that included sports betting and igaming, including online poker. Governor Ned Lamont then signed the bill into law at the end of May, making it the seventh state to authorize state-licensed online poker in the new US market.
Online casino operators began launching online casino games in October of that same year, as sports betting went live at about the same time. Online poker, however, received no applications for licenses. That has remained the case into 2026, with no operators launching regulated online poker in Connecticut.
Connecticut’s legal framework grants the Mohegans and Mashantucket Pequots a monopoly over online casino games, including poker. As a result, the state is restricted to accommodating only two online poker sites. Connecticut authorized regulated online poker in 2021, but no operators have obtained licenses or launched poker platforms. As a result, players currently have no state-licensed real-money online poker options.
#8 – Rhode Island Legalizes iGaming in Late 2023
Bally’s Corporation, which is based in Rhode Island, lobbied for a bill to legalize online gaming through its two land-based casinos – the only ones in the state. In 2023, Bally’s went so far as to write its own bill and work with lawmakers to pass it. The legislation was signed into law in June 2023.
The new law provides the option for Bally’s to develop, license, and offer online casino games, sports betting, and online poker. Most of the products were available online in early 2024, though there has yet to be a mention of online poker.
#9 – Maine Authorizes Online Poker in 2026
Maine became the ninth state to authorize regulated online poker in January 2026, when LD 1164 became law without the governor’s signature. The legislation establishes a tribal licensing framework for online gambling, including poker. No state-regulated real-money online poker site has launched in Maine.
Federal Online Poker Regulation
It’s natural for online poker players in America to have questions about the legal considerations that accompany playing online poker for real money. Players must be familiar with federal law as it relates to legal online poker and other forms of online gambling and the gambling law of each state in the U.S.
Here’s a quick breakdown of federal online poker regulation.
2006 UIGEA
Online poker first popped up in the late 90s. It experienced meteoric growth in a legal vacuum, mainly because the internet was so new that legislators were playing catch up.
In 2006, the first piece of federal legislation related to legal online poker appeared, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Thanks to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ), they rushed the bill through the Senate to attach it to the SAFE Port Act. The bill passed in the House in a rare bipartisan 409-2 and 100-0 vote in the Senate due to the necessity of securing the nation’s ports.
No senators or members of the House were able to read the final text of the bill before it passed. But you can view the entire bill’s text here. It’s a lengthy read and is a little ambiguous.
However, the UIGEA didn’t specifically target poker. Instead, it had vague language that left poker in a legal grey area. Specifically, the law barred any U.S. businesses from “knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law.”
Poker is not mentioned, and the law doesn’t ban anyone from playing or gambling online; it just bars businesses from accepting and receiving payments. Playing poker was never legislated at the federal level and still hasn’t. With the new legislation, some poker sites like PartyPoker pulled out of the United States. Others, like PokerStars, Full Tilt, Ultimate Bet, and others, stayed in the U.S.
It was a calculated gamble that ultimately proved costly for PokerStars and a few other sites in 2011 when the Department of Justice seized domain names and indicted several people.
UIGEA: What Did It Do?
Several years before the DOJ decision, the US government passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, also known as UIGEA. It was attached to a must-pass piece of legislation in 2006, the SAFE Port Act, by Republican Representatives Jim Leach and Robert Goodlatte, who previously authored a similar bill. They attached anti-online gambling language to the SAFE Port Act, and Senators Bill Frist and Jon Kyl pushed the bill through the Senate. The bill passed with port security as an essential issue, and President George W. Bush signed it into law.
Essentially, UIGEA prohibited gambling businesses from knowingly accepting certain payments connected to unlawful internet gambling. The law established rules requiring financial institutions and payment systems to identify and block restricted transactions connected to unlawful internet gambling. It did not impose a blanket prohibition on every online poker transaction. Players would not be prosecuted under the law.
Congressman Barney Frank introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act in 2009 to counter the UIGEA and provide for regulations instead of prohibiting online gambling. Still, the bill failed to garner the necessary support for a vote. And the federal government has yet to establish a nationwide licensing framework for online poker.
Black Friday and the 2011 DOJ Investigation
While the companies mentioned in the section above stayed in the U.S., they started doing illegal dealings with a Utah-based bank. This bank started processing gaming transactions but labelled them as other transactions. The FBI began investigating, and on April 15, 2011, the industry changed forever.
April 15, 2011, started out as a typical Friday. Poker players who got up early were logging onto PokerStars, Full Tilt, and Absolute Poker like they had for the last few years. But players who attempted to log in later in the day were met with a message from the FBI:
This became known as poker’s Black Friday.
Players who didn’t log off could still play; some hung on for dear life. Then came the indictment of Isai Scheinberg, Raymond Bitar, Scott Tom, Brent Beckley, Nelson Burtnick, Paul Tate, Ryan Lang, Bradley Franzen, Ira Rubin, Chad Elie, and John Campos. They were indicted for nine different charges, including the Violation of the UIGEA, Operation of an Illegal Gambling Business, and Laundering Conspiracy.
The indictment was spearheaded by Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Janice Fedaryck, the Assistant Director of the New York Field Office of the FBI.
The case went to court under the case title “United States v. Scheinberg.” Campos and Elie were arrested that same day, Franzen struck a plea deal, and Rubin was arrested in Guatemala. Bitar turned himself in a year later, and Scheinberg avoided authorities until 2020, when he finally surrendered himself to authorities in New York. Scheinberg and the US authorities came to an agreement in 2020 for him to plead guilty to one violation of the Illegal Gambling Business Act (IGBA), pay fines, and move on.
Poker Sites Involved
Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker ceased operations following Black Friday, leaving many players unable to access their balances. PokerStars subsequently reached a settlement with US authorities that included provisions for reimbursing eligible players. However, PokerStars worked quickly to agree with the US government to pay millions of dollars in fines, and those funds were used to repay the victims of the other online poker sites.
Over nearly three years, $114.5 million was paid to 45,180 former Full Tilt players, and that process concluded at the end of 2016. In 2017 alone, former UB and AP players were contacted for reimbursement opportunities, and by the end of November, approximately 12,000 players were paid a cumulative total of $37.5 million.
For more information about Black Friday and its consequences, visit online poker history in the United States page.
Wire Act – Implications of 2011 and 2018 Decisions
The Federal Wire Act, also known as the Interstate Wire Act of 1961, was the primary law enacted to specifically address sports betting and wagering across state lines using wire communication. It was initially passed to stop the spread of gambling by organized crime syndicates, and it served its purpose until online gambling became a factor and challenged the law’s applicability to bet over wireless internet. And eventually, a request by New York and Illinois put the Wire Act up for reconsideration, as the states wanted to use the internet to sell lottery tickets via out-of-state transaction processors.
2011
In 2011, the US Department of Justice rendered a legal opinion changing the scope of the Wire Act. The conclusion noted that “interstate transmissions of wire communications that do not relate to a ‘sporting event or contest’ fall outside the reach of the Wire Act.” This decision changed the Wire Act to pertain only to sporting events, not other forms of gambling like lotteries or online poker. The interpretation removed a significant federal legal obstacle to state-regulated online poker and casino gaming. States still had to comply with other applicable federal laws and enact their own legislation.
2018
In 2018, the DOJ under the Trump Administration issued a new memorandum to change the application of the Wire Act again. The new interpretation tried to reverse the 2011 decision but merely muddied the waters and created an ambiguous online gaming environment. It jeopardized the future of all online lotteries, internet poker, and online casino game industries.
The New Hampshire Lottery Commission and its online platform provider, NeoPollard, sued the US Justice Department and then-US Attorney General William Barr in 2019 to overturn the latest Wire Act memo. Its lack of clarity and jeopardization of many states’ revenue streams required legal action. New Hampshire took it on, with supporting briefs from many other states.
The US District Court did, in fact, overturn the 2018 opinion, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision after the DOJ filed an appeal. The January 2021 appeals court decision prompted speculation of a US Supreme Court request, but the new DOJ under Attorney General Merrick Garland in the Biden Administration chose to let the decision stand and not appeal to the Supreme Court.
The First Circuit’s 2021 decision upheld the interpretation that the Wire Act applies to interstate communications involving sports betting, rather than all forms of online gambling.
RAWA – Attempts to Reverse 2011 Wire Act Decision
The Restoration of America’s Wire Act, also known as RAWA, was an attempt to reverse the 2011 DOJ decision regarding online gambling as restricted by the Wire Act. Several members of Congress have introduced this bill or similar versions of it since 2014 in the hopes of restoring the original meaning of the Wire Act and banning online gambling on the state and federal levels. Unfortunately, all attempts through 2017 by Senators like Lindsey Graham and Dianne Feinstein and Representatives like Jason Chaffetz and Charlie Dent have been unsuccessful.
There has been strong opposition from the private sector. The billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has pumped millions and millions of dollars into fighting online gambling. Adelson, who formerly led Las Vegas Sands, launched the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling in early 2014 to lobby for RAWA.
All efforts to date have been thwarted, including one most recently when newly-appointed US Attorney General Jeff Sessions was forced to recuse himself from issues related to the Wire Act and online gambling because of his ties to Adelson. Adelson passed away from long-term illnesses on January 11, 2021. While he’s no longer alive to continue waging the battle against online gaming, many of the institutions he laid the groundwork for still exist.
2018 Supreme Court Paves Path for Sports Betting and More
This time New Jersey was the one to lead the charge. In 2017 the state of New Jersey argued the case “Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, 584 U.S. 453 (2018)” in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. The goal was to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which barred states from allowing sports betting.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that PASPA’s prohibition on states authorizing sports betting was unconstitutional. The ruling was made on May 14, 2018.
Since then, several states have legalized online sports betting, a crucial step towards legal online poker. As a result, many state legislatures now address the topic of online gaming to see how it can benefit their states.
Since the US Supreme Court ruling, dozens of states legalized sports betting in some form – live, mobile, online, or a combination. As of 2026, 39 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized sports betting in some form, including online and in-person wagering.
In some sense, this is a positive development for igaming as more states expand their gambling options and become familiar with geolocation and responsible gambling measures. While most of the sports betting states have not included online poker or casino games with their regulatory measures yet, the possibilities remain.
Poker History in the US
Gambling runs deep in the United States. The US even raised funds to fight the revolutionary war through lotteries and raffles. After that, lotteries were prevalent among early settlers, and New Orleans became the gambling center of the country in the mid-1800s. However, it wasn’t until the 1900s that states began legalizing bingo for charitable purposes, and Nevada led the way in legalizing gambling in the 1930s. Poker was always a big part of gambling lore but took on a life of its own in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Following Chris Moneymaker’s seminal 2003 World Series of Poker win, online poker quickly exploded into an international phenomenon. The aptly-named Moneymaker qualified for the $10,000 buy-in WSOP Main Event for just $86 and parlayed it into a $2.5 million payday. After that, companies pumped millions of dollars into various poker sites while funding and advertising live televised poker shows. From then on, online poker was everywhere.
The United States government followed the poker boom closely enough to notice that the global poker sites were not paying taxes in America. Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006, which prohibited gambling businesses from knowingly accepting certain payments connected to unlawful internet gambling. The law did not itself make all online poker transactions in the US illegal. Some poker sites left the US market at that point, while others waited and fell to the Department of Justice site seizures of April 15, 2011, a date that came to be known as Black Friday.
Since then, online poker has been relegated to state governments to legalize and license as they see fit. Several have legalized online poker and other forms of igaming, others have considered it, and most have yet to address the subject at all.
How is Live Poker Regulated in the United States?
The poker industry in live settings, such as cardrooms and brick-and-mortar casinos, is thriving in the United States. In 2025, 493 commercial casino locations operated across 27 states and generated $51.06 billion from traditional casino games. Tribal gaming generated $46.2 billion in fiscal year 2025 across 545 gaming establishments operated by 246 tribes in 29 states.
Many states struggle with various issues related to online poker sites, such as defining whether it is a game of skill or chance and if collecting rake is illegal. But the ever-growing popularity of poker and the increasing awareness of its skill factors have led some states to consider legislation to legalize playing online poker. States like Washington and Texas struggle with those issues and whether established cardrooms should be legal.
This site is dedicated primarily to USA online poker, but some live poker issues can impact the online scene. In those cases, we cover poker related news and provide reviews of our favorite poker sites where poker is legal.
What is Interstate Online Poker Sharing and How Does It Work?
Interstate online poker sharing is what makes it possible for regulated poker sites to combine players from multiple states into one shared network. Below, you’ll see which states have already joined these agreements and what it means for game selection, tournament guarantees, and overall liquidity.
Nevada and Delaware
The governors of Nevada and Delaware signed the first interstate online poker agreement in February 2014. Still, it took until March 2015 to launch the combined 888/WSOP online poker sites due to the technical complications of linking only poker games and restricting Delaware’s online casino games to Delaware residents only. The original interstate arrangement allowed Nevada and Delaware to combine poker liquidity. Delaware later moved to BetRivers Poker, which now shares players with Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia.
New Jersey
New Jersey finally got in on the interstate liquidity in October 2017 when Governors Chris Christie of New Jersey, Brian Sandoval of Nevada, and John Carney of Delaware signed an agreement. The agreement enabled participating poker operators to combine players across state lines. The networks available to players have since changed as operators have entered and exited individual states. At the point of the announcement, the only site operating in all three states was 888/WSOP.
Michigan
In the spring of 2022, Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the interstate agreement, also known as the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). PokerStars connected its Michigan and New Jersey player pools on January 1, 2023. In April 2026, FanDuel received approval to offer PokerStars-branded multistate poker across Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. DraftKings launched its own multistate poker network across those three states in July 2026.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania joined MSIGA on April 23, 2025, becoming the sixth member alongside Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Michigan and West Virginia. Interstate online poker began on April 28, with BetMGM and Borgata Poker among the first operators to share player pools across state lines.
West Virginia
West Virginia joined MSIGA in late 2023. BetRivers Poker launched in June 2025, connecting players in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Delaware through a shared interstate network.
Connecticut and Rhode Island
Connecticut and Rhode Island are also likely to sign on to MSIGA in the future. Both states have markets too small for most operators to justify establishing poker sites just for the small populations. However, when they sign on to MSIGA, this is likely to change that and encourage large operators like PokerStars, WSOP, BetMGM and/or Run It Once Poker via Rush Street to set up online poker in those states as well.
All of this will broaden the network and show more of the potential that online poker has to offer via revenue and jobs.
Online Poker Legislation in 2026: What Changed?
Several states considered online poker and broader iGaming legislation in 2026, but proposals continued to face legislative hurdles.
Maryland introduced SB 884, the Internet Poker Authorization and Regulation Act of 2026. The bill would have established a licensing framework for regulated online poker and permitted interstate player-sharing agreements. However, its sponsor withdrew the bill on March 13, 2026.
Online poker expansion remains uncertain in states without regulated markets. Lawmakers continue to weigh potential tax revenue, consumer protections, and the impact on existing gambling operators.
Latest Legal Online Poker News
Online poker laws are constantly changing. States with licensing regimes of their own are adding new operators and new poker skins, and more states are considering proposals and bills. The best way to keep up with the latest is to follow our news section or check the individual state pages.
Sandra Gaweda Key Details Hackers used compromised updates to two poker tools, Jurojin and IntuitiveTables, to spy on high-stakes players and see
Paul Seaton Poker has always had an oddly magnetic relationship with the law. Over the years, the game has flouted rules, flirted
Sandra Gaweda Key Details Nebraska voters rejected two proposals to legalize online sports betting in the November 3 election. Initiative Measures 440
It’s important to note that no website – no matter how well-researched or informed – can be a substitute for advice from a licensed legal professional.
Jennifer Newell is the Editor in Chief at Legal US Poker Sites. She has two decades of experience in the iGaming industry. She is a respected poker media member, contributing to publications and websites like USA Today, PokerStars, and PokerScout. Her knowledge spans gambling legislation and the broader online gaming world. She has spent years advocating for diversity, most notably gender equity in the traditionally male-dominated poker sphere.
FAQs
Which states have complete legal online poker?
As of September 2026, nine states have authorized regulated online poker: Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine. However, only six states currently have operational state-licensed real-money poker sites: Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan.
What games are available for me to play?
It depends on where you’re playing, as some sites specialize in a specific variant. The most common poker variants are No-Limit Texas Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, Razz, Omaha Hi-Lo, 2-7 Triple Draw, and Five-Card Draw.
Who are the key operators in U.S. online poker?
The most popular online poker operators in the United States are:
- Americas Cardroom
- Black Chip Poker
- Ignition Poker
- Bovada Poker
- BetOnline
- SportsBetting.ag
In the states that regulate their own online poker offerings, the primary operators are:
- PokerStars
- WSOP/888poker
- BetMGM/partypoker
What is the minimum age to play legal online poker in the U.S.?
All six states with operational, state-regulated online poker require players to be at least 21 years old. There is no single federal minimum gambling age, and age requirements for other forms of gambling may vary by state.
Is mobile online poker available?
Some online operators have a standalone application that players can access through the app store on their phones. Players can access the poker room on their mobile through an internet browser if they don’t.
Do I have to pay taxes on my online poker winnings?
Yes. Under U.S. law, online poker is considered a form of gambling, and you must report those gambling winnings as income to the IRS when you file your taxes.
Can I use a VPN to play online poker?
Yes, you can use a VPN to play online poker for security and protective measures, but we do not recommend using a VPN to try and trick the poker room into thinking you are playing in a legal state when you do not.
