About Us

US Poker was built for one reason: to help players in the US work out where crypto and real money poker actually holds up, rather than relying on marketing copy. This page explains who we are, how we put our rankings together, and what you can expect from the site.

What We Cover and Why Crypto Poker Sits at the Center

Crypto and Bitcoin poker has become one of the most searched paths into real money poker for US players, especially those looking for faster payouts, more privacy at the tables, or simply an alternative to slower traditional banking rails. Our focus reflects that: we look closely at how sites handle crypto deposits and cash-outs, how that compares with card and e-wallet options, and what it actually means for a player deciding where to sit down and play. We don't run our own poker rooms or process payments — we research publicly available information on traffic, formats, promotions and payment handling, then compare it across the operators we cover.

How We Rank Poker Sites

Every site or app in our tables and reviews is assessed against the same set of factors, weighted for what actually matters when you're choosing a room to deposit into:

• Traffic and liquidity — how much action there is across cash games, MTTs, Sit & Gos and Spin-style formats, and whether that traffic holds up outside peak hours
• Game selection and formats — No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, mixed games and fast-fold variants where offered
• Rake and rakeback — the rake structure at common stakes and any rakeback or loyalty rewards attached to it
• Welcome bonus and promotions — the headline offer, plus the playthrough or clearing requirements and time limits behind it
• Payment methods and cash-out speed — card, ACH, e-wallet and crypto deposit and withdrawal options, and how quickly withdrawals tend to process
• Software and mobile experience — client stability, iOS and Android app quality, and whether HUD or tracking software is permitted
• Licensing, security and support — how the operator is licensed or regulated, how it handles KYC verification and fund security, and the quality of its customer support

Ratings shown on this site are editorial scores based on that research — they are not customer reviews, and we have not deposited, played or withdrawn funds on any listed site. Where an operator pays us for placement, that commercial relationship never decides its position: sites are scored on the same criteria whether or not they advertise with us.

How Our Recommendations Work Commercially

US Poker earns commission when readers sign up through some of the links on this site. This doesn't cost you anything extra, and it doesn't influence where a site lands in our rankings — a room with no affiliate relationship with us can still outscore one that does, and vice versa. We disclose this plainly because we think you should know how the site pays for itself before you rely on it.

A Closer Look at a Few of the Sites We Cover

To show what our research actually looks at, here's how we approached three of the higher-ranked options on this page.

Coinpoker

Coinpoker sits at the top of our current list largely because of its crypto-native setup and its $30M Battle of Malta Online Series, a headline promotion that stands out against the more standard deposit-match offers elsewhere. The site is built around crypto deposits and withdrawals rather than treating them as an add-on, which suits players who want to move funds without card or bank involvement. The trade-off is that a crypto-first room won't appeal to everyone — players who prefer working entirely in USD through a card or ACH transfer will find the crypto conversion step an extra layer to think through, and overall traffic still trails the largest US-facing regulated sites.

Bovada

Bovada is one of the longest-running names accessible to US players and pairs that history with a 100% Bonus up to $500. Its player pool tends to skew recreational, which grinders often look for when hunting softer cash games, and its casino and sportsbook run alongside the poker room under one account. The limitation worth flagging: welcome bonuses like this typically clear in increments tied to rake generated, so the full amount can take meaningful volume to unlock, and the anonymous-table format that Bovada is known for can also make it harder to use tracking software effectively.

Stake

Stake's poker offering comes bundled with its wider crypto casino and sportsbook, and its current offer of 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins reflects a dual-currency model rather than a straightforward cash deposit match. That structure is worth understanding before you sign up, since it works differently from a conventional deposit bonus and the rules around Gold Coins versus Stake Cash affect what you can actually withdraw. Stake's strength is its crypto-first payment rails and broader gaming library; its poker-specific traffic and format variety are narrower than dedicated poker rooms like Coinpoker or Bovada.

What You'll Find at the Payment Counter

US players typically move money in and out of these sites through a mix of cards, ACH bank transfers, PayNearMe cash deposits, operator-branded prepaid cards, and — increasingly — crypto including Bitcoin and other coins where a site supports it. Crypto deposits and withdrawals are often the fastest route, sometimes clearing in minutes rather than days, though this varies by site and by how busy their processing queue is. Card and ACH methods remain familiar and widely accepted but can take longer to clear on the withdrawal side, and some methods carry minimum or maximum limits and processing fees that are worth checking before you commit funds. Every legitimate site will also run identity verification (KYC) before releasing a withdrawal, which is standard practice rather than a red flag.

Beyond the Poker Tables

Most of the operators on this page don't stop at poker. Several also run a casino product (slots, table games, sometimes live dealer) and a sportsbook under the same account and wallet, which is worth knowing if you're comparing sites on more than just their poker traffic. We treat these as adjacent products rather than the main event — our reviews focus on the poker room itself, but we note where a strong casino or sportsbook is part of the package since it can affect a site's overall value and its bonus structure.

Licensing, Legal Status and Who Can Play

Online poker in the US is regulated at the state level — there is no single federal framework covering the whole country, so legal availability depends on where you live. Some of the sites we cover hold licenses in specific US states; others operate offshore under licenses from jurisdictions such as the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission, or Curaçao, and accept US players without being licensed by any individual state regulator. We report licensing status as we find it and don't claim a license exists where we haven't verified one. It's the player's responsibility to check that real money poker is legal in their own state or jurisdiction before depositing anywhere. You must be 21 or older to play real money poker in most US states, though a small number set the minimum at 18 — always confirm the age requirement that applies where you live before signing up.

Playing Within Your Limits

Poker involves real financial risk, and no amount of skill removes the chance of losing money. We don't present any site on this page as a way to make money or replace income, and we'd encourage you to treat deposits as entertainment spending rather than an investment. If poker stops feeling like entertainment, free and confidential support is available around the clock through the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER. You can read more about setting limits, self-exclusion tools and where to find help on our Responsible Gambling page.

Questions About How We Work

If you want to know more about our methodology, spot something that needs updating, or just want to get in touch, our Contact Us page has the details. Our full terms for using this site are set out in our Terms and Conditions.

Choosing Where to Play

There's no single "best" site for every player — a recreational player chasing a straightforward bonus wants something different from a grinder tracking rake and traffic at mid-stakes. Use the comparison points above alongside our individual reviews, check the material terms on any bonus before you deposit, and confirm the site is available and legal in your state. If you're unsure where to start, reading through two or three of the higher-ranked write-ups on this page is a reasonable first step before making a decision.