About Us

Best Poker Sites exists to help US poker players work out where to actually play, not just where the marketing budget is biggest. We compare real money poker sites and apps on the things that decide whether a game is worth your time and your bankroll: traffic and liquidity, game selection, rake, bonus terms, banking, and mobile play. This page explains who we are, how we build our rankings, and where the money comes from.

What we do and why it's different from a brand's own marketing

Anyone can list poker sites. What we try to do is tell you which ones are actually good for which kind of player, and where the catch is in a bonus offer before you deposit and find out for yourself. That means reading the terms on a welcome bonus in full, checking what deposit and withdrawal methods a site really supports in the US, and looking at the shape of the player pool rather than just the size of the number a site advertises.

We assume most readers already know how to play — this isn't a rules page. It's a working comparison of operators for players who want to know where the games are soft, where the rake is fair, and where a bonus is worth clearing.

How we rank the sites on this page

Our ranking pulls from a consistent set of criteria applied to every operator we cover:

• Traffic and liquidity — how much action there is at common stakes and formats, since a thin player pool means long waits and fewer table choices
• Game variety — the split across cash games, MTTs, Sit & Gos, and fast-fold or Spin & Go style formats
• Rake and rakeback — the rake structure and any loyalty or rakeback scheme that offsets it over time
• Bonus terms — the headline offer alongside its playthrough requirements, time limits, and eligibility conditions, not just the top-line figure
• Software and mobile experience — client stability, HUD/tracking software policy, and how the iOS and Android apps hold up under real play
• Banking — deposit and withdrawal methods available to US players and typical cash-out speed
• Licensing and player protection — the regulatory footing an operator plays under, and how it segregates and protects player funds

Commercial relationships never decide position on this list. Some operators we cover pay us if a reader signs up through a link on this site — we disclose that clearly, and it has no bearing on the order sites appear in or the rating we give them. A site with a smaller affiliate arrangement, or none at all, is scored the same way as one that pays more.

Where the top-ranked sites actually differ

The table below is a quick snapshot of how the leading operators on this site compare on the factors that matter most to real money players. Full detail on eligibility, bonus terms, and limitations sits in each site's own review.

Coinpoker sits at the top of our list largely on the strength of its crypto-native banking and a headline series that draws a genuinely large field, though players who want a traditional card-and-bank deposit flow may find the crypto-first setup takes some getting used to. Bovada and Ignition remain consistent picks for US players because of their long track record serving the US market and their recreational-heavy player pools, though both run under offshore licensing rather than a US state regulator, which is a distinction worth understanding before you deposit. Americas Card Room appeals more to volume grinders thanks to its MTT schedule and rakeback-style rewards, but its bonus clears in increments tied to play, so it suits a player who's committed to putting in volume rather than someone after a quick top-up.

How the money side works

Every welcome bonus listed on this site — deposit matches, cash and coin packages, or free-roll access — comes with playthrough or wagering requirements, and usually a time limit to clear them. None of these figures are ours to invent, so we report exactly what the operator states and flag it in the individual review rather than repeating a headline number without the fine print. For US players, expect deposit and withdrawal options centered on cards, ACH bank transfer, PayNearMe cash deposits, operator prepaid cards, and, on some sites, cryptocurrency. Withdrawal speed and KYC verification requirements vary by operator and by method, and we note those differences where they're material to choosing a site.

What's covered beyond cash games

Most of the operators here run more than one poker format side by side — cash games, MTTs, Sit & Gos, and fast-fold variants like Spin & Go — and several also run separate casino or sportsbook products under the same account. Where that's the case, it's worth knowing the poker bankroll and the casino bankroll are usually the same wallet, so bonus terms on one product can affect what's available on the other.

Licensing, eligibility, and playing responsibly

Online poker in the US is regulated state by state — there's no single federal license that covers every player nationwide, and availability depends on where you live. Some of the operators covered on this site hold licenses from regulators such as the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission, or authorities in Curaçao, rather than a US state gaming commission; we state each site's licensing position in its individual review rather than assume one. You should check that a site is available and legal in your state before creating an account.

You must be at least 21 to play real money poker in most US states (a small number set the minimum at 18) — this site is not intended for anyone under that age, and we don't produce content aimed at minors. Poker involves real financial risk, and no site or strategy removes that risk, however skilled a player is. If gambling stops being enjoyable, starts affecting your finances, or you feel you're chasing losses, free and confidential help is available around the clock through 1-800-GAMBLER. Our responsible gambling page has more on setting limits and where to find support.

For anything else — corrections, questions about how a review was put together, or a general enquiry — our contact page has the details, and our terms and conditions set out how this site operates.