About Us
Poker is an independent review site for US poker players trying to work out where to actually play. We compare online poker rooms and apps on the things that decide a good experience — traffic, game variety, rake, bonus terms, cash-out speed and mobile quality — and rank them so you can shortlist a room without wading through marketing pages yourself.
We don't operate a poker site, and we're not a payment processor or a regulator. We're a research and comparison resource. Nothing here should be read as a guarantee of winnings — poker is a game of skill mixed with variance, and every real-money session carries the risk of losing the money you put in.
Why We Compare Poker Sites the Way We Do
Anyone can copy a homepage bonus number into a listicle. We try to go further and look at what actually affects a session at the tables: how many players are seated at your usual stakes and hours, whether the game mix suits your style, what the rake structure looks like once rakeback or a loyalty scheme is factored in, and how long a withdrawal genuinely takes once you request one. A site with a huge welcome bonus but a thin, rock-heavy player pool isn't necessarily the better pick for a grinder, and a site with a modest bonus but soft recreational tables might suit a casual player far more.
What We Weigh Up in a Review
- Player pool and liquidity — how much action there is in cash games, MTTs, Sit & Gos and fast-fold formats, and whether that traffic holds up outside peak hours
- Game selection — No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, mixed games and Spin & Go-style formats, and whether the stakes you play are well populated
- Rake and rewards — the rake structure at each stake, and how rakeback or a loyalty/rewards programme changes the effective cost of playing
- Bonus terms — the headline offer, but also the playthrough or clearing requirements, time limits and any games excluded from qualifying
- Payments — deposit and withdrawal methods available to US players, typical cash-out speed, and any fees or minimums attached
- Software and mobile experience — client stability, HUD/tracking software policy where it applies, and how well the iOS or Android app holds up at the tables
- Support and security — how a site handles account verification (KYC), how contactable support is, and what protections apply to player funds
Where the Rankings on This Site Come From
The rooms listed and ranked on this site — including Coinpoker, Bovada, Stake, Ignition, Americas Card Room, Black Chip Poker, Ya Poker, BC Poker, Betonline and Jack Poker — are assessed against the same criteria above. Position in the ranking reflects our editorial scoring, not payment. Commission from affiliate partnerships does not buy a higher spot, and we do not accept payment in exchange for a better rating.
We treat licensing status carefully. US online poker is regulated at the state level rather than federally, so availability, licensing and legal standing vary depending on where a player is located, and we do not claim a specific state license for a site unless it's something we can verify. If you're unsure whether a room can legally accept players from your state, check the operator's own terms and your state gaming authority before signing up.
How Bonuses and Costs Are Presented
Welcome bonuses and deposit matches are shown with the material conditions attached — the deposit required to qualify, wagering or playthrough requirements, and any time limit to clear the offer — rather than just the headline number. A "100% up to $X" match is not free money: it typically requires you to deposit your own funds and meet a playthrough requirement before any bonus balance becomes withdrawable. Where a fact about fees, limits, or timing isn't confirmed, we say so rather than guessing.
Our Independence and How We Earn Money
Poker may earn a commission when a reader signs up through a link on this site. That's how independent comparison sites like this one stay running without charging readers directly. It does not change how a room is scored, and it does not mean a room's ranking, bonus terms or rating have been altered to favor an advertiser. If we think a strength has a real caveat attached — slow payouts, thin traffic at certain stakes, or a demanding wagering requirement — we say so in the review rather than leaving it out.
Playing Within Your Means
Every option covered on this site is for players 21 and older in states where regulated online poker is available (a small number of jurisdictions set the threshold at 18 — check local rules if you're unsure). Poker should be treated as entertainment, not as a way to cover bills or solve money problems, and no result here should be read as evidence that winning is likely or guaranteed. If poker stops being fun, or you're finding it hard to stick to limits you've set for yourself, our Responsible Gambling page has practical steps and support resources, and the National Council on Problem Gambling helpline is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.
Get In Touch
If something on this site looks out of date, or you've spotted a detail about a room's terms that needs a second look, the Contact Us page is the quickest way to reach us. Our full terms of use are also available on the Terms and Conditions page.