Three Things You Should Know About US Poker Sites

Until a few years ago, it was fairly easy for US players to find places to play poker online. Thanks to new laws and law enforcement, it’s not as easy as it used to be. If you enjoy online poker and want to play for money, you’ll find that it can be difficult to find US poker sites – sites that will accept US poker players. It’s not impossible, though, and you can safely play poker online – for real money – if you adhere to a few simple rules.

Know Where You’re Playing

Before you join any of the US poker sites that advertise on the Internet, take some time to research them. There are many websites that do US poker site reviews, so read up on the best places to play – and the places to avoid. In addition to site reviews, most of these websites also offer you a lot of advice and keep you on the news – which poker sites are still accepting US players, which may have gone out of business and which have changed their rules. Keep in mind that many of these sites are supported by their referrals to US player poker sites, so go beyond the reviews to the player forums where you can ask questions and read up on the experiences of others on different US player poker rooms.

Be Prepared with Different Ways to Fund Your Account

Before you can start playing, you’ll have to fund your account at the sites where you sign up. This can be the trickiest part, since many US-based banks and credit card issuers won’t allow transfers to foreign gambling sites. Some prepaid debit cards will work, but they’re not always a sure thing. That’s where US player poker sites forums come in handy. Many players keep track of which debit cards have been accepted at specific US poker sites recently. The most common – and most commonly accepted – way to fund your account at US player poker rooms is through a Western Union or MoneyGram money transfer.

Get All the Bonuses You Can Qualify For

Most US poker sites offer bonuses – extra money to pad your account so you can play longer. Each site has different rules, so read up to find out which bonuses they offer and how to qualify for them. Keep in mind that when you sign up through some sites that feature US poker site reviews, you can get special bonuses to get you started playing, so shop around before you sign up.

Getting Money Into US Poker Sites

Since 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice has made it significantly harder for U.S. residents to play poker online, but there are still many US poker sites that are happy to do business with you. The biggest trick is funding your account so you’ll have money to bet and play. The DOJ has gone after banks and credit card companies that transfer money to gambling websites, so your bank or credit card issuer may not transfer money to many – or any – of the US player poker sites. That hasn’t stopped poker sites from doing business with US players. It just means you have to find other ways to put money into your account.

If you’re a US player, poker rooms will be happy to work with you to get your money to your account. These steps can help you find US poker sites and get set up to start playing and winning money playing poker online.

Check Out US Poker Site Reviews

Look for websites that provide US poker site reviews to keep up with which sites and organizations will accept US players. This is a constantly changing list with new rooms added and some rooms dropped frequently. Keeping up with the news on these websites can make it a lot easier to find places to play.

Read Poker Discussion Forums

Bulletin boards and discussion forums are another good place to find US poker sites and get the lowdown on the best ways to fund your account and withdraw your winnings. In addition to players, you’ll also run into affiliates of the various US player poker rooms, who may or may not identify themselves as such but who can often set you up with bonuses to start off your playing with a little extra in the pot.

Try Internationally Accepted Credit Cards

If you have a credit card that’s accepted internationally, try using that to fund your account first. In many cases, you can find out without trying by asking or searching for your card issuer on a poker discussion forum. If someone has tried it, they’ll often report back to the group whether it worked or not.

Try a Pre-paid Debit Card

Pre-paid debit cards are among the most easily and commonly accepted methods of transferring money to US poker sites, but it’s not foolproof. Look for a list of debit cards that have worked to transfer money at the particular sites you’re interested in joining to help you figure out which are the best ones for you to use.

Talk to the Site Directly

Many US poker sites accept Western Union or MoneyGram money transfers, but you need to communicate with them directly before you send the money. A company representative will give you the details you need to send the money directly to the online casino so that you can get started playing as soon as possible.