About Us
Online Poker exists to help US poker players work out where to actually play, rather than which site shouts loudest. We compare real money poker sites and apps on the things that decide whether a game is worth your time — traffic and liquidity, game variety, rake and rakeback, bonus terms, deposit and withdrawal options, and how the software holds up on desktop and mobile. This page explains who is behind that work and how it gets done.
What We Actually Do
We are not a poker room and we don't take deposits. We research operators, read their terms in full, and track publicly available information on traffic, formats, and payment methods so we can put sites side by side on equal footing. Where a site advertises a welcome bonus, we look past the headline number to the playthrough requirements, time limits and eligible games that come with it, because those conditions decide what the offer is actually worth.
How We Assess Poker Sites
Our rankings are built from a consistent set of criteria applied to every operator we cover. Commission from an operator never buys a higher position on this site — a site pays nothing to appear, and paying nothing does not guarantee a place either. The factors we weigh include:
- Traffic and player pool — how much action a site sees across stakes, and how that affects game selection and wait times
- Game variety — cash games, MTTs, Sit & Gos, Spin & Go formats, No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha and, where offered, mixed games
- Rake structure and rakeback — how rake is charged and what, if anything, comes back to the player through a loyalty or rewards scheme
- Bonus terms — deposit match size against the wagering requirement and clearance window, not the headline figure alone
- Payment methods — the range of ways to fund and cash out an account, and realistic withdrawal timeframes
- Software and mobile experience — client stability, table speed, and whether the iOS or Android app matches the desktop experience
- Licensing and site security — regulatory standing and how player funds are handled
Where the Sites We Cover Fit
US online poker is regulated at the state level rather than federally, so availability, licensing and payment options can vary by where a player is located. Some of the sites in our rankings operate under offshore licensing rather than a US state-issued licence, which changes the consumer protections in play — we note this distinction rather than glossing over it. Take Coinpoker's $30M Battle of Malta Online Series or Bovada's 100% bonus up to $500 as examples: both are real, current offers, but both come with deposit and wagering conditions that matter more than the headline number. We'd rather a reader know that upfront than find out after signing up.
Every welcome offer listed on this site — from Ignition's combo bonus to Americas Card Room's deposit match up to $2,000 — carries a minimum deposit, a wagering or clearance requirement, and a time limit. We state those conditions next to the offer itself, not buried in a footnote, because a bonus is only worth clearing if the terms actually suit how you play.
What We Won't Do
- We won't present poker as a way to earn a living or solve money problems — it's a game with real risk, and skill reduces variance without removing it
- We won't publish a bonus figure without its wagering requirement, deposit minimum, or expiry attached
- We won't invent traffic numbers, ratings, or user reviews to make a site look better than our research supports
- We won't recommend chasing losses, playing beyond your budget, or treating a session as a way to escape stress
Our Commercial Relationships
Online Poker earns revenue through affiliate partnerships. If you follow a link from this site and sign up with an operator, we may receive a commission. This is standard for comparison sites, and it does not change how we score or rank a room — an operator's placement reflects our research, not what they pay us. If a site has a genuine drawback, whether that's thin traffic at higher stakes, slow withdrawals, or restrictive bonus terms, we say so.
Playing Responsibly
Real money poker involves the risk of losing money, and no amount of skill removes that risk entirely. Every site listed here requires players to be 21 or older in most US states (18 in a few), and we do not write for or target anyone under that threshold. If poker stops being enjoyable, or you're finding it hard to stick to a budget, free confidential support is available around the clock through 1-800-GAMBLER. Our Responsible Gambling page has more detail on setting limits, self-exclusion tools, and where to find state-specific resources.
Questions About Our Process
If something in a review looks off, or you want to know more about how we reached a particular ranking, our Contact Us page is the place to reach us. You can also read our full Terms and Conditions for details on how this site operates.