- Play Real Money Poker. Real money poker is the single-most popular card game in the casino. While blackjack is a favorite and for good reason, poker is the glamorous game in any gambling hall. Television shows and worldwide events center around Texas hold’em, while a half-dozen other versions of the game have wide popular appeal.
- Home Online Casinos Casino Articles Winning A Casino Jackpot. 10 US States with the Worst Gambling Laws. Gamblers in the US have three levels of laws to contend with. First, there's Federal law, such as UIGEA, which limit how Americans can do business with gambling websites.
Alaska Online Poker Laws Alaska does not have legal online poker or online casinos. With so few forms of land-based gambling allowed, it is highly unlikely the state legislature will pass an online gambling bill.
US Poker Rooms: The Best Legal Online Poker Sites in the United States
Ever since 2011, online poker players based in the United States have faced many challenges when it comes to finding sites on which to play their favorite game. Some offshore 'rogue' sites currently available to players in the US operate in a legal gray area that can make playing on them risky for American players. While we recommend you to avoid those sites, the good news if you are living in the United States there are now an increasing number of US eligible poker sites on which you can play legally.
Right now there are four states that offer legal and regulated online poker — Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In addition to the sites in these states — many of which feature some of the best online poker software around — there are other poker sites for American players that offer subscription-based poker which in most cases is legal in other states as well.
Our comprehensive US Poker Map includes everything you need to know about the status of online poker in all 50 U.S. states as well as the District of Columbia. There you'll find a ton of information not only about the four states where online poker is currently legal, but also about states where online poker has been legalized but regulation is pending, states where online poker is not legal but currently under discussion, and those where it is not legal and not presently being discussed.
Legal US Poker Sites
When it comes to Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, members of the PokerNews editorial team have provided in-depth analyses of each state's offerings, including explanations of the software they use, the promotions they feature, the traffic and game selection they provide, the support and banking options they offer, and much more to help you decide which among them are the best US poker sites where players can play for real money on these state-regulated online poker sites.
Additionally, we are constantly monitoring these sites and others for the latest changes and promotions, to make sure our reviews of the top US poker sites remain the most up-to-date in the industry.
If you are new to online poker, finding a room with great promotions and excellent software should be on the top of your list when it comes to deciding which are the best US online poker sites. Also, keep in mind that a room with a great customer support is always a good start. At the same time, more experienced online poker players should be hunting for poker rooms with the best games, biggest traffic, closely followed by great software.
Click below to read about current, state-regulated online poker sites:
As you'll discover by following the links above, New Jersey and Nevada currently provide the most options for US poker players, while online poker players in Delaware have three sites from which to choose, all of which use the same platform although each offer different bonuses and promotions.
Pennsylvania just launched its first online casinos in July 2019 with the first online poker sites not going online right away. As a much bigger state than Delaware, Pennsylvania has better potential for attracting larger player pools and thus may well start to challenge Nevada and New Jersey when it comes to providing the best poker sites for US players.
Speaking of player pools, it is worth pointing out that thanks to an interstate compact between Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware, players in each state playing on WSOP.com/888 sites have been able to play against each other in combined player pools. It's possible Pennsylvania may also be allowed to become part of that interstate compact as well, making for even better liquidity for those playing in those four states.
Another point worth making clear to US online poker players — you don't have to live in the states with legal and regulated online poker in order to play on the sites. You only have to be within those states' borders in order to be allowed to create accounts and take part in the games.
Meanwhile if you are a US-based online poker player who doesn't live in Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania, you should look into subscription-based online poker as this is your only legal option.
The Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act of 2006 changed the landscape by which online poker operators could legally operate, specifically prohibiting 'gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law.' Subscription-based sites in the US are not covered in this US law since there is no entry fee for any of the tournaments or ring games. While widely legal throughout the United States, some states do prohibit play on subscription-based poker rooms.
The software on many subscription-based sites is easy to use whether you have played poker online or not. Since the software was designed with the recreational player in mind, it is often web-based and not conducive to multi-tabling. The games are not only fun due to the casual setting, but you can often have opportunities for big prizes including packages to take part in land-based poker events, as well as cold hard cash.
Alaska’s poker laws look very similar to the laws of several other states, and in fact the definition of gambling in Alaska has been taken almost word for word from what is used as a definition in a number of other states.
One of the issues that has come up in some states is whether or not the element of skill in poker makes it enough of a game of chance to qualify as a game of chance under the law, and if the law merely states that games of chance constitute gambling, some will argue that poker does not fit this.
So there’s two ways that states, including Alaska, have sought to clarify this so that poker would be included, and the first is the provision that the outcome must depend materially on chance, meaning that chance influences the result. The second is the provision that even though there may be an element of skill involved, this does not disqualify the game from being seen as involving gambling.
Let’s start by how Alaska defines a “contest of chance:”
“(1) “contest of chance” means a contest, game, gaming scheme, or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that the skill of the contestants may also be a factor.” (1)
So poker would clearly be a contest of chance. Now, let’s look at their definition of gambling:
“(2) “gambling” means that a person stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the person’s control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that that person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome; “gambling” does not include
(A) bona fide business transactions valid under the law of contracts for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities or commodities and agreements to compensate for loss caused by the happening of chance, including contracts of indemnity or guaranty and life, health, or accident insurance;
(B) playing an amusement device that
(i) confers only an immediate right of replay not exchangeable for something of value other than the privilege of immediate replay; and
(ii) does not contain a method or device by which the privilege of immediate replay may be cancelled or revoked; or
(C) an activity authorized by the Department of Revenue under AS 05.15.” (2)
So given that poker is a contest of chance, and that gambling involves betting on contests of chance, placing bets at a poker game would then constitute gambling under Alaska law.
Gambling Law In Alaska
Now it’s time to turn to the actual law here as it pertains to gambling:
“(a) A person commits the offense of gambling if the person engages in unlawful gambling.
(b) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that the defendant was a player in a social game.
(c) Gambling is a violation for the first offense. Gambling is a class B misdemeanor for the second and each subsequent offense.” (3)
This might leave us wondering what unlawful gambling is, but they do cover this in the definitions under this section, meaning “not specifically authorized by law.” (4)
The exclusion of social games does make things interesting, and once again we turn to the definitions in this section which hold it as “gambling in a home where no house player, house bank, or house odds exist and where there is no house income from the operation of the game.” (5)
So players are free to play in their homes with other players provided that there is no profit derived other than the players’ individual winnings from the wagering. While there is no definition provided for “house,” it can be reasonably thought to include any third party operator, including offshore poker sites, even though they are not located in the state of Alaska or even the United States.
So in spite of not specifically addressing online poker, this once again doesn’t save online poker from being included in definitions of gambling for the purposes of state law.
So while social gambling is permitted, online gambling would not fit the definition, and since we concluded that poker is indeed gambling, and all gambling that is not specifically authorized by law is illegal, and online poker is not specifically authorized by law, then online poker is illegal in Alaska.
Playing Online Poker In Alaska
Aside from playing with your friends, or at any non commercial gambling game held in private homes, which does not require any prior social relationship between the parties by the way, there are no other options for live poker in the state of Alaska. The closest live poker room is in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. (6)
There are no current plans on regulating online poker or online gambling in Alaska at this time. In 2008, Alaska voters voted against expanding current gambling laws, and it is a fairly conservative state in that way. However, this does not mean that it will not happen, although given the small population base of the state, the focus seems to be more toward their joining other states in a compact.
In spite of the fact that gambling in Alaska is against state law, no one is being prosecuted for this and while some Alaskans may be reluctant to risk running afoul of the law here, many players simply just ignore this as a law not being enforced and participate in online poker anyway.
Luckily, if you are up for a game and live in Alaska, none of the online poker sites that accept Americans generally have any problem at all with allowing Alaskans to play online poker at their sites, so if you wish to play online poker in Alaska, nothing is stopping you really.
Legal Online Poker
Best Poker Site Recommendation?
Ignition Poker is one of the only poker sites online that accept players from Alaska. Even though we already know internet poker isn’t quite popular here like in other states, Ignition is definitely the one recommendation we would give.
Get your 100% match bonus up to $1,000 by signing up and making your first deposit. Good luck! You’ll also get instant access the fishiest cash games on the net today, as well as anonymous tables and Rush Poker. These are just a few of the MANY perks available to players at Ignition Poker.
References:
(1) Alaska Statutes, 11.66.280, Definitions
(2) ibid.
(3) Alaska Statutes, 1.66.200, Gambling
(4) Alaska Statutes 11.66.280, Definitions
(5) ibid.
(6) All Live And Online Poker Rooms In Alaska
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