Online Poker in Hawaii - Best HI Online Poker Sites 2025
Online poker in Hawaii is just about the only way you can play cards in the Aloha State because there are no physical casinos or cardrooms anywhere in the state. If you had always just assumed that there were plenty of gambling options in the land of the hula, then you were mistaken. Hawaii is one of the strictest, if not the strictest, when it comes to land-based gambling.
There really isn’t much hope for this changing any time soon for players, but fortunately, offshore poker sites have not been scared away from offering games in the state. None of the Hawaii laws that could be interpreted as making online poker illegal are ever enforced against people who engage in this enjoyable pastime. There are plenty of excellent offshore sites available to choose from including Ignition Poker.
|
2. Online Poker Legal? 3. Best HI Poker Sites 4. How to Play Online Poker
5.1. Game Selection 5.2. Cashier Methods 5.3. Bonuses & Promos 5.4. Rakeback
6.1. Ignition 6.2. SB Poker/BOL 6.3. Bovada 6.4. CoinPoker 6.5. SwCPoker 6.6. Nitrobetting
7.1. B&M Poker7.2. Gambling History 7.3. Famous Poker Players 7.4. Alternatives to HI Online Poker
Top Online Poker Sites in Hawaii
There are almost no venues for live, real money gaming in Hawaii, which is why many of its residents turn to online poker to get their betting thrills. Some sites that offer this game are run well and are dependable, but others among them are shady and untrustworthy. We've taken a look at all of them to help you choose a trusted operation. All of the internet poker rooms below run their games fairly and process payouts without incident. Pick a poker home from the possibilities below, and you'll soon enjoy the poker action you crave.
SB POKER
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $1,000
- ★★★★★
- 4.5 / 5
BEST HI ONLINE POKER SITE FOR JACKPOT PRIZES
- NETWORK:
- CHICO
- EXTRAS
- CASINO, SPORTSBOOK
- MORE INFO
- READ REVIEW
BOVADA
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $500
- ★★★★★
- 4.2 / 5
BEST HI ONLINE POKER SITE FOR ALL-IN-ONE GAMING
- NETWORK:
- PAIWANGLUO
- EXTRAS
- CASINO, SPORTSBOOK
- MORE INFO
- READ REVIEW
Is Online Poker Legal in Hawaii?
The gambling laws in Hawaii are very strict and prohibit almost all forms of gambling. Whether poker is included within their domain hinges on if the outcome of the game “depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein.” This “material element test” has not been conclusively decided either for or against live poker in Hawaii.
However, to all intents and purposes, the issue is moot when discussing online poker in Hawaii. This is because the law, if it applies to this pastime, has never been enforced. That's right – nobody in Hawaii has ever been prosecuted for internet poker-related infractions. You therefore need have no worry about legal issues if you're considering playing.
Best Online Poker Sites in Hawaii
As a Hawaiian, you have quite a few possibilities when it comes to choosing an internet poker site. Rather than leaving you to perhaps fall into the hands of an unscrupulous business entity, we've done the work of identifying the most reputable and legitimate online poker rooms that cater to Hawaiians. When you play at any of the organizations on our list, you'll benefit from a plethora of game stakes and types, smoothly operating software, and the prompt payment of any winnings you're lucky enough to accumulate.
- Ignition Casino - Most traffic and quickest-clearing bonus.
- SB Poker - Excellent mobile and Mac software.
- BetOnline - Bad Beat Jackpot, leaderboards, and other promos.
- Bovada - All-in-one gaming (poker, casino, live casino, sportsbook, racebook).
- ACR Poker - Biggest tournaments in terms of players and prizes.
- Coin Poker - World's leading crypto-only poker site.
- Everygame - Excellent bonus + promotional value.
- SwCPoker - Most poker variants available to play.
- Nitrobetting - Bitcoin poker with no download needed.
- BlackChip Poker - Alternative to ACRPoker for anyone looking to set up a new account on same network.
- Juicy Stakes - Great poker and casino promotions.
- True Poker - Another alternative to ACRPoker and BlackChip Poker.
How to Play Online Poker in Hawaii – Detailed Instructions
Signing up for an online poker site is simple. We've included instructions below for signing up at our #1 recommended site, but the steps will be similar regardless of which site you choose.
- Click on this link to visit Ignition Casino Poker.
- A registration form will appear in your browser. Fill out all required fields with your accurate personal details. This is important because later on, you may have to complete account verification, and any discrepancies could lead to the termination of your account.
- Hit the “Register” button near the bottom of the page.
- Ignition might send an SMS to your mobile. Enter the code sent to verify your phone number.
- Once your new account is initiated, you should browse over to the cashier and make your first deposit via your chosen payment method (we recommend Bitcoin).
How We Evaluate Hawaii Online Poker Sites – Choosing the Best Internet Poker Room
The poker sites for HI residents are not all identical. Rather, they each have their own wrinkles, and some are better in certain areas than others. We use a set of criteria to evaluate them all and determine which ones are the best.
Game Variety and Selection
Some poker sites stick to the basics, like NL Hold'em and PLO, but others have an extensive menu of niche poker variants, like Stud, Razz, and Mixed games. Furthermore, the blind levels spread differ from site to site.
In the realm of SNGs and tournaments too, there's a great variety in the games offered between different sites. Some rooms host lottery-style sit n' gos, satellites to major events, step tourneys to bigger tourneys, and other special formats.
Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
Most poker sites let you fund your account via credit card and receive your winnings through checks or money transfer. However, these are not the best methods to use. Crypto-currency, which is supported by every site on our recommended list, tends to have lower fees and faster transaction speeds than legacy payment providers.
If you aren't yet comfortable using cryptos, then you can read this guide on how to use Bitcoin for online gaming purposes.
Bonuses + Promotions
Internet poker providers offer incentives to entice new players and retain existing customers. Among these special deals are bonuses, which are additional funds that will be released to your account when you meet the conditions of the bonus. Besides bonuses, you might encounter leaderboards, rake races, freerolls, comp/VIP point programs, and more.
Online Poker Rakeback
Rakeback is a type of promotion that can have such a positive impact on a player's profitability that we have incorporated it into the name of our site: ProfessionalRakeback. Rakeback is an ongoing percentage refund of the rake you pay while at the tables.
Quite a few of the AK online poker rooms provide rakeback. If you're interested in this beneficial feature, then check out the sites below:
- ACR Poker – 27% rakeback paid on demand
- CoinPoker – 33% rakeback paid every Monday (must hold CHP token balance)
- Everygame – 36% rakeback paid daily
- SwCPoker – up to 50% rakeback (volume dependent)
- BlackChip Poker – 27% rakeback paid on demand
- Juicy Stakes Poker – 36% rakeback paid weekly
- True Poker – 27% rakeback paid on demand
Reviews of Online Poker Sites for Hawaii
For more details on the poker sites available, read the reviews below. Our experts have played at them all and will give you true, verifiable facts about them so that you can make an informed decision about where to play.
Ignition Casino Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Pros
- Most simultaneously active games
- Easy bonus earning
- Soft games
Cons
- Few reloads or promos for winners
Review
Ignition Poker is the largest offshore online poker site, so you'll have no trouble finding a game. All gaming here is anonymous, so you won't be able to track your opponents over time, but this has its benefits because it makes recreational players more comfortable.
You can enjoy NL Hold'em, PLO, PLO/8, and Limit Hold'em cash games as well as fast-fold Zone Poker, Sit-and-gos, Jackpot SNGs, and multi-table tournaments. The weekly major is the $162 Sunday $150,000 guaranteed, and there are frequent MTT series with eight figures in guaranteed prizes.
Ignition's first deposit bonus for crypto users is a 150% up to $1,500 deal that clears remarkably fast. However, Ignition reserves many of its reloads and other promotions for losing players, so you won't get much recurring promo value if you're a winner.
Ignition Poker offers a downloadable poker client for Windows and Mac. Other hardware, like phones and tablets, works with the fully functional, browser-based interface.
SB Poker/BetOnline
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Person to Person, Money Orders, Bank Wire, Cashiers Check, Bitcoin, Avalanche, Binance, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, Ripple, Shiba Inu, Solana, Stellar, Tether, Tron, USD Coin
Pros
- Rapid crypto-currency payouts
- Comprehensive gaming portfolio, including poker, casino, live dealer, sportsbook, racebook
- Many promos
Cons
- Slow bonus clearance
- High rake
Review
SB Poker and its virtually identical sister site, BetOnline, offer a wide selection of cash games, including NL Hold'em, PLO, and PLO/8, featuring blinds up to $5/$10. Fast-fold Boost Poker, sit-and-gos, randomized Windfall SNGs, and numerous MTTs are also present.
SB Poker boasts many promotions, like Bad Beat Jackpots, leaderboards, contests, and the RISE rewards program, which promise to give you some extra money to pad your bankroll. On the other hand, the first deposit bonus clears slowly, and the rake is a on the higher side.
The SB Poker and BetOnline downloads run on any Windows or Mac system. Mobile users on Android or iOS can also utilize an excellent mobile application. You can receive a first deposit bonus worth 100% up to $1,000 to play poker, and be sure to check out the attached casino and sportsbook for additional promotional offers.
Bovada
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Pros
- Comprehensive gaming lineup (sports, casino, poker, racebook)
- In business 10+ years
Cons
- Relatively small poker bonus
Review
As a member of the same network that Ignition Poker is on, Bovada boasts all the same games and tournaments as its partner site. In addition, Bovada lets you bet on sports and races: not possible at Ignition. All major sports, including MLB baseball, NFL football, NBA basketball, and soccer, are listed at Bovada. Bovada also covers over 100 horse tracks around the world.
The Bovada Poker client is available to download on Windows and Mac devices, and an excellent web-based version allows players to play on virtually any tablet or mobile device. The poker bonus at Bovada is worth 100% of your first deposit up to $500. The attached casino and sportsbook also offer promotions worth up to $3,750!
ACR Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Money Transfer
Pros
- Robust tournament schedule
- $2,000 welcome bonus
- $10 free (bonus code PRB10FREE)
Cons
- Extended late reg period means lengthy tournaments
Review
ACR Poker is the flagship of the Winning Poker Network, the second-largest U.S.-facing poker site. ACR is well known for offering an extensive variety of tournaments across numerous buy-in levels, including recurring VENOMs with at least $5 million guaranteed and series with tens of millions of dollars up for grabs.
Of course, ACR also offers many cash game formats, including NLH, PLO, LHE, and Boost fast-fold games along with SnGs. Weekly leaderboards reward high-volume players, and additional rewards come through the Elite Benefits system.
ACR Poker offers a complete, downloadable poker client for Windows and Mac devices and a mobile app. Use our exclusive ACR bonus code PRB10FREE to receive a $10 no deposit bonus as well as a 100% first deposit bonus up to $2,000.
Coin Poker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, CHP, Polygon, BNB
Pros
- Highest trafficked crypto poker site
- Possible to earn 33% rakeback
Cons
- Few poker formats offered
- No standard SNGs
Review
CoinPoker is currently the busiest crypto-only poker room available online. The tables are denominated only utilizing USDT, or Tether. You also can use a few other cryptos for deposits and withdrawals.
One benefit of this room is the leaderboards for cash games, fast-fold Cosmic Spins sit-n-goes, and multi-table tournaments. NL Hold'em, PL Omaha, and 5 Card Omaha are present, but PLO/8 and LHE are lacking. There are no non-lottery Sit & Gos either.
You can play at CoinPoker from any Mac, PC, Android, or iOS device. You'll be able to benefit from a generous deposit bonus of 150% up to $2,000. You will also have the option of earning 33% rakeback weekly if you're willing to invest a little into the proprietary CHP coin.
Everygame
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Lightning Bitcoin, Litecoin
Pros
- Excellent first deposit bonus
- 36% rakeback standard
- Rake races, loyalty levels, reloads, other promos
Cons
- Low player traffic
- Software is old
Review
Everygame does not have the traffic of some of its competitors, and its software platform is a bit outdated, but where it stands out is in its exceptional promotional offerings. 36% rakeback is offered as the standard with rakeback payments being issued daily. Additional value can be had through the weekly rake races, reload bonuses, and a VIP program.
Everygame Poker is available for download only on Windows devices. Users of other hardware have the option of an instant-play browser-based version of the poker software, which is compatible with almost any modern computer, tablet, or smartphone. The poker welcome bonus is worth 200% of your first deposit up to $1,000, and it clears pretty rapidly.
SwCPoker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin
Pros
- Many poker variants available
- Up to 50% rakeback through Krill rewards
Cons
- Low player volume
Review
SwCPoker is a crypto poker room online that is highly regarded for its wide range of poker formats supported. All poker here is played with BTC, and cashier functions also are limited to this crypto coin. One major selling point of SwC is that you can play at micro-stakes tables without paying any rake whatsoever, so you can increase your profits as you learn.
SwC runs on any modern device, including Mac, PC, iOS, and Android machines. You won't get any bonuses here, but you'll be able to receive up to 50% rakeback based on your play at the tables.
Nitrobetting
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, USD Coin, BNB
Pros
- No download required
- Nitro rewards grants up to 35% rakeback monthly
Cons
- Only NL Hold'em and PLO offered
- Very low player traffic
Review
Nitrobetting's cashier is Bitcoin-only, which results in impressively fast payouts, oftentimes taking less than an hour. There are only two types of poker here: NL Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha.
Nitrobetting’s poker client is fully web-based, so it is compatible with nearly all popular devices. There's no poker bonus, but you can redeem up to 35% rakeback depending on your monthly volume of play. Visit the attached sportsbook and casino to receive additional promotions.
Facts About Poker in Hawaii
The section below will aim to provide factual details regarding the legality of playing online poker, live gambling locations, state regulation, and famous poker players from the great state of Hawaii.
Land-Based Gambling
Public venues for playing poker in the Aloha State are nonexistent. Apart from limited social home games, there simply is nowhere to play poker against other humans within the borders of Hawaii. Thus, you'll need to head online to get your fill of exciting cardroom fun.
History of Gambling in Hawaii
Early Hawaii had a rich tradition of gambling especially on contests of skill and strength contained in the annual Makahiki festival. Later on, horse racing took on increasing importance particularly during the reign of King Kalakaua who founded the Hawaii Jockey Club in 1872.
However, the strong presence of Christian missionaries served to put pressure on these gambling endeavors, and they have largely disappeared from the scene. No new forms of legalized gambling have yet arrived to take their place.
Famous Hawaiian Poker Players
Hawaii's community of professional poker players is scant, but there are a few. Maybe the most notable among them is Brandon Eisen who hails from Mililani. He has more than $2.5 million in live tournament winnings on his record, which is more than anyone else from Hawaii.
Alternatives to Opening an Online Poker Account in Hawaii
Perhaps you are fortunate enough to have another address in a nearby state, be it your business address, summer home, second apartment, family home, etc. If this sounds like you, then you may have other online poker options available. Here is a list of the states that a typical Hawaiian resident might have a secondary residence in and Professional Rakeback's review of each of them: Alaska, California, Florida, Oregon, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. For info pertinent to some other state or to the United States as a whole, look at our guide to the U.S. online poker landscape.
There's a lot of ignorance about online poker in Hawaii. Please share this page with any of your friends and acquaintances whom you believe could benefit from it. This will help popularize and spread the truth about the game we like playing.
Summary of Online Poker in Hawaii
There's no reason to abstain from real-money online poker in Hawaii because of the many internet-based sites available to you. Grab a cocktail, open a window to enjoy the fine weather, and play cards at the Hawaii online poker site of your choice. With any luck, you'll soon be hitting the “cash out” button and receiving your winnings shortly thereafter.
Responsible Gaming
Internet poker can be an intriguing and profitable pursuit for Hawaii residents. However, if you decide that gambling is harming your life, then it might be time to find help. Below are links to several useful problem gambling resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Online poker in Hawaii is a complex subject with many moving parts. If you still have questions about certain aspects of it, look below in our FAQ where we have collected quite a few questions and answers on this topic.
Yes, online poker is effectively legal to play in Hawaii. There are state laws that could arguably outlaw the pastime, but these statutes have never, in practice, been used to prosecute internet poker players.
Federal laws don't criminalize playing online poker either. The UIGEA, for example, concerns itself with those offering the games and payment processors rather than ordinary players.
Yes, PokerStars is transacting legally in Hawaii but only for play money games. You see, as part of the settlement that the company entered into with the DoJ to resolve the Black Friday charges against it, PokerStars pledged to not offer real money games to American customers.
The exception is in states where PokerStars has a specific license that allows it to provide real money poker services. The list of such states is pretty short: New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Until Hawaii joins these states in implementing a licensing regime for online poker, which seems unlikely to occur anytime soon, PokerStars will not be able to extend its real money platform to Hawaii's residents.
Starting at the age of 18, individuals in Hawaii can partake in the very limited forms of gambling that are allowed. This basically refers to just social gaming amongst friends.
Online, this same 18-year-old threshold applies. You should not attempt to open an account for online poker if you are below this age. When it's time to request a withdrawal, you'll have problems trying to verify your identity. In this case, your account could be terminated and your real money balance confiscated.
No, it would be foolish in the extreme to try to manage an illegal gambling enterprise in Hawaii. The state's police forces are known for their diligence in busting up illicit gambling rings. Just look at the raid in March 2012 when Hawaii County police targeted an alleged gambling room and arrested 12 people.
Unless you wish to end up like the unlucky defendants in that case, we counsel you to steer clear of the underground Hawaii gambling scene.
There are plenty of ways to conduct your deposits and withdrawals for online poker, including credit cards, wire transfers, and checks. However, in today's modern world, the best payment processor for online gaming is Bitcoin.
Bitcoin permits you to perform speedy transactions with low fees and a high degree of anonymity. All of the sites that we recommend for Hawaiians support BTC. A growing number of them also let you deposit and withdraw with “altcoins” like Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum.
Additional Resources
To investigate further into Hawaii gambling, the below resources may be useful:
We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!