Idaho Online Poker 2023: safely play @ home for real money today!

Can I play online poker in Idaho? The answer is yes!

Is it legal to play online poker in Idaho? The answer to this is also yes!

While Idaho might not have a lot of citizens, those who do live there deserve to have great online gambling options. This is especially so since the state is lacking in land-based wagering establishments and the government shows little desire to change that.

Sadly, many small states would easily be forgotten as it just is not worth it for sites to offer games there. Idaho is lucky in that respect though as offshore sites have decided that allowing online poker in Idaho is an excellent idea.

A full roster of commendable Idaho online poker sites provides options for the players of the state. Below, we run down all the best sites available along with the various promotions they offer. Please keep in mind that we have vetted these sites and all options presented are fair, provide quality games, and perhaps most importantly, payout winnings in a timely manner.

There are a myriad of online poker sites that accept Idahoan customers and finding a good one might feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. We've narrowed the list down for you a bit by eliminating any rooms that are disreputable or dishonest. Whichever of the companies below you sign up with, you'll get to enjoy functional software, honest card dealing algorithms, and the no-nonsense payout of your withdrawal requests. Read the info we've gathered, and then register your account at the Idaho online poker site of your choice.

1

IGNITION

BONUS:

150% up to $1,500

★★★★★

4.5 / 5

BEST ID ONLINE POKER SITE WITH THE MOST TRAFFIC

NETWORK:

PAIWANGLUO

EXTRAS

CASINO

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Ignition Casino Poker deserves to be on your shortlist of prospective internet poker rooms as the largest site available to Idahoans. Ignition features bustling NL Hold'em and Limit Hold'em cash games as well as PLO, PLO/8, and fast-fold Zone Poker. If tourneys are more your speed, then you'll be right at home as Ignition offers numerous sit-and-gos, lottery-inspired Jackpot SNGs, and plenty of multi-table tournaments. There is a $150,000 guaranteed MTT every Sunday, bolstered by a million-dollar guaranteed tournament each month and frequent recurring tournament series that regularly award eight figures in prize pools.

The Ignition Poker client is available for download on any PC or Mac device. Furthermore, Ignition offers a web-based interface that operates on any mobile device or tablet. New players are eligible for a poker deposit bonus of 100% up to $1,000 (150% up to $1,500 for Bitcoin deposits) at Ignition, as well as another $1,000 bonus to wager on casino games.

VISIT IGNITION POKER NOW

2

SB POKER

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.4 / 5

BEST ID ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BAD BEAT JACKPOT

NETWORK:

CHICO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

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Sportsbetting.ag is the third-largest poker room available to Americans. SB Poker features blinds as high as $5/$10 in NL Texas Hold'em cash games. Other game types offered include PLO, PLO/8, and fast-fold Boost poker. SB.ag houses the largest Bad Beat Jackpot available to players from the U.S., occasionally topping $1 million! SNGs, lottery-inspired Windfall poker, and plenty of multi-table tournaments are also present. Increase your bankroll with leaderboards for sit-n-gos and cash games alike.

SB Poker can be installed on any Windows or Mac desktop, and there's also an excellent mobile version of the poker software available for iOS and Android. You'll be eligible to receive a 100% up to $1,000 poker bonus on your first deposit, and other valuable promotions apply to the attached sportsbook and casino.

VISIT SB POKER NOW

3

BETONLINE

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.4 / 5

BEST ID SITE FOR MOBILE ONLINE POKER

NETWORK:

CHICO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

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BetOnline operates on the Chico Poker Network, which means that it offers all of the same poker games and promotions as SB Poker, its sister site. BetOnline's mobile poker software is especially renowned in the internet poker world. The mobile client offers the entire lineup of games and tables that are available on the desktop version, and the gameplay is intuitive and seamless, even on small screens. BetOnline also offers a comprehensive casino and sportsbook, which is very similar to the offerings at SB Poker.

The BOL mobile applications operate on iOS and Android devices and the desktop client is available on Windows and Mac machines. You can get a poker bonus worth 100% of your first deposit up to a maximum of $1,000. Check out the attached sportsbook and casino to receive additional promotions and bonuses.

VISIT BETONLINE NOW

4

BOVADA

BONUS:

100% up to $500

★★★★★

4.2 / 5

BEST ID ONLINE POKER SITE FOR SPORTS & CASINO

NETWORK:

PAIWANGLUO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

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Bovada is a partner of Ignition Casino, so almost all the ring games, Zone Poker pools, sit and gos, and tournaments are identical between the two sites. Despite the fact that Bovada's 100% up to $500 poker welcome bonus is half the size of Ignitions, there are other reasons to select Bovada especially if you partake in other forms of gambling besides poker. What sets Bovada apart is that it allows you to bet on sports and horses using the attached sportsbook and racebook. Even wagers on politics, e-sports, and television programs are offered in addition to more standard options, like NFL football, MLB baseball, and NCAA athletics.

Bovada Poker is available for download on PC and Mac systems. Mobile and tablet users can access a web-based, fully-functioning instant play version of the software. The poker bonus is 100% up to $500, and there are casino and sports offers worth up to $3,000 and $250 respectively. Crypto depositors receive even larger bonuses.

VISIT BOVADA NOW

5

AMERICAS CARDROOM

BONUS:

100% up to $2,000

★★★★★

4.1 / 5

BEST ID ONLINE POKER SITE WITH FREE BANKROLL OFFER

NETWORK:

WINNING

FREE

$10

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Americas Cardroom is where you want to be if you intend to build up a bankroll from nothing, or wish to play high-stakes nosebleed cash games. As the flagship member of the Winning Poker Network, Americas Cardroom is the second-largest room available to Americans. There are numerous freerolls, freebuys, and micro-stakes tournaments where you can participate for a pittance. Interestingly, ACR is one of the last remaining poker options that still offers $0.01/$0.02 cash game tables. Americas Cardroom is also recognized for offering the widest selection of multi-table tournaments available, across numerous buy-in levels.

The Americas Cardroom poker client is available for download on Windows and Mac machines, and there's a limited mobile app available as well. Our ACR bonus code PRB10FREE is good for a $10 no deposit bonus. Upon making your first deposit, you'll also get a 100% bonus worth up to $2,000.

VISIT AMERICAS CARDROOM NOW

6

COIN POKER

BONUS:

100% up to $700

★★★★★

4.0 / 5

BEST ID ONLINE POKER SITE FOR CRYPTO GAMES

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

33% RAKEBACK

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CoinPoker operates its poker room utilizing Tether (USDT) exclusively, though players can deposit and withdraw using a few additional cryptos, like Ethereum and Bitcoin. Of the numerous crypto-only sites online, CoinPoker has the highest traffic and the greatest number of active players. All of the standard formats are offered here in addition to a few more obscure poker variants, like 5 Card Omaha. Weekly leaderboards can also help in padding your bankroll.

The CoinPoker software works on any PC, Mac, Android, or iOS system. CoinPoker offers a stellar set of deposit bonuses for new signups including a 100% bonus of up to $700, a 100% bonus of up to $300, and a 100% bonus of up to $100. In addition, you can earn 33% ongoing rakeback as long as you keep a balance of the proprietary CHP coin.

VISIT COIN POKER NOW

7

EVERYGAME

BONUS:

200% up to $1,000

★★★★★

3.9 / 5

BEST ID ONLINE POKER SITE FOR RAKEBACK

NETWORK:

HORIZON

EXTRAS

CASINOS, SPORTSBOOK

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The flagship brand of the Horizon Poker Network, Everygame, is a fine gambling operator that has been in business for more than 30 years. Its poker room is on the smaller size, but the firm makes up for this with the breadth and profitability of its promotional specials. 36% rakeback is standard and you'll be able to boost your bankroll even further with weekly rake races, frequent reload bonuses, overlay tournaments, a VIP program, and other promotional rewards.

Windows users can download and install the Everygame Poker client while those using other hardware can access an Instant Play interface to play through any modern browser. The poker welcome bonus is 200% up to $1,000 of your first deposit and 25 free casino slot spins. Additional valuable promotions await you in three separate casinos and the world-class sportsbook.

VISIT EVERYGAME NOW

8

SWCPOKER

BONUS:

NONE

★★★★★

3.6 / 5

BEST ID SITE FOR ONLINE POKER VARIANTS

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

FREEROLLS

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SwCPoker offers all of the standard poker variants and in addition, it spreads numerous rarer games like Stud, H.O.R.S.E., Razz, and many others. This room used to be known as Seals With Clubs, an original Bitcoin poker provider, and it continues the tradition of crypto poker by utilizing Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash exclusively for gameplay and cashier transactions.

SwC's software operates on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac machines. SwC lacks any first deposit bonus, but the Krill rewards program offers up to 50% rakeback depending on your play.

VISIT SWCPOKER

9

NITROBETTING

BONUS:

100% up to 25 mBTC

★★★★★

3.4 / 5

BEST ID ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BITCOINERS

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

Nitrobetting is a Bitcoin-only operation that offers numerous poker variants as well as a casino and sportsbook. At Nitrobetting, you can enjoy plenty of poker formats like NL Hold'em, PLO, Crazy Hold'em, and 6+ Hold'em. There's a fairly solid selection of cash games, but the tournaments and sit-and-gos offered are a bit light.

Nitrobetting runs in any web browser so there is no need to download any software and you can play on almost any modern computing device. Nitrobetting extends a poker bonus worth 100% of your first deposit up to 25 mBTC. Visit the attached casino and sportsbook to receive additional promotions.

VISIT NITROBETTING NOW

How to Choose the Best Idaho Poker Site For Your Style of Play

There's quite a bit of difference between the sites for online Idaho poker even though all the entities listed above are dependable and ethical. The right one for you will depend upon your own personal playing habits and goals. Although it's not our place to tell you which room would be best for you, we do have a few factors you may wish to think about while contemplating your decision:

How Do I Receive Withdrawals and Payments?

Whenever you grow your balance enough that you want to request a cashout, you can do so via check at all of the sites we've been discussing. Other payout methods vary from site to site and may include bank wires, debit cards, and money transfer services. However, we advise all our readers to transact in the digital currency Bitcoin. It's a way to move money around online rapidly and with low fees. All of the Idaho poker rooms that we work with accept BTC for both deposits and withdrawals. If you're intrigued by the possibility of using Bitcoin but aren't exactly sure how to get started, then our step-by-step walkthrough on using Bitcoin for online gaming may be just what you need.

Alternatives to Registering Your Account in Idaho

Perhaps you happen to have another address in a nearby state, be it your business address, summer home, second apartment, family estate, etc. If this applies to you, then you may have other online poker options available to explore. Here is a list of the states that border Idaho and Professional Rakeback's review on each of them: California, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming. If none of these states are relevant to your situation, then our overview of the U.S. online poker scene may be more to your liking.

Facts About Idaho Poker Industry

This section will provide factual information regarding the legality of online poker in Idaho, current and potential future state regulation, and the history of gambling activities and poker throughout the state.

The Legality of Playing Poker Online in Idaho

Idaho is one of the few states in the United States to specifically mention poker in its legal code, but unfortunately, this isn't good news for poker players. To find out why, we need to examine the portion of the Idaho laws that relate to gambling. They are contained in the Idaho Statutes - Title 18 - Crimes and Punishments - Chapter 38 - Gaming. Gambling is defined in 18-3801:

"Gambling" means risking any money, credit, deposit or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, the operation of casino gambling including, but not limited to, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, bacarrat [baccarat] or keno

As we can see, poker is named as a form of gambling. Some activities are listed as being not considered gambling even if they would otherwise fall under the provisions of this language. They are contests of skill, legitimate business transactions, promotional contests and drawings, and transactions authorized by law, which includes state-regulated gambling.

The crime of gambling is explicated in the next section, 18-3802:

GAMBLING PROHIBITED. (1) A person is guilty of gambling if he:
(a) Participates in gambling; or
(b) Knowingly permits any gambling to be played, conducted or dealt upon or in any real or personal property owned, rented, or under the control of the actor, whether in whole or in part.
(2) Gambling is a misdemeanor.

Misdemeanors are punishable under Idaho law by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or jail time of up to six months.

It may seem that because poker is included as a type of “casino gambling,” there's no hope for it being legal in Idaho. However, two men convicted under this law for playing poker in 2013 appealed the decision. Their case was heard in an Idaho district court, which found that the statute was too vague and was being applied arbitrarily. The charges against the two men were dismissed. The prosecution's line of reasoning wasn't helped by the admission of the officer who made the arrests that he personally engaged in frequent poker playing often with other law enforcement personnel.

We've yet to see how this opinion will shake out going forward for Idahoan poker fans, but suffice it to say, the state's anti-gambling strictures may not be as ironclad as the authorities had believed them to be. However it plays out in practice, we can assure you that this law has never been used to go after online poker enthusiasts. It has only ever been applied to live poker games, and it's usually only enforced following citizen complaints to the police. When you play poker through the internet on your own PC, you're totally safe from being targeted by the Idaho anti-gambling laws.

The rest of the ID code that deals with gambling is surprisingly concise. There are provisions against bookmaking and pool selling along with a prohibition on possessing slot machines (except for antique slot machines). These offenses are considered misdemeanors, just like regular gambling is, and are subject to the same minor punishments.

Offshore U.S.A. online poker operators are not deterred by these ineffective penalties from serving Idahoans. Their lawyers have most likely informed them that the Idaho anti-gaming laws are nothing to worry about. This is great news for you, an individual player, because it means you aren't prevented from signing up at any of the reputable sites for online poker in Idaho.

Land-Based Gambling

There are only a few options for terrestrial gambling in the Gem State, including charitable bingo and raffles, pari-mutuel betting, and a state lottery. There are no commercial casinos, but there are a handful of tribal gaming establishments. Unfortunately, poker is not authorized anywhere in the state, and this includes the tribal casinos too. Even home games are banned, so your best bet for live poker may be to head across the Nevada border to Jackpot where there are some poker games running.

Another option for many Western Idaho poker players is to head over to Ontario, Oregon for some live poker. Ontario is only a 45-minute drive from the capital of Idaho, Boise, and there are two excellent live poker venues available.

Our expert reviewer had the pleasure of visiting both of the poker rooms in Ontario, OR. Please feel free to check out our reviews of Action's Card House and Ontario Poker Room and Social Club.

State Regulation

It's most unlikely that Idaho will implement a licensed online gambling environment. It's typical for states to first introduce brick-and-mortar cardrooms before experimenting with an internet poker presence, and Idaho hasn't yet taken this first step. In addition, despite Idaho's early history of wide-open gambling, the past few decades have seen very few legal gambling options open to Idahoans. A final factor to consider is the relatively small population of Idaho, which is just under 2 million. This is probably insufficient for a self-sustaining internet poker market, so inter-state compacts would be necessary before a successful online poker scene develops. These are a lot of hurdles to pass through, and it will probably take many years before Idaho can navigate through them.

Idaho Gambling and Poker History

The land now encompassed in Idaho has long played host to a variety of betting games. Wilson Butte Cave, located northeast of Twin Falls, served as a gathering point for indigenous people perhaps as many as 15,000 years ago. Gambling implements made of bone have been discovered there in abundance.

More recently, the Northern Shoshone employed stick dice for the purposes of gaming. Contestants would place their bets on being able to score a certain number of points and then would throw the dice. Depending on which sides landed face-up, different combinations scored varying numbers of points. The next player would then attempt to beat the first player's score, and whoever won received whatever had been staked on the game.

Set of Stick Dice Used by the Shoshone

As an interior destination not close to major waterways or trade routes, it took a long time for outsiders to set foot in what is now Idaho although it had been previously claimed by France and sold to the United States in 1803. It's possible that the Lewis and Clark expedition was the first European incursion into the area in 1805.

For a long time, fur trapping and trading were the major economic activities occurring in Idaho, and since most of the practitioners of this industry were isolated loners, there wasn't much opportunity for gambling. However, they would get together for what were called rendezvous every once in a while. These were basically markets that had the atmosphere of festivals, including dancing, drinking, swapping tall tales, and of course gambling.

Mining Town Burke, ID, 1888

The discovery of gold in 1860 opened the door for mining claims, and settlements sprung up around ore deposits. Within mining camps, gambling was next to only drinking as a form of recreation, and so numerous houses to cater to these demands soon appeared. When Idaho became a territory of the United States in 1863, the new legislature opted not to shut down these establishments but rather to license them and use the funds generated for educational purposes.

In 1890, Idaho became the 43rd state, and its constitution specified:

SEC. 20. The Legislature shall not authorize any lottery or gift enterprise under any pretense or for any purpose whatever.

Lawmakers followed up in 1899 with “An Act to prohibit gambling, and to provide for the punishment thereof, and for other purposes,” but this new law was unpopular. Many citizens believed that betting and wagering games were part of the tradition of Idaho, and they lobbied for the law to be repealed. Consequently, the legislature passed provisions allowing local jurisdictions to decide whether or not they wished to permit gambling facilities in their localities.

Small casinos and cardrooms soon appeared, offering not only poker but also roulette and casino table games. Another gambling distraction soon gained prominence: slot machines. In fact, the state authorities expressly made slot gaming legal in 1947. Capital city Boise opted to enact its own local ordinance prohibiting slots, but quick-thinking entrepreneurs simply set up shop in neighboring Garden City much to the consternation of the moralistic Boise city fathers. Ketchum was another town that was famed for its slot machine casinos.

All this fun came to an end, though, in 1953 when the Idaho Supreme Court declared that the legislation allowing slots and other gambling was unconstitutional. They referred to the text of the 1890 constitution banning lotteries. In its reasoning, the court used the old common law definition of “lottery,” which held that as long as an activity contained the three elements of chance, consideration, and prize, it was a type of lottery. This decision had the effect of basically outlawing all gambling within the state.

The story since then has been one of slow additions to this completely blank mid-century legalized gaming menu. In 1963, pari-mutuel horse race betting became OK with the passage of the Horse Racing Act. In 1988, voters approved of a plan to institute an Idaho Lottery, and it began selling tickets the next year. At the same time, the constitution was amended to allow charitable bingo and raffles.

In the '90s, the state negotiated gaming compacts with several tribes, and tribal casinos appeared. However, they're restricted to Class II games, like bingo and video gaming terminals, and cannot host Class III gambling, like blackjack tables or poker. The Coeur d'Alene tribe tested these restrictions in 2014 by opening up a small poker room on one of their properties, but it was soon shut down in the wake of an unfavorable court ruling.

In 2011, simulcast race betting was authorized, meaning that wagers don't need to be placed at the track where the race is occurring. Racetracks were permitted to install historical racing terminals in 2013. These machines allow the users to put down their money on the results of past races with all identifying information on the horses and jockeys hidden. However, in 2015, these terminals were outlawed. In 2016, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden negotiated an agreement with the two leading daily fantasy sports companies, FanDuel and DraftKings, whereby they stopped offering real money contests to Idahoans.

We have compiled and created a timeline detailing all of the historical events related to gambling to occur within the state of Idaho, which can be found below.

Idaho's Famous Poker Players

Idahoan players haven't really made too much of an impact in the world of poker, but there are exceptions. Kevin MacPhee, of Coeur D'Alene, has more than $5 million in lifetime live tournament winnings and another $7 million online. He first started playing seriously during the Moneymaker Boom, opening his “ImaLuckSac” account on PokerStars and going by the handle “Wu_Wizard” on Full Tilt. His notable tourney scores include winning €1,000,000 for shipping the €5,300 EPT Germany Main Event in 2010 and €883,000 for prevailing in the €10,450 WSOPE Main Event in 2015. He has one other WSOP bracelet, earned in the 2015 $5,000 NLHE Turbo event.

Other Types of Online Gambling in Idaho

Idaho only has a few live gambling options available, and most people live quite far away from the few land-based casinos in the state. Fortunately, there are numerous online casinos and sportsbooks available to choose from in order to gamble from the comfort of home. In fact, there are so many options that it can be difficult to decide which brands are reputable and trustworthy. Our expert gamblers have researched the best casinos and sportsbooks available to Idahoans tirelessly, putting our own money at stake in making our determinations. Below, we will provide our best recommendations for online casinos and sportsbooks available in Idaho.

Online Casinos

Idaho has only a handful of terrestrial casinos, and if you don't live near one of them, then your most realistic option for slots, blackjack, baccarat, and other similar fare is to head online and play. Even if you live near a Brick and Mortar casino, you might prefer the convenience of playing games over the internet.

We have found three online casinos for Idaho that you can have confidence in.

1. Cafe Casino - Exclusive 350% up to $5,000 BTC Bonus

2. Wild Casino - $9,000 Bitcoin Welcome Bonus

3. Ignition Casino - 150% up to $1,500 Bitcoin Bonus (100% up to $1,000 non-crypto)

There are many other dependable options, and you can read up on them with this page of trusted online casinos for Americans.

Online Sportsbooks

There's no licensed sports betting in Idaho, neither online nor live. Therefore, you must head online to an offshore brand if you wish to place bets at a sportsbook.

There are any number of internet bookmakers, both legitimate and shady, and we have selected three of them that are honest and reliable.

1. Bovada Sports - 75% up to $750 Bitcoin Bonus

2. Sportsbetting.ag - 100% up to $1,000 BTC Bonus + 35% Reloads

3. Everygame Sports - Receive a $250 Bonus on Your First Three Deposits

There are other reasonable choices if you're looking for a good sportsbook. Find out more with this overview of the leading USA online sportsbooks.

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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!