Nevada was the first state to have regulated online poker in the United States, but that doesn’t mean that offshore online poker in Nevada is dead – quite to the contrary actually.
The total count of regulated internet poker cardrooms in Nevada is exactly one: WSOP.com. If you're not exactly impressed by the small size and limited opportunities inherent in licensed Nevada online poker, then offshore sites might be right for you.
While there are fewer choices available to players in Nevada than in some other non-regulated states, there are still a lot to choose from, including the reputable SB Poker.
Below we have a list of the five best online poker sites Nevada residents can play at with little worry of unfairness or other unwanted shenanigans:
Nevada is the most heavily regulated state when it comes to gambling as the state has hundreds of live casinos that are regulated by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. In recent years, Nevada has begun to offer state-regulated online poker on sites like WSOP.com.
Despite this fact, there are still alternative offshore gambling and poker sites, like BetOnline, that cater to residents in Nevada from abroad. Although the legality of playing online poker at an offshore site may seem daunting and confusing, the reality is that it is completely safe to do so. Not a single individual has ever been prosecuted or experienced any legal ramifications for playing online poker or gambling online at an offshore website.
We've compiled a catalog of the top Nevada online poker sites. All of them are reliable, and they process cashouts fairly and rapidly.
It's not too challenging to begin playing at whatever NV online poker room you choose. We have included instructions below for our #1 site, SB Poker, but the process will be very similar no matter what site you select.
There's quite a bit of variety between the Nevada online poker sites, and they each have their own particular strengths and weaknesses. In order to bring you the truth about what they each have to offer, we have evaluated them according to a set of objective criteria.
From the common (NLHE, PLO, PLO/8) to the obscure (Razz, Triple Draw Lowball, 8-Game), the varieties of poker spread at each room vary enormously. Even at sites that have the same menu of poker games, the blind levels or buyins offered are rarely identical.
This same principle holds true when it comes to such wrinkles as fast-fold cash games, lottery-style sit n' gos, and satellites to live events. Some rooms welcome such diversions while others prefer to stick to the basics.
Most poker providers allow you to add money to your account and secure your payouts through several familiar payment channels, like checks and credit cards. However, all of our recommended sites also transact in Bitcoin.
Bitcoin lets you move your money around online speedily and with low fees. If you haven't yet begin using Bitcoin, then you can find out more about it with this guide to BTC and online poker.
It's common for gaming sites to entice new players with a welcome bonus on their first deposits. After this, loyal customers can look forward to further bonuses on redeposits, rake races, freerolls, and a variety of other promotions.
Some promos last for only a short while before expiring. Others persist for an extended timeframe, months or perhaps even years.
Of all the promotional tools designed to attract and retain players, perhaps the most valuable is rakeback. This refers to a never-ending rebate on the rake you pay at the tables. We appreciate the profitability of rakeback so much that we have incorporated it into the name of our site, ProfessionalRakeback.
Here's a list of the best online poker rakeback deals for Nevadans:
If you still have questions about the best online poker sites in Nevada, then we have you covered. Read through our reviews below, and it's very likely that you'll be able to select a good location for playing cards online.
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
SB Poker and its sister site BetOnline have the most games simultaneously running of any site that caters to Nevadans. You will be able to partake in NL Hold'em, PL Omaha, PL Omaha/8, 5 Card PLO, 6 Card PLO, and Boost fast-fold cash games. There's also a full complement of sit-n-goes and multi-table tournaments, including lottery-style Windfall games.
Frequent freerolls, leaderboards, reload bonuses, and other promotions serve to pad your bankroll as you grind out hands at the SB.ag poker tables as does the RISE rewards program. One downside of this operator is that the rake is a bit on the higher side, so you will need to take advantage of these promotional extras to preserve your bankroll.
Downloadable software is provided by SB Poker and BOL for PCs and Macs. In addition, an excellent mobile client serves those with iOS and Android devices. Make your first deposit to qualify for a 100% up to $1,000 poker bonus, and get ready for similar promos on the casino and sportsbook sides too.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, CHP, Polygon, BNB
There's a lot going on at Coin Poker, including decentralized shuffling, verifiable RNG algorithms, a custom CHP crypto token, and tables denominated in USDT (Tether). Maybe one day, some of these features will become standard across the online poker industry.
Until that time, you can check them out while playing Hold'em, Omaha, 5 Card Omaha, and 6 Card PLO. There are also multi-table tournaments and lottery-inspired Cosmic Spins. However, standard SNGs with two, six, or nine competitors are absent.
CoinPoker provides downloads for Mac, Win PC, Android, and iOS. This site boasts a deposit bonus for new players of 150% up to $2,000. You can also obtain 33% weekly rakeback by holding CHP, CoinPoker's proprietary cryptocurrency.
Credit Card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Lightning Bitcoin, Litecoin
We here at ProfRB are big fans of rakeback because we appreciate the significant benefit that it provides for almost every player, and we have deemed Everygame, with its 36% RB deal, the best rakeback site for Nevada. Traffic is a bit light, particularly at higher stakes, but if you're content playing just a table or two for small stakes, this room should more than suffice.
Beyond rakeback, you will also be rewarded with a weekly rake race, frequent reload bonuses, a loyalty program, and other promos.
You can download Everygame Poker for Windows, and there's an Instant Play web interface that works with all kinds of other hardware too. The first deposit bonus is 200% up to $1,000.
Bitcoin
SwCPoker transacts using the Bitcoin and tables are denominated in this same crypto-currency. Unlike at most sites, where the triumvirate of NLHE, PLO, and PLO-8 rules the roost, SwC spreads a wide variety of poker formats, including Razz, Open Face Chinese, draw variants, and mixed games. There are frequent freerolls to give you the opportunity to sample some of the forms of poker with which you might not yet be acquainted.
The SwCPoker software runs on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. There's no welcome bonus, but you can obtain rakeback rewards that increase the more you keep playing.
Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, USD Coin, Visa, Paypal
At Nitrobetting Poker, one chip is equal to one-thousandth of a bitcoin. You can enjoy NLHE, PLO, and PLO/8 ring games. SNGs and tournaments are offered too, but the schedule is relatively modest. However, there are plenty of freerolls to let you run up your bankroll starting from a modest level.
Because it runs directly in your web browser, Nitrobetting is compatible with almost every computing platform in existence: desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones included. There's no initial deposit bonus here.
The information below will aim to detail the live poker venues in Nevada, state regulation of internet poker, the long and storied history of gambling and poker throughout the state of Nevada, and other similar subjects.
Nevada was the first state to legalize and regulate online poker in the country in 2013 and has since combined forces with several other states to form a traffic sharing compact and a united player pool. What's unique about the Nevada online gaming legislation is that it only permits poker, not casino games.
It’s important to note that gambling organizations needed to not operate in the United States post-UIEGA in order to offer services to the state. This is Nevada's infamous “bad actor” clause.
Partially as a consequence, WSOP.com became the only licensed operator in the state while not being the largest global brand. It is not clear when or if The Stars Group will be entering the Nevada playing space and until that does happen, WSOP.com should continue to reign supreme in the walled garden that is the Nevada regulated online poker space.
Read our WSOP.com review for further info on this internet cardroom.
Nevada is home to land-based casinos, tribal casinos, and charitable gaming opportunities. Of course, the most famous and notable of all of these are the land-based casinos that have given rise to the city of Las Vegas and the opulence that it has encouraged.
While almost everyone knows about Las Vegas, there are other great casinos in the state that normally get overlooked because they are not as fancy or well-known. Reno is one of the best places to go for outdoor enjoyment in the state while also being home to some great casinos. Many other northern cities also mix nature and casinos well to give a much different feel than what you could find in Las Vegas. Tribal casinos are also an often-ignored offering of Nevada that have a different kind of vibe as the tribes normally work under different laws than the commercial casinos.
That said, Las Vegas is certainly the center of poker in the state. The Bellagio has 40 tables containing NL Hold'em, LHE, PLO, Seven Card Stud, and mixed games, and there are tournaments every day. High rollers at the Bellagio get to enter Bobby's Room: a two-table enclosure that has hosted some of the biggest games in town, including the stratospheric contests between banker Andy Beal and a “corporation” composed of the likes of Jen Harman, Barry Greenstein, and Phil Ivey.
Other top cardrooms in LV include the Aria, Mandalay Bay, the Wynn, the Golden Nugget, and dozens of other well-managed venues for brick-and-mortar poker.
Nevada may have the richest history in the United States when it comes to poker and gambling as the state is home to more than 300 live casinos. Las Vegas has become a mecca of worldwide gambling as the city boasts many of the best casinos in the world and has become a massive hub for travelers from all areas of the world.
At first, the action was concentrated in Reno, but Las Vegas began to overtake its more northern rival. Sin City was given a helping hand in this respect by mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. After being tarnished by a murder trial from 1939 - 1942 (he was acquitted after two of the state's witnesses mysteriously died), he moved to LV to start anew.
His Flamingo Casino experienced cost overruns, delays, and even a multi-month closure to complete unfinished construction. However, after it opened in 1946, it set a new mark for luxury and became the forerunner of the modern Strip casino.
During the subsequent decades, the city continued to grow both in terms of population and the number of gambling establishments that were built. Over the years, casino operation became heavily regulated and legitimate as the mob influence died down and corporations began taking over all of the large casino hotels within Las Vegas.
With Las Vegas being the global Mecca of poker, it stands to reason that plenty of noteworthy cardsharks call the State of Nevada home. Indeed, the comparison with other parts of the country is not a fair one because many residents of other states opt to move to Nevada once they achieve a certain level of success in the game, and so any list of prominent NV poker practitioners is bound to include many who actually hail from elsewhere.
Among those based in Nevada is Dan Smith who has a whopping $55.1+ million in live tournament cashes to his name. More than $8 million of this came from the August 2019 Triton Super High Roller Series in London where Smith scored third place in event #2. A year earlier, Dan finished third in the WSOP Big One for One Drop charity tourney to pick up $4,000,000.
Other big names that have made their mark on Nevada poker are Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, with an $18.3 million prize to his name for his victory in the 2012 Big One for One Drop event, 1998 WSOP Main Event winner Scotty Nguyen, five-bracelet winner Allen Cunningham, and the ever-voluble and -entertaining Mike “The Mouth” Matusow.
Perhaps you are lucky enough to have another address in a nearby state, be it your business address, summer home, second apartment, family home, etc. If so, then you may have other online poker options available. Here is a list of the states that border Nevada and Professional Rakeback's review on each of them: Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming. If your secondary home lies in another state, or if you just want a broad overview of the situation in the United States as a whole, then our U.S. players' online poker guide may prove informative.
The topic of online poker in the state of Nevada is one that many people are ignorant of. Please think about sharing this page with any of your friends and family who want to learn more. By doing this, you'll be spreading knowledge about the wonderful game of poker as conducted over the internet.
If the regulated sites available in Nevada are too tame for your tastes, then you can join one of the offshore firms that operate in the state. You won't have any legal issues doing so as a player; Nevada law concentrates on those who offer the games rather than those who participate in them. Choose a worthy site from our recommended list, and start playing online poker in Nevada today!
We feel that online poker can be a fulfilling and possibly financially rewarding pastime. However, some people develop issues with their gaming, which can lead to negative life consequences. If you believe that your gambling might be getting out of hand, then check out these helpful resources:
The online poker scene in Nevada is complex, so it's understandable if you still have a few questions about it. Look below for the answers to some of the most prevalent questions about this topic.
Yes, Nevada has set up the appropriate licensing regimen for instate online poker. However, the results have been somewhat disappointing.
Although at one point, there were several competing entities in the Nevada licensed internet poker market, as of October 2024, there is just a single one: WSOP.com. It does have certain advantages, like allowing customers to win an official WSOP bracelet online, but offshore brands provide a variety of choice and competition, which is sadly lacking otherwise.
Yes, online poker is legal in Nevada. Not only can you play at a state-authorized internet cardroom, but there are many offshore rooms you can enjoy too.
Although there are certain portions of the Nevada statutes that could be construed as prohibiting betting across state lines, none of these laws have ever been used to target individual online poker players. Rather, enforcement seems to focus on those running illegal gambling operations particularly those that might have ties to organized crime.
None of the federal anti-gambling laws touch ordinary internet poker players either. The courts have held that the Wire Act does not apply to any other form of wagering besides sports betting, so it has no relevance to online poker. The UIGEA likely does not apply directly to internet poker either, but in any case, all the penalties prescribed under this legislation fall squarely on the shoulders of payment processors, banks, and those running the sites, not everyday players.
So you're totally secure, from a legal standpoint, if you wish to turn on your computer and fire up a few online poker tables.
PokerStars is legal in Nevada, yes. But if you attempt to log on and play for real money, then you are bound to be disappointed.
This is because there are only play money games available in NV PokerStars. As part of the settlement PokerStars reached with the federal authorities in the aftermath of Black Friday, the company agreed to stop hosting real money poker in states where it does not have a license to offer its services.
Although PokerStars is undoubtedly interested in obtaining Nevada licensure, “bad actor” clauses in the regulations mean that it has been effectively barred from doing so. Therefore, the PokerStars tables that you can access from Nevada are for practice chips only.
Global Poker feels that it's operating in full compliance with the law in Nevada and throughout the United States. We aren't of the same opinion. A thorough discussion of this subject is beyond the scope of this FAQ, but you can turn to this review of the Global Poker room for additional insight on this matter.
Yes, you owe federal income tax on any wins you accumulate throughout the year from internet poker. The IRS expects you to report this income, so if you wish to stay in compliance with the law, you must report it and pay what you owe in taxes. If you're unsure how to properly file the paperwork, then we recommend that you consult with a qualified tax accountant or attorney.
There is good news for you though as a resident of Nevada. This is one of a handful of states that don't levy individual income taxes. Therefore, you don't owe any tax money to the bureaucracies in Carson City on the income you derive from online poker.
Yes, you can play poker on your mobile phone or tablet. Some providers offer dedicated downloads for iOS and Android. Others offer a web-based client that you can access from a wide array of hardware, including mobile devices. In some cases, the list of games available on mobile is shorter than that displayed within the full desktop package, so you may wish to play on a computer whenever possible.
You might find the resources below informative as you search for more Nevada gambling info:
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!
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