Bitcoin Poker - The Top 9 Sites Accepting Bitcoin Deposits in 2019!

Five years ago, the idea of using Bitcoin to play poker online was just a pipe dream, but it is now a reality at many poker sites. The digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin makes things convenient for both players and poker rooms alike because it enables speedy transactions with relative anonymity and low fees. This is especially useful for American poker fans because they otherwise would have to wait a long time for payouts to arrive and sometimes have to pay substantial surcharges. We've compiled a short and sweet list of the top poker sites accepting bitcoin that serve U.S. Players:

1. Ignition Poker
2. BetOnline/Sportsbetting.ag
3. Bovada
4. Intertops
5. Americas Cardroom/BlackChip Poker/True Poker
6. Grand Poker
7. SwCPoker
8. Nitrogen Poker
9. Juicy Stakes

1. Ignition Poker

✓ USA, AUS | x No CAN

Withdrawals – min: $10 | max: $9,500 | speed: 1 day
Deposits – min: $10 | max: $5,000

Ignition poker is the largest site in the U.S. market for cash games, and its popularity will probably grow even further now that it supports Bitcoin.

2. BetOnline/Sportsbetting.ag

✓ USA, CAN, Worldwide | No AUS

Withdrawals – min: $20 | max: $10,000 | speed: 2 days
Deposits – min: $20 | max: $50,000

These sites on the Chico Poker Network are heavy supporters of digital currencies as evidenced by their recent decision to transact in Litecoin in addition to Bitcoin.

3. Bovada Poker

✓ USA | No AUS, No CAN

Withdrawals – min: $10 | max: $9,500 | speed: 1 day
Deposits – min: $10 | max: $5,000

Bovada is a wonderful place for BTC poker and also for casino games and sports-betting. There are separate welcome bonuses for each type of gaming..

4. Intertops

✓ USA, CAN, Worldwide | No AUS

Withdrawals – min: $100 | max: $2,500 | speed: 2 days
Deposits – min: $25 | max: $1,000

The limits at Intertops are a tad bit restrictive, but they should be fine for most players looking to just play a few tables now and again.

5. Americas Cardroom/BlackChip Poker/True Poker

✓ USA, CAN, Worldwide | No AUS

Withdrawals – min: $50 | max: $10,000 | speed: 3 days
Deposits – min: $50 | max: $25,000

All three of these sites are on the Winning Poker Network, which is THE place to go for tournament action if you’re in the United States.

6. Grand Poker

✓ USA, AUS, CAN, Worldwide

Withdrawals – min: $50 | max: $10,000 | speed: 1 day
Deposits – min: $25 | max: $10,000

Grand Poker is among the newer poker networks in existence, but it can handle large deposits and payouts because of its association with the large 5Dimes sportsbook. If you chose to deposit only in BTC at this room, the $10,000 withdrawal maximum will be lifted for you.

7. SwCPoker

✓ USA, AUS, CAN, Worldwide

Withdrawals – min: 0.02 BTC | max: Not Stated | speed: less than 12 hours
Deposits – min: 0.00001 BTC | max: Not Stated

SwCPoker is the latest evolution of the old Seals with Clubs, which first introduced Bitcoin to the poker ecosystem. Unlike the previous sites on our list, this one banks exclusively in BTC, and all tables are denominated in milli-BTC (one SwC chip is equal to 0.001 bitcoin).

8. Nitrogen Poker

✓ USA, AUS, CAN, Worldwide

Withdrawals – min: 0.001 BTC | max: None | speed: less than 12 hours
Deposits – min: None | max: None

Nitrogen Sports is probably the most well-known Bitcoin sportsbook around, and they added poker to their portfolio in 2014. Each chip is equal to 1/1000 of a bitcoin, and BTC is the only valid currency accepted.

9. Juicy Stakes

✓ USA, AUS, CAN, Worldwide

Withdrawals – min: $100 | max: $2,500 | speed: 2 days
Deposits – min: $25 | max: $1,000

Juicy Stakes is a partner site of Intertops, but it lacks a sportsbook and some of the other gaming options that Intertops has.

If you have yet to begin your Bitcoin gambling adventures, then don’t worry – we’ll show you how to get started. Consult our thorough Bitcoin guide to learn how to purchase coins, send them to wallets, and make your deposits at online poker rooms, casinos, and really any other merchant that accepts this form of payment.

Bitcoin Poker FAQ

If you have any questions about funding your poker account and receiving your winnings through Bitcoin, then look through our FAQ below. We've collected common questions and answers about this subject below for your enlightenment.

What Happens to My BTC When I Deposit at a Bitcoin Poker Site?

At mainstream poker rooms, the coins you deposit are converted into U.S. dollars before being credited to your account. This is because the games are denominated in dollars rather than bitcoins. The exceptions are Nitrogen and SwCPoker, which keep your funds as bitcoins and spread games that are listed in fractions of a bitcoin.

When the Price of Bitcoin Goes Up or Down After I Deposit, Is My Poker Balance Affected?

Once you make a deposit and your money is converted into dollars, it will remain the same amount of dollars regardless of any fluctuations in the price of Bitcoin. The exceptions are again SwCPoker and Nitrogen Sports because they hold your balance in BTC form.

What Takes Place When I Withdraw via Bitcoin?

When your withdrawal request is processed, the USD amount of the payout is exchanged, at a pretty fair conversion rate, for bitcoins, and these BTC are sent to the wallet address you specified. Note that the exchange rate that's used is calculated at the time the site actually sends your coins, not when you make the request. This spares you from some of the volatility involved in transacting with crypto-currency because of the short interval between when the poker room submits the transaction and when it is confirmed. However, at Nitrogen Sports Poker and SwC, there is no conversion to and from fiat currency because these sites do all their business in bitcoins, including the actual gameplay and all cashier functions.

Are Bitcoin Cashouts Subject to Identity Verification?

Yes, at most major internet poker destinations, crypto-currency users are still subject to the same Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks that apply to those players employing legacy forms of payment. You'll probably have to send in a photo ID and proof of residence before an offshore poker site will send you your winnings. There are exceptions, most notably SwCPoker, which takes pride in its “no dox” policy.

Can I Deposit Directly From an Exchange (Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, et cetera)?

We strongly urge you to refrain from sending your bitcoins directly from an exchange to a gaming operator. This is especially true for residents of the United States. These organizations have to comply with regulations in the jurisdictions they trade in, and quite a few of them prohibit online gambling. Although there's a chance you'll get away with it, helped by the relative anonymity of BTC, there are sophisticated tools available for exchanges to delve through the blockchain history and determine that the funds you sent are for gambling purposes. To be safe, always move your money to an intermediate wallet first before depositing it at a gaming site. We highly recommend the blockchain.com wallet because it is free, and it allows you to exercise control over your own private keys.

Can I Withdraw Directly to an Exchange?

It's inadvisable to direct your winnings from your online poker site of choice to your exchange account particularly if you're a resident of the United States. It's very likely that the exchange contains language in its terms and conditions prohibiting its services from being used in connection with gambling products. While most Bitcoin transactions are sufficiently hard to trace that there's no “smoking gun” to tip off whoever is watching, clever investigation of the addresses that a coin has passed through before ending up at the exchange can sometimes reveal the type of merchants that have accepted it. It's best to stay on the safe side by using a third-party wallet, like the one provided by blockchain.com, as an intermediary between all money movements from a gaming company and an exchange.

Why Should I Use an Intermediate Wallet?

Those who send their money to a gaming site directly from an exchange or to an exchange directly from a gaming site are playing with fire if their home jurisdiction frowns upon internet wagering. We've heard countless reports of customers who've had their exchange accounts frozen or closed because of this. In the majority of cases, the affected users get their money sent to them upon account closure, but this process may take some time and is not guaranteed. For the best results, always move your poker money to or from a wallet in the middle before commingling it with funds in your exchange balance.

Is It Possible to Take Advantage of Other Cryptos Besides Bitcoin for Online Poker?

Yes, there are many different digital coins that are accepted by sites that offer internet card games. Some of these forms of crypto money are quite popular (although not as widespread as Bitcoin) while others are only supported by a handful of online gaming sites. If you'd like to know more about two of the most commonly accepted coins for online poker, check out our Ethereum gambling guide and our page covering the best Bitcoin Cash gaming sites.