About Us

Best Poker Sites exists to help US poker players work out where to actually put their money down. There are dozens of poker sites and apps chasing your deposit, and their marketing rarely tells you much about traffic, rake, or how long a cashout will really take. This page explains who's behind the rankings, how we build them, and where our money comes from.

What we do here

We research and compare real money online poker rooms available to US players — cash games, tournaments, Sit & Gos, Spin & Go formats, and the software and mobile apps that run them. We look at the things that actually change a player's experience: how soft or tough the games are, what the rake structure and rakeback look like, how deposits and withdrawals work, and whether a site is licensed and handles player funds responsibly. The goal is a shortlist you can act on, not a wall of marketing copy.

How we rank the sites we cover

Our rankings come from a consistent set of factors applied to every operator on this site, rather than from how much any brand pays us. We weigh:

• Traffic and liquidity — how many players are active at typical stakes, and how that affects game selection and waiting times
• Game variety — No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, mixed games, fast-fold formats, and tournament schedules
• Rake and rewards — the rake structure at each stake level and the real value of rakeback or loyalty programs, not just the headline percentage
• Bonus terms — the size of a welcome bonus alongside its playthrough requirements, time limits, and eligibility conditions, since a bonus is only as good as the conditions attached to it
• Payments — supported deposit and withdrawal methods, typical cash-out speed, and any fees involved
• Licensing and security — what regulation or licensing applies, how funds are segregated, and whether the software and games are independently certified
• Software and mobile experience — client stability, iOS and Android app quality, and support for tools like HUDs where permitted

Editorial ratings, like the ones shown for Coinpoker, Bovada, Stake, and the other rooms ranked on this site, are assigned by our editorial team based on that research. Commission never buys a higher position — a site that pays us nothing can outrank one that doesn't, and vice versa, based purely on how it performs against our criteria.

How we make money, and why that matters to you

Best Poker Sites may earn a commission when a reader signs up through one of the links on this site. This is standard for comparison sites and it doesn't cost you anything extra. It also doesn't influence where a site lands in our rankings — our ratings reflect our own research into traffic, terms, and trustworthiness, not the size of any commercial deal. If you'd rather understand exactly what you're agreeing to before signing up anywhere, our Terms and Conditions page has the detail on how this site operates.

What we won't tell you

We won't tell you that poker is a reliable way to make money, and we won't suggest that skill removes the risk of losing your bankroll. Every site we review carries genuine downsides alongside its strengths — thin traffic at some stakes, wagering requirements on bonuses, slower payouts through certain methods — and we try to state those plainly rather than burying them. Poker involves real financial risk every time you sit down, regardless of how experienced you are.

Eligibility and where this applies

Online poker in the US is regulated state by state; there's no single federal framework, so availability and licensing depend on where you live. Our content assumes readers are of legal gambling age for their state — 21 in most states, 18 in a few — and it's the reader's responsibility to confirm that real money poker is legal and available in their state before signing up anywhere. Nothing on this site is aimed at, or intended for, anyone under the applicable minimum age.

Playing within your means

Poker should be entertainment, not a way to cover bills or escape financial pressure. If you're playing to chase losses, betting more than you can afford, or finding it hard to stop, that's worth taking seriously. Our Responsible Gambling page has practical resources, and free, confidential help is available in the US through 1-800-GAMBLER.

Get in touch

If you've spotted something out of date, disagree with a ranking, or just want to ask a question about a site we cover, our Contact Us page has the details. We update our reviews as terms and offers change, and reader feedback is one of the ways we catch that.