About Us
Online Poker Sites is an independent site built for one purpose: helping US players work out where to play online poker for real money without wading through marketing copy first. We compare operators on the things that actually change your experience at the tables — traffic, game variety, rake, payout speed and how a welcome bonus really clears — and rank them accordingly.
We don't operate a poker room ourselves, take deposits or run tables. Our job is research and comparison, not dealing cards.
What We're Trying to Do
The regulated US poker landscape is fragmented — state by state, with different sites available depending on where you live — and it's easy for a new or returning player to end up on a site that's a poor fit for their bankroll or playing style. We try to fix that by:
- Comparing sites on player traffic and liquidity, not just headline bonus size
- Explaining bonus terms and playthrough requirements in plain language before you deposit
- Weighing game variety — cash games, MTTs, Sit & Gos, Spin & Go formats, fast-fold poker — against what different types of players actually want
- Checking deposit and withdrawal options relevant to US players, including cash-out speed and any fees
- Being upfront about licensing status and where a site is or isn't available
How We Assess Each Site
Every operator that appears in our rankings is reviewed against the same criteria, so the comparison stays consistent from one write-up to the next:
| Factor | What we look at |
|---|---|
| Traffic and player pool | How busy the tables are at different stakes and times of day, and how that affects game availability |
| Game selection | Range of formats — No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, mixed games, fast-fold variants — and stake coverage |
| Bonuses and rewards | Deposit match structure, clearing requirements, time limits, and ongoing rakeback or loyalty schemes |
| Payments | Deposit and withdrawal methods available to US players, processing times and any limits or fees |
| Software and mobile experience | Client stability, table features such as anonymous tables or HUD support, and how well the mobile app holds up |
| Licensing and trust | What regulatory or licensing information is publicly available, and how the operator handles player funds |
Editorial ratings shown on this site reflect that research and comparison work — they are not customer review scores, and no operator can pay to move up the list. Where a site links out from our pages, that link may earn Online Poker Sites a commission if you sign up. Commercial relationships never decide ranking order or ratings.
What We Won't Do
Poker is a game of skill over the long run, but it is still gambling, and no site or strategy removes the risk of losing money. We won't present any operator as a way to make money, won't suggest chasing losses is ever a good idea, and won't play down the downside to make a bonus sound more attractive than its terms allow. Every bonus we mention is described with its material conditions — deposit requirements, wagering or playthrough terms, and time limits — because a headline percentage means little without them.
Eligibility and Playing Responsibly
Online poker for real money is legal only in states that regulate it, and availability varies depending on where you're located — something worth checking before you sign up anywhere on this site. Players must meet the minimum age set by their state, which is 21 in most regulated states and 18 in a few others; this site is not intended for anyone under those thresholds. If gambling stops being fun or starts affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through 1-800-GAMBLER, and our Responsible Gambling page has more resources and links to state self-exclusion programs.
For our full site terms, see the Terms and Conditions page. If something on this site looks out of date or you think we've missed a detail, the Contact Us page is the quickest way to reach us.