Online Poker Sites Reviewed by Experts

Josh H
by Josh H  |  Owner and Editor-in-Chief

Honest, in-depth features on the best that real money poker sites have to offer will always be the centerpiece of Beat The Fish.

Unfortunately, honesty about even the best poker sites is tough to find. I’m going to give you a real idea of what to expect before you play.

My reviews are based on real play at each and every site, some for more than 15 years.

Online Poker Sites I’ve Reviewed in 2024

Bovada Poker

Bovada Poker

Bovada Poker has been one of my favorite poker sites since I started playing there for real money in 2004. They're the largest in USA poker player traffic by far. They also have one of the loosest player bases in the world. Bovada has over 20 years experience in the online poker industry.


I love how Bovada embraces the use of anonymous tables, which renders poker site HUDs useless and encourages recreational players. Bovada is also the best online poker site in the US to offer fast-fold poker because there are plenty of players at all stakes.

  • Real money play on mobile
  • Bitcoin payouts in as little as 5 minutes
  • Excellent poker reputation earned by lack of scandals or payout delays
  • Fast-fold Zone Poker allows you to play 300+ hands per hour per table

Quick hits from my Bovada Poker review

Payout Speed

Fish Rating

Mobile Poker

9.1

Rating

My highest overall rating

100%

Bonus

Valid for up to $500 extra

#1

Traffic

The most poker player traffic in the USA market

2004

Open Since

One of the oldest online poker sites still in operation

Yes

USA Players

Americans are accepted for real money play

Ignition Poker

Ignition Poker

Ignition Poker is a newer name in the online poker market, launched in 2016 when they bought the poker division from Bovada. Ignition has been operated at the same high standards as Bovada, which is good news for poker players.


Ignition Poker has also made significant increases to their online poker bonus, now offering a 150% bonus for players using Bitcoin to make a deposit. They also have some of the busiest poker tournaments, often attracting thousands of players per event to not only Texas Hold'em games, but also Omaha and Pot-Limit Omaha.

  • On the busiest online poker network in the USA market
  • Real money payouts in as little as 15 minutes with Bitcoin
  • One of the only mobile real money clients in the US
  • Cash games have some of the most action online

Quick hits from my Ignition Poker review

Payout Speed

Fish Rating

Mobile Poker

8.6

Rating

#2 in my poker site rankings

150%

Bonus

If depositing with a cryptocurrency

#1

Traffic

On the most-trafficked network in the USA market

2016

Open Since

Excellent reputation for payouts since opening

Yes

USA Players

Ignition has accepted US players since they opened

ACR Poker

ACR Poker

ACR Poker has had an interesting journey as a rehabilitation online poker home for bankrupt gaming sites. ACR has never been riding higher as one of the more popular real money poker options for US players and it isn’t difficult to see why.


Their tournaments are mostly unmatched in their online poker market, amazingly hosting occasional $1,000,000 guarantees. ACR Poker is on the second-largest real money American network and is offering up to a $2,000 bonus with the right ACR bonus code.

  • One of the oldest online poker sites operating
  • Now offers real-money mobile games
  • The largest tournament guarantees in the US
  • Very fast Bitcoin payouts within 1 hour

Quick hits from my ACR Poker review

Payout Speed

Fish Rating

Mobile Poker

8.1

Rating

Well-rated aside from allowing HUDs

100%

Bonus

Double bonus for Bitcoin deposits

#2

Traffic

Second-highest player traffic in the US market

2001

Open Since

I've played on this network since 2005

Yes

USA Players

ACR Poker has always accepted players from US

BetOnline Poker

BetOnline Poker

BetOnline has settled into a niche as one of the best online poker sites, offering quick payouts, new software, a very good mobile interface, and decent cash game traffic. Although the players aren't quite as bad as they used to be, I've played poker at BetOnline for years and have consistently rated them highly.


Although you have to request them manually, BetOnline has some of the largest poker bonuses, valid up to $1,000 if you're willing to play to cash it all out. They're also now one of the best poker sites on mobile, easily showing hands from multiple tables.

  • Processes nearly 100% of US credit cards
  • Supports Bitcoin ​and several cryptocurrencies
  • Active poker tables up to the $5/10 NL level
  • New excellent mobile poker software for iOS and Android

Quick hits from my BetOnline Poker review

Payout Speed

Fish Rating

Mobile Poker

8.0

Rating

#4 in my poker site rankings

100%

Bonus

Valid for up to $1,000 extra

#3

Traffic

Currently third in cash game traffic in the US

2011

Open Since

I've played at this poker site since its launch

Yes

USA Players

BetOnline allows players from 49 states

Sportsbetting

Sportsbetting Poker

SportsBetting Poker wouldn't score highly if originality mattered, as it's a carbon copy of BetOnline on the same online poker network. Sportsbetting is still one of the best poker sites overall and is worth mentioning in such a limited American market.


The same excellent credit card processors processors apply, with deposits almost never declined and no extra fees added. Other main positives include a high volume of cash tables and one of bigger bonuses online.


Online poker players are allowed to have an account both here and at BetOnline with the benefit being that you’re able to earn any deposit bonus or promotion twice.

  • Same poker site network, same benefits as BetOnline
  • Lowest credit card decline rate in US
  • Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies
  • New real money mobile poker software

Quick hits from my Sportsbetting Poker review

Payout Speed

Fish Rating

Mobile Poker

7.5

Rating

Strong ratings aside from HUD blocking

100%

Bonus

Valid for up to $1,000 extra

#3

Traffic

Third in real money game traffic in the US

2012

Open Since

I've reviewed this poker site since its launch

Yes

USA Players

Sportsbetting draws most of its players from the USA

Black Chip Poker

Black Chip Poker

Black Chip Poker is follows the quintessential “skin” online poker site formula: share tables and tournaments with the flagship brand in ACR Poker and reap the benefits. My poker site review shows their bonus at 100% with a large cap at $1,000 if using a bonus code. High-stakes players will see a lot with micro-stakes players seeing very little.


The Black Chip Poker software platform is the major weakness. It works great on Windows or Mac, but not having a mobile poker site is a big fail. This poker site has solid traffic, which is higher than many of my other reviewed poker sites, and an excellent tournament schedule.

  • Part of the largest US online poker network
  • The largest real money tournaments in the market
  • Some unique features like Jackpot Poker

Quick hits from my Black Chip Poker review

Payout Speed

Fish Rating

Mobile Poker

7.4

Rating

High ratings aside from lack of mobile

100%

Bonus

Up to $1,000 extra and 4 private freerolls

#2

Traffic

Currently second in cash game traffic in the US

2012

Open Since

Launched by the poker site network owners

Yes

USA Players

They specifically market to American players

Nitrobetting Poker

Nitrobetting Poker

Nitrobetting Poker is less of an online poker site and more of an all-around Bitcoin betting solution. Nitrobetting only offers deposits, withdrawals, and bets in Bitcoin.


Nitrobetting does have a real money poker section with some fairly loose tables and daily freerolls. You also can't beat the ability to make an anonymous real money poker account without any personal information.

  • Every poker table and tournament works well on mobile
  • Real money poker with all buy-ins in Bitcoin
  • Anonymous accounts with no ID ever needed
  • Bitcoin payouts within 4-6 hours

Quick hits from my Nitrobetting Poker review

Payout Speed

Fish Rating

Mobile Poker

7.3

Rating

Traffic and bonus are the lowest scores

200%

Bonus

Bonus is only valid for casino games

Low

Traffic

Only around 10 real money tables are usually filled

2012

Open Since

Successful for sports bets and added poker later

Yes

USA Players

Games are in Bitcoin so no need to block countries

Frequently Asked Questions
✅ Are there any poker sites for real money?

Yes, many. There have been online poker sites offering real-money play since the late 1990's, with many coming and going since then. I currently trust around a dozen poker sites for real-money play based on their history, payout consistency, and my personal review of each one.

✅ What is the best online poker site?

What is considered to be the best online poker site will vary depending on what's most important to each player. I think that having profitable games, easy deposits, high traffic, and quick consistent payouts are the most important factors when grading an online poker site. I currently recommend Global Poker or Bovada Poker for American players and 888 Poker for those in the rest of the world.

✅ Is it legal to play poker online?

The answer is complicated, especially to poker players living in the United States. The simple answer is that almost all online gaming laws focus on the providers rather than the players. There have been virtually no cases of online poker players being prosecuted simply for playing. However, it's still always wise to check online gaming laws in your state, territory, or country prior to playing for real money.

✅ What is the poker online poker site for beginners?

When you're just learning to play poker, I think the best online poker site is one that's going to be simple and straightforward. As a beginner, your first goal should be to simply understand the game rules and get used to how the software works. You don't want to be distracted by software when you're making a decision that could cost you money. Every online poker site has a play money mode, which I think is best used to get a feel for that site's software. I currently recommend a poker site like Global Poker for beginners because there's nothing to download and there aren't many complex software features to overwhelm you.

I personally review all of them

Josh Reviews Online PokerMy name is Josh and I launched Beat The Fish in 2005. I’ve been reviewing top online poker sites for more than a decade. I’ve reviewed more than 60 poker sites over that time.

Every poker review you find here has been personally written by me only after I’ve played at each poker site for a number of hours.

I feel like I have a pretty strong grasp on what’s important to online poker players because I’m still one myself.

How I rate the best online poker sites

My poker review recipe follows a general format that I feel gives you the most informative cross-section possible.


Like filo dough made out of countless layers of poker site hyperbole, I want to peel back every aspect of a prospective real money poker room to cover what may be most important to you personally.


If I cover what may seem like too much detail on every online poker room, I have a better chance to review something specific that's important to every player. Even players in countries and jurisdictions that have limited poker options, you still a variety of choices in where you take your bankroll.


Here's what I include in every single poker review. The best online poker sites earn consistently high scores in most, if not every, category.

Pros and Cons

Aces and Deuces

This is at the top of each review page and gives a couple handfuls of quick pros and cons for each real-money poker site.

It serves as a quick reference for what I feel are the standout features, both good and bad.

Best Bonuses

Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses have been a staple of online poker sites since the beginning. I test every bonus, giving you a real idea of how much bonus you'll actually cash out.

Aside from the raw poker bonus amount, I also analyze a poker room's other promotions, including rewards programs and specialty tournaments.

Easiest Poker Sites

Fish Rating

If I actually had a phrase I wanted to trademark for Beat The Fish, "Fish Rating" would probably be it.

The Fish Rating has been one of the staples of my online poker site reviews since the beginning, which scored the “easiness” of a poker site.

Every poker player will have their own priorities, but this should be one of your main factors in deciding on the best new online poker home.

The higher the Fish Rating, the higher the number of poor poker players that populate the tables and give you more action.

I test multiple real-money tables at multiple limits for thousands of hands to come up with this rating.

Real-Money Deposits

Real-Money Deposits

More of a concern for USA players, I like to rate the cashier options in each poker site review and how well each one is processed.

Even for non-USA players, availability of deposit methods even at the best sites can vary considerably.​


It’s helpful to know how you can deposit before you even bother with a new site.

Payout Speed

Payout Speed and Options

Online poker players worldwide should know what to expect from the cashout process.

Payout speed is such an important factor that I simply don’t think any poker site is better than its ability to players in a timely manner.

You need to know how you can get your real money, how long it’s going to take, and that you can consistently get your money at all.

Surprisingly, this essential is left out of most poker reviews.

Tournament Review

Poker Tournaments

What is the poker site's tournaments schedule like? What are the most notable events and what is their big Sunday guarantee?

Beyond that, I like to include how many players typically enter the best tournaments, how long it takes to fill a Sit and Go, freerolls, and potential prize money overlay opportunities.

Player Traffic

Player Traffic

This is another key to online poker sites that is often overlooked or left out entirely in other reviews. Like it or not, real money player traffic can doom an otherwise-solid poker site.

You're just going to end up frustrated if you have real money at a poker site where you can’t find filled tables at higher stakes or offers paltry tournament guarantees.

I always include realistic expectations for player traffic, both for Texas Hold'em and other poker variations like Omaha.

In fact, I’ve unlisted or declined to review poker sites simply based on lack of traffic. It's that important.

Poker Software

Software and Instant Play

Yes, you’re going to want to play at poker sites with attractive software style that you won’t mind staring at for hours at a time. What about advanced features, mobile, and no-download options?

Beyond features or game speed, I like to note if poker sites use anonymous tables, offers a native Mac version, and what the mobile options are like.

Player Support

Player Support

I find numerous questions a new player might ask and contact the poker site about them in order to test how well they perform.

Additionally, any site with email-only support deserves the shame I try to give them. The best online poker sites provide numerous methods of player support.

Spotting Red Flags at Online Poker Sites

Online Poker Sites Traffic

Player traffic is an essential consideration of any poker site. I dig into not only raw player numbers, but how filled the poker tables and tournaments actually are.

Licenses of Online Poker Sites

I always review a site's official license. I'm a big fan of Bovada Poker, but they were quietly operating for real money poker play without a license. Fortunately, they've now become officially licensed from Curaçao.

The Best Online Poker Sites

I think it's important for real money players to know if an online poker site has anonymous play or allows Heads-Up Display software.

Poker Support for Real Money

I loathe when sites only give an email address for player support. I always review for alternative support methods.

Reviews for Real Players

Although I always check a poker site's real money player metrics for trends, many sites no longer provide player stats in the lobby. I always play at the tables and report my findings for player quality.

Best Poker Site Deposits

It's easy for sites to boast about quick payouts, but I dig into any predatory real money fees or delays that affect those poker payouts.

The Ugliness of Most Poker Reviews

Most reviews of online poker sites out there online these days aren’t worth their weight in 7-2 offsuits.


They're written by teams of content writers that often don’t use the English language well but are well-versed in hyperbole and exclamation points.

The most egregious offense is that what should take up the bulk of a poker review is usually missing. You know, just genuine information that could only be experienced through actual play for real money at the site.


They all follow just about the same recipe when reviewing a poker site.

Biased Online Poker Review Tartar

A common dish served at other popular online poker portals. Blend all ingredients until smooth using food processor. Serve ice-cold with a garnish of sleek infographics. Present to unwitting online poker-playing guests.

  • 1 cup PR highlights from the online poker sites themselves
  • 2 cups generic background information
  • 2 tablespoons of an exclusive poker bonus (Note: if unavailable, freerolls may be used as a substitute)
  • Hyperbole, sprinkled generously throughout to maintain unbridled positivity
  • Optional: reported experiences from actual real money gameplay

How I Look at Real Money Poker

I'm confident I can do better by you because I still personally play for real money everywhere you'll read about.


I'm skeptical. Online poker sites have to earn my trust before I recommend them to you.

I think that online poker players want unbiased, balanced, objective, and complete reviews just like any consumer buying a new car or TV would.

The most important quality in my poker site reviews is that they aren’t influenced by money and make them as honest and complete as possible.


The amount of misinformation and outright lies published online about poker sites, especially those still open to USA players, is staggering.

My Way to Judge the Best


I’ve always striven to succeed in a different way than others, whether at an online poker table or in business.


I would rather have players trust me and return for poker advice in the future than trick them into going with the site who pays me the most.

I’m an online poker player first and foremost so I evaluate poker rooms just like a normal player would: by playing real hands.

Real players risking real money don’t just look at marketing statistics, bonus numbers, or some time-limited promotion.


Real players dig deeper than a poker site's flashy design and actually experience the games.


Real players actually see how well the deposit, withdrawal, and support systems work.

For prospective online poker players looking to make an informed decision, I feel like the following questions need to be answered in a site review, at minimum.

What I always answer

  • How stable is the poker site's long-term outlook?
  • How easy is the deposit process (especially for US players)?
  • What is the current and historical delay time for player payouts?
  • How soft are the real money cash games?
  • Is there enough online poker player traffic?
  • Is the poker tournament schedule strong?
  • How easy is it to actually earn the promoted bonus money?
  • How much help is the poker support team if I have a problem?

Real Poker Player Feedback I've Gotten

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Love your poker site reviews...

I really love your poker site reviews. I just wanted to compliment you on your style of writing when you cover the games. It's easy to read, right to the point.

JAY ALDRIDGE

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You are spot on...

The strategies helped a lot along with the up to date "real deal" reviews on the poker sites and the news around the world. You are spot on regarding the reviews of the two main sites I play on: BetOnline & America's Cardroom.

ANDREW ZIMOLZAK

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Convincingly unbiased...

Honestly I'm new to online poker (as opposed to home games). BTF has more or less given me the confidence to jump into online poker as a U.S. player. The reviews of online poker sites, in particular for U.S. players, are convincingly unbiased.

A.H.

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The reviews are great...

The reviews are great. I love the site reviews, freerolls, and the Bitcoin tutorial. They are very in depth.

DAVID TRAVERSO

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Resisting the Money Bias in Online Poker

I can’t count the number of times over the years that online poker affiliate programs have tried to coerce me to increase their exposure online in return for better coverage.

I’ve had the same answer for them from the beginning: I will always be in charge of reviewing the best online poker sites my own way and I will rank them the best way I see fit.

If that costs me whatever reward a poker site is holding hostage, then so be it.

My Philosophy and Experience

I’ve reviewed more than 60 websites offering online poker games since 2005 and rejected more than that.


These are the poker sites I currently rate and review:

  • Bovada
  • Ignition
  • BetOnline
  • ACR Poker
  • Sportsbetting
  • Black Chip Poker
  • Nitrobetting
  • Everygame
  • Global Poker
  • 888 Poker
  • partypoker
  • Pokerstars

I don’t hesitate to remove any online poker website that has massive withdrawal issues, has hard evidence against it of cheating, or any other issue that makes me too uncomfortable to give my recommendation.

Combined with the closure of many of my former best-rated poker sites the current list stands at under a dozen destinations. However, I believe that these are the best in the real money poker market, each for different reasons.

I hope that you find something useful in my online poker coverage that helps you be more informed about your current online poker home or a prospective new one.


At the very least, know that my poker coverage comes from the honest experiences from a fellow poker player.

16 thoughts on “Honest Online Poker Ratings”

  1. Just now getting my feet wet with real money. Your reviews are fantastic! I wish for others that your link was at the top of a Google search. Thanks. :-)Shawn

    Reply
  2. Like your review. Bovada and Ignition limit me 4 sit and goes. unable to play both sites at the same time. Are they the same site????

    Reply
    • Appreciate it, Jeff! Yes, both Bovada and Ignition are on the same network. That means that all cash game, Sit and Go, and multi-table tournaments are shared. You won’t be able to play at both at the same time as a security measure. They don’t want you occupying more than one seat at any given table or tournament.

      Reply
  3. I am so glad to find your site. I am fairly new at playing online and I am currently playing Poker Stars, no money, but I have gotten very frustrated by it because I can’t count how many flush hands and straight hands I have been beaten by trips. I will also get beat by an A-6 when I had an A-9 or something similar. I am glad i found this site and I hope I can play for free for a while until I feel ready to use money. Thank you for this information.

    Reply
  4. Thanks!! I don’t know much about playing poker, let alone online, but your site is chock full of information and explains a lot of the jargon (a glossary would be helpful – my $.02). Best info I’ve seen.

    Reply
  5. At your recommendation, I tried BOVADA and was shocked that it charges a substantial fee for making deposits. Why should players pay that site to deposit money that will be make it money via its rake? Are all sites doing this?

    Reply
    • Hi Brian, thanks for your comment. That’s really too bad that you’re experiencing deposit fees on Bovada, since they’re one of the better poker sites in terms of banking.

      Which deposit method were you using? I only use Bitcoin anymore personally for many reasons, but one of them is you should never get any extra deposit fees, aside from the miner’s fee that’s part of any Bitcoin transaction.

      If you’re using a credit card, I have seen both Ignition and Bovada have a line for adding a 4.9% fee in the cashier. However, it’s always crossed out for me. I would suggest writing to the poker site support and asking them to either waive or reimburse you for the fees. They’ll probably do it.

      If you need a different poker site, one alternative is Global Poker if you’re shooting for no fees. They don’t have as many full cash tables as Bovada, but they’ll work directly with your bank account with no fees.

      I hope that helps a bit. All the best to you out there!

      Reply
  6. Josh,
    Your research looks great and well thought out. The big issue I have with any of the sites is getting them $. I have run into many issues where my bank wont, and my credit card won’t. If you have any information on sites that are easy to get funds to, that would really help. I have no issue writing a check if needed. I am in VA, but looks like I can get to many of the online sites legit. Any thoughts from an expert like you would really help. Thanks Bill

    Reply
    • Hi Bill, thank you for taking the time to read and leaving a comment. I really appreciate it.

      That’s certainly a good question and you aren’t alone in your difficulty in depositing. I think you’d be best served in learning about Bitcoin, which, when you get the hang of it, is the easiest way to deal with poker sites as an American player these days. There’s certainly a learning curve, but if you can get past it, you’ll unlock quick, free, and regular deposit and withdrawals from almost every legitimate offshore poker site. I did write a huge guide here on using Bitcoin if you need help.

      If you don’t want to deal with learning something new in Bitcoin (and I wouldn’t blame you), then I think your easiest bet is just to go for Global Poker because they accept both credit cards and bank accounts without the issues you’re probably running into elsewhere. They’re technically a social sweepstakes site, so your bank and credit card should let purchases go through to them. They also redeem your winnings right back to your bank account.

      I hope that helps a bit!

      Reply
    • Hi Louis, thanks for the comment and for taking the time to read the reviews.

      In online poker language, a HUD (heads-up display) is a piece of third-party software that tracks gameplay in the online poker site’s software. Unfortunately, many of them also collect data on opponents and then display it in real-time while the HUD user is playing against them.

      In my opinion, HUDs give online poker players an uneven advantage, which is why many poker sites have taken steps to block their usage. I almost always go into detail on how each poker site handles HUDs in my reviews. I also made a page here on poker sites that prevent HUDs the best.

      As for bots, they’re essentially computers automatically playing poker at online poker sites, rather than real players. They’re run by cheaters and are against the rules of every poker site. It’s up to the poker operators to put measures in place to stop bots

      Reply
  7. Just wanted to let you know, I appreciate what you do for us common poker players.

    Knowing which sites to load up at and which ones are decent make me feel better.

    adding which ones allow HUDS and which ones does not, would be even better. I prefer those with no HUDS.

    Also which ones take a stand on battling collusions and cheating with BOTS.

    Nonetheless, no one has done your reviews as good as this and with honesty, so you are AWESOME!

    Thank You!

    Reply
    • Thanks for the comment and the kind words, Lloyd. I really appreciate.

      As for a poker site’s stance on HUDs and bots, I totally agree that it’s essential information. I almost always mention those factors somewhere in each review, but they can get buried.

      I’ll try to make them more clear since, like you, I strongly prefer poker sites that ban or limit HUDs.

      Reply
    • Thanks, Davis. I’ve always put more effort into these reviews than anything else on the site. They’re long, but I would rather over-prepare potential players than leave them with unanswered questions.

      You simply aren’t going to get the same truthful information from the PR-inspired official websites of the poker rooms themselves that you get from actually playing there.

      There’s so much to be told at any given poker site and, sadly, most other reviews out there in the wild rarely come from actual players.

      Reply

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