About Us

Best Poker Sites exists to help US poker players cut through marketing claims and find operators worth their time and money. We compare real money poker sites and apps on the things that actually decide a good experience — traffic, game variety, rake, payment options and mobile play — and we lay that comparison out plainly, without the fluff.

We are not a poker site. We do not deal cards, hold player funds, or run tournaments. What we do is research the operators available to US players, track what they offer, and rank them so you can spend less time hunting and more time deciding where to sit down.

What We Actually Compare

Poker players are not a single audience. A recreational player wants an easy sign-up and soft games. A grinder wants traffic, rake structure and rakeback. A bonus-hunter wants to know exactly what a promotion costs to clear. Our reviews try to serve all three by looking at:

• Player traffic and liquidity — how much action there is at different stakes, and how that affects game selection and wait times
• Game formats — cash games, multi-table tournaments, Sit & Gos, and fast-fold or Spin & Go style formats where offered
• Rake and rewards — how rake is structured and what a loyalty or rakeback scheme actually returns to a player over time
• Welcome bonuses and promotions — including the deposit match required, the playthrough or clearing conditions, and any time limits attached
• Payment methods — cards, ACH transfers, e-wallets, crypto and prepaid options where available, along with typical withdrawal timing
• Software and mobile experience — how the client performs on desktop and on iOS or Android, and whether HUD or tracking software is supported
• Licensing and eligibility — where the operator is licensed or regulated, and whether it accepts players from your state

How We Score and Rank Sites

Every site on Best Poker Sites is scored against the same criteria above. We weigh traffic and game variety heavily for grinders, and bonus terms and ease of use heavily for newer players, then blend those into a single editorial rating. That rating reflects our own research and judgment — it is not a customer review score, and it is never for sale. Placement on this site is not paid for, and commission does not buy a higher position. If an operator falls short on licensing clarity, payment speed, or bonus transparency, we say so, including for the sites at the top of our list.

Because US online poker is regulated on a state-by-state basis rather than federally, availability varies. We note where a site's reach may be limited and encourage readers to confirm their own state's rules before signing up.

Our Commercial Relationships

Best Poker Sites earns revenue through affiliate partnerships with some of the poker sites we cover. If you click through from this site and sign up, we may receive a commission. This arrangement never determines how a site is scored or ranked — our ratings are based on the criteria above, applied consistently, and operators cannot pay to improve them.

Playing Within Your Limits

Poker is a game of skill against other players, but outcomes are never guaranteed, and no amount of skill removes the risk of losing money. We do not present poker as a source of income, and nothing on this site should be read as a promise of winnings. Every bonus we mention comes with wagering, time, or eligibility conditions, and we try to state those alongside the offer rather than burying them elsewhere.

Real money poker is legally restricted to adults aged 21 and over in most regulated US states, with a small number setting the age at 18 — always confirm your own state's minimum age and rules before playing. If gambling stops being fun or starts to feel like a problem, free confidential support is available around the clock through 1-800-GAMBLER. Our Responsible Gambling page has further guidance and resources for setting limits and recognizing warning signs.

Questions About Our Reviews

If something on this site looks out of date, or you think we've missed a detail that matters, we'd rather hear about it than leave it uncorrected. You can reach us through the Contact Us page, and our Terms and Conditions set out how the site itself is meant to be used.