This article discusses the playing of online poker in the state of Nevada and some of the laws surrounding the casino game, as well as a few interesting facts. A question that many people ask is: is online poker in Nevada legal? To respond to this question simply, the answer is ‘yes’. A little-known fact […]
Nevada is one of three states to offer legal US poker sites. While in Nevada, you can legally play online poker at WSOP NV which is regulated by the Nevada Gaming Commission and Nevada Gaming Control Board. You can also now play against New Jersey players if you’re in Nevada, as WSOP announced that it had combined player pools in 2018. Online poker is regulated and legal. Current Nevada Gambling Laws In 1931, Nevada became the first U.S. State to legalize gambling, and for more than four decades it was the only state in America. Michigan Legalizes Online Poker By Dan Katz - December 24th We are approaching seven years since online poker first went live in Nevada. Since then, just three other states – New Jersey, Delaware.
This article discusses the playing of online poker in the state of Nevada and some of the laws surrounding the casino game, as well as a few interesting facts. A question that many people ask is: is online poker in Nevada legal? To respond to this question simply, the answer is ‘yes’. A little-known fact is that Nevada was actually the first state in the whole of the United States of America to legalize intrastate online poker.
Nevada is one of the most accommodating states in America when it comes to gambling, making online gambling in Nevada exceptionally popular. Online poker is also, by far the most popular game played at the online casinos that are legal in Nevada. Although Nevada does seem to be the most lenient state, the Nevada state Gaming Control board, as well as the Gaming Commission, implements very strict rules within the sphere of online gaming to ensure the safety of gaming participants and all involved.
Nevada’s Journey to Legal Online Poker
In 2011, the US Department of Justice issued a ruling with regards to the Wire Act. This Wire Act gave states control over their own laws regarding lottery sales and gambling. This was a major moment for online gambling in the US, as up until then, laws surrounding online gambling and casinos had been strictly controlled by the national government.
Once the Wire Act was passed, the state of Nevada drew up its first poker legislation. On the 22nd of December that year it was approved by the Gaming Control Board. Poker tournaments quickly became a popular activity in Nevada casinos.
Online poker was the next goal for Nevada and that goal was realized on February 25th, 2013, when legislators signed AB144. AB144 legalized online poker and sports betting, making AB144 one of Nevada’s most important online poker gambling laws.
Long before the law makers approved online poker, the Nevada Gaming Commission had been enthusiastically working on the rules and regulations for the new online industry that they hoped would include far more casino games and online casino options. As soon as the bill became law, the structures were in place to start a call to businesses for applications for licenses.
The very first company to launch an online poker site for the residents of Nevada was Ultimate Gaming in partnership with Station Casinos, who went live in April 2013. They began advertising online poker immediately and players flocked to the site. Online poker became more popular than poker played in brick-and-mortar casinos as it could be played from the comfort of your home and there were usually more playing options and lower house edges.
February 2014 was an important month for online gambling in Nevada as the governors of Nevada and Delaware signed the very first interstate online agreement, allowing players from different states to play each other. The first pools of players from the two states started playing against each other in March 2014. WSOP was the only site at the time that operated in both states so the online tournaments were held on their site.
Timeline of the History of Gambling in Nevada
1861: Strict laws were implemented and penalties put in place to attempt to control the rampant gambling in Nevada.
1864: Nevada became the 36th state in the United States of America
1909: Each and every form of gambling was made a criminal offense under the state laws.
1931: Finally, gambling was legalized. Bank Club began legal gambling in Reno and Northern Club obtained Las Vegas’ first he first Las Vegas gaming license.
1945: The State Tax Commission became a primary source for the issuing of gaming licenses once it became authorized to do so in 1945.
1946: Nevada, always a leader in gambling law, became the very first state to start taxing the gambling revenue of the state.
1959: The Gaming Control Board was made stronger by the passing of an act, which allowed a commission to be taken for ruling over disputes that arose from applicants or control board investigators.
2004: 2004 was the first year that the revenue that Nevada made through gaming exceeded $10 billion.
2011: An important year for online gambling as the US Department of Justice issued a ruling with regards to the Wire Act. The Wire Act gave states the right to create their own online lottery sales and gambling. Online poker was, in conclusion, legalized.
2013: Governor Bill Sandoval signed the bill into law that legalized the first regulated online poker sites on 21st February. WSOP and Ultimate Poker were some of the first sites to offer online poker.
2014: 2014 was another landmark year as both Nevada and Delaware signed the intrastate agreement that allowed players from different states to play against each other online. WSOP was the only site at the time that had players from both states so it shared players. Many tournaments arose, resulting in high revenue from gaming for both states.
Best Online Poker Sites in Nevada
When choosing an online casino to play poker at, ensure that the site you choose:
- Is a legally licensed site with all its regulations and necessary certificates in place
- Offers top quality promotions and welcome bonuses
- Provides a safe and secure environment
- Has a variety of types of poker games for you to choose from and enjoy
Below we have listed two of best sites that meet the standards mentioned above and that offer online poker in Nevada:
BETONLINE.AG
Betonline.ag is one of America’s most popular online casino sites and it accepts players from all US States. It does also accept international players but the site was built primarily for American players. Betonline.ag is a trusted name in the industry as it has had over two decades worth of experience. They are famed for their generous welcome bonuses and other monthly, prizes. This is a great site for both novice and professional players.
SPORTSBETTING.AG
Sportsbetting.ag is another popular site that accepts players from all 50 states. The site is completely regulated and licensed and is known for being one of the safest sites available. The poker section is particularly impressive, as is the sports and racing sections. Sportsbetting.ag doesn’t have quite as much experience as Betonline.ag but it is still a great online casino with an upbeat brand.
Online Poker Rules and Regulations in Nevada
It is imperative to be aware of all the rules and regulations in place before playing; the most important include:
- You need to be 21 or older if you want to play online poker in Nevada. This rule is very strict and minors playing online poker will not be tolerated.
- You are able to play online poker for free from anywhere in the world but if you want to play for real money you need to be within the United States, and preferably within your own state.
- You are able to deposit funds into your online casino account at the cashiers in the affiliated brick and mortar casinos.
- Player to player transactions are illegal.
Future of Online Poker in Nevada
The future of online poker in Nevada is a difficult one to predict. There are only two sites up and running, in the four years since the launch of the industry, it is not clear if other sites will go through with the process of applying to operate in Nevada.
Many businesses have previously attempted to create partnerships by creating free online poker but no new real money sites offering online poker have been successful. However, things do seem to moving in a positive direction for online poker after the online poker liquidity agreement, which is one of the newest Nevada online poker gambling laws. The growth of popularity of online poker is a factor that will definitely assist online poker in Nevada to move forward.
Which Other Types of Gambling Are Legal in Nevada?
- Lotteries: Surprisingly, lotteries are illegal in Nevada. Although 42 US states allow lotteries, Nevada isn’t one of them. Firm laws are in place regarding lotteries and it would take time for them to be amended.
- Sports betting: The only state where sports betting is legalized happens to be Nevada. Nevada was excluded from the Sports Protection Act in 1992, which banned sports betting in all states except for Nevada. This was because Nevada had a sports betting infrastructure in place. Sports betting has many strict rules surrounding it and is heavily policed and taxed.
- Live Poker: Live poker games are legal in Nevada. Both card-rooms and casinos are licensed in Nevada, as well as gambling games at home so long as no person or group is making a profit from the organization of the poker games or other gambling-style games.
- Bingo games: Charity gambling laws in Nevada permit for both bingo and raffles to be played, which are both exceptionally popular in the state of Nevada. The online bingo options, however, are very limited for the time being.
Nevada is one of the many states pushing hard to regulate online poker and get online poker laws passed throughout the country. It makes sense, since Nevada is the state that started it all in America. However, for the time being, no such laws or regulations are in place that direct specifically to online gambling for residents of Nevada.
While you may be confused or even concerned that playing online poker for real money while residing in Nevada may be illegal, your concerns should disappear after reading this article. Below, we attempt to answer all the questions you may have in regards to playing online poker. We even recommend places to play if you live in Nevada that are 100% legal and safe to play at.
How To Play Legal Online Poker In Nevada
If you played online poker before, you should be familiar with how it all works. Before Black Friday and for much of the decade, playing online poker for anyone was quite simple and safe. You simply chose a room to play at, created an account and deposited money.
If you remember how to do all that, you can play online poker in today’s world as well. It works almost exactly the same with the exception of different sites to choose from. In reality, all you need is a computer and know your personal information. If you can click a few buttons and type in your information, you could be playing online poker again in minutes.
Are There Legal Online Poker Sites That Accept Nevada Residents?
Just about all sites that accept players from the U.S.A. will take players from Nevada as well. While some sites may only accept rest of world players, you can still find an abundance of poker rooms that are willingly and safely accepting players from Nevada.
In addition to that, there was a piece of legislation passed in Nevada in 2013 that allows for legal online poker to be conducted. The online poker is not unrestricted to all sites though currently, but it also opens up for the future and expansion of online gambling within the state, in particular poker since it is at the forefront of the new rules surrounding it.
Helpful Pages: Best Online Poker Sites accepting USA Players
Is Online Poker Legal in Nevada?
This question is a little tricky to answer, but there is a clear and concise conclusion that you may be happy to hear. It used to be that there were no laws in place that made online poker legal in Nevada. However, that all changed under Assembly Bill 114, which allows for limited legal online poker as it stands now. Though the precise language mentions 'interactive gaming' which leaves room for more than just poker to be deemed legal in the eyes of Nevada gaming laws.
It was definitely a big win for online poker advocates, and not only in the state of Nevada. This legislation could pave the way for other states to do this as well, and in fact, enter into an agree with Nevada to help regulate their online gaming practices as well should they want to give it the green light.
Nevada Online Poker Sites
What Nevada also hopes for is the inclusion of an interstate network that would allow residents from outside the state to participate in state-regulated sites. For this to transpire, a couple of things need to happen. First, other states would have to pass online poker regulation that would set up websites within that area. Second, any states that pass online poker laws making it legal to regulate would then have to pass a law allowing for interstate sites for residents in other states in which Internet poker is legal.
The state that appears closest to this would be on the other side of the country. New Jersey has legalized online gambling in their state, with poker a large portion of that. Currently, the New Jersey online casino project caters just to residents in the state. Ideally, if the two were to work out an interstate network, then residents in both states would have access to all of the online poker sites in Nevada and New Jersey.
Helpful Article: Is poker legal?
What Do The Online Poker Laws In Nevada Say?
In short, Nevada's online poker laws say that it is now legal for Nevada residents to play online poker at regulated websites. The state of Nevada is in charge of licensing those websites and making sure they adhere to strict standards before they are offered as an option to its residents or guests. Furthermore, online poker laws in Nevada say that other states can have Nevada regulate their online poker games as well... if that is what they choose to do, but who else knows gambling better than the state of Nevada?
Regulation Of Legal Online Poker In Nevada
When it comes to online poker, Nevada was fiercely pushing to become the first state to legalize and regulate the game. Many of the top casinos have already partnered up with top names in the online industry. It was a matter of time before online poker is running rampant once again in Nevada.
And that came true with Assembly Bill 114 that legalized it in the state, albeit limited. It's still a guess as to the number of people that it will attract and it's in the infancy stage. And really those who follow the issue knew it was only a matter of time before Nevada went for it, especially given the fact that New Jersey was on top of legalizing online gambling in their state as well.
Best Online Poker Sites That Accept Nevada Residents
While playing at Poker Stars or Full Tilt is out of the question at the moment, you still have a decent amount of options that are comparable to the big names. Some of the names you may have already heard of and are not just an overnight sensation.
Many of the poker rooms available to Nevada residents have bigger bonuses and valuable promotions than you may have seen pre-Black Friday as well. The market may be smaller for choices, but the American public still wants to play poker. With a smaller number of sites competing for this business, the war to gather up players benefits you.
One of the better sites around that has a wealth of bonuses and plenty to offer is: Bovada. This room is geared towards the American player and offers a wide selection of deposit options to make getting money on and offline relatively quick and easy.
They also have new member bonuses that can be worth up to $1,000. The tables are filled with loose and reckless players making it easy pickings for a solid player. If anyone tells you that poker is dead in America, just show them your winnings after playing at Bovada, and they will quickly retract that statement.
One of the most popular poker rooms available to residents of Nevada which is also home to thousands of players from around the globe is BetOnline. This is a site that offers their account holders many different types of poker games spanning a variety of formats as well. No matter the type of poker player that joins BetOnline, there will be an area of the poker room that will fit what they are looking for.
BetOnline has recently formulated a new poker promotion as well. This promo offers new signups a 200 percent match bonus upon a first deposit of $50 or more into an account. To claim the bonus, users must email BetOnline (freeplay@betonline.ag) with the subject line POKERNEW, and the appropriate amount of funds will be awarded to that player to use. The maximum bonus is capped at $2,500.
Regulated Poker Sites For Nevada residents - We Do Not Play Here!
UltimatePoker - The first regulated poker site in Nevada since the passing of Nevada Assembly Bill 114 is UltimatePoker. This site gives players the full range of motion when it comes to poker that's offered. Completely regulated by the state of Nevada, players get the chance to play at a U.S.-based site. New signups can get up to a $500 bonus on their first deposit... this 100 percent match offer requires a minimum deposit of just $50 to qualify.
WSOP - Getting access to the most recognizable name is poker now comes with a real-money option. Regulated out of Nevada, WSOP.com has their newest section; playing online poker for cash. A simple download of the software is required to begin following the creation of an account. Players eligible must be at least 21 years old to play and agree to the terms and conditions established on site. A full selection of tables an tournaments covering limits that fit any budget will highlight the user-experience.
Online Poker In Nevada
Final Thought About The Nevada Online Poker Laws
New York Online Poker Legislation
For the person who likes to play online poker and lives in Nevada, it's a good time. Although, it wasn't as if playing at an Internet poker room was difficult to do prior to the passage of the law. There were plenty of offshore sites that Nevada players could sign up for and play. But now that it's been legalized in the state under the new legislation, it opens the doors for some new and exciting developments for the game, and those who love playing it.