Strong poker ties ensure that Nevada represents internet poker without doubt or question. Poker has been Nevada’s heartbeat for nearly 5 decades. Las Vegas casinos host the planet’s busiest and highest stakes games. Plus, World Series of Poker is hosted in the state every year.
It came as no surprise that Nevada became one of the first states legalizing online poker in 2013. A subsidiary of Station Casinos opened one of the first Nevada Online Poker Sites, Ultimate Poker. Two other sites that launched ceased operations with online home of World Series of Poker, WSOP.com still going strong.
Nevada is representing online poker’s future when you consider it is the first US state to obtain licensing and regulations. A question players ask especially when they are used to land-based play as opposed to online casino poker; is how do we choose a legal online poker site?
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While an obvious answer should be looking for licensing other factors are equally important to consider.
Reviewing Nevada Online Poker Sites, we look at more than licenses and pay special attention to factors that will determine your experience. Saving you research we evaluate the best online gambling sites by placing other equally important aspects under spotlight.
When you have access to World Series of Poker who has an established history and trusted name, you already take notice. WSOP is their official online site where Nevada and US players have the thrill of playing online card games for real money at a licensed platform. Significant advantages are offered with World Series of Poker backing that no other poker site has.
It is the only site in the world that can guarantee seats at one of the biggest tournaments, WSOP in Las Vegas – live – not live via casino software, but in person, you can be seated next to the world’s best players.
New players receive a welcome bonus that is split into three parts. The minimum qualifying amount is $10. It is a superior online bonus across all platforms including poker as it takes only $10 and a sign-up to qualify.
First deposit bonus – 100% matching bonus for up to $1, 000 + 7 tickets for WSOP Gold Bracelet Freerolls + $5 entry to a Blast Poker Tournament where you can win 10, 000 times $5 buy-in.
WSOP offers highest cash games and is heavily invested in tournaments. In terms of tournament types, player numbers and numbers, poker tournaments are far above any other. Every Sunday is $100K guarantee Tournament while it also hosts tournaments that are part of World Series of Poker each year, except that players participate online via the site.
World Series tournaments ranging from $500, 000 – $1, 000, 000 are also at the order of the day with players welcoming such big tournaments.
Smaller events that range from free to $500 buying are played daily while weekends featured prize pools of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Other freezeout tournaments, super turbos, turbos, knockouts, all-in tournaments, shorthanded events, deep stacks, re-buys and even team event are hosted regularly.
Each day dozens of tournaments in a variety of formats continue throughout a day.
New players automatically belong to the loyalty program when they join WSOP. With each participation in tournaments and cash games, players earn 2 points for every $1 played.
The main industry software developer of most legal and top recommended poker sites is 888 Poker. With its own thousands of players, it also developed software for other industry giants including WSOP.com.
Poker is under Nevada Law through the Gaming Control Board.
WSOP has excellent mobile play with native downloadable apps on their website. Software is compatible with Mac, Pc, Android and iOS. Apple players will find the app at Play Store while Android player accesses it via WSOP.com. or from Google Play.
It offers an easy to use, fast and clean interface with a professionalism that you expect from a poker giant. Download and install software to make payments and play real money games. New players will see beginners’ tables to familiarise themselves with the app to play card games. It also features a quick seating option where you choose the game type first as well as bet limits and the app will automatically choose an appropriate table.
Seasoned players can choose their table by accessing all games. Here all games are listed as well as how many players are already seated at the tables as well as player activity and pot sizes.
Players who access regulated, state-licensed sites must adhere to Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) rules and regulations. These are set for both players as well as sites. Included are:
Deposits and withdrawals are straightforward once the software is installed on desktop or mobiles. Five payment methods are accepted.
Las Vegas casinos to use include:
PayPal, Casino Cash are methods used to make withdrawals.
If you are looking around for a safe poker room where you know your money is secure, you cannot go wrong with an e-wallet, especially PayPal. Several online poker PayPal sites are available. These include Betway Poker, Ladbrokes, Betfair Poker, 888Poker, Sky Poker and WSOP.com.
It is as easy a pressing a button and your PayPal account doesn’t need to be loaded first. Choose a poker site, proceed to payments and choose PayPal as payment method. Your account will sync with PayPal and you can continue to make a deposit and follow the prompt to authorize the payment. You will complete the transaction on the site.
There might not be a state more associated with gambling and poker than Nevada. Long before fabled resorts and waves of tourism to Las Vegas, legal gambling from 1870s and up laid the foundation for Nevada to be the world’s gambling epicentre. As one of few states with licensing for online gambling only online poker and sports betting is legal.
Players with money to gamble who do not want to play poker online have plenty of options. State-wide are over 580 tables with 62 rooms all the way to Reno with Clark County claiming the most players. Out of 62 poker rooms, 38 of these are in Clark County.
In a Nevada online poker overview, it is evident that it is a game that persisted through dedication and persistence from industry leaders and US player’s desire to gamble. When the WSOP title holder of 2003 was non-other than a Tennessee resident, poker broadcasting on TV went through the roof. Chris Moneymaker won $2.5 million while the world watched and US government tried everything to control the market.
(UIGEA) Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed in 2006 which forced US banks from processing gambling transactions. Many operators were forced to remove themselves from operating in the US. However, popularity continued with giant poker rooms persisting to keep the game available in Nevada.
Two years before passing of the gambling act, top executives from the world’s best poker sites including Full Tilt and PokerStars were charged with illegal gambling charges and money laundering by the Department of Justice. This was all that was needed to close doors completely to America’s online poker.
Gambling lovers persistently tried and in 2011 when it came to light that sports betting falls under the Federal Wire Act, doors to casino sites and online poker were beginning to open again.
On February 21, 2013, online gambling in Nevada became officially legal and regulated. Assembly Bill 114 was signed into law by Gov. Brian Sandoval. It came after legal opinions were released that only sports betting fell under Federal Wire Act.
What poker industry in Nevada needed was authorization to get online operating licenses. The state of Nevada is after all one of the heaviest hitters in respect to gambling opportunities with a state-wide spread of wealth.
With a bill passed at the beginning of 2013, first online poker site in Nevada launched two months later. Ultimate Gaming was first to launch and not long after that WSOP who launched their own online platform in September 2013. A few months later in February 2014, two more opened their online poker sites; South Point Casino and Real Gaming.
Stable and strong industry leader in brick-and-mortar poker world, WSOP was the only one to remain standing. Real Gaming and Ultimate Poker both failed before the end of 2014.