About Us

Best Poker Sites exists to help US poker players compare where to play online without wading through operator marketing copy themselves. We look at the sites regulars actually talk about — traffic, game formats, rake, bonuses, deposit and withdrawal methods — and put that information side by side so you can make your own call on where to sit down.

What We Actually Do

We research and compare real money poker sites and apps available to US players, then rank them against each other on the factors that matter once you get past the sign-up screen: how active the player pool is at your stakes, what formats are on offer, how the rake and rakeback work, how fast withdrawals actually move, and what a welcome bonus really costs you to clear. We're not a poker school and we assume you already know how to play — our job is comparing operators, not explaining the rules of No Limit Hold'em or Pot Limit Omaha.

How We Score and Rank Sites

Our editorial ratings are built from a consistent set of criteria applied to every operator we cover, not from how much a site pays us. Commission never buys a higher position on this site. The factors we weigh include:

• Player traffic and liquidity — how many players are typically seated, and how that affects table availability at different stakes
• Game variety — cash games, multi-table tournaments, Sit & Gos, and fast-fold or Spin & Go style formats
• Rake and rewards — the rake structure, rakeback, and loyalty programme value where it's disclosed
• Bonus terms — the size of a welcome offer weighed against its playthrough or clearing requirements, not the headline number alone
• Payments — the deposit and withdrawal methods on offer and how quickly cash-outs are typically processed
• Software and mobile experience — client stability and how well the iOS and Android apps hold up at the tables
• Support and trust signals — how contactable customer support is, and what's disclosed about licensing and fund handling

We reassess this information periodically, and this page was last fact-checked on Sep 9, 2026. Poker operators change bonuses, promotions, and terms often, so always confirm the current offer and its conditions directly with the operator before you deposit.

Where Our Rankings Come From — and How We're Funded

Best Poker Sites is a comparison site, and some of the operators we list — including names like Coinpoker, Bovada, and Americas Card Room — may pay us a commission if a reader signs up through a link on this site. That relationship never decides where a brand sits in our rankings; it only exists because it's how independent comparison sites like this one stay running. Any welcome bonus or deposit match we mention is quoted alongside the material conditions attached to it — minimum deposit, wagering or playthrough requirements, and any time limit — because a bonus figure on its own tells you nothing about what it actually costs to unlock.

Regulation, Eligibility, and Playing Legally

Online poker in the US is regulated on a state-by-state basis rather than nationally, and legal availability varies depending on where you live. Where a site is licensed for real money play, we note it as part of that operator's review — we don't claim a licence or state approval for a site unless it's been disclosed to us. It's the player's responsibility to check that real money poker is legally available in their state and to only play on sites that accept players from their location.

Every site listed here is intended for adults only. Most regulated US states set the minimum online gambling age at 21, though a small number set it at 18 — check the age requirement that applies in your state before registering anywhere. Nothing on socialyy.com is written for, or intended to reach, anyone under the applicable legal age.

Playing Within Your Means

Poker is a game of skill mixed with variance, and even strong players lose sessions and stretches. We don't present real money poker as a source of income or a way out of financial pressure, and nothing on this site should be read that way. If you're playing, only stake money you can afford to lose, take regular breaks, and avoid chasing losses. If gambling stops feeling like entertainment, free and confidential support is available through the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER. Our responsible gambling page has more detail on setting limits and where to find further help.

Questions About This Site

If something on socialyy.com looks out of date, or you want to flag an operator detail we should double-check, our contact page has the details for getting in touch. Our full terms and conditions cover how the site operates and how our content should be used.