Following Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 victory at the World Series of Poker and the subsequent “poker boom” that followed, the unregulated online market thrived. However, setbacks were bound to happen. In response to the proliferation of unregulated online poker, Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006, forcing a number of sites out of the U.S. market. Several big guns, including PokerStars, chose to roll the dice, remaining accessible to U.S. players. It bought them a few years, but ultimately online poker in the United States was due for another reckoning.

On a critical day, the FBI, as part of an ongoing investigation, shut down the largest U.S.-facing poker sites and blocked their access to American players. The companies were forced to cease operation in the territory and players here struggled to retrieve their accounts refunded. It was a notable event.

After several months, legal, regulated online poker finally arrived in the U.S. in 2013. This version 2.0 of the industry saw particular states managing online poker sites within their own specific ring-fenced borders. Recently, the vast majority of the country still has limited access to legal online poker, but the outlook brightens. It marked a significant change.

When you are in a different poker market or one for the future, we will keep you up to date with major updates, legislative developments, and comprehensive information on the world of online poker.

After an initial flurry that saw three states (New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware) legalize online poker within their borders in 2013, it’s been slow going for the industry.

In fact, it wasn’t until 2017 that a fourth state, Pennsylvania, chose to regulate the game. Further, it took until November 2019 for the first hands to be dealt in the Keystone State. The newest state to join the legalized online poker “game” is Michigan. Legal, regulated online poker went live in the Wolverine state on January 29, 2025. West Virginia passed legislation authorizing online poker but virtual hands have yet to be dealt in the state.

So whose next in line? Now that online gambling (particularly sports betting) is becoming more widely accepted, it’s possible that more states will move towards regulated online poker. However, as we’ve seen, it isn’t always a quick process.

To find out whether online poker is legal and regulated in your state, waiting in the wings, or being debated by legislators, check out our map below:vir