It can be a challenge for potential players, especially those who live outside urban areas, to find poker games where they can hone their skills. Brick-and-mortar casinos are few and far between, and then might only be within the reach of players who live in the vicinity. Time and distance are factors that influence accessibility, and also budget.
Poker is traditionally played live, but the Internet has changed the landscape. There has been a shift to online gaming of all kinds, and poker has followed suit, making the popular card game accessible to anyone with a PC or laptop and a stable internet connection. The game has never been more accessible, and the move has changed the landscape of the game forever. A more diverse community has emerged, where before the game may have been associated with high-rollers and exclusive clubs.
When it comes to playing online poker, many questions arise. A big chunk of these are about legality. Is online poker legal? Is it legal to play poker online for money? Where is online poker legal? Well, the answers all depend on your geographical location within the US, as you’ll discover in this article. (If you already know how to register and play legal online poker at BetMGM, you can give it a skip.)
Where Can You Play Legal Poker Online in the US?
There are many states that offer live poker games, and the legislation around them is region-specific. A discussion about this demands a separate and in-depth discussion of the policies involved. This article is specifically about the legality of playing online poker.
The first question facing potential online poker players would be something like: “I’m in Michigan. Can I legally play poker online?” The short answer to this is “Yes, you can.” Michigan was the latest state to legalize online poker games. Along with Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, it makes up the six states that all offer online poker. Players over the age of 21 in these states can play different forms of poker via various online casinos. You aren’t required to be a resident of the state to play. All that is required is that you are located within the state borders at the time of play.
“That’s great. But, I’m in Delaware. There are relatively few people living here. Even with the convenience of online poker games, would I just be playing against the same players over and over again?”
The Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) attempts to address this issue by connecting poker sites across state lines, and in this way allowing the pool of poker players to grow. BetMGM is currently live in three of the six states, namely, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Michigan, with the latter two having merged poker player pools according to the MSIGA.
You may be wondering why online poker isn’t legal throughout the whole US. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 makes it challenging for gaming operators to offer services to the United States as a whole. They must deal with each state individually, and only those states with applicable laws will allow online poker as part of their gaming offerings.
Are Poker Apps Legal?
The short answer is that poker apps are legal anywhere online poker is legal – and that’s good news for all poker players. Apart from gaming websites offering a way to play poker online via an internet browser, poker apps might offer a more stable gaming experience. If you download them onto your phone, they might even make your game mobile and more convenient.
Think about all those times you have to kill time while waiting on somebody else. Instead of scrolling mindlessly through social media, with just a tap of your finger, you can log onto a poker site through an app on your phone, with access to every kind of poker game available.
From poker cash games to tournaments, from No Limit Hold’em to Pot Limit Omaha, the possibilities are endless. Choose the game that suits your circumstances at any given moment. An hour to kill? Hone your skills on a cash game where you can join and leave at your convenience. Have a bit more time? Jump into one of the many tournaments running around the clock.
Poker apps are legal in all of the six states that have legalized online poker, and, as mentioned, the BetMGM Poker app is active in three of them. Both iOS and Android applications are available for download. You can find the iOS app on the Apple Store and the Android download link on the BetMGM website. It’s the most natural way to play online poker with BetMGM.
Play Poker Online at BetMGM
Having ascertained that playing online poker is legal in the state you reside in, it’s time to find a trustworthy poker site. If you find yourself within the borders of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Michigan, a good first step would be to register with BetMGM Poker. Upon sign-up you’ll receive the BetMGM Poker welcome bonus as an incentive to kick-start your online poker journey.
