Online Poker For 18-Year Olds
If you’ve arrived on this page, chances are you are looking for poker sites that accept players who are legal adults, but not yet 21. If that describes you, then you’re in luck because this guide to 18+ online betting has all the information you need to find a legit poker room that offers real money Texas Hold’Em, Omaha, Hi Lo, and other popular games.
Believe it or not, but there are legal online poker rooms that accept 18+ gamblers across the entire United States. On this page you’ll be able to learn more about these online poker options, and what laws are in play in your state.
Bovada – Best 18+ Online Poker Room For US Players
💵 Poker Bonus
100% Max $500
💵 Sportsbook Bonus
50% Max $1,000
💵 Casino Bonus
125% Max $3,750
Is Bovada Poker legal for 18+ USA Players?
Yes! Bovada online poker rooms are legal for US players as there are no federal gambling laws that make them illegal. Only a handful of states have authorized domestic online poker options, therefore many US players are forced to access 18+ legal online poker sites outside the state.
Online poker players have more options and variety regarding gaming and buy-ins. You will also find that Bovada offers a downloadable poker app where players can easily access the tables and the tournaments.
- License Jurisdiction: Curacao eGaming
- VIP Program: Yes
Can You Play Poker At 18 In The USA?
Yes. Players in the USA that are between 18 and 20 can legally play real money poker at local retail venues or at online poker rooms depending on what state you intend to gamble in. Here is a brief rundown of domestic and offshore poker in the United States.
- Domestic – There are a few states that permit eighteen and older gamblers to play real money poker via in-person locations. Domestic online poker at the age of 18 is not allowed in any state in the USA.
- Offshore – Online poker rooms that base their operations in regulated international gaming regions are able to accept you as a member at the age of 18 and allow you to play real money games. This is because offshore poker sites exist outside of US laws, so these sites are able to allow 18+ American gamblers to partake in real money games without violating state or federal regulations. Only the state of Washington has an active prohibition on all online gaming, but it is expected to be lifted soon once web-based gambling debuts.
Is Online Poker Legal At Eighteen?
Yes, but not from any local, state-licensed gambling sites. 18 and over online poker play is exclusively offered in the USA via offshore poker rooms like the ones we have included on this page. The 18+ online casinos and poker destinations listed in our guides are located offshore and are not governed by state or US federal laws.
While it may not be legal to operate an 18+ poker site inside any US state, there are no state or federal laws (outside of WA) prohibiting US players from accessing online poker sites that are operating legally outside of the US within their own gambling jurisdictions.
Our recommended poker sites are all licensed and regulated through respected, legal gambling jurisdictions that employ strict licensing requirements that meet international regulatory standards in all regards. Some members of our team have been playing real money online poker at these specific poker rooms for more than a decade and are intimately familiar with their legitimacy and credentials.
Where Can I Play Poker At 18?
Players who are 18 and up are always welcome at the premium online poker rooms featured on this page. They are all operating outside of the United States legitimately within a legal gambling jurisdiction that is strictly regulated and that imposes stringent licensing requirements. Their offshore status allows them to open their virtual doors to 18+ players without violating any local gambling laws. They are also highly regarded as industry leaders for the online poker gambling market.
If you’re looking for an in-person poker room that allows 18-year-olds to play for real money, there are some states where its legal. California, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Wyoming feature brick-and-mortar poker rooms that are open to under 21 players. Brick-and-mortar poker rooms reserve the right to restrict entrance to those under 21 if they serve alcohol. We always suggest checking with the venue before traveling there just to make sure they really allow 18+ poker.
How To Play Poker Online
We’ve already done most of the leg work for you by providing detailed reviews of the best 18 and over online betting sites and poker rooms in the industry. You’ll notice our list of recommendations is not really very long. This is because we’re really picky about who we promote. We only include sites here that we ourselves play real money poker at. You’re not going to see any brand listed on this page that doesn’t welcome 18+ players or that we don’t trust with our own cold hard cash. You could say we put our money where our mouth is.
Once you select which poker site appeals to you, all that remains for you to do is create a membership and deposit funds into your accounts. This is a process that can be completed within just a few minutes by doing the following:
- Choose the poker site that you want to join. Use the link provided on this page for easy, one click access, and then select the “join” button at the top of the page.
- Take a few minutes to submit your personal account information and create a secure login that will be difficult to guess.
- Make your first deposit by uploading funds into your account and consider taking advantage of one of the poker bonus offers or promotions that will match a percentage of your deposit.
- Once you’ve got some money uploaded to your account, you can then access the poker site’s lobby and decide if you want to download their full poker client with their entire range of features, or enjoy their instant play options which will be a lighter version, but definitely a top shelf experience in its own right.
Best Online Poker Apps For 18 To 20
As of May 2024, there are no domestic poker apps available to 18-plus players in the USA. That’s not true when it comes to offshore real money poker applications. The sites listed here allow 18 and over gamblers to play poker on smartphones and tablets across the entire United States, with no download required.
To access any of these web-based poker apps, while on this page on your mobile phone or tablet, simply click on a link for one of the poker sites you see listed. You’ll be able to sign up for an account, make deposits and request payouts, play real money games, and join poker tournaments directly on your mobile device. You’ll also be surprised how beautifully the gaming interface is rendered on your devices as well.
Types Of Real Money Poker Games Available
- Texas Hold’Em – Arguably the most popular real money poker game, this involves all players receiving two cards face down, with five cards dealt face up. Players combine their two hole cards with three face up cards to create the best five-card poker hand. There are many variations offered for Hold’Em.
- Omaha – This game works a lot like Texas Hold’Em but each player receives 5 hole cards.
- Hi Lo – Also known as Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud Hi-Lo, and Eight or Better, Hi Lo is a game where the highest and lowest hands can split the pot. To win the low portion of the pot, all five cards must be an eight or lower. If no low hand qualifies, the high hand wins the entire pot.
- Poker Tournaments For 18-Year-Olds – Each of the offshore poker sites we mention here offers you the chance to compete in online poker tournaments. All types of tourneys are available, from free fifteen minute sit and go’s to high-stakes poker tournaments that last for days. Each of our top online poker rooms has a schedule posted so that players can see the upcoming tournaments that are being offered to the site’s 18 and older clientele. There are also tournaments that allow you to win seats at notable face to face tournaments, such as the WSOP in Las Vegas. In fact, Chris Moneymaker was one of the first players to win the WSOP after having won his seat in a tournament at an offshore online poker site.
Texas Hold'em
Omaha
Poker Tournaments
Zone Poker
Jackpot Sit & Go
Best Online Poker Bonus Offers for Players 18 and Over
New players who are 18 and up are eligible for poker promotions that offer a ‘welcome bonus’, also referred to as a poker sign up bonus, which provides some free cash to your account based on the amount of your initial deposit and how many hands you play.
The actual bonus amounts vary from site to site, but you’ll find they each offer a sign-up bonus, and its not uncommon to see some reload bonuses and special promotions out there as well for subsequent deposits.** 18+ online sports betting sites and casinos often offer welcome bonus options typically higher than poker bonuses.
These offers are typically structured as deposit match offers, meaning the poker site offers to match a specific percentage of your deposit up to a maximum designated amount. For example, as of this writing, the Bovada poker bonus offers new members a 100% deposit matching bonus that maxes out at $500. So if you deposit $100 into your account, you’ll be awarded $100 in free bonus cash incrementally as you play.
The more hands you play, the more bonus money is released into your account. The maximum bonus in this example is $500 – so if you deposit $500 or more into your account, your bonus cash would top out at an additional $500. There is also a limited number of days to collect, with the typical deadline being 30 days.
While it can be a bit of a bummer to have to earn your free cash, there are no additional terms to complete upon receipt, with no other playthrough requirements. The money is real and withdrawable as soon as it hits your account.
Poker Bonus Codes For May 2024
- Bovada: 100% Max $500, Bonus Code: PWB500
- BetOnline: 100% Max $1,000, Bonus Code: POKER1000
- SportsBettingAG: 100% Max $1,000, Bonus Code: NEWSB
** There are instances where you’ll need to use a poker bonus code – so be sure to read through the bonus terms before finalizing your deposit so you don’t miss out!
Online Poker Deposit Options
While an expansive banking suite is always nice, a handful of options can be enough if the most preferred funding methods are included. Eash site featured in this guide accepts credit cards, debit cards, and a variety of cryptocurrency, with additional deposit options that vary from site to site.
Most major credit/debit card brands are accepted, but there are typically fees associated with deposits by both the lending institutions and the poker sites. Some gambling sites allow third-party companies and person-to-person vendors to handle deposits using most major services like PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Cash App, Vouchers, Matchpay, and more.
The best and most secure way to fund poker accounts is with cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or one of the various altcoins they support. No fees are attached, and deposits are added to bankrolls nearly instantly. Using crypto can also lead to enhanced bonus offers due to poker sites’ preference for players using this option. Each of our featured poker sites offers a comprehensive tutorial on their website for getting started with cryptocurrency, how to purchase BTC and other coins, as well as how to send it to your poker account and request withdrawals.
Online Poker Payout Options
There are usually far fewer withdrawal methods at poker sites than are presented for deposits, and that’s really because payouts can not be charged back to credit or debit cards due to banking regulations in the US. Some sites feature P2P companies, third-party transfers, bank wires, and check by courier.
If you want to get same day payouts from any online poker site, use cryptocurrency to request your withdrawal. Crypto caries no fees from the poker room side and is the only option for getting your winnings paid out quickly.
