Poker: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights
We cannot stress enough how crucial it is to avoid unlicensed poker sites, even if you’re in a grey market. Some offer highly responsive live chat, while others are contactable via email or web form. We’ve reported live from the WSOP, worked with every major operator in the business, and built one of the most trusted brands in poker. BetMGM is a huge brand in the gambling industry, and this extends across to poker as well.
Tennessee, Oklahoma, Iowa Pass Anti-Sweepstakes Casino Laws
- Whether online poker is legal depends entirely on the laws of your country or region, or in the case of the United States, the state in which you reside.
- I was fifth overall out of eleven players left.
- BetRivers is making real waves in the US poker industry and is backing up its dedication to give back 100% of rake made to its players.
- A lot of these player types do not go out of their way to bluff people.
- On the one hand, this could be a strategic move to make the bill more appealing to lawmakers hesitant about online gambling expansion.
The platform is hosting two distinct Sunday Million tournaments, each boasting a $500,000 guarantee. This $150,000 GTD freeroll festival is designed to be accessible to everyone, with four free tickets credited to every player’s account daily. Originally announced last month, the move will create a single, unified home for poker, casino, and sports betting in North America. Click on an individual event and you’ll be taken straight to the tournament coverage.
Other states like Wisconsin, California, and Florida, just to name a few, are allowed to offer poker via compacts between state and tribal gaming interests. Some states – such as Hawaii, Utah, and Wyoming – have long resisted both poker and other forms of gaming due to factors such as religion and politics, which have influenced their state laws. Yes, live poker is legal in the United States in 2026, though it does vary from state to state. PokerNews’ interactive map not only shows you where you can play legal poker in the US but also poker legislation for various states. Virginia’s Sen. Mami Locke and Delegate Marcus Simon introduced an online gaming bills that have since been pushed back to 2026. Last year, PokerStars sponsored the $1m GTD Maryland State Poker Championships, with Ben Gazzola taking home $110,578 after defeating a 245-player field.
Sutthi Denvitaya was the unfortunate bubble boy, exiting in a curiously played hand. The duo battled for well over two hours, trading the lead several times after they began their heads-up match virtually even. This was the run Jeremy Je Min Chan was on, and it started at APT Incheon in this very event a year ago. Now imagine getting that close again, and again, and again, and again, coming up that one spot short each time. Sure, the money is usually pretty nice, but you want that ‘W,’ the trophy, the top prize, and all the glory.
Most sites, such as PokerStars on FanDuel, allow players to get the online poker experience for free by playing in play money ring games and tournaments. It consistently ranks as the world’s largest online poker room, with tens of thousands of players active at any time across cash games, tournaments, and unique formats like Rush & Cash and All-In or Fold. Some sites share online poker liquidity with others on the same network to offer more games and larger tournament fields, while others work to attract more players to their standalone sites.
Legal online poker sites in the United States varies from state to state, but among the biggest are WSOP.com, PokerStars on FanDuel, BetMGM Poker, and BetRivers Poker. Instead, they must deal with each state individually, and only those states with applicable laws will allow online poker as part of their gaming offerings. Rising out of the ashes of poker’s Black Friday was the opportunity for state-regulated online poker sites.
The series begins with KO Games #01 – Daily Gems – Mystery Bounty, an $11 buy-in event with $11,000 guaranteed. Yes, but we recommend that you start with community card game types such as Texas hold’em poker first as they are easy to learn and get into. Each operator in a legal online gambling state has to abide by a set of regulations to remain fully licensed. We present you with the latest poker state law information and gambling regulations in each state. I like to think of it as the amount that I invest in a game of poker. In every annual poker event, huge prize pools are won by the winners.
Aside from poker games, you can also try your luck on online poker tournaments. Although there are no federal laws that prevent US players from participating and playing online for real money, you do need to keep an eye out for individual state laws as some states such as Washington may strictly prohibit online gambling. To ensure our readers only play online poker through secure sites, we maintain a constantly updated list of all available payment and deposit options for both desktop and mobile poker players in the USA so that they, too, can enjoy poker safely and not be blindsided by unsuspected negative payment processes. Our top priority is bringing our players the latest independent online poker and legal gambling news with a dedicated team that stays on the cutting edge of poker technology in order to bring you the best poker and gambling guides on the internet.
Colorado Becomes Latest State To Tighten Sports Betting Rules
If you or somebody you know may have a problem with gambling addiction, reach out to professionals such as National Council on Problem Gambling for confidential consultancy and always only play poker legally and within reasonable means. The brand-new PokerStars on FanDuel platform is available to players in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. But a major development in the U.S. occurred in April 2026 when PokerStars North America agreed to a multi-state online poker partnership with sports betting giant FanDuel. Online poker will never be the same in the US, and Black Friday remains a cautionary reminder of the devastating consequences of skirting government regulations, ignoring warning signs and improperly managing player funds. Several states have introduced online poker bills in recent years, including New York, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts.
Number of hands played heads-up after 57 were played at the rest of the final table While it took 38 hands to go from eight players to seven, it took only 16 more to reach heads-up play, setting up a memorable battle and a fitting conclusion. Molenaar peeked down at kh,kd in the big blind, covering both players. It didn’t take long to reach the money from there, with the bubble bursting on just the second hand of the final table. The players who dive in really take it very seriously and want to contribute to the team. He played with such heart the whole final table.
For some reason, neither was inducted in the first year in a long time when there was an opportunity to induct more than one player. The GGPoker pro believes the game plays directly into the post-flop instincts he’s spent a lifetime developing. It took just over three hours of play to knock out the first seven players, but McKeehen and Greufe were very deep, so finding a winner lasted even longer than that. McKeehen outlasted a wild final table that included Loni Hui, Darren Rabinowitz, Jose Nadal, Eddie Pak, and eventual runner-up David Greufe.
Game Integrity: RNGs & Anti-Collusion Tools
The biggest difference between tournaments in Asia and those in the US is that Asian players tend to play more aggressively. As if there isn’t enough live poker going on to keep players happy, PokerStars is offering the latest version of their World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP). It only took a couple of hours to go from the final seven players, blow past the final three players, and reach the final two survivors in the tournament. Arizona players received the news on Friday, just before games were shut down on Saturday, August 8. We are the number one source for poker news, gambling industry updates, reviews and free educational content for players of all levels. Here you’ll find honest reviews of all the major real money online poker sites in the US and Canada, as well as over 400 free poker strategy articles for all skill levels.
When the subject of women and poker is discussed, many think that there… Since 1854, when the California Grand Casino opened in Pacheco, poker has been established in the state. That is about all we know for the time being – complete schedule and details will be published in the coming weeks – but it enough for now for… Read more » Quarter-century of poker Online poker giant PokerStars has announced that the 25th running of the PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) will be September 6-30. Running August 16 through September 29, WSOP Online features 33 gold bracelet events and over $66 million in guaranteed prize… Read more » Flutter Entertainment, the owner of many of the industry’s top gaming products, will bring on new leadership soon.
That’s a big miss, considering how much it would boost the state’s poker scene. From Pennsylvania finally joining the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) to New York and Massachusetts making fresh moves toward legalization, there’s a lot to unpack. The PokerGO Tour heads to Houston next month for the Texas PLO Roundup, a 10-day series featuring big guarantees, high-stakes action, and plenty of Omaha excitement. Edward Jackson-Spivack capped off a strong week in Las Vegas with another CMSOP win, beating a stacked field before jumping straight into the next event.
On the flip www.pokernewsdaily.com side, Smit observed many players in the WSOP Main Event were seemingly oblivious to the moment-by-moment play of each hand. And the best players understood the difference and exploited it relentlessly. As we toured the Paris Casino ballroom together and mingled among the players, Smit confessed, “I’ve always enjoyed immersing myself into new worlds.” What would you tell young players struggling with heartbreak when a run falls short?
You must be 21 to play. Please play responsibly. The 2026 WSOP Main Event ends with 22-year-old Lucas Jumalon becoming poker’s newest world champion. The MSS events have been routinely smashing their guarantees, and the action is expected to reach new highs this weekend with some of the biggest guarantees coming up on Sunday. The first of the five episodes, called Pilgrimage, has landed on 888poker’s YouTube channel, bringing a fun and unique perspective on the 2026 WSOP Main Event experience.
Just before the flight started, a cement truck ran into a power line right outside of the venue, knocking out the electricity in the entire casino. Justin Hammer talks about the first flight of the RunGood Finale series being cancelled due to a power outage and how they went about figuring out whether to honor the guarantee. \”2004 was the only time where I felt like I am the best at this. I won like $4.5 million – the biggest buy-in was $10K.\” And he did so in an era of poker when five-figure buy-ins were far from the norm.
While PartyPoker and 888poker respected the UIGEA by no longer offering their services to US players, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and the Cereus Network (UltimateBet & Absolute Poker) continued on. Not long after, Paradise Poker debuted and for a time those two online operators were the only games on the internet. At the time, players didn’t know what would happen, and their funds, which ranged from a couple of bucks to millions of dollars, were locked in limbo.
Why should American players come to play APTs? How is the competition different from American players? With his vibrant, playful personality both on and off the tables, he’s a star in demand by fans here as well, taking time away from the tables to chat and pose for pictures. Last time on Venom, a trip of big stars were on the marquee for the two final tables. We experimented with short-form videos, guest blogs from players, including how many blinds a player had, and even just invented a recap show no one at WPT ever asked for called Jess & BJ. When people remember the boom-era WSOP, they tend to focus on famous players and televised hands.
New York isn’t the only state looking at online poker this year as seven other states have introduced similar legislation. Of all the states looking to legalize online poker, New York stands out as one of the biggest states in the country that could bring much-needed shared liquidity to US online poker. After three years of failing to get online poker through the state legislature, New York’s Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. is back asking lawmakers to bring online poker to the state’s nearly 20 million residents.
If a player can make their deposit amount go further on one site because of a generous deposit bonus, that might be the best choice. One may value certain deposit options over other factors, while another player seeks specific stakes to stay within her bankroll. Check out the reviews of any poker sites before making a commitment, as it’s always best to be fully informed. Players are not only transferring money and trusting sites to protect those funds, they also want to ensure that their private data is safe from hackers and criminals. Each of the 50 states in America have their own laws regarding poker and other forms of gambling.
In his seven-minute interview with Eskandani, who played a pivotal role in increasing the popularity of poker during the Poker Boom, the Democratic governor described joining MSIGA after a years-long fight as “common sense.” Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. Chat about topics such as position play, bankroll management and table selection.
“The launch of PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel brings together two of the most iconic names in gaming and represents a major step forward for online poker in North America.” “By combining PokerStars’ industry-leading poker experience with FanDuel’s scale and reach, we’re able to deliver bigger games, larger prize pools and a more dynamic experience,” says Dugan. For years, Pokerstars was pretty much the only game in town when it came to online poker.
High guarantees is the name of the game, and it’s certainly one tailored more towards beginners and casual players. PokerStars is the best site to play on for major tournaments series. Boosted prize pools, huge fields and unique tournament concepts and formats all make them some of the best events to play in the online calendar.
My types of mistakes in PLO are not reraising, four-betting, and all that stuff – it’s just playing too many hands, which is fine. The way I would describe it is that preflop, when you’re playing no-limit hold’em, you can make some really big mistakes. Josh Arieh is really the one who fine-tuned my PLO game over the last couple of years. Who has had the biggest influence on your PLO game? There was only one tournament, the $25K, where I had to re-enter. Daniel Negreanu has made it crystal clear that pot-limit Omaha (PLO) is his game right now.
However, it was only in June 2025 that residents of West Virginia had a legal and regulated platform on which they are able to play, following the launch of BetRivers Poker. Among Washington state casinos are Muckleshoot Casino, Tulalip Resort Casino and Emerald Queen Casino, to name just a few. There are nearly three dozen casinos in Washington operated by more than two dozen different tribes. Charities are permitted to hold bingo, raffles, and casino nights.
It’s a game where I think that people have this completely backward. A lot of people look at PLO and think it’s basically a ton of gambling with four cards. Sure, deep-stacked you can be adding some limps into your game.
You could see that he was one of the few players who was willing to bluff off 35M. What did you make of the way Saaskilahti played throughout the final table? Justin Hammer is the Live Events Director for PokerAtlas, an online tournament director for the Texas-based poker app Hijack, and a tournament director at Thunder Valley Casino Resort.
We’ve all been in a situation where we have plans, but have a couple of hours beforehand to sneak in a quick session of poker. What’s more, during series like their Bounty Hunter Series, expect added mystery bounties with even more value, boosted prize pools and enormous max bounties. Mystery bounties are becoming increasingly popular, but are more common as special events during promotional periods. This is where an element of good fortune comes into play. It’s also common for the tournament winner to receive more from the bounty for knocking out their heads-up opponent than they do from finishing in first place.
Licensed tax professional Russ Fox calculates how much the WSOP Main Event finalists take home after taxes every year. All content on this site is intended for those 21 or older or of legal gambling age in their jurisdiction. He says PLO fits his playing style because the real action is post-flop, where he feels most at home. This material may not be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder. We encourage all users to check the promotion displayed matches the most current promotion available by clicking through to the operator welcome page.