Playing Online Poker with Players From Around the World
State restrictions aside, poker players in the US can still play against other online poker players from around the world. Global trade laws means that this situation will not change. What this means for players in legal online poker states, is that you have the opportunity to sit down at a online poker room with someone from the UK or Sweden and take their money.
The best poker sites for allow American poker players to compete against other great poker players from Europe and Asia. This is one of the great attractions of online gambling, making it a truly global poker game. This is one of the reasons why online poker tournaments are so loved by American poker players.
Online Poker Bonus Codes
Competition amongst poker sites online in the US is fierce. Each of them is looking to recruit more and more players, and the best way to do this is by offering incentives. These poker bonuses can vary from operator to operator but may range from a few $$$ to several hundred dollars. Let’s take a look at the different types of online poker bonus that you may be offered.
Poker Bonus Codes
A poker bonus code is what it says. It is a code that the online casino offers to new players on initial registration that unlocks a special bonus. online poker bonus codes are great as the offers tend to be pretty generous. They will often vary depending on where you see the bonus code advertised, so always look out for the exclusive online poker bonus codes here on WiA.
Online poker bonus codes are also frequently time limited. This means that once the bonus code is gone…it’s gone! This is why, when you see an attractive online poker bonus code advertised, such as those here at WiA, you need to act fast.
Only Wager in America offers you the biggest and best online poker bonus codes that could potentially save you $1000’s! Our online poker partners have made available exclusive online poker bonus codes and welcome offers that we are passing on to you.
[Incidentally, did you know that you can find all the latest casino and sports promo codes at WiA too?]
Welcome Bonus
A welcome bonus is essentially the same, although it may or may not be paired with a bonus code. Designed to attract new players an online poker welcome bonus may offer FREE CASH to play, sometimes with NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED. Alternatively it may come in the form of a 100% deposit match bonus.
A match bonus simply means that when you make your first deposit (up to a certain amount) the operator will match this with an equivalent amount. So, for example… Deposit $50 and the operator will give you another $50 leaving you $100 to play with! Pretty awesome right?
Free poker cash is essentially just that. Online casinos may offer you free money to play at their poker tables. This could be as vouchers or tickets for tournament buy-ins, or even a $20-30 deposit direct to your player account to spend how you please. Sometimes these options are run concurrently as an Online Poker Welcome Package.
- Sign-up for your chosen casino sites from our top 10
- Choose your username and password
- Enter your personal details and ID documents
- Make your first cash deposit to your player account
- CLAIM your welcome bonus and enjoy your game!
Reload Bonus
The reload bonus is a special bonus given when you make your 2nd or 3rd deposit after registration. This bonus is only available once you have signed up for the poker site. There are a couple of ways that you may receive an online poker reload bonus. The online poker site may run promotion days and set times during which players can deposit to claim this bonus. For example… Every Wednesday between 12pm and 7pm. Alternatively you may receive regular reload bonus offers as part of your welcome package, VIP or Loyalty package or even on your birthday. This type of bonus is a terrific incentive, as you could be offered one randomly at almost any time.
VIP/Loyalty Bonus
Most poker sites offer a loyalty program. You may automatically receive loyalty or player points as soon as you register and begin playing. Or, you may have to build up a certain amount of points before you can access the VIP rewards. Either way there is a lot of value to be had from being part of the program.
The way it works is that the more you play and deposit at the poker site, the more points you will earn based on your cash play. You will earn points based on cash games and tournament buy-ins. Eventually, you will be in the position to cash these points in for prizes that could include free tournament places, merchandise, or even, when you reach superstar level, holidays or cars!
- Register an account at your preferred online poker site
- Make your first deposit
- Begin playing cash games or poker tournaments
- Bank your player points until you have enough to redeem
- Trade in your loyalty points for prizes
How to Redeem Your Bonus Code
Your online poker bonus code will usually be in the form of text, or text and numbers, and will look something like this CLAIM100. This code will be clearly displayed on the Wager in America operator review page or on the operator landing page once you click the CLAIM BONUS button.
During the registration process you will be asked to enter the bonus code. It is important that you enter the code correctly at this stage in order to be able take advantage of the offer.
- Register at your chosen online poker site
- Choose your username and password
- Enter your personal details
- Provide valid photo ID if required
- ENTER YOUR BONUS CODE
Negotiating the Wagering Requirements
OK, so far everything seems to be pretty straight forward right? Well, here comes the caveat. Yes, online poker sites in the US will offer you terrific online poker bonuses. Yes, they are genuine, and yes, they will tempt you to sign-up. However nothing in life is ever completely free.
US poker rooms do require you to complete certain wagering or play-through requirements before you can withdraw your bonus cash. The way this is generally done is slightly different from how online casinos in the US will do it. As a rule the bonus cash will be tied to your player points. The more you play the more points you will earn and the faster you will be able to unlock your bonus cash.
Once you’ve registered your account…
- Begin to play poker online at your favourite poker room
- Earn player points based on your online poker play
- Bonus cash will be released in instalments based on your action
- Your bonus cash will go straight to your player account
- Use your bonus cash to enter poker tournaments or simply cash out!
Withdrawing Your Bonus Cash
The most important thing that you should take away from reading this article is this… Always read the bonus terms & conditions! We cannot stress this enough here at Wager in America. Before you commit yourself to any online poker bonus you absolutely must read the terms and conditions. Five minutes spent acquainting yourself with the T&Cs could save you hours on the phone to customer support later.
Each online poker room will have different bonus offers. With these come varying terms. The T&Cs are not designed to trap you, or lock you into something you cannot get out of, but they are there simply to protect the poker room from fraud.
In the long run, it will pay you to know what these terms are before you attempt to cash out your bonus. Once you are happy and you have fulfilled the terms of the bonus the money will be in your account and ready for you to use how you please.
To withdraw the cash to your bank or e-wallet account (the account you registered at sign-up), just follow these steps…
- Go to the cashier section in your player account
- Access the ‘withdrawals’ tab
- Enter your required amount in cash
- Hit the withdraw button and Bingo!
Depending on your deposit method your cash could be with you immediately. It is important to remember that usually you may only withdraw using the same method with which you made your deposit. So, if you deposit using your credit card they will send your cash to your credit card account. If you deposit using an e-wallet such as Neteller or Skrill, then your cash will be sent to that account. The amount of time it takes to receive your cash is usually dependent upon the deposit method you choose.
Registering at US Poker Sites
Registering an account at an online poker site in the US is super easy. All you need to do is follow these few simple steps, and you will be well on your way to online poker immortality…
- Sign-up for one of the top 10 US poker sites using one of our links
- Pick yourself a memorable username and a secure password
- Enter all your details, name, address etc in the form fields provided
- Don’t forget to enter your Bonus Code if you have one
- Choose from one of the available deposit options
- Deposit your initial bankroll (make sure it’s an affordable amount)
Remember: You may be asked to supply verification ID when you sign-up to an online poker site in the US. Always have the following ID documents with you when registering.
- Photo ID (passport or driver’s license)
- Proof of residence such as a utility bill
All photo ID needs to be valid and in date. Expired licenses are not acceptable. Most online poker rooms will also accept credit card bills or bank statements as proof of address. Be sure to check what is required before registering your account.
Not all online poker sites ask for ID up front. Some may ask for verification when you come to withdraw your winnings. Especially if you have been particularly successful. Fingers crossed eh!
5 Cash Games to Play Online
Now that you are all signed up… let’s play poker!
It’s way above the scope of this page to go into detail about all the online poker cash games that you could come across. What we can do though, is list some of the more popular cash games that we are sure that you will enjoy.
- Texas Hold’Em Poker
- Omaha Poker
- 7 Card Stud Poker
- 2-7 Triple Draw Poker
- Open Faced Chinese Poker*
*Best not to ask. Just go online and give this game a try!
Online Poker Deposits & Withdrawals
So, you’ve chosen your online poker room, you have your bankroll all ready to go, now you want to know what the best way to deposit is, am I right? Well, living in the USA has its advantages. Having the ability to deposit and withdraw using your credit cards is one.
For most Americans Mastercard and Visa are the safest deposit options. American Express and Diners Club users may encounter problems using either of these payment methods. Of course, there is more than one way to skin a cat. More and more online poker players are using e-wallets. Here in the US you have several credible options.
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Paypal
- Entropay
- Paysafe
These are amongst the most widespread and reliable options for US players. There are others though. Mobile users may have the option of using Samsung or Apple Pay (though this is rare) or other dedicated mobile payment apps such as PaybyPhone.