About Us

Poker Sites exists to help US poker players work out where to actually play — not just which brand shouts loudest. We compare online poker sites and apps on the things grinders and casual players both care about: traffic, game variety, bonus terms, payout speed, and whether a site is licensed and safe to hand your money to. This page explains who's behind that work and how we go about it.

What We Do and Why It's Useful

Online poker in the US is fragmented. Some states run their own regulated markets, others have none, and a wide range of offshore and crypto-friendly sites fill the gaps with different rules, different licensing, and very different levels of trust. Rather than leaving readers to sort through operator marketing themselves, we pull together the details that matter — deposit and withdrawal methods, rake structures, bonus playthrough requirements, mobile app quality, and player pool size — into one place, so a decision that would take hours of digging takes minutes instead.

How We Assess and Rank Sites

Our ratings come from research into each operator's publicly available terms, licensing information, software, banking pages, and promotions. We look at:

• Licensing and regulatory standing, and what jurisdiction oversees the operator
• Traffic and liquidity across cash games, MTTs, Sit & Gos, and fast-fold formats
• Rake structure and effective rakeback or loyalty rewards
• Deposit and withdrawal methods available to US players, including typical processing times
• Software quality, mobile app functionality, and support for tools like HUDs where relevant
• Welcome bonus terms — including playthrough requirements, time limits, and eligibility restrictions
• Customer support responsiveness and channels

Editorial ratings are our own assessment, not customer-review scores, and no operator can pay to move up the rankings. We update pages periodically as terms, promotions, and market availability change, so figures can shift between visits — always check the operator's own terms before you sign up or deposit.

How We're Funded

Poker Sites may earn a commission when readers sign up through links on this site. That relationship never decides which operator ranks where — our order reflects our research, not who pays the most. We disclose this openly because we'd rather you trust the comparison than click blind.

What We Won't Do

We don't present poker as a way to make money or solve financial problems, and we never suggest that skill removes the risk of losing your stake. Every operator listed on this site requires you to deposit and risk real money to play for real stakes — we're clear about that, and we don't dress bonuses up as "free" when they carry deposit or wagering requirements. Full terms for any promotion sit on the operator's own site, and we recommend reading them before you commit.

Age, Eligibility and Where You Can Play

Real money online poker is regulated on a state-by-state basis in the US — there's no single federal framework, so availability and the minimum legal age vary by location. Most regulated states set the gambling age at 21, though a few permit play from 18; every reader is responsible for checking the rules that apply where they live before creating an account or depositing. Sites are only for readers who meet their state's legal age and residency requirements, and nothing on this site is intended for anyone under that threshold.

Playing Within Your Means

Poker involves genuine financial risk, and losing is always possible regardless of skill or experience. We encourage every reader to set a budget before playing, treat losses as the cost of entertainment rather than something to chase, and step away if the game stops feeling enjoyable. If gambling starts to feel like a problem, help is available around the clock through 1-800-GAMBLER. You can also read more about setting limits and recognising warning signs on our Responsible Gambling page.

Have a Question or Spotted Something Off?

Operator terms, bonuses, and licensing details change, and we rely on readers to help us catch anything that's gone stale. If you've noticed a discrepancy, want to flag feedback on a review, or just want to ask something before you sign up anywhere, our Contact Us page has the details. For the legal terms covering use of this site, see our Terms and Conditions.

Getting Started the Right Way

If you're new here, the simplest next step is to read a couple of our individual site reviews, compare bonus terms side by side, and check that a site is actually available and licensed in your state before creating an account. There's no need to rush into a deposit — take the time to find a site that fits how and where you actually want to play.