Best Offshore Poker Sites in the USA in March 2025

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Offshore poker sites are available throughout the US and beyond, providing better traffic, bigger tournaments, and more exciting cash games. Plus, they make it easy to join the action without having to worry about geolocation software.

In this guide, we list and review the best offshore poker sites for players in the USA. Check out the top options right here:

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100% UP TO $1,000 + 21 Satellite Tickets

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  • $2 million in weekly poker tournament guarantees
  • Zone Poker and anonymous tables for casual play
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  • Americas Card Room Since 2001
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  • American players and US friendly network
  • Rakeback from 10% to 65%
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5 of the Best Offshore Poker Sites Reviewed

If you’re in the market for an offshore poker site, we’ve done the legwork for you and found five of the best. It’s worth noting that these are some of the best online poker sites in the US, so they all offer great services and fair games.

1. CoinPoker – Best Overall Offshore Poker Site

  • Available in: All States
  • Payout time: Instant
  • Established: 2017
  • License: Curacao eGaming
  • Headquarters: Curacao

CoinPoker Offshore Poker Site

Our Verdict: 9.9/10

CoinPoker is a modern offshore poker platform that offers secure and instant transactions using major cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Tether, and Ethereum. It allows for quick registration and fast withdrawals, making it the best offshore poker site in the USA. You can join, deposit, play, and withdraw without any hassle.

Not only is CoinPoker safe and secure, it also has some great promotions. These include a deposit bonus, weekly leaderboards with real prizes, and a Bad Beat Jackpot that can exceed $100,000.

As one of the best international poker sites, CoinPoker offers a good range of cash games for Texas hold’em and Omaha. While high stakes tables are sometimes available, these are quite rare and the focus is more on low and mid stakes. The tournaments follow the same pattern, although there are series with large prize pools.

Features Overview

  • Poker Options: 10/10
  • Promotions & Rewards: 10/10
  • Desktop Experience: 10/10
  • Mobile Experience: 10/10
  • Registration Process: 10/10
  • Payment Methods: 9.5/10
  • Customer Support: 10/10

Pros pros

  • Massive first deposit bonus for new players
  • Instant crypto deposits and withdrawals
  • Great app for playing on iPhone and Android
  • 33% rakeback provided on the poker room

Cons cons

  • Can’t use a card to deposit directly
  • Limited high stakes poker tables
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2. BetOnline Poker – Packed Schedule of Offshore Poker Tournaments

  • Available In: All States other than NJ
  • Payout time: 1-2 days
  • Established: 2001
  • License: Panama Gaming Commission
  • Headquarters: Antigua and Barbuda
  • Restricted states: NJ

BetOnline Offshore Poker Site

Our Verdict: 9.8/10

BetOnline Poker is a major player in the offshore game and it stands out among other top overseas poker sites with a host of tournament series. For example, a $3 million guaranteed series takes place several times every year. This, combined with a Bad Beat Jackpot that regularly tops $1 million, is another sign of strength.

The BetOnline Poker client is very impressive, offering smooth gameplay on desktop and mobile devices. The user interface looks great and allows users to easily join the tables.

Like its peers, BetOnline Poker covers all the major poker variants, from hold’em and Omaha, and even including Open Face Chinese Poker.

In fact, there are a few features that make BetOnline’s cash games stand out from other international poker sites. You have the option to sit at tables where you can straddle, throw virtual elements at other players, and more.

Features Overview

  • Poker Options: 10/10
  • Promotions & Rewards: 9.5/10
  • Desktop Experience: 10/10
  • Mobile Experience: 10/10
  • Registration Process: 9.5/10
  • Payment Methods: 10/10
  • Customer Support: 10/10

Pros pros

  • Great poker client with frequent updates
  • Best selection of banking methods for offshore poker
  • Novel variants, including Open Face Chinese Poker
  • Cash game straddles and all-in cashouts

Cons cons

  • Poker does not count for the VIP program
  • Limited poker promotions

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3. Bovada – Best Offshore Poker Site for Anonymous Tables

  • Restricted States: NJ, NY, NV, MD, DE, CO, MI
  • Payout time: 1-2 days
  • Established: 2011
  • License: Union of the Comoros
  • Headquarters: Costa Rica

Bovada Offshore Poker Site

Our Verdict: 9.7/10

Bovada has been around for more than a decade and it shows. Both the instant-play and downloadable desktop app are aesthetically impressive. Not only that, the layout is intuitive and everything runs smoothly, proving that Bovada is one of the top legit offshore poker sites.

One really nice option on Bovada is Zone Poker. This fast-fold variant is one of the slickest we’ve tried and doesn’t suffer from some of the loading glitches that can affect inferior software.

Bovada Poker offers anonymous tables, a quick-seat function for cash games, and up to $2 million in monthly MTT guarantees.

Crypto payments are available and your first debit/credit card deposit is free. After that, card payments incur a fee up to 15.9%, which is excessive in our view. But, if you stick to crypto, everything is fee-free and this is easily one of the best international poker sites.

Features Overview

  • Poker Options: 10/10
  • Promotions & Rewards: 9/10
  • Desktop Experience: 10/10
  • Mobile Experience: 10/10
  • Registration Process: 9.5/10
  • Payment Methods: 9.5/10
  • Customer Support: 10/10

Pros pros

  • Quick seating and anonymous tables prevent sharks
  • Easy to clear poker bonuses due to low rollover
  • Fee-free crypto payments in BTC, ETH, and more
  • $2 million in weekly MTT guarantees on the site

Cons cons

  • No phone customer support phone line
  • Fees for non-crypto deposits

100% Bonus up to $500

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  • $2 million in weekly poker tournament guarantees
  • Zone Poker and anonymous tables for casual play
  • Mobile poker client with up to four tables at one time
9.7/10 Bovada
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4. ACR Poker – Best for Offshore Poker Deposit Bonuses

  • Restricted States: LA, DE, NJ, NV, MD, KY, WA
  • Payout time: 2 days
  • Established: 2001
  • License: Costa Rica
  • Headquarters: San Jose, Costa Rica

ACR Offshore Poker Site

Our Verdict: 9.8/10

Americas Cardroom, or ACR Poker for short, is a trusted brand with a long history in the USA. Based offshore, this operator offers a good mix of cash games and tournaments and the client is available by download.

The highlight for us is the rich tournament schedule that includes qualifiers and satellites for live tournaments. It is one of the few trusted offshore poker sites that can combine both worlds.

Payments are safe, secure, and fairly quick (withdrawals can take up to 48 hours). We like the fact you can deposit and withdraw via cryptos. The one issue we have with ACR Poker is that some banking methods have a maximum cashout limit of $2,500.

Features Overview

  • Poker Options: 9/10
  • Promotions & Rewards: 9/10
  • Desktop Experience: 9.5/10
  • Mobile Experience: 9/10
  • Registration Process: 9.5/10
  • Payment Methods: 9/10
  • Customer Support: 8/10

Pros pros

  • Bigger welcome bonus than on other offshore sites
  • Hosts The Venom tournament with a big guarantee
  • Can win packages for live poker tournaments
  • Soft competition for offshore poker cash games

Cons cons

  • Limited withdrawal options and low limits
  • Not as much traffic as on other offshore poker sites

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  • Americas Card Room Since 2001
  • US friendly network (WPN)
  • Multitable guarantees up to 7m$
9.8/10 Americas Card Room
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5. Ignition Poker – Personalized Poker Rewards and Top Offshore Brand

  • Restricted States: NJ, NY, NV, MD, DE
  • Payout time: 1-2 days
  • Established: 2016
  • License: Union of the Comoros
  • Headquarters: Costa Rica
  • Restricted states: NJ, NY, NV, MD, DE

Ignition Offshore Poker Site

Our Verdict: 9.8/10

Ignition Poker kicks things off with a matching deposit bonus and continues to reward players through exclusive benefits and quite a few freerolls. It is one of the most trusted offshore poker sites, so depositing and withdrawing funds is very simple.

You can use the instant-play software to connect to the action right away. The user-friendly lobby will then present the game options and stakes for quick seating.

The international poker room has a great schedule for tournaments and plenty of cash tables due to the good traffic. Ignition Poker is on the PaiWangLuo Poker Network along with other top offshore online poker sites. It also has exclusive rewards across eight levels based on how much rake you paid throughout the month.

Features Overview

  • Poker Options: 9.5/10
  • Promotions & Rewards: 9.5/10
  • Desktop Experience: 10/10
  • Mobile Experience: 9.5/10
  • Registration Process: 9.5/10
  • Payment Methods: 9.5/10
  • Customer Support: 9/10

Pros pros

  • First deposit match bonus for poker and casino
  • Very soft competition due to anonymous tables
  • Monthly prizes based on rake paid online
  • Poker strategy articles and guides for new users

Cons cons

  • No eWallet payment options such as PayPal
  • Bonus playthrough can be a bit high

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Comparing the Best Offshore Poker Sites

Quickly compare welcome bonuses and other important features to choose between the top offshore poker sites with this table. Note that these include some of the best offshore casinos, so you can also play other games and benefit from secure banking and other features after joining.

Offshore Poker Room Welcome Bonus Poker Network Freerolls Qualifiers Guarantees
CoinPoker 150% up to $2,000 Independent
Ignition Poker 100% up to $1,000 PaiWangLuo Poker Network
ACR Poker 100% up to $2,000 Winning Poker Network
Black Chip Poker 100% up to $2,000 Winning Poker Network
BetOnline Poker 100% up to $1,000 Chico Poker Network
Bovada Poker 100% up to $500 PaiWangLuo Poker Network
Ya Poker 100% up to $2,000 Winning Poker Network

What are Offshore Poker Sites?

Offshore poker sites, also known as international or overseas poker sites, are online poker rooms that are not based in the USA. Instead, these sites are licensed in other jurisdictions but still cater to players from different locations.

For example, CoinPoker is a renowned offshore poker site that is based in Curacao and has a Curacao eGaming license. It is still hugely popular in the USA and accepts players from all states.

You will find many of the same games on offshore poker networks as you would on locally licensed sites, including Texas hold’em and Omaha. However, poker traffic is generally much better on legit offshore poker sites since they aren’t limited to one or a few states.

Offshore Poker Bonuses Available

The top offshore poker sites are the places to play if you want big bonuses. To help you make the most of the different types of offers from these sites, we will go through some of the main poker bonuses in detail.

Welcome Bonuses

Any rewards you receive when you join an offshore poker room is known as a welcome bonus. These bonuses can be a combination of cash and tournament tickets.

The key to finding a lucrative welcome bonus at the top offshore poker sites is the playthrough target. This represents how much you have to pay in rake to release the bonus amount. Welcome bonuses are designed to help players win more by awarding extra funds.

Deposit Match Bonuses

Offshore poker promotions triggered by a financial transaction are known as deposit bonuses. These bonuses can be deposit matches, which means the amount of bonus cash you receive is based on the amount you deposit e.g. a 100% deposit match up to $500.

Some deposit bonuses are worth more and can include extra perks, like tournament tickets or even free spins for the casino section. Note that most deposit bonuses on offshore poker websites are released in increments as you play and not all at once.

No Deposit Bonuses

Poker bonuses that don’t require a financial transaction on an overseas poker site are known as no deposit bonuses. Examples of no deposit bonuses are prize giveaways, competitions, tournament tickets, and loyalty rewards.

Offshore poker websites can also run leaderboard competitions with real money prizes. Here, the participants with the most points at the end of the event receive extra bonuses without having to deposit.

Ongoing Promotions

Top-rated offshore poker US sites will have long-term promotions designed to reward loyal players. These include rake races, bad beat jackpots, rakeback, freerolls, and other campaigns.

We recommend checking the promotions page of the top offshore poker sites to see what offers are available since these can expire after a period.

Freerolls

Any poker tournament that doesn’t have a buy-in is known as a freeroll. These tournaments are a great way for beginners to build a bankroll because you can literally turn nothing into something on the offshore poker site.

Freeroll prizes are paid out in cash or in tournament tickets, which means they don’t have any wagering requirements. All of our recommended offshore poker sites have weekly freerolls, but you’ll typically have to complete a task/action to get access to them. For example, you might need to reach a specific loyalty level to join better freerolls.

Rakeback

Poker sites based offshore take a small fee, known as rake, every time you play pots in cash games or enter tournaments. You can get back a percentage of the rake you pay as part of a poker site’s loyalty scheme.

The percentages vary from site to site and can depend on your VIP status (determined by how much you play). What doesn’t change, however, is the fact you can get some of your rake back as cash paid into your account on the best offshore online poker sites. For example, CoinPoker offers 33% rakeback for all qualifying players.

Top Bonuses on International Poker Sites

You can claim these bonuses on leading offshore online poker sites right now:

Best Offshore Poker Site Networks

Most of our top-rated US offshore online poker rooms operate on different networks. These ensure you’ve got a steady stream of players to compete against and promotions to claim. The main networks serving US players are:

Chico Poker Network

Formerly known as the Action Poker Network, the Chico Poker Network is home to three offshore poker rooms, including BetOnline. It averages around 500 cash game players over seven days and can have up to 1,000 players online at any given time.

The defining feature of this network is that most of its promotions are aimed at casual poker players. That’s great for skilled poker players as it means there are more fish and, therefore, more potential to win.

PaiWangLuo Poker Network

The PaiWangLuo Poker Network, formerly known as the Bodog Network, is home to legit offshore poker sites like Bovada and Ignition. It has the best traffic among offshore online poker networks, with the average number of daily cash game players typically above 900. Online players can peak at 2,000.

Add MTTs to the mix and PaiWangLuo is one of the busiest offshore poker networks accepting US players. The sites also have great features for playing anonymously, thus making it difficult for skilled players to target weaker opponents.

Winning Poker Network

The Winning Poker Network is home to ACR Poker, Black Chip Poker, and Ya Poker. This international network has been around for more than two decades and stands out because of its large welcome bonuses and rakeback deals.

Depending on the amount you play, sites on this offshore poker network can pay 27% in rakeback. Traffic on the WPN is quite low, but it picks up during the weekend.

Independent

In addition to the biggest offshore poker networks operating in the USA, we also find independent poker sites, as is the case with CoinPoker. This is one of the best offshore poker rooms and offers a solid range of games and bonuses.

Moreover, the offshore poker traffic on the independent site is great throughout the week, so you can always find active tables and ongoing tournaments.

Payment Methods Available on Offshore Poker Rooms

Legit offshore poker sites tend to have more flexibility when it comes to payment processors. They’re free to offer any safe payment processor they want. There are certain restrictions with regards to eWallets, but the good news is that you will be able to make deposits and withdrawals using the top cryptocurrencies.

Some of the best ways to make offshore poker deposits and withdrawals are:

Cryptocurrencies

It’s possible to send crypto tokens from your wallet to an offshore online poker room and back again. The leading offshore poker sites accept dozens of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Solana, and Binance Coin.

Cryptocurrencies are a great way of making quick deposits and receiving withdrawals within an hour. The other benefit of crypto payments on overseas poker sites is that they’re anonymous and so you don’t have to share any personal details for every transaction at the best crypto poker sites.

Traditional Payment Methods

You can use your credit or debit card to make fast deposits on top offshore poker sites. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, but they don’t allow for withdrawals.

Instead, you can request a bank wire transfer if you want to cash out using a traditional payment method. This allows you to send money directly from your bank account to an offshore poker website and back again. Wire transfers are ideal for poker players who want to make larger deposits and withdrawals.

eWallets

Options like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are not directly available on offshore online poker sites. However, they can be used to buy cryptocurrencies from trusted exchange sites. You can then deposit the coins on the site and start playing.

List of the Top 7 Offshore Poker Sites

  1. CoinPoker – Crypto offshore poker room with 33% rakeback and weekly added prize pools.
  2. Ignition Poker – $2,500 in weekly freerolls, anonymous tables, and soft competition.
  3. ACR Poker – Big tournaments with guaranteed prize pools that can exceed $1 million.
  4. Black Chip Poker – International poker site with a user-friendly client and secure banking.
  5. BetOnline Poker – Matching bonus for new players, bad beat jackpots, and unique features.
  6. Bovada Poker – Best offshore poker site for anonymous poker and fast-fold games.
  7. Ya Poker – Rich tournament schedule with satellites for the big events online.

How to Sign Up and Play Offshore Poker

The steps below show you how to sign up and start playing on the best offshore poker sites.

  1. Select an Offshore Poker Site

    Take your pick from the best offshore poker rooms in the USA listed above. We will go with CoinPoker for this example, as the best site.
    Select an Offshore Poker Site
  2. Install the Poker Client

    For most platforms, you will have to download and install the poker software from the site. This step only takes a minute or two.
    Install the Poker Client
  3. Create Your Poker Account

    You can register from the installed client or on the site. At CoinPoker, you only need an email, a username, and a password for the account. Other sites can ask for extra details.
    Create Your Poker Account
  4. Make a First Deposit

    Open the wallet and choose your preferred payment method. We recommend using Bitcoin or Ethereum for fast and secure deposits. Also, make sure to claim the bonus on the first deposit.
    Make a First Deposit
  5. Join the Action

    You can now join the preferred poker cash games and tournaments on the poker room. Simply select an option from the lobby and start playing.
    Join the Action

Offshore Poker Apps and Mobile Sites

Offshore operators make sure that players can easily connect from mobile devices and join the tables. The only downside is that they don’t have apps on the online stores. So, you won’t find any offshore poker apps on the Apple App Store or on the Google Play Store.

Instead, you can download the best poker app for your device directly from the site. Some offshore poker rooms are also available in instant play on mobile, thus eliminating the need to install any additional applications. This mode is compatible with both iOS and Android platforms.

You will have access to the same cash tables, tournaments, and features found on the desktop version when you connect from your iPhone or other compatible devices.

Advantages of Offshore Poker Sites

Why are offshore poker sites better than other options open to US players? There are several reasons and we found that the main takeaways are as follows.

1. International Poker Sites Are Available Everywhere

Offshore poker operators aren’t subject to the same state restrictions as their local counterparts. This means they don’t track your location which, in turn, allows you to play from anywhere.

2. The Bonuses Are Bigger at Overseas Poker Websites

The offshore gambling market is competitive because each operator is competing against an international pool of talent. In contrast, a poker room available in a single state doesn’t have as much competition.

Therefore, offshore sites need to offer bigger welcome bonuses, rakeback deals, and promotions to stand out from the crowd.

3. Your Winnings Are Your Own with Offshore Poker

The issue of taxation is a tricky one, but the fact remains that offshore poker sites don’t report your winnings to the IRS. Therefore, you’ve got the option to keep 100% of your profits, if you wish.

4. There Are More Fish to Catch Internationally

One of the main reasons people learn how to play poker on offshore sites is so they can take on weak players. This is because the sites also offer other gambling options and have a lot of crossplay users. Customers who win at casino games may play a few casual poker games as well.

Offshore online poker rooms are open to the world. This means the player pools are much larger than other US poker sites which, in turn, means you stand more chance of finding weak players.

5. The Games Are Safe and Fair

Just because an online poker operator isn’t licensed in the US, that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe. Regulators such as Curacao eGaming have been in the business since the 1990s. That’s longer than regulators such as the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Add to this the fact offshore sites use two-factor authentication, SSL encryption, and accept secure payment options such as Bitcoin, and these sites are completely safe.

Top Offshore Poker Sites

Benefit from all of the advantages that come with playing on a top overseas poker site with these top picks:

Best Crypto Poker Site
CoinCasino
9.9
  • Good VIP program
  • Fully anonymous, instant withdrawal crypto poker
  • No deposit and withdrawal fees with cryptocurrencies
Americas Card Room
  • Americas Card Room Since 2001
  • US friendly network (WPN)
  • Multitable guarantees up to 7m$
Ignition
9.8
Review
  • Quick seat feature to instantly find a poker cash table
  • Complete poker hand histories for 24 hours of play
  • Packed tournaments schedule, including $200K event

Types of Offshore Poker Variations

Poker is an overarching term for one of the most popular card games in the world. Certain rules, such as poker hand rankings, are consistent across all variants. There are, however, nuances to each type. Below are five of the most popular offshore poker games you can play online.

Texas Hold’em

Texas hold’em is the main game you’ll find online and in any poker room around the world. If you want to start playing poker, you should learn how to play Texas hold’em.

Everyone gets two cards only they can see. These cards can be combined with five community cards to make a ranked poker hand.

This variant can be played with limit, pot limit, or no limit betting structures. No Limit Hold’em is the most popular variant because it offers the greatest scope for advanced poker strategy concepts such as bluffing, range merging, and value betting.

Pro tip: Try the no limit hold’em cash games on CoinPoker for the best overseas poker action. Stakes start from just $0.01/0.02 and go exceed $10/$20 with great traffic.

Omaha

Second only to hold’em in popularity is Omaha. Usually played with a pot limit betting structure, this poker variant sees each active player start with four cards.

Unlike Hold’em where you can use one, two, or neither of your hole cards, Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) rules dictate that you must use two hole cards. This rule, in conjunction with the fact everyone has four hole cards, means there are more ways to make ranked poker hands.

As such, Omaha is a much more volatile variant than hold’em or, to put it another way, there’s a lot more action.

Pro tip: Use the Omaha poker strategy guides on Bovada before sitting down in its PLO cash games. Then, make the most of the anonymous tables to play offshore poker without any worries.

Seven Card Stud

Stud is one of the original poker variants that initially came to prominence in the US before becoming most popular in Europe. Even though you won’t find many Stud tournaments online, some of the best offshore poker sites do offer a variety of Stud cash games.

Limit and Pot Limit Seven Card Stud is the most common. Players are dealt seven cards in total, three of which are dealt face-down. The rest are dealt face-up, which means you need to make decisions based on your cards and the exposed cards of your opponents.

Pro tip: Join ACR Poker for a mix of high and low stakes Seven Card Stud at this top offshore poker website. Active tables run around the clock and include Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo.

Six Plus Hold’em

Remove all the cards lower than a 6 from the deck and what do you get? An action-packed spinoff of Texas hold’em known as Six Plus.

This short-deck poker variant is almost identical to traditional Texas hold’em in terms of its betting dynamics, except for the fact everyone puts in an ante rather than there being a big and small blind.

Additionally, the hands rankings are slightly different to account for all cards below a six being removed (i.e. there are only 36 cards in play). In Six Plus Hold’em, flushes beat full houses and three of a kind beats a straight.

Pro tip: Head over to BetOnline for the biggest selection of Six Plus Hold’em games.

BetOnline Six Plus Hold'em

Are Offshore Poker Sites Legal?

Offshore poker sites are legal businesses outside of the US. These companies may not be licensed within the country but they’re still accessible to all players. In technical terms, overseas poker sites are gray market operators.

This means they’re legally offering fair online poker games to players from countries around the world. Not only that, the best offshore poker websites typically offer bigger bonuses than their local counterparts, as well as innovative payment options such as Bitcoin.

Something else to mention is that no one has been prosecuted for using offshore online poker rooms, casinos, or offshore sportsbooks.

The bottom line is this: there are legit offshore poker sites licensed by reputable organizations that operate from countries outside of the US. These are international, which means players in other countries can use them.

Tax on Offshore Poker Winnings

The issue of taxation when it comes to offshore poker isn’t clear-cut. As per the Tax Code, all money earned from gambling, whether in the US or overseas, can be taxed if you’re a citizen.

There are nuances within this overarching code with respect to deductions for losses and state tax laws. So, the general line is that poker winnings, even from offshore sites, are liable for tax.

The counterpoint to this, however, is that legit offshore poker sites available in the US don’t issue W-2G forms. Moreover, they don’t report your winnings to the IRS. Casinos and poker rooms licensed in the US have to do these things. Offshore operators don’t.

This means your earnings won’t technically be recorded as income and, by this token, you can argue they aren’t liable for tax.

Most players who use offshore sites advise that you pay tax on your winnings but, based on the fact earnings aren’t reported to the IRS, you may decide against it. In this instance, the decision is on you.

Is it Safe to Play on Offshore Poker Sites?

Yes, you can safely play for real money on any of the recommended offshore poker websites. These have all been vetted by our team of experts and the operators have a long history that inspires confidence.

By going with trusted offshore poker sites, you are guaranteed fair game with random card shuffling, clear bonus terms and conditions, secure banking for deposits and withdrawals, and a helpful customer support team that is always ready to help out if needed.

Regulated vs Offshore Poker Sites

The majority of players don’t have the option to use sites licensed in their state. Therefore, if you want to play online, offshore poker US sites are the only option. However, if you do have a choice between regulated and offshore sites, here are some things to consider:

Offshore Poker Sites Regulated Poker Sites
Your winnings won’t be reported to the IRS Your winnings will be reported to the IRS and liable for tax
The player pools are bigger so you’re more likely to play against weak players The player pools will be small and, potentially, filled with more strong players
The welcome bonuses are bigger and you can get more rakeback The bonuses and promotions won’t be as lucrative
You don’t have a local point of contact Operators are licensed within the state so have a local presence
The servers are located offshore which means you might suffer unexpected glitches (this is very rare) Regulated sites have land-based partners so you can make in-person payments

The final thing to note is that regulated vs. offshore poker isn’t a zero sum game. In other words, you don’t have to choose one or the other. If you’re in a state that has regulated poker sites, you can use them as well as their offshore alternatives.

Of course, if you’re in a state where online gambling isn’t regulated locally, you can ante-up with the top offshore online poker sites and enjoy the game in a safe, fair, and entertaining way.

Responsible Poker Gambling Offshore

It doesn’t matter where you play poker, you should always do it responsibly. Learning how to stay within your limits is not only important from a financial perspective but in terms of your prospects at the poker table.

Experienced players live by the 20 buy-in rule. This means you need at least 20 buy-ins for the stakes you’re playing. For example, if you want to play in a $0.50/$1 cash game where the maximum buy-in is $100, you should have at least $2,000.

Ideally, you’ll have more than 20 buy-ins so you’ve got a bigger buffer against the natural ups and downs of poker. As well as sticking to the right limits, you should avoid playing when you’re emotional (on tilt) and have systems in place to help you stop when you’re winning and losing.

All legit offshore poker sites have responsible gambling tools you can use, including deposit limits, session timers, and self-exclusion options. If you feel as though your gambling habits are becoming a problem, here are some organizations you can contact:

*The problem gambling organizations listed above are free to use.

Our No.1 Offshore Poker Site for US Players

CoinPoker is our top offshore poker pick for a few reasons. First of all, the platform is very safe and secure, offering fair games with proven random shuffling. Secondly, this offshore poker site allows for instant deposits and withdrawals with major cryptos and doesn’t charge fees.

Beyond being a trusted brand in the business, CoinPoker has MTT guarantees for every bankroll, a generous welcome package, and plenty of novel features, including a bad beat jackpot. Add to this the 33% rakeback, weekly leaderboards, and no-KYC registration and it is easy to see why CoinPoker is the best offshore online US poker site.

Our rating/verdict: 9.9/10
Accessible via: iOS, Android, Desktop
Poker Games: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 5-Card Omaha
Welcome Offer: 150% deposit bonuses up to $2,000
Top Pros: ✔️ Cash games for low and mid stakes
✔️ Tournament series with $1,000,000 GTD
✔️ Instant withdrawals with major cryptos
Cons: ❌ Bonus playthrough is a little high
Methodology

How We Test and Review Poker Websites

150+ Gambling Platforms Reviewed

1,100+ Games Software Tested

200+ Monthly Hours of Research

375+ Promotions Verified

Playing online poker is becoming more popular by the day and you need to choose a reputable site that best matches your needs.

We here at Techopedia have an in-house review process that’s analyzed by our poker experts that covers each and every aspect of the most popular online poker sites in the world.

In particular we look at:

  • Rakeback and other bonuses
  • Game selection
  • Player pool size
  • Reputation and safety
  • Payment methods

To find out more, take a look at our detailed guide on how we test gambling platforms and poker sites featured on Techopedia.

FAQs

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Vlad Grindu
Gambling Expert
Vlad Grindu
Gambling Expert

Vlad has more than a decade of experience in the gambling industry, specializing in analyzing and reviewing online betting platforms. He is an expert in casino games and sports betting, providing detailed guides for major publications in the iGaming industry, including Casino.org and Covers. Vlad has a Master’s Degree in Economics and enjoys the occasional esports game.