Is it legal to play poker online for money?

Poker is a game that’s enjoyed by many people not just at casinos be it land-based or online but also in private spaces such as at home or workplaces. Whether it’s being played at casinos or in private spaces, often, the game of poker is played for real money.  

As with any other activity in which monetary gain is the result, the question “is it legal to play poker online for money?” comes into play. Fortunately, or unfortunately for many people, the question of whether it’s legal to play poker online for money has different answers depending on different factors. 

In the section below, we are going to illustrate all the factors which make playing poker for real money legal or illegal. Note that the factors outlined may work in unison or as a combination in determining the legality of online poker hence all factors need to be considered.  

Factors that determine the legality of online poker for real money 

• Laws of the Land (Jurisdiction)  

Arguably the most important factor which determines the legality of playing poker for real money is the jurisdiction one resides in. Different countries have different gambling rules and regulations that guide games such as poker. As such, players need to be aware of what the laws of the land say in regard to gambling. Some countries have laws that apply to the entire nation while other countries such as the U.S. have laws that apply to different states. This, therefore, means the game can be legal in one state but illegal in another. 

There are however some countries that don’t have specific gambling laws or outdated laws (which regulate land-based poker but remain quiet on online poker). In such territories, players may take the absence of explicit laws for a loophole they can take advantage of as they won’t be breaking any laid-out law. 

• Casino License 

While the laws of the land may legalise online poker for real money, often, this is only permissible at licensed and regulated casinos. It’s therefore important to ensure that players settle at licensed casinos when looking to enjoy games without worrying about crossing paths with law enforcement agents. 

• Licensed Games 

Some jurisdictions partially legalise some gambling games while at the same time prohibiting other games. As such, players should go beyond just learning if casino games are permitted or not. Rather, they should check and see if the specific game they want, in this case, real money online poker, is permitted. 

• Age of Competing Players 

Last but not least, in all jurisdictions across the world, real money online poker is only legal in so far as the players have attained the legal age of majority (differs from country to country). Even if the laws explicitly legalise poker, for as long as players haven’t attained the required age, they can’t play.