Poker: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

The platform will form one of the largest regulated online poker networks in North America, with Aaron Dugan, General Manager of PokerStars at FanDuel, looking forward to welcoming players to the table. We cover live news from tournaments, conduct interviews with top players and provide guides on local poker regulations, venues and services. A good place to start is to read our ultimate poker strategy guide and then practice with play money online poker games.

• MGM Springfield, the first commercial casino in the Bay State, opened to business in 2018.
• Andrew Lichtenberger started the 2026 PokerGO Tour right where he left off, winning the opening event and setting the pace for the season.
• Well over one million online poker players have taken advantage of PokerListings’ exclusive sign-up deals and we’ve paid out several million dollars in freerolls over the past years.
• He’s not only the chip leader but has more than a third of the chips in play.
• Your experience playing on TV tables and handling the pressure on the way to winning three WSOP bracelets has to be an advantage for you.
• Read on to find out a detailed overview of the online poker series than each site runs.

Molenaar and Chan cull the field

Among other things, visitors will find a daily dose of articles with the latest poker news, live reporting from tournaments, exclusive videos, podcasts, reviews and bonuses and so much more. Each winner of a WSOP event is awarded a gold bracelet, considered the highest achievement any poker player can achieve. In 2015, the WSOP awarded their first online poker gold bracelet, with Anthony ‘casedismised’ Spinella winning the inaugural event. The first WSOP took place in 1970, and it continues to attract some of the best poker players in the world. Independent, fact-checked online poker news from across the industry.

Check out the current real money PokerStars Tournaments with our Online Tournament Calendar. Don’t worry, in this section we’ll go through all different criteria to give you the best sites for each different category. Secondly, the software is simple to use and doesn’t require experience in poker platforms in order to get to grips with it. While it’s tough to pick an outright best poker site, given many of the ones on this page offer a range of different high-class qualities, I think there are certainly some frontrunners.

The company didn’t specifically outline a plan for poker in announcing the agreements. The legislation allows poker operators to share liquidity with other states. The company operates a shared poker platform in Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. You can still enjoy free-play platforms such as the WSOP Social Poker App. The sites listed on this page score highly across all of these areas. All of the poker rooms we recommend are fully licensed by trusted regulators like the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, or state regulators in the US.

As such, almost all online operators, including those offering free play options, have pulled out of Washington state. The casinos fall under the supervision of the Washington State Gambling Commission, which also authorizes and regulates social gambling activities such as bracket and office sports pools. However, the state does offer off-track betting parlors and allows for some charitable gambling. Utah’s state criminal code explicitly bans online gambling and states that even if it’s legalized on the federal level, they don’t want it in Utah. Since gambling is technically illegal except on Native American reservations, there are no traditional brick-and-mortar casinos in the Lone Star State.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the World Series of Poker for the first time in its history. Phil Hellmuth has the most bracelets of all-time, having won 17 between 1989 and 2024. The biggest buy-in event in WSOP history is the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop, held in 2012, 2014 and 2018. In 2026, the lowest buy-in event was $300 (The Gladiators of Poker) and the biggest buy-in event was $250,000 (Super High Roller).

Look for sites that offer direct cashback with clear, consistent terms rather than hard-to-unlock VIP schemes. PokerStars leads the way in tournament depth, with hundreds of MTTs daily and massive Sunday majors. We recommend looking for bonuses with low playthrough requirements and valuable extras like freerolls or rakeback. All of the sites listed on this page are licensed, secure, and pay out real winnings. What’s important is that you know what each site can offer you and also what you want to get out of a poker site.

The record-setting grind behind Power Path’s greatest player

Along the way, she helped turn live updates, podcasts, video, and streaming into something more than a scoreboard and and learned what gets lost when everybody is forced to consume poker the same way. No matter what happens with the season finale, it’s clear that WPT is intent on establishing a greater presence in Las Vegas, especially during the times of year when WSOP isn’t around. “The success of the spring championship reaffirmed what makes The Venetian Resort a premier destination for tournament poker,” said Tommy LaRosa, director of poker operations at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas.

If you’re still wanting to play poker in the state, there is an alternative. Major poker sites such as PokerStars haven’t been accessible from Alabama since Black Friday on April 15, 2011, when the US Department of Justice (DOJ) forced the top sites to cease operations in the United States. At this time, as of 2026, there are no pieces of legislation up for a vote on bringing legal internet poker to the Cotton State. On the contrary, politicians often introduce bills supporting live poker efforts. Before long, states all across the country were offering both live and online sports-betting options.

“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.

I mean, you’re essentially passing the money back and forth, but it’s always entertaining. That being said, the mixed poker community is special. Then we go to the nineteenth hole and relive the glory of our shots. You’ve said in a few interviews you had lost the passion for poker over the past few years. I truly feel like it’s a team game. But that’s one thing that I did every day before my start time during the main.

The best poker sites for real money are PokerStars and GGPoker. Aligning both of these factors will help you come to a decision and find the best online poker site for you! Determining which online poker site is the best is highly subjective, and will largely depend on each individual’s preferences. These operators offer superior protection for your funds and data than unregulated or offshore platforms, which carry higher risks for players. Wherever you play, it’s essential to choose licensed, regulated sites that comply with local laws and responsible gaming standards. 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.

The online poker landscape in the US is constantly changing, but here at PokerNews we aim to keep you atop all the latest developments so you can have a great experience at the best online poker sites in the US. “It’s a very competitive arena, whether you’re talking about igaming or online poker,” Addabbo said. Progressive Knockout (PKO) events pay bounties when you eliminate players—and your own bounty grows with each knockout.

Day 1 flights run throughout the weekend before Day 2 plays out on Monday and the final table crowns a new champion on Tuesday. From $5.50 events up to $5,200 high rollers, and with more than 160 tournaments on the schedule over the next few weeks, there’s something for everyone. PokerStars players have a packed schedule to look forward to this weekend as the new Bounty Builder Series gets underway, running until December 1 with more than $12.5 million guaranteed across a wide range of buy-ins. Mystery Bounties, PKOs and multi-million-dollar guarantees headline the schedules, giving players of all bankrolls a reason to fire up the clients. A huge weekend of online poker is on the way, with major action spread across PokerStars, 888poker and GGPoker. We have a high respect for independent governing bodies that help to regulate the industry and keep it safe for all players.

In fact, just last week we uncovered clear signs that the company was preparing to combine PokerStars with FanDuel and bring online poker under its platform. Having been in business since 2003, our relationships with online poker operators allow us to offer exclusive bonuses. Of course, there are a few states that have taken it upon themselves to legalize and regulate online poker within their borders, and those laws are very clear. A top poker site for one player may not be considered the best for another. Some players discover this by trial and error, while others check out our research to find the site that best fits their needs. In these 14-plus years, we have been asked every question possible about online poker.

But most online sites all offer something different when it comes to tournaments. Online poker tournaments are fun, intense and (if played correctly) rewarding. If the company does sign an agreement with the Passamaquoddy, poker players may be left with one option. These versions let you practice and enjoy tournaments using play money while waiting for regulation to expand in your location. Real money online poker is fully legal and regulated in countries like the UK and much of Europe.

Additionally, some players would check-raise their best kings, which makes it a little more likely they have weaker pairs instead of top pair. But next time, if I make a deep run, I will make sure that I’m the only player left with the chips. You have a much higher share of recreational players and also a lot of top pros in the field. It’s also very interesting to play in the sense that the field is a little bit different than a usual main event.

There are no online poker rooms in Hawaii, one of the smallest states in the country by area and population. That includes slots, table games, lottery, and sports betting. That said, the Sunshine State has become a hotbed for tournament poker, with some of the biggest events ever taking place in this southern state.

The poker room originally closed in July 2024 due to renovations in the high-limit Caesars Palace Las Vegas reopened their poker room earlier this week in its previous location with a few upgrades. Caesars Entertainment’s flagship property on the Las Vegas strip, Caesars Palace is fully open for poker again. We also update the bonuses so potential customers know which sites offer the best deals. For the first time, a 100% deposit match up to $1,000 is available to everyone on the PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel platform. The action kicks off with a massive $50,000 GTD Sunday Million No Sweat Mega, serving as a prime opportunity to win your way into the flagship Sunday Million event on April 12.

PokerStars and FanDuel are officially joining forces to create a single, unified home for poker, casino, and sports betting in North America. “This move merges player liquidity for bigger prize pools, larger guarantees, and more exciting competition in the United States.” However, Ontario will remain segregated, just as it is today, with no shared liquidity with the US player pool or the global dot-com network. In Ontario, where PokerStars Ontario has a ring-fenced player pool, the transition will also take place. Bonuses are complicated, as some sites offer one deposit bonus while affiliates sometimes offer better deals.

In 2014, a tribal casino in Coeur D’Alene opened a live poker room, but the state fought to have it shut down and eventually won the case. Even worse, poker players in Idaho don’t have any nearby places to travel outside of Eastern Washington and Northern Nevada (Reno/Tahoe), but those are a bit of a hike. As for live poker, there are two major card rooms in the state, both of which you’ve probably heard about – Mohegan Sun and the legendary Foxwoods Casino, which has long been home to some of the biggest games in the northeast. Unfortunately, for those who live outside the continental United States, there isn’t much optimism that online poker or live poker will become legal in the near future. The state of online poker varies from state to state due to a number of factors including state laws, gaming interests, and of course, politics.

Instead of the bounties being a fixed payout each time, bounties accumulate and are added to your own bounty every time you win one. No other operator can match its offering, with Razz, Stud, PLO, PLO8 and many more variants available to play in a Sit and Go format. Once a Sit and Go reaches its capacity field size, the tournament will begin. Its daily schedule is packed with fan-favorite events, including bounties, hypers and satellites. For instance, a knockout (bounty) tournament will almost always be an MTT, but a hyper tournament could also fall under the MTT umbrella.

As of 2022, there are nine casinos with six operated by Native American tribes, four of which are Kansas-based, and two run by the Wayandotte Nation of Oklahoma. The state allowed Native American-operated casinos for decades before in 2007 introducing a bill allowing other land-based casinos as well. In Des Moines, Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino have been home to a solid card room since 2004, and there are popular poker rooms on the western and eastern parts of the state, along with up north near the Minnesota border. Live poker, on the other hand, has been booming for many years in the great state of Iowa. Poker is and isn’t legal in Iowa, it just depends on how you want to play. Live poker has long been booming in the state, especially in the Chicagoland area (Hammond, Indiana).

Even if I win this thing, can I get back to the final table again? It’s one thing to make the Main final table once and one thing to win. Most tournaments don’t go outside of day five, so hopefully I can make another run like Joe Cada did.

“Together, we’ve built a strong and responsible sports wagering experience, and this next phase reinforces our commitment to our tribal partners and to delivering a differentiated, localized digital gaming experience for Mainers.” The company announced this week that it secured long-term agreements with those tribal groups for a potential online gaming launch in 2026. Yes, All major sites, have full-function mobile poker apps for iOS and Android devices. These games are great for beginners learning the rules or anyone wanting low-pressure practice.

Less populated states like Hawaii (1.4 million residents), New Hampshire (1.4 million residents) and Wyoming (584,000 residents) are also considering igaming legislation in January. But he is confident the bill addresses the concerns of gambling critics such as gambling addiction, which the bill would allocate $11 million annually towards. “I don’t like a non-safe gaming environment for our New Yorkers,” Addabbo told PokerNews in an interview.

There is no online poker in Oregon and the state has explicit anti-iGaming and anti-poker betting laws that prohibit online poker operators from accepting payments via the internet. Ohio lawmakers did legalize sports betting in 2021 but there has been little movement with online poker. The only live poker options are at the tribal casinos Harrah’s Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel. There is currently no legislation permitting online poker in North Carolina and there hasn’t been any movement in recent years to change that.

Additionally, the bill would put $25 million toward maintaining casino jobs to address concerns that igaming “would cannibalize the brick and mortar casinos.” Satellites let you win seats in bigger events for a fraction of the buy-in, which is great for building a tournament path on a budget. All top sites have mobile apps with full tournament support—buy-ins, re-entries, late reg, and more. They have the biggest and most varied daily tournament schedules, as well as some incredible recurring series. If you ever feel your poker play is becoming difficult to manage, visit our Responsible Gambling page for practical tools, tips, and links to trusted support organizations.

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 www.pokernewsdaily.com 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.

The racinos are allowed to offer skill-based slot games with more traditional slot games relying solely on luck not permitted. The prospects for online gaming in Kansas appear bleak with very little discussion in recent years and it isn’t looked upon with a bright light. Many major events such as the World Series of Poker Circuit series have made it to Indiana over the years and will continue to do so in the future.