Chris Moneymaker’s shocking 2003 WSOP Main Event win ushered in a new era of poker, where the game became accessible to millions of players worldwide thanks to online poker sites.
Today, the rise of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has further led to more players choosing to play poker online. With the promise of faster transactions, better privacy, and lower payment fees, cryptos have emerged as a better alternative to traditional banking methods.
In this guide, we’ll review the best Bitcoin and crypto poker sites and share tips on the best poker games, tournaments, strategies, and things to consider when choosing a platform.
Overview of the Best Bitcoin and Crypto Poker Sites
Here’s a list of the top sites to enjoy poker with crypto and what makes each special.
BetOnline — Overall best crypto poker site
Bovada — Bitcoin poker site with the widest variety of tournaments.
Ignition Casino — Crypto poker site with high traffic and generous bonuses
Best Bitcoin and Crypto Poker Sites Reviewed
Now that you’ve seen the main highlights of each poker site, let’s dive into their full reviews so you can better understand what to expect when playing poker there.
(T&Cs/wagering requirements apply)
BetOnline — Overall Best Crypto Poker Site
Established: 2001
License: Panama Gaming Commission
Network: Chico Poker network
BetOnline is one of the leading crypto poker rooms online today and has been around since early 2001. It belongs to the Chico Poker network, which is very popular in the US thanks to its high traffic. New players looking to get into online poker would love BetOnline because the number of active players makes it easy to find soft tables at any time of the day.
Also, they get to enjoy a generous welcome package that features a 100% match deposit bonus up to $1,000 and 8 days of complimentary tournament tickets. BetOnline hosts games like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 5 Card Omaha, and even 6 Card Omaha. You’ll also find a variety of tournaments, including Bad Beat Jackpot, Sunday Majors, Progressive Bounties, and Tourney Money Builders.
Fans of casino games and sports betting also have hundreds of options available to them, and there’s even a VIP package with lots of fun rewards like cashbacks, reload bonuses, and free chips for long-term players.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Special welcome bonus for poker players | Very few promotions for crypto users |
| Multiple poker variants, including 5 and 6 Card Omaha | |
| Generous VIP program | |
| Sports betting and casino options | |
| High-traffic site; belongs to one of the top 3 poker networks in the US | |
| Mobile, Windows, and Mac applications available |
Bovada — Bitcoin Poker Site With the Widest Variety of Tournaments
Established: 2011
License: Anjouan Gaming Board
Network: PaiWangLuo Poker Network
When discussing poker sites, you simply can’t leave out Bovada, especially if you’re a big fan of tournaments. The platform belongs to the PaiWangLuo network, one of the biggest in the world, with a player base that consistently offers high traffic.
Upon registering an account, players can unlock a 100% match bonus up to $500 by participating in poker games and tournaments within their first 30 days. Even better, any unlocked bonus doesn’t carry a wagering requirement.
Now, tournaments are where Bovada truly shines. The platform offers knockouts, turbo, Sit and Go, and a whopping $2 million in weekly guarantees. There’s a special tournament every Sunday with a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool. If you manage to come out on top, you could be leaving with $20,000.
Bovada also offers Zone Poker, anonymous tables, quick seats where you can start a cash game in less than five minutes, and mobile poker, allowing you to enjoy the classic on your phone.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No wagering requirement on the poker welcome bonus | No live support |
| Wide variety of poker tournaments with massive prize pools | |
| Mobile poker | |
| High-traffic poker network | |
| Multi-table play |
Ignition Casino — Crypto Poker Site With High Traffic and Generous Bonuses
Established: 2016
License: Curacao eGaming, Anjouan Gaming Board
Network: PaiWangLuo Poker Network
With over 4,500 average players, Ignition is one of the most reputable and trusted names in the poker world. Like Bovada, it belongs to the high-traffic PaiWangLuo network and features cash games for players of different levels and budgets. You could find $0.02/$0.05 stake games as well as $5/$10 games with ease.
Ignition also boasts excellent tournament variety with weekly freerolls for both new and existing players. You then have the Sunday Major, which features a massive $200,000 prize pool and mid-week qualifiers with buy-ins as low as $1.
More exciting highlights from Ignition include a 100% match bonus for new players, several tournament formats including bounties and SNGs, plus a wide range of cash games based on popular variants like Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 100% match deposit poker bonus | Not too many high-stakes tables |
| Variety of tournaments, including one with a $200,000 weekly prize pool | |
| High-traffic poker site | |
| Low minimum payout limit of $10 |
Crypto Poker Promotions and Bonuses
When playing poker at online crypto sites, you can enjoy a wide variety of offers ranging from welcome bonuses to freerolls and rakebacks. The best Bitcoin poker sites offer these bonuses as an opportunity for poker lovers to enjoy their favorite titles without breaking the bank.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the top bonuses you can expect to find at these poker sites.
Welcome Bonus
This is a bonus that most crypto poker sites award its new players. They come in the form of a matched deposit bonus, where a percentage of your first deposit is returned to you as bonus funds. For example, let’s say a poker site is offering a 200% match bonus up to $2000. If you create an account and deposit $500, you’ll receive an extra $1000 in bonus funds.
You can then use these bonus funds to buy poker chips or pay for tournament entries. However, you must remember that most of these match deposit bonuses come with wagering requirements, which refer to the number of times you must play with the bonus before converting it into actual cash.
Freerolls
These are also known as free tournament tickets, and as their name suggests, they allow players to enter poker tournaments without paying any entry fee. Freerolls are popular because, despite being free, many tournaments offer cash prizes and other real rewards. They are an excellent way for players to test their skills against real competition without the financial risk.
Free Poker Chips
Free poker chips are much like freerolls, allowing you to participate in cash games without spending your money. In most casinos, these chips are part of the welcome package you get after signing up, and you’ll need to make a deposit before receiving them.
No Deposit Bonuses
With this type of bonus, you don’t need to deposit before receiving your rewards. As soon as you register the account, you’ll be credited with either free poker chips for cash games or tournament freerolls. But before you can withdraw your winnings from your no-deposit bonus, you’ll need to meet the site’s wagering requirements, which are usually higher than other types of bonuses.
Poker Rakeback
If you’re new to the poker world, rake is a fee the online poker site takes for every cash game or tournament. Rakeback is a type of promotion where the casino refunds you a percentage of your rake over time. At some poker sites, the percentage increases as you go up the VIP ladder and can go as high as 40%.
Types of Crypto Poker Games
One of the most exciting things about playing poker online with crypto is exploring different variants of the classic. From the famous Texas Hold’em to titles like Seven Card Stud and Omaha, the whole package is available on a single platform with lots of cash games and tournaments. Here are the best poker variations available at Bitcoin poker sites in 2024.
Texas Hold’em
This is by far the most popular poker game and one of the easiest to play with crypto. Players are dealt two hole cards and have to combine them with five community cards to form the strongest five-card hand.
If you enjoy tournaments a lot, you’re in luck, as most of the tourneys at our recommended crypto poker sites feature Texas Hold’em.
Omaha
If you want more action, Omaha is another top poker variant you can enjoy with crypto. It’s similar to Texas Hold’em, but players are dealt four private cards and must combine two of them with three cards from the five-card community pool to create the best hand.
There’s an even more exciting version called Omaha Hi/Lo, where the pot is split, and players can win with both the highest and lowest hand.
Seven Card Stud
Seven Card Stud might not be as popular as other poker variants on Bitcoin sites, but it’s a classic game with a strong following. There are no community cards.
Instead, you get seven cards, four face up and three face down, and you must make the best five-card hand.
5 Card Omaha
In this exciting variant, you get five private cards instead of four like in the standard Omaha. There are also five community cards, and you must combine three cards from there with two from your hand to make the best five-card hand.
The additional private card adds some dynamism to the gameplay and increases the chances of you making stronger hands. BetOnline offers 5 Card Omaha cash games and tournaments and allows you to play with crypto.
Top Bitcoin Poker Formats
When playing poker with Bitcoin, you’ll find a variety of formats and will have to find the one that matches your style and playing budget. Here are some of the most popular crypto poker formats.
Cash Games
In cash games, you can buy in for real money and play at your own pace. The chips represent actual value, allowing you to enter and leave the game whenever you wish. You should go for cash games if you want more relaxed gameplay. Even better, they aren’t too expensive, and you can get blinds for as little as $0.02.
Crypto Poker Tournaments
With tournaments, you pay a buy-in along with hundreds or thousands of players to compete for a prize pool. Tournaments typically go on until one player remains, but the prizes are usually distributed among the top finishers.
Crypto poker sites offer various tournament types, including bounty tournaments, where a cash reward is placed on each player’s head, and you can earn a bounty by eliminating an opponent. There are also rebuys that allow you to buy back in after being eliminated and freezeouts, where you’re eliminated after losing all chips.
Sit and Go
SNGs are smaller tournaments that start once a set number of players register. The number is usually between 6 and 10, with some tables allowing as little as 3 players. Due to their quick structure, most poker sites hold multiple Sit & Go tournaments daily, so you can experience that tournament-style action without waiting long for a scheduled start time.
Spin and Go
Spin and Go is an even more fast-paced tournament format that features just three players. It’s similar to Sit and Go and is even called Jackpot Sit and Go on some crypto poker sites, like Bovada. The critical difference between the two is that while SNGs feature a fixed prize pool based on the number of buy-ins and entries, Spin and Go tournaments have dynamic prize pools and often include a chance to win a large jackpot that’s way higher than the buy-in.
Tips for Playing Bitcoin Poker Online
Before you dive into those cash games and tourneys, here are some quick tips to help boost your winning chances.
- Understand the game rules — As we discussed earlier, crypto poker sites often host various poker games, each with its own rules and gameplay. Before you sit at any virtual table, take some time out to read the rules of that particular variant and understand everything from basic terms to card rankings.
- Always claim bonuses — Promotions like match bonuses and rakebacks serve as an extra way to boost your bankroll even when you’re not winning. These free chips and freerolls might come in handy when you’re low on funds, allowing you to keep playing and potentially win without risking your own money. So don’t forget to always check the promotion page of your poker site in case there’s a bonus waiting to be claimed.
- Only play at safe and licensed platforms — You don’t want to be stuck at a table on a sketchy site where you don’t know if you’re being cheated or if your funds are even safe. That’s why we recommend playing on platforms with a license from a reputable body, high traffic, adequate safety measures, and a good reputation. The safer you feel, the more relaxed you’ll be, allowing you to focus better and score bigger wins.
- Maintain proper bankroll management — Before you even start playing, settle on how much you’re willing to spend on poker. This should be an amount you’re comfortable losing and separate from your everyday budget. Don’t play games with stakes that take up a high percentage of your bankroll, and remember never to chase losses. Poker is still a game of luck, and while your skills do help, the chances of losing streaks are high, so when they do come, take breaks and clear your head.
What to Consider When Choosing a Bitcoin Poker Site
Here are some factors to consider when looking for a crypto poker site.
License and Security
Before you even think about registering at a crypto poker site, take a few moments to check if it’s licensed by any reputable regulatory body. This is your only guarantee that the platform hosts fair games and is capable of paying out winnings.
Furthermore, you should check the security measures in place. Does the site have SSL encryption? Does it offer protection against hackers and fraudsters? Ensure you get the answers to these questions and research the site’s reputation on poker forums.
Player Traffic
After security and license, this is the next most important factor to consider when choosing a poker site because it doesn’t matter how great a platform is; if there’s not enough traffic, you likely won’t enjoy your stay there. Low traffic translates to long waiting times and few tournaments.
Moreover, poker sites with a larger player base tend to feature players of different skill levels. So, if you’re a veteran, you’ll most likely be paired with veterans, and if you’re a beginner, you’ll meet players of a similar level and grow over time.
Game and Tournament Variety
Hold’em and Omaha are staples at most crypto poker sites, but the best ones also offer less popular variations like 5 Card Omaha and Seven Card Stud. The more variety a poker site has, the more entertaining your playing sessions will be.
Also, the platform should have a stable roster of tournaments targeted at both newbies and experienced players. From low buy-ins and freerolls for new players to satellites for seasoned sharks, the fun should never end.
Crypto Bonuses and Promotions
We’ve already discussed the advantages of bonuses when playing poker online with Bitcoin, so this should be among your priorities when choosing a site. It all starts with the welcome bonus available for new players, then moves on to regular free chips or freerolls, reload bonuses, and even rakeback. You should also check if the site runs a VIP program, as it can be very rewarding in the long term.
Customer Support
You should be able to reach customer support via various channels, especially live chat and email. The best sites even have active social media pages and a phone number for calls. But it’s not only about reaching them; the agents should be responsive, friendly, and knowledgeable enough to help with any issues you might be facing.
How to Starting Playing Poker Online With Bitcoin
We’ve shown you the different poker games and formats, plus tips on choosing the best poker sites and boosting your winning chances. Now, let’s look at how you can start playing at these poker sites with Bitcoin.
- Create a crypto wallet — Before registering at a poker site, set up your crypto wallet, as it’s the safest way to store and exchange crypto tokens. You can research the best wallets, download the app or browser extension, and get your address in a few minutes. If you plan to play with larger amounts, purchasing a hardware wallet might be safer.
- Buy crypto — To do this, you’ll most likely need to register at an exchange and fund your account with fiat. Next, purchase Bitcoin or your preferred cryptocurrency and transfer to the wallet address you got from the first step. While you can always transfer directly from the exchange wallet to the poker site, using a non-custodial wallet is safer and more private.
- Choose a Bitcoin poker site — You don’t have to do much for this step, as we’ve already researched and reviewed the best platforms for you. All our sites are safe, licensed, and boast high traffic. Simply choose from our list, click the link, and you’ll be directed to the signup page, where you’ll need to enter your details to create an account.
- Make a deposit — After signing up, hit the Deposit button to fund your account. You’ll be asked to select your preferred token, and an address will be provided. Transfer from your wallet to that address and wait a few minutes for the funds to appear in your account. Remember to deposit above the minimum required to claim the welcome bonus.
- Start playing poker — Use the funds in your account to get some poker chips or buy-ins to any available tournament and start playing!
Are Bitcoin Poker Sites Safe and Legal?
Yes, playing poker online with Bitcoin is completely safe and legal, as long as you play at a licensed and secured site. In fact, playing with crypto is even safer as it adds a layer of anonymity and transparency not common with traditional payment options.
But everything comes down to the site you’re playing on and your commitment to safety practices. Always protect your private keys so no one gains access to your wallet or tampers with your funds. You should also double-check addresses before transferring funds, as crypto transactions are irreversible.
FAQS
What crypto tokens can I use to play poker online?
Are crypto poker winnings taxable in the US?
Yes, under US federal law, the IRS treats cryptocurrencies as property for tax purposes, and you’re required to report the token’s market value at the time of withdrawal. Specific state laws might vary, so do well to check your local laws before playing.
Can I win real money from freerolls?
Yes, you can win real money from freerolls at crypto poker sites. These promotions are common on sites like Bovada and Ignition.
