Poker world
Online poker
The established, licensed poker sites where most of the world plays online, and how to choose the right one for you.
Last checked:
Online poker lets you play any time, at any stake, and win seats to the world's biggest live events. We only list established, licensed operators with a long track record. Availability depends on where you live, so always check that a site accepts players from your country before you sign up.
In short
- Biggest: GGPoker has the most cash-game players by far, then PokerStars and WPT Global (2026 traffic).
- Check the licence: PokerStars, Winamax, 888poker and partypoker are licensed by strict regulators. GGPoker, Natural8, WPT Global and the crypto sites run their international sites on lighter-touch licences.
- Check your country: many sites run a separate, locally licensed site (for example in the UK, US states or Ontario), and some countries are not served at all.
Compare the sites
| Site | Licence | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| PokerStars | Strict regulator | Tournament players and live-tour qualifiers |
| Winamax | Strict regulator | Players in France, Spain and Portugal |
| 888poker | Strict regulator | Beginners and recreational players |
| partypoker | Strict regulator | Recreational players in Europe |
| WSOP Online (US) | Strict regulator | US players chasing bracelets online |
| BetMGM Poker & Borgata Poker (US) | Strict regulator | US players in NJ, MI and PA |
| GGPoker | Offshore / lighter-touch | Players who want the most traffic and the biggest tournaments |
| Natural8 | Offshore / lighter-touch | Players in Asia |
| WPT Global | Offshore / lighter-touch | Cash-game players and WPT qualifiers |
| CoinPoker | Offshore / lighter-touch | Players who want to play with crypto |
| ACR Poker (Americas Cardroom) | Offshore / lighter-touch | Tournament players in the Americas |
| Ignition Poker | Offshore / lighter-touch | Casual players in the US |
What the licence tells you
| Licence | Examples | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Strict regulator | UK Gambling Commission, Malta (MGA), France (ANJ), Spain (DGOJ), Gibraltar, US states, Ontario | Player money kept separate, audited games, and a regulator you can complain to. |
| Lighter-touch licence | Kahnawake (Canada), Tobique (Canada), Anjouan (Comoros) | Less oversight and fewer formal protections. These sites often accept more countries and crypto. |
Sites licensed by strict regulators
PokerStars
PokerStars · since 2001The most famous name in online poker: Chris Moneymaker qualified for the 2003 WSOP here and started the poker boom. PokerStars also runs the EPT and APPT live tours.
- Huge tournament schedule (SCOOP, WCOOP)
- Spin & Go
- Satellites to EPT and APPT
- Separate licensed sites in many countries and US states
- Licences
- PokerStars.com: Malta Gaming Authority, MGA/B2C/213/2011. Separate local sites are licensed in the UK, several US states and other markets.
- Available in
- Worldwide in many countries; some countries play on a separate local site
- Best for
- Tournament players and live-tour qualifiers
Winamax
Winamax · since 2006The leading poker site in France and Spain, famous for its fun brand, huge Sunday tournaments and the Winamax Poker Tour live events.
- Huge French and Spanish player pool
- Expresso (Spin-style) games
- Winamax Poker Tour live events
- Licences
- France (ANJ) and Spain (DGOJ)
- Available in
- France and Spain (one shared player pool)
- Best for
- Players in France, Spain and Portugal
888poker
888 · since 2002One of the longest-running poker sites, known for a beginner-friendly player pool, low buy-in tournaments and the 888poker LIVE festivals.
- Beginner-friendly games
- Low buy-in tournaments
- 888poker LIVE events
- Licences
- Gibraltar (Remote Gaming licences 112 and 113) and the UK Gambling Commission (888 UK Limited, account 39028)
- Available in
- Many countries; check your country on the site
- Best for
- Beginners and recreational players
partypoker
partypoker · since 2001One of the original giants of online poker, part of the Entain group. Known for its recreational-friendly approach and its live tour, which has ten stops in the UK and Spain in 2026.
- Recreational-friendly cash games
- Online qualifiers to live events
- Licences
- Gibraltar (ElectraWorks Limited, RGL No. 050), plus local licences such as Spain
- Available in
- Many countries in Europe and elsewhere
- Best for
- Recreational players in Europe
WSOP Online (US)
WSOP (MSIGA shared pool) · since 2013The World Series of Poker's real-money site for the United States, run by Caesars. Players in Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania share one player pool, and some online events award official WSOP gold bracelets.
- Online WSOP bracelet events
- One player pool across four states
- Desktop (Windows, macOS) and mobile apps
- Licences
- Licensed in each state: Nevada Gaming Control Board, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Michigan Gaming Control Board, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- Available in
- US only: players physically in Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan or Pennsylvania (21+)
- Best for
- US players chasing bracelets online
BetMGM Poker & Borgata Poker (US)
partypoker US NetworkMGM Resorts and Entain's regulated US poker brands, on partypoker's software. BetMGM Poker and Borgata Poker share one player pool across New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania, and poker play earns MGM Rewards credits.
- One player pool across three states
- Seasonal series with big guarantees
- MGM Rewards tier credits
- Licences
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Michigan Gaming Control Board, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- Available in
- US only: players physically in New Jersey, Michigan or Pennsylvania (21+)
- Best for
- US players in NJ, MI and PA
Sites with offshore or lighter-touch licences
These sites' international websites are licensed by a lighter-touch authority rather than a strict regulator like the UK, Malta or a US state. Some of them, such as GGPoker, also run separate sites with strict licences in particular countries. We only list sites with a long track record of paying players, and we name each licence exactly as the operator states it on its own website.
GGPoker
GGNetworkThe world's largest online poker site by cash-game traffic (about 36% of tracked cash-game seats in 2026). Its parent company also owns the WSOP brand, and GGPoker hosts the WSOP Online bracelet events every year.
- Biggest tournament guarantees online
- WSOP Online bracelets
- PokerCraft hand history and stats
- Spin & Gold, All-in or Fold, Rush & Cash
- Licences
- GGPoker.com: Kahnawake Gaming Commission (Canada), licence No. 927 · Puretech International Limited, Belize. Separate local sites hold licences in regulated markets such as the UK and Ontario.
- Available in
- Many countries worldwide (not the US, except via state-licensed sites)
- Best for
- Players who want the most traffic and the biggest tournaments
Natural8
GGNetworkGGNetwork's main brand for Asia. You play in the same player pool as GGPoker, with Asian payment methods, local-language support and promotions aimed at Asian players.
- Same games and traffic as GGPoker
- Local payment methods and support for Asian players
- Asia-focused promotions and online series
- Licences
- Anjouan (Comoros) licence ALSI-192407036-FI2
- Available in
- Mainly Asia-Pacific; check that it accepts players from your country
- Best for
- Players in Asia
WPT Global
WPT GlobalThe official online platform of the World Poker Tour, and in 2026 the third-biggest poker site by cash-game traffic, behind GGPoker and PokerStars. It offers online qualifiers to WPT live events around the world.
- Satellites to WPT live events
- Fast-growing cash-game traffic
- Cashback-style rewards
- Licences
- Tobique Gaming Commission (Canada), licence No. 0000005 · Everstronglink Limited, Costa Rica
- Available in
- 60+ countries (not the US; closed to players in India since September 2025)
- Best for
- Cash-game players and WPT qualifiers
CoinPoker
CoinPoker · since 2017The best-known crypto poker site, co-founded in 2017 by poker pro and businessman Tony G (Antanas Guoga). You play with cryptocurrency (USDT, Bitcoin, Ethereum and more), and it was the fifth-biggest poker site by traffic in September 2026.
- Crypto deposits and fast withdrawals
- Cash games and tournaments
- Rakeback rewards
- Licences
- Anjouan (Comoros) licence ALSI-202412004-FI1 · Precise Interactive Inc., Panama
- Available in
- Many countries; check the restricted list in CoinPoker's terms
- Best for
- Players who want to play with crypto
ACR Poker (Americas Cardroom)
Winning Poker Network · since 2001One of the longest-running poker sites, and the biggest that accepts players from the United States. Known for big tournament guarantees, including the Venom series, and same-day crypto payouts.
- Large tournament guarantees
- Crypto and card payments
- Rakeback programme
- Licences
- Anjouan (Comoros) licence ALSI-202607066-FI2 · International Processing Services SA, Panama
- Available in
- Mainly the Americas, including US players (not licensed by any US state)
- Best for
- Tournament players in the Americas
Ignition Poker
Ignition · since 2016A popular poker room for US players, spun off from Bovada in 2016, with anonymous tables: nobody can track you with a HUD, which keeps the games friendly for recreational players.
- Anonymous tables (no HUDs)
- Fast-fold Zone Poker
- Crypto withdrawals
- Licences
- Anjouan Gaming Board (Comoros) · Bamboo Media, Anjouan
- Available in
- Mainly US players (not licensed by any US state); check the restricted list in its terms
- Best for
- Casual players in the US
How to choose a poker site
- Licence first. A licence from a strict regulator (for example the UK Gambling Commission or Malta Gaming Authority) means your money is protected and the games are audited.
- Traffic. More players means more games at your stake and bigger tournament guarantees.
- Game types. Some sites focus on tournaments, others on fast-fold cash games or Spin & Go-style jackpot games.
- Payments and support in your currency and language.
- Networks share players. Natural8 and GGPoker are the same player pool, so pick the brand that serves your country best.
Practise for free first: learn how positions and pot odds work in our Poker 101 guide, then play a free match against a legend in Heads Up with Legends.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest online poker site?
GGPoker is the largest online poker site by cash-game traffic, followed by PokerStars and WPT Global.
Is Natural8 the same as GGPoker?
Natural8 is a brand of GGNetwork, the same network as GGPoker. Players on both sites sit at the same tables; Natural8 focuses on Asian players with local payments and support.
How do I know if an online poker site is safe?
Check who licenses it: the licence is usually named at the bottom of the site. A strict regulator, years of operation and independent audits of its card shuffling (RNG) are the best signs.
What is an offshore poker site?
A poker site licensed in a lighter-touch jurisdiction, for example Anjouan in the Comoros or Kahnawake and Tobique in Canada, rather than by a strict regulator such as the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority or a US state. Offshore sites often accept crypto and players from more countries, but offer fewer formal player protections.
Can I win a seat to the WSOP or EPT online?
Yes. GGPoker runs satellites to the WSOP, PokerStars to the EPT and APPT, and WPT Global to WPT events.