Play at Global Poker our favorite online poker site for California players. What about legal online poker sites in California? Unfortunately, California is lagging behind other states when it comes to expanding legal online gambling. You do have one online poker option in California: Sweepstakes-based online poker games that allow you to win. California Legal Poker 2020. Pop quiz: Which US state boasts one of the best cardrooms in the world and has produced some of the game's best players, but is yet to pass regulated online poker? Answer: California. Looking for legal poker sites in California? Is global poker legal? We are pleased to announce that Global Poker is the first social poker site that offers players in the US and Canada (excluding Quebec) the opportunity to win prizes We are a leading social poker site that offers social poker along with a unique sweepstakes model.
Many poker lovers in the U.S. and Canada have been enjoying Global Poker's offerings in the time since its December 2016 launch. Players on the site appreciate the social gaming theme, the increasing tournament guarantees and the ease of depositing and cashing out via PayPal.
Poker Legal Em Portugal
Still, others remain skeptical of the site's legal $weeps Cash model, opting to take a chance with unregulated sites or resorting to putting on real clothes and driving to the casino to grind it out, one sluggish table at a time. With that, it's time to address the elephant in the room — what is the $weeps Cash model all about and how is this legal?
$weeps Cash Model
For starters, Global Poker is a public company owned and operated by parent company VGW Holdings Limited, and was incorporated in Australia in 2010. The reason there are no other sites quite like Global Poker is that the virtual currency gaming business model they employ is patented. A bit more on the history and setup of the site is explained in this early PokerNews review.
The virtual currency part of the equation is at the heart of the model. Rather than wager real money deposited through a bank or another currency, players at Global Poker have the option to play using either Gold Coins or $weeps Cash.
$weeps Cash won as sweepstakes prizes can be cashed out for real cash prizes through PayPal.
The difference between the two is important. Miccosukee casino miami buffet menu. Gold Coins are Global Poker's primary virtual currency and are equivalent to what other sites may call 'play money.' That is, they have no monetary value, cannot be cashed out, but can be used to enjoy all Global Poker gaming options together with other players on the site.
$weeps Cash, on the other hand, is Global Poker's promotional virtual currency, and $weeps Cash won as sweepstakes prizes (through $weeps cash tournaments or ring games) can be cashed out for real cash prizes through PayPal.
Here's the kicker: $weeps Cash cannot be purchased for real money, while Gold Coins must be purchased for real money using PayPal. $weeps cash can be obtained free of charge as a bonus with purchase of Gold Coins or through one of Global Poker's multiple Alternate Methods of Entry (AMOE).
How it Works
While it may seem confusing, it's more simple in practice. Players can buy Gold Coins by clicking on, that's right, 'Buy Gold Coins' at the top right of the Global Poker lobby page. In the pop-up, players can select from the various Gold Coins packages, most of which come with 'Free $weeps cash' that matches the amount of the purchase.
Once the package is purchased via PayPal, players are redirected back to Global Poker with both the Gold Coins and $weeps cash from the package now in their account. With both Gold Coins and $weeps cash available to play with, players can switch back and forth between the Gold Coins and $weeps Cash by clicking the 'Switch Currency' button located near the top right of the page.
Depending on the currency you have selected, all gaming options from NLH and PLO ring games to sit ‘n' go's to multi-table tournaments will appear in that currency, until you click the button to switch it.
Cashing Out
Global Poker prides themselves on fast, safe cashouts, and their strong relationship with PayPal has a lot to do with that.
Joseph Del Duca, Head of Communications at Global Poker, explained that PayPal knows their business model inside and out and processes payouts for thousands of their customers every day.
'At Global Poker we go to great lengths to ensure a safe and secure social gaming experience for our players.'
'Before starting that relationship with them we asked them to take a look at our business model and ensure they were comfortable with it. We were entirely transparent in this process and PayPal did their own comprehensive due diligence. As a result, they are happy with what we do and how we do it. Don't just take our word for it though - There are several ‘cashout threads' in online forums where countless players have shared their positive cashout experience.'
It seems that any early kinks that existed with cashing out at Global Poker using PayPal have been resolved, as players in recent months continue to post positive experiences attesting to the speed of getting verified and receiving funds to their PayPal accounts with no fees assessed in the process.
Safety and Security Measures
'At Global Poker we go to great lengths to ensure a safe and secure social gaming experience for our players. We are constantly monitoring and improving our security using the latest technology and industry practices,' Del Duca said.
One of the strongest safeguards for players, according to Del Duca, is the fact that they are a public company as it brings transparency to their position and makes their financial information readily available for the public to view the state of the business.
On top of that, Del Duca emphasizes that Global Poker takes very seriously their mission to protect their players from threats like collusion, bum-hunting, or predatory behaviors.
Global Poker Legal In California County
'We constantly encourage players to contact us with anything that may concern them. We commit to a full and thorough investigation of any legitimate concern that is raised.'
'We have brought on board a number of Security and Game Integrity experts with significant leadership experience with the world's largest poker sites to spearhead this part of our business.
'We already have some excellent tracking and monitoring tools in place to ensure fair games but we strongly believe that it is vital to constantly evolve in this area. We are developing more and more tools to automatically find suspicious activity and we have a team who works around the clock proactively looking for anything that may be a potential risk.'
But if you ask Del Duca, their greatest asset when it comes to keeping the site safe for all its rule-abiding players is maintaining communication with the very players who are grinding at the GP tables day in and day out.
'We constantly encourage players to contact us with anything that may concern them. We commit to a full and thorough investigation of any legitimate concern that is raised.'
In just their second year in the online poker market, Global Poker continues to grow its offerings, its guarantees and its player base as its reputation of being a legitimate, player-centric site spreads. If you are a poker player in the U.S. or Canada and want to try out a different kind of site, you can sign up at Global Poker for free today and check it out for yourself.
Global Poker is solely available to players in the United States and Canada.
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Global PokerSweeps CashOnline PokerJoseph Del Ducavirtual currency gaming business model
Back in New Jersey & More States to Come in 2020?
Currently, PokerStars is only available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Updated March. 5, 2020 – PokerStars launched in Pennsylvania and has the highest traffic of all regulated poker sites in America. It also hosted the Pennsylvania Online Championship of Poker. This was a huge series with more than $1 million in guaranteed prizes. It took years, but it looks like it was worth the wait for Pennsylvania players.
PokerStars has been running strong in New Jersey since 2016, but it hasn't reached the size Pennsylvania has. A shared player pool could really kick things up a notch though. We'll see if success in Pennsylvania leads to PokerStars in more states.
Legal Online Poker in the USA
Six states have legalized online poker. Out of those, four currently have sites up-and-running. Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Two more states legalized online poker but are still working on setting things up. West Virginia, legalized online poker in 2019. But online poker sites there aren't expected to launch until 2021. The same goes for Michigan.
When it comes to PokerStars, only two states have Poker Stars software. PokerStars gained approval to operate in New Jersey in 2015. Their site, pokerstarsnj.com, went live on March 21, 2016. Of course, you have physically located in New Jersey to play. It's play money for all other states. PokerStars NJ also offers casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette and more.
PokerStars then launched in Pennsylvania in late 2019. They kicked things off with the Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker that drew thousands of players and culminated in a $300 buy-in main event with a $100,000-guaranteed prize pool.
If you're not in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, PokerStars could still come to your state further down the line. If you want to play today though, there are still plenty of great alternatives.
Best PokerStars Alternatives for US Players
We recommend Ignition Poker as the best alternative. A lot of people prefer it to non-state run sites since they accept players from all 50 states. Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, ACR, Black Chip Poker and Intertops also rank highly. As state by state rollouts occur, we will continue to keep you updated on when PokerStars makes it to your state.
Can You Play PokerStars in the USA?
Real money online poker play on PokerStars is only available if you are physically in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. PokerStars will be in more US states soon though. West Virginia and Michigan are the current front-runners to join the party.
PokerStars, which also owns Full Tilt Poker, is currently owned by The Stars Group, formerly called Amaya Gaming Group and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. PokerStars is partnered with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, and their main competition in the state is WSOP/888 and Borgata/PartyPoker. In Pennsylvania, they teamed up with FoxBet, which is the real-money wagering provided by FOX Sports.
While there's online poker Delaware and Nevada, but PokerStars has yet to get a license in either state. If you do not live in either New Jersey or Pennsylvania, we recommend Ignition Poker or Betonline.ag. They are safe and trusted sites that service all 50 states. Check out our reviews for a comprehensive look at how each online poker site. We detail the most important factors to look at when picking an online poker room.
Make no mistake. Online poker is legal in the USA. It's 100% legal for you to play. Don't have to worry about getting arrested.
How Many Players on Pokerstars?
PokerStars remains the largest poker site on the internet with tens of thousands of players logging in weekly. PokerStars traffic is far superior to any other poker website and it controls over 50% of the market.
Back in New Jersey & More States to Come in 2020?
Currently, PokerStars is only available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Updated March. 5, 2020 – PokerStars launched in Pennsylvania and has the highest traffic of all regulated poker sites in America. It also hosted the Pennsylvania Online Championship of Poker. This was a huge series with more than $1 million in guaranteed prizes. It took years, but it looks like it was worth the wait for Pennsylvania players.
PokerStars has been running strong in New Jersey since 2016, but it hasn't reached the size Pennsylvania has. A shared player pool could really kick things up a notch though. We'll see if success in Pennsylvania leads to PokerStars in more states.
Legal Online Poker in the USA
Six states have legalized online poker. Out of those, four currently have sites up-and-running. Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Two more states legalized online poker but are still working on setting things up. West Virginia, legalized online poker in 2019. But online poker sites there aren't expected to launch until 2021. The same goes for Michigan.
When it comes to PokerStars, only two states have Poker Stars software. PokerStars gained approval to operate in New Jersey in 2015. Their site, pokerstarsnj.com, went live on March 21, 2016. Of course, you have physically located in New Jersey to play. It's play money for all other states. PokerStars NJ also offers casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette and more.
PokerStars then launched in Pennsylvania in late 2019. They kicked things off with the Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker that drew thousands of players and culminated in a $300 buy-in main event with a $100,000-guaranteed prize pool.
If you're not in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, PokerStars could still come to your state further down the line. If you want to play today though, there are still plenty of great alternatives.
Best PokerStars Alternatives for US Players
We recommend Ignition Poker as the best alternative. A lot of people prefer it to non-state run sites since they accept players from all 50 states. Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, ACR, Black Chip Poker and Intertops also rank highly. As state by state rollouts occur, we will continue to keep you updated on when PokerStars makes it to your state.
Can You Play PokerStars in the USA?
Real money online poker play on PokerStars is only available if you are physically in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. PokerStars will be in more US states soon though. West Virginia and Michigan are the current front-runners to join the party.
PokerStars, which also owns Full Tilt Poker, is currently owned by The Stars Group, formerly called Amaya Gaming Group and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. PokerStars is partnered with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, and their main competition in the state is WSOP/888 and Borgata/PartyPoker. In Pennsylvania, they teamed up with FoxBet, which is the real-money wagering provided by FOX Sports.
While there's online poker Delaware and Nevada, but PokerStars has yet to get a license in either state. If you do not live in either New Jersey or Pennsylvania, we recommend Ignition Poker or Betonline.ag. They are safe and trusted sites that service all 50 states. Check out our reviews for a comprehensive look at how each online poker site. We detail the most important factors to look at when picking an online poker room.
Make no mistake. Online poker is legal in the USA. It's 100% legal for you to play. Don't have to worry about getting arrested.
How Many Players on Pokerstars?
PokerStars remains the largest poker site on the internet with tens of thousands of players logging in weekly. PokerStars traffic is far superior to any other poker website and it controls over 50% of the market.
The sale of PokerStars has now changed the game in the US market. It is a prerequisite for any online casino that operates with a US license to also have or be partners with a US operated 'land-based' casino. PokerStars partnered with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ. Unfortunately, PokerStars has struggled with its NJ-based traffic. On the bright side, Pennsylvania has been a traffic bonanza for PokerStars since it launched in late 2019.
PokerStars also made a massive deal with gigantic casino conglomerate Eldorado Resorts, which operates properties across 12 different states. The US government has to be pleased that PokerStars is playing ball and infusing the US market with plenty of cash.
When Will PokerStars Return to the USA?
It kind of already is. If you're in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, just download the software. If you're in another state, then you'll have to wait. Regulated online poker has been moving pretty slow. Even then, some states that have legalized it haven't let PokerStars in. That's because they have another obstacle. Some important gaming groups in the USA see the brand as a bad actor because it operated without a license in the USA for years.
The brand is still incredibly popular around the world though. The site also paid over an estimated $850 million in fines because of Black Friday. It might take some time, but PokerStars will make its way back to the USA on a broader scale.
Good Faith Will Not Prevail?
While some US states have been reluctant to allow PokerStars back, it should be noted that the company bailed out tens of thousands of American poker players. Full Tilt famously didn't have funds on hand to repay its players after Black Friday. PokerStars then bought Full Tilt and repaid all its players for millions and millions of dollars.
PokerStars was simply a better-run business and separated their player accounts from operating expenses. It was, therefore, an easy task for PokerStars to immediately pay back its players after they were forced out of the US market in 2011. PokerStars was also better at becoming a global poker business. Most of its player traffic came from outside the USA.
This act of good faith was on top of the hundreds of millions they paid out in penalties to US officials. It was an example of responsible gaming. As more and more casinos based in the USA secure their licenses to operate, PokerStars will likely be entering several of these state-regulated markets.
When Will I Be Able to Play PokerStars in my State?
We have in-depth real money online poker guides for many of the US states that are updated whenever there are changes to state legislation. Unfortunately, there's no clear-cut guide to when online poker will be legalized in each US state. For now, it appears that progress will only occur at the state level and a federal online poker bill is still just a pipe dream.
Some states have a higher chance of legalizing and regulating online poker in the near future, however. We keep close track of some of the more progressive states and try to give our readers some insight into which states could be closing in on legalization. You can take a deeper dive into your states specific laws in regards to PokerStars and all online poker laws with our state-by-state guides.
Online Poker USA Law State-by-State Guides
You can refer to the legal status of online poker in every US state here:
Alabama – Arizona – Arkansas – California – Colorado – Connecticut – Georgia – Idaho – Iowa – Kansas – Maine – Maryland – Massachusetts – Michigan – Minnesota – Mississippi – Montana – Nebraska – New Hampshire – New Mexico – North Carolina – North Dakota – Ohio – Oklahoma – Pennsylvania – Rhode Island – South Carolina – Tennessee – Vermont – West Virginia – Wyoming
The Entire History of PokerStars in the USA
PokerStars has a fascinating history in the online poker industry with a substantial portion of it taking place in the USA.
2000s
- Now a billion-dollar, publicly-traded company, PokerStars had rather humble beginnings.
- It began in the early 2000s as a Costa Rican company called Rational Enterprises that was majority-owned by Israeli-Canadian Isai Scheinberg.
- PokerStars was just one of many of the early real-money online poker operators including PartyPoker, Pacific Poker (Now 888poker) and Tropical Poker.
2003 – 2006
- PokerStars' claim to fame came in 2003 when an accountant named Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP Main Event 2003-2006 Las Vegas after qualifying on the site.
- Moneymaker was the first player to win the Main Event after qualifying online and helped create the so-called 'poker boom' of the early 2000s.
- PokerStars quickly became a favorite amongst poker players for its secure deposits, reliable support team and booming cash games.
2006 – 2011
- The poker boom was stifled early on when the US government passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 that led to publicly-traded companies like PartyPoker getting forced to leave the US market altogether.
- UIGEA had the opposite effect on PokerStars because it was a privately-held company, it remained in the US market and quickly took the reins as the most popular online poker site in the world.
2011 – 2016
- The gravy train came to an end in 2011 when the Department of Justice seized the .com addresses of three online poker sites: PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute/UltimateBet.
- Online poker players referred to the day as 'Black Friday'. It would be years before PokerStars would be allowed to re-enter the US market.
2016 – Today
- PokerStars continued to flourish on the international market and was purchased by Amaya Gaming in a massive $4.9 billion deal in 2014. Subsequently the first officially licensed online poker sites in the USA start to pop up in 2014.
- New Jersey became the first state to allow PokerStars back in 2016.
- In late 2019 Pennsylvania follows suit and allows PokerStars to officially open its doors to players in the state.
Unfortunately, many other states remain a pipe dream and it will likely be decades before PokerStars is allowed to operate in the entirety of the USA.
