Anybody who has spent a decent amount of time playing online poker will be more than familiar with the hassles that banks can give you for choosing to partake in this particular pastime.
For whatever reason, banks don’t like their customers depositing or withdrawing funds from online gambling sites. A brief browse through any online poker forum will reveal endless complaints from customers who’ve had their cards blocks or transactions reversed.
This is where using Bitcoin to play poker online can help solve your problems. There are many reputable and trustworthy Bitcoin wallets available today that you can easily top-up via a bank transfer or credit card.
Once you have the Bitcoin in your digital wallet, you can quickly and easily deposit and withdraw funds from any online poker site that supports Bitcoin – and there are many! Below we will explore five of the top online poker sites that accept Bitcoin but first let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
FAQ
Is Bitcoin safe to use?
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have come a long way since the days when Bitcoin was primarily associated with illegal online activities. These days, several reputable online retailers accept Bitcoin payments and many large corporations are looking into developing cryptocurrencies of their own. It’s safe to say that Bitcoin has finally received the recognition it deserves and is a perfectly safe means of online payment.
Isn’t Bitcoin highly volatile?
Currently, Bitcoin does experience a relatively high level of volatility as opposed to traditional currencies. However, this volatility can work as much in your favor as your detriment. There are occasions when the value of Bitcoin drops by a large percentage but history has shown that in the long run, it tends to appreciate in value. The majority of bitcoin poker sites will convert your Bitcoin into the local currency (or U.S dollars) when you deposit it, so volatility is no longer an issue.
Is it legal to play poker with Bitcoin in the U.S?
Yes, there are several Bitcoin poker sites that are available to U.S. citizens. In fact, since your Bitcoin wallet is not linked to your country of residence you should be able to play on any site. However, your ISP may block sites in some U.S. states where online gambling is illegal. Below we include several Bitcoin poker sites that are available for U.S. citizens to use.
The Top 5 Bitcoin Poker Sites
1. Bovada
Bovada is a hugely popular U.S.-based online gambling site that recently added support for cryptocurrencies. Users can now enjoy playing poker on the site using Bitcoin and several other cryptocurrencies. It’s poker room is one of the largest online poker rooms in the world and includes special options like fast-fold poker and jackpot ‘sit & go’. In addition to poker, Bovada offers a wide range of casino and slots games as well as sports and horse race betting.
Deposits of Bitcoin are free and instant but withdrawals can take up to 48 hours, although they are usually much quicker. The maximum amount for a single withdrawal is $9,500 and the minimum deposit amount is $10.
Bovada offers a range of impressive bonuses for new players, including doubling your initial deposits up to $500 (30-day expiry). As with most sites, the bonus comes with certain play-through and roll over limitations that require you to earn reward points before it is added to your account.
2. Fortune Jack
Fortune Jack is one of the largest online casino platforms available and offers a wide variety of casino games and several different version of Bitcoin poker, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Stud. Fortune Jack offers 250 free spins and a generous 110% bonus for first-time deposits. However, bonus money must be wagered 40 times before it can be withdrawn.
Minimum deposit and withdrawals for Bitcoin are 0.01 BTC (about $60), and withdrawals and deposits of Bitcoin are almost always instant. In addition to Bitcoin, Fortune Jack also accepts Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), DASH, Monero (XMR), and ZCash (ZEC).
Fortune Jack’s services are available in many countries around the world including the U.S. but are not available in the UK. One key limitation is that deposits must be turned over five times before an initial withdrawal can be made.
3. Winning Poker Network (True Poker/BlackChip Poker/America’s Cardroom)
The Winning Poker Network is an American-focused brand that operates out of Costa Rica. It incorporates three of the biggest Bitcoin poker websites in the U.S., all of which operate in very similar ways. The sites include True Poker, Black Chip Poker, and America’s Cardroom.
All three sites host a variety of poker games including 7-Card Stud, 7-card High/Low, No Limit Hold’em and Omaha High/Low. In addition, they offer many other common casino table and card games like Roulette and Blackjack. The network is available to the majority of U.S. states, excluding Kentucky, Louisiana, Washington, Nevada, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey.
Winning Poker Network accepts deposits in Bitcoin and 60 other popular digital currencies but only offers withdrawals in Bitcoin (BTC) and U.S. dollar (USD). The minimum payout is $50 and the maximum is $10,000. Customers can earn up to double their initial deposit up to $1000 by participating in tournaments and earning ‘Benefit Points’.
4. SwC Poker
SwC Poker is one of the few truly cryptocurrency-focused poker sites and recently upgraded their site to the new 3.0 platform. The upgrade features a better user experience, improved security and smoother transactions.
Due to it being purely cryptocurrency focused it is not as busy as some of the other sites but it is growing steadily on a daily basis. It also means your Bitcoin won’t be converted to fiat currency when you deposit it which makes it more prone to volatility but allows the site to offer a very low rakeback of only 2.5%.
Unlike most sites which operate purely online, SwC Poker requires you to download software either onto your phone or desktop. The software client helps to ensure the games run more smoothly and is available for Windows, iOS, and Android.
SwC Poker doesn’t require you to complete any Know-your-Customer (KYC) procedures that many of the bigger sites do, which will be appealing to those looking for complete anonymity. It’s a Bitcoin poker site for real cryptocurrency enthusiasts.
5. Betcoin AG
Betcoin is a fully-fledged online casino and gambling site with a poker room that accepts deposits in Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Monero (XMR), DASH, IOTA, and Cardano (ADA).
New players will receive 10 free spin and a 100% bonus on their initial deposit (up to 1 BTC). Further bonuses on second and third deposits are also offered and the site is available to players from anywhere in the world that online gambling is legal.
Betcoin.ag currently offers a few table poker games including Texas Holdem and Three Card, and several video poker games including Bonus Poker, Joker Poker, and Deuces Wild. There is also a range of roulette, blackjack and baccarat games.
The minimum amount for withdrawals and deposits is extremely low and there is no maximum. Withdrawals can take up to four hours and can only be done in the currency matching the deposit.
Disclaimer
Laws regarding cryptocurrencies and online gambling change often, especially in the U.S. Before purchasing Bitcoin or signing up to any gambling website, always check what the current legal status is in your country or state.
Gambling is a financially risky activity that can result in severe loss of funds and can become addictive. Participation in services offered by any of the above mentioned websites is entirely at your own risk. Never gamble with more money than you can afford to lose.
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