Nevada Online Poker

Since 1970, when Johnny Moss became the inaugural World Series of Poker champion, Nevada has been the heart and soul of the poker world. Not only is Nevada home to the biggest live poker tournaments in the world, but it was also the first state to legalize online poker. Here’s the rundown on the Nevada online poker scene.

WSOP

  • Bonus Offer: $10 free on sign up and first deposit match up to $1000
  • The site is part of an interstate playing pool
  • Also available in New Jersey 
  • Local Casino Partner: Caesars Entertainment 

WSOP is currently the only player in the game in Nevada. This has been the case since Nevada’s original online poker platform, Ultimate Poker, went out of business. 

Also notable is the absence of PokerStars from Nevada’s online poker scene. PokerStars is the global leader in online poker and has typically been the first entrant in each new US poker market. However, Nevada lawmakers have taken a stand against sites that once operated illegally (before the infamous Black Friday). For this reason, Nevada will be PokerStars-free for the foreseeable future. 

A huge advantage for WSOP is that it is the only current site to share player liquidity between states. This means that Nevada online poker players can face off against players from other legal jurisdictions (New Jersey and Delaware) while playing on the site.

This shared liquidity system aids the site in several ways. The increased site traffic improves the probability that players will be able to find the poker variant and stakes they are looking for. Players will also be more likely to find solid games at different times of the day. More traffic also means bigger tournament options with higher prize pool guarantees! 

Other Poker Sites Coming To Nevada

For now, WSOP is the only operating online poker site in Nevada. This does not mean there will never be another site, though there does not seem to be anything definite in the works. Since PokerStars is unlikely to join the market, BetMGM seems like the ostensible candidate. After all, BetMGM’s parent company MGM Resorts International is a big presence in Nevada. 

Online Poker Bonuses Available In Nevada

WSOP Nevada offers two sign-up bonuses for new players as well as a competitive rewards program. 

No-Deposit Bonus 

The no-deposit bonus gives new players an incentive to sign up at WSOP without even making a deposit. The way it works: sign up and you will have $10 credited to your account. While it’s not a ton of money, it is definitely enough to fund some low-stakes cash games or tournaments to give you a feel for the site. 

Match Bonus

Slightly more complicated is the match bonus. At WSOP Nevada, new players will have their first deposit matched up to $1,000. This is definitely something you’ll want to take advantage of. If your first deposit is, say, $200, the site will match it with $200. 

There is, of course, a fine print. The matched money will not be directly credited to your account. Instead, you will incrementally earn your match bonus through playing on the site. This works through a rakeback – a percentage of fees paid toward cash games or tournament entry will be refunded to your account. Essentially, new players dish out a lower rake until their bonus is paid off. 

Rewards Program 

WSOP offers loyal players the chance to earn back some of the money they pay in rake through their rewards program. The program has several tiers that players progress through based on how much they play on the site. The tiers range from Player level (0% rakeback) to Champions Club (32% rakeback) for players who pay more than $10,000 in rake annually. 

Online Poker Tournaments 

Classic multi-table tournaments (MTTs) are abundant at WSOP. The site offers daily and weekly scheduled tournaments at many different buy-in prices. One popular weekly MTT is the Sunday Ultimate Warrior tournament. For a $200 buy-in, players compete for their share of a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool. For those on a smaller budget, WSOP also offers big Sunday tournaments at $50 and $100 buy-ins ($5,000 and $10,000 prize pools, respectively). 

If big tournaments are your thing you won’t want to miss WSOP’s quarterly tournaments. These tournaments run once every three months and often yield prize pools over $1,000,000. Unique to WSOP Nevada is that online players have the chance to win WSOP bracelets––the Super Bowl ring of poker. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, these circuit events have become more regular. 

WSOP also hosts sit-and-go tournaments. These are single table tournaments, so prize pools will be smaller and your chances of winning will be larger. These tournaments are not scheduled––they run whenever a required number of players have signed up to fill the table. 

Another popular tournament is the lottery sit-and-go (LSNGs). These tournaments are WSOP’s version of PokerStars’ popular Spin & Go tournament. LSNGs are a turbo sit-and-go that utilizes a prize multiplier to determine the prize pool. Most multipliers will be small, but there is the chance to make big money with a top multiplier of 10,000X. 

Online Cash Games

The bulk of WSOP’s player traffic is devoted to cash games. Cash games, or ring games, come in many different variants and price ranges. By far the most popular game at WSOP is no limit hold’em, though other games are offered. The problem with more exotic variants is finding enough players to populate a table. 

If, however, no limit hold’em is your style, you should rarely have trouble finding solid games. WSOP’s six-handed tables see action throughout the day, especially at limits between $.01/$.02 and $3/$6. 

Cashing In And Cashing Out

Depositing and withdrawing funds at WSOP is simple. There are two primary ways to deposit or withdraw money. Most people deposit on-site through credit card, Paypal, bank transfer, or a similar method. Withdrawing is just as simple, select an amount to withdraw and the site will send you your money via your desired method after a short processing period.

Nevada online poker players close to Las Vegas have an additional method to deposit or withdraw funds. Players can go to the cage of any Caesars location and deposit money to their online account or receive cash from it. Here, the minimum deposit is $50 and withdrawals must be initiated online. 

Nevada Online Poker FAQs

How old do you have to be to play at online poker sites in Nevada?

21. Like all other casinos, online or in person, you must be 21 years of age or older to gamble in Nevada.

Can I play at PokerStars in Nevada? 

No. PokerStars has been barred from launching in Nevada for the foreseeable future. This was due to complications around Black Friday, which revolved around lawsuits involving PokerStars and two other sites. Although PokerStars is currently available in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Can I play WSOP in Nevada? 

Yes! In fact, WSOP is the only show in town for Nevada online poker at the moment. Don’t worry though, WSOP is one of the best sites in the world and is currently the only site that offers a multi-state player pool. 

Can I trust online poker apps in Nevada? 

Yes. WSOP (and any future poker sites) is regulated by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. You can be assured you will be treated fairly at WSOP.

What are the lowest stakes at poker sites in Nevada? 

The lowest stakes are $.01/$.02 cash games. This means almost everyone should be able to find a game that suits their budget. However, it should be noted that online poker variance is substantially higher than in live games. Therefore most players should look to play smaller stakes than they would in person. 

When is the best time to play poker online in Nevada? 

As a rule of thumb, you want to play when you think the most people will be signed in. That probably is not going to be 3 A.M. on a Tuesday. Rather, weekends and weekdays between 8 P.M. and midnight are ideal. 

About the Author

Chris Blundo

Chris Blundo is a freelance writer based out of Vero Beach, Florida. He holds a BA in economics and writes about Game Theory, poker, and all things gambling and sports betting.