How to check whether a US poker site is authorised
Verify the operator against the regulator responsible for the state where you intend to play. Match the business, website and poker product. An advertisement saying that a site accepts US players does not complete this check.
Editorial illustration: examining location requirements without marking approved territories.
Use this page as a verification workflow, not a nationwide list of approved rooms. Our US online-poker law guide explains why legislation, approval and a live product are separate questions. After verification, the US selection guide covers games, costs and software.
Build a traceable authorisation check
Identify the relevant state regulator. Start with its official website, rather than a badge displayed by an operator or an affiliate review.
Find the exact operator or authorised-site record. Compare the registered entity and domain with the account agreement you would accept.
Confirm that the evidence covers poker. An internet-casino listing alone does not establish that a peer-to-peer poker client is approved and operating.
Read the local eligibility and location conditions. Check the requirements for your circumstances before registration or deposit.
Record the source and date. If the regulator’s record and the operator’s terms appear inconsistent, ask for clarification before proceeding.
A match should be specific enough for another reader to reproduce. Save the operator name, exact URL, product and date together. A cropped logo or a claim that a business has a licence somewhere else is not equivalent evidence.
Official starting points for state checks
Selected regulator routes; this is not an exhaustive state-status table
Check the listed site and its scope; do not infer a poker launch from a general gaming listing.
The state-source table provides verification routes; the filled Pennsylvania records below show exact directory examples. Neither covers every operator or state. Use the relevant jurisdiction’s own regulator and distinguish a product record from a current operational check.
A directory entry identifies a poker route, not current tables, supported devices or fees. Match its account agreement and your eligibility; do not infer permission in another state.
Why product approval and launch need separate evidence
Product-level evidence matters. For example, the MGCB announcement of 13 July 2026 specifically reports a multi-state poker launch involving Michigan. It provides product-level evidence at that date, not permission for every brand or every player’s location. Recheck before opening an account.
Keep the same distinction when reading reviews: a network name describes infrastructure or a player pool, while an account is governed by a particular operator and agreement. Check the entity you would contract with. A familiar brand name is not enough.
What to do if the evidence does not match
Stop before depositing. Use the regulator’s published contact or complaint route to resolve the mismatch. Do not change an address, conceal a location or select another payment method to get around a restriction.
Offshore licensing is a separate jurisdictional fact. It is not proof of state authorisation. The MGCB guidance is a useful reference for understanding the regulator’s distinction between authorised and unauthorised gaming.
Questions to settle before choosing
Does a successful deposit prove that play is authorised?
No. A payment result is not an authorisation record. Use the relevant state sources and the exact product agreement to answer the eligibility question.
Does a review or an affiliate link replace a licence check?
No. Reviews help compare features. They do not issue licences, determine an individual’s legal position or guarantee that account restrictions have not changed.
What should I compare after verification?
Assess game formats, rake, software support and withdrawal conditions. Use the rake calculator with a published schedule, and read the assumptions rather than treating a calculated figure as an operator quote.
Keep the decision within your limits
Meet the applicable age and eligibility conditions, set spending and time limits, and stop when gambling causes harm. Our responsible-gambling policy sets out support routes. If you cannot establish authorisation and suitability for your location, do not use a deposit as a test.
