Having opened its virtual doors in 2011, BetOnline Poker is one of the most popular online poker platforms among both American players and those hailing from other parts of the world. Since its inception, the poker room has managed to build a rather solid reputation among fans of poker games in the USA.
In this BetOnline Poker review, we check the overall service of this operator, the bonuses and promotions offered, its mobile service, deposit and withdrawal options, tournaments available, and more. Before we say anything else, it is worth mentioning that BetOnline.ag poker is licensed by the Panama Gaming Commission while the company behind the brand is registered in Panama City, Panama.
While we cannot deny that this poker room offers some gaming benefits to its customers, there is one fact that makes us suggest all customers from the United States stay away from this operator and it is the lack of proper licensing to provide services to American users. Becoming a customer of such gaming platforms poses major risks which we will discuss further.
- So far no license in the USA
- No safe gaming is possible
- Playing is not recommended
BetOnline Poker Legal or Not?
Before moving on to other details, we need to consider the operator’s legitimacy regarding providing services to US-based players. We will try to give answers to questions like is BetOnline Poker legal for US players and whether Americans should trust this site. In order to genuinely understand the issue with the operator’s licensing or lack of licensing, we have to look into the federal and local laws in the United States which manage not only online poker rooms, but also online casinos, and online sportsbooks.
One of the most important concerns for poker players from the United States remains the legality of their chosen online poker operators. So, is BetOnline Poker legal from the customer’s point of view? Currently, active federal and local laws in the United States which manage the industry are quite strict, yet very clear. The main federal law which manages the industry named the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act or for short the UIGEA has been active since 2006.
This federal law mainly deals with offshore operators’ finances as well as with US-based financial institutions such as banks and other processors. According to this law, such financial institutions can face legal consequences for processing transactions that involve offshore gambling or which involve gambling at unlicensed, unregulated operators such as the one in question here. In this sense, joining such venues is never recommended.
Is BetOnline Poker Scam: This Is Why You Shouldn’t Play Here
The question remains is BetOnline Poker illegal in the United States? Without the proper, state-issued license, the poker room operates in the states in its grey area which is loaded with loopholes that such operators take advantage of. One could say that the site operates completely outside of American law, and some states have local laws that considered it a criminal offense to join such venues even though no poker player was ever charged for such actions.
In addition to possible legal consequences, there is a number of other dangers and risks related to joining offshore poker rooms which we discuss further. First of all, many bettors wonder is BetOnline Poker is rigged as well as whether are there bots on BetOnline poker. In this sense, we have not heard of any extremely damaging BetOnline Poker scam that its customers came across for betting here. With such a decent reputation, this poker room is not involved in a shady business of this kind.
- Play games with a licensed operator
- Secure deposits and withdrawals
- Great fun and awesome winnings
Nonetheless, registering and playing here comes with certain risks that cannot be avoided. Firstly, choosing an offshore poker room that is not licensed and regulated to operate in the states means exposing money to serious, still avoidable risks. Since such operators have failed to obtain their licensing in the first place, they have failed when it comes to complying with the industry’s safety and privacy-related standards.
In addition to exposing your money to fraudulent third-party software, by registering here you also expose your private data to the same software which may steal your credit card’s detailing and other sensitive information. Moreover, your credit or debit cards may get closed because according to the UIGEA, it is illegal to send funds to offshore operators such as this one.
Without any protection guaranteed, players cannot expect fair play and transparency as well which also poses major risks. Since such operators fail when it comes to giving players the crucial features of a safe, reliable, and trustworthy online betting environment, the best decision, the wisest decision is to stay away.
BetOnline Poker Legit or Not: The Operator Check
Even though we strongly recommend bettors to stay away from this poker room and every other similarly operating platform available to US players, we still want to assess its service, check whether BetOnline Poker rigged some of the important features, and objectively present both its advantages and disadvantages.
Game Types & Tournaments: A Solid Selection of Gaming Options
In regards to the overall selection of poker games at the site, BetOnline definitely offers a rather solid selection of gaming options that bettors can access using the BetOnline download poker client, or BetOnline Poker app which works for the majority of modern iOS and Android-powered tablets and smartphones.
Some gaming options offered here include a variety of BetOnline Hold’em games such as:
- 7 Card Stud, Omaha
- 32 Card Draw
- Fixed-Limit Hold’em
- No-Limit Hold’em
- Texas Hold’em
While the selection is solid, some bettors complain about coming across technical difficulties during their gaming sessions which is a big downside.
Bonus & VIP Program: A Great Variety of Poker Bonuses and Promotions
An area of services in which the operator certainly stands out is the bonuses and promotions department. There is a variety of options for both newcomers and loyal bettors offered here including the operator’s Money Night Football offer which includes loads of tables available on Mondays and Thursdays. As suggested by its name, this promo is related to the operator’s sports betting section.
Moreover, players can boost their bankrolls with the BetOnline Fast-Fold Poker Boost Bad Beat Jackpot, Weekly Cash Race bonuses, and generous freerolls which are also offered. Then, newcomers can scoop a 100% first deposit bonus which also includes free tickets to the operator’s active tournaments. The selection of bonuses is rather rich, but issues emerge when trying to cash out on bonus winnings.
Payment Methods: Just Bitcoin
Considering the operator’s cashier options, bettors are usually very disappointed as they only see Bitcoin deposits and withdrawals possible here. As they install their Betonline clients which we never recommend, the only way to fund their accounts can cash out on their winnings is to use Bitcoin.
While many US players prefer using Bitcoin when gaming online for its greater anonymity offered, usually instant deposits and small transactional fees that apply, using Bitcoin is certainly not one of the recommended ways to do online banking. Despite the common belief, Bitcoin transactions are not as safe and anonymous as players want to believe. What is even more, such digital currencies are always subject to extreme fluctuations regarding their cash value and what players get for their money. In other words, it is always better to use traditional payment options which are not offered on this site.
Software / Usability: Simple, Easy to Navigate
In terms of its desktop platform design, the operator definitely wanted to keep things as simple as possible. On the homepage, bettors will find several different sections including the BetOnline live casino, racebook, live betting, casino, eSports, and poker section.
The same sections are available when visiting the platform from a web browser and from an app. With such a simple layout, navigation is generally super easy which is a plus for some players. On the other hand, some customers prefer more modern website looks and this platform fails in this department while the general responsivity and other features are on point.
Player Pool & Poker Network: Loads of Events and a Decent Traffic
With such a solid selection of poker games and online poker tournaments among several other benefits, this poker room enjoys fairly good traffic when compared to other non-licensed, offshore poker rooms available to US players. While the poker room’s player pool has grown a lot especially thanks to big poker tournaments held here, the traffic is still lacking behind some bigger, state-licensed poker platforms.
FAQ
BetOnline Poker Illegal or Not: Common FAQs
Is Betonline Poker legit?
Can US players register at Betonline?
Is this poker room rigged in any way?
Which deposit and withdrawal options are offered at this platform?
Do I have to pay taxes on my Betonline winnings on poker games?
Conclusion
Always Choose a State-Licensed Online Poker Room
The primary goal of this review was to make sure players understand all the risks and dangers related to playing at offshore operators. By playing at such sites, players not only expose their money and sensitive data to third-party software but also expose themselves to possible legal consequences depending on their state’s local laws.
All in all, the best, wisest decision to make is to always choose a state-regulated, state-licensed online poker room that must comply with the highest standards posed by the state’s governing bodies. Those poker fans and enthusiasts looking for such platforms should take some time to check out our list of fully reliable, licensed, safe, and trustworthy online poker rooms that gladly accept US bettors.
