As the popularity of the game of poker has grown exponentially across the country over recent years, more and more players are joining the tables every day. Online poker has become the birthplace for many talented players to sharpen their skills playing for real money that has changed their lives and entered them into a whole new world of poker excitement. We have provided this page as a guide for all those in the Peach State to find the perfect online poker room that is legal and suited best for them. In addition to providing a “who’s who” guide to these poker rooms, we hope finally to put any questions nagging Georgia residents concerning online poker to rest.
There are a couple of federal laws on the books that regulate online gambling in general to pay attention to before logging on to the first game of Omaha that a player finds. The Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) both play a hand in putting a stop to organized crime and outlawing the business of gambling or facilitating bets for profit on U.S. soil. It is illegal to run an unlicensed poker room either live or over the internet. The mere act of placing a bet in a poker game however, is legal. Players in all 50 states are allowed to make a wager on their hand of cards, so long as it is in a legal venue. With the internet providing a lot of legal online gambling options in Georgia, players are signing up in droves with the legitimate sites that operate outside of federal jurisdiction and provide consistent payouts of winnings.
Read More: Is It Legal To Gamble Online In Georgia?
With the only parameter for legality to meet being the location of a site outside of the United States, one can imagine that there are many choices. Indeed, there are, as Georgia poker sites exist throughout Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and South America, all of which are legal to use for American citizens, those of us in Georgia included. In fact, despite their foreign locations, many of these sites are dedicated to American players and have been providing games for decades even during changing federal laws that forced American sites to shut down. We have a few that we believe to be the very best in the industry and operate legally specifically for USA players.
This online poker room boasts the fastest growing network of players in the United States and it is easy to see why. Upon downloading this innovative site’s software, and after you open an account with BetOnline you're able to get involved with over $250,000 worth of stakes every week, guaranteed. With Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha and Stud games all available, players from anywhere in Georgia can play free games to practice, nickel games to keep calm and then of course jump into the water with sharks for games where thousands can be won.
BetOnline features an ongoing set of daily promotions and free rolls that players can take advantage of at any hour of the day or night where opportunities for poker fame and fortune reside. BetOnline currently is offering a chance to get into the World Series of Poker that has many Peach State players salivating while stacking their chips to join in with this online poker behemoth.
Unfortunately for poker fans in Georgia, there are no state sanctioned brick and mortar establishments to provide live poker games for cash. While one may find an occasional charitable game or a game that is for a prize other than money, state laws prevent the truest form of the game along with other forms of gambling. There is only one single casino in all of Georgia and that is the Emerald Princess Dinner & Casino Cruise, based out of Brunswick. In the recent past, they have finally been able to offer poker games for serious money as they must travel three miles offshore into international waters before any games or tournaments may commence. While many players are thankful to have this one option, most elect to get into the action through a safe, legal and reputable poker site for Georgia players located outside of the United States.
The legal age to gamble in any way, shape or form in the Peach State is 18 years of age or older. This is the case for playing the lottery, bingo or a live poker game that can be found on Georgina’s lone Casino boat in Brunswick. For those players looking to play of online poker for real money, the rule remains the same, as all of our recommended online poker rooms are available to Georgia residents who are legal adults, aged 18 years or older.
The very basic fact of the matter is that the State of Georgia does not regulate poker, or any form of gambling. Automatically this means that residents will not be able to find brick-and-mortar locations to play Hold'em, Omaha, or any of their other favorite poker games. If you're looking for a live poker game in Georgia then there is only one legal option...a home poker game, but you're going to need at least five or more friends that share your interest.
If you're willing to sacrifice the in-person aspect then you can certainly find plenty of poker action by going online. As long as you are at least 18 years old, there are several online poker sites that allow legal gambling in Georgia from the comfort of their home, or even when players are on the move through mobile poker apps available for popular smartphones.