Cryptalker

Who would have thought that Bitcoin would have come so far, in such a short period of time? All over the world, different companies, from REEDS Jewelers (a large U.S. jewelry chain) to a private hospital in Warsaw, accept it as currency. Billion dollar corporations such as Dell, Expedia, and Microsoft do as well.

Websites promote it. Periodicals, like Bitcoin Magazine have emerged to publish news about it, as have cryptocurrency discussion forums. Hundreds of crypto exchanges have been developed in order to trade it. It has its own application programming interface (API), price index, and published exchange rate. Just a few years ago, the idea of using Bitcoin to play games of chance online was just a pipe dream. But now, it is a reality. In fact, there are many gambling websites that allow you to use Bitcoin. Using cryptocurrency makes things convenient for both players and poker rooms alike, because of the speedy transactions, anonymity, and low fees. Today we would like to share with you the top Bitcoin poker sites.

How to Use Bitcoin for Poker?

If you still are not sure what cryptocurrency is, let me remind you that Bitcoin is a decentralized virtual currency known as a cryptocurrency. To cut through some of the confusion surrounding Bitcoin, we need to separate it into two components. On the one hand, you have bitcoin-the-token, a snippet of code that represents ownership of a digital concept – sort of like a virtual IOU. On the other hand, you have bitcoin-the-protocol, a distributed network that maintains a ledger of balances of the token. Both are referred to as “Bitcoin.” So you will use the token to play online games of chance.

Benefits of using Bitcoin

There are a number of benefits of playing games with cryptocurrency:

• Withdrawal speeds are significantly faster. Most poker rooms take from 3-5 days to process withdrawals of fiat currency. BTC, on the other hand, can be withdrawn from your account and sent to your wallet within 24 hours (and sometimes instantly).
• You can play anonymous. This varies from site to site, but generally excludes poker rooms that also accept fiat currency.
• You can potentially pay less rake or get more rake back by switching to a poker room. This will depend on what website you currently use and what website you switch to, so you may want to do some research if rake is important to you.

Buy Bitcoin

If these benefits are convincing you to make the switch, then all you need to do is to:

• Download a wallet. It is like a bank account for storing your coins, minus the bank.
• Register on one or more cryptocurrency exchanges to buy coins.
• Send BTC to your wallet once you’ve bought it on one of these exchanges.

Now that you’ve got some coins on hand, it’s time to pick gambling sites accepting BTC.

Types of Bitcoin-friendly sites

Since Bitcoin is an unregulated currency, it presents an excellent way to play in gray markets. Online gambling operators have realized their potential. Thus, the number of crypto gambling sites is increasing.

Today, there are three primary ways to play online poker with cryptocurrency: Bitcoin-only websites, sites accepting BTC as a payment option, and sites that accept crypto deposits through Neteller.

1. Bitcoin-only poker sites are ideal for players who want to play exclusively in cryptocurrency, as they do not accept any other form of currency. This is where you need to have a wallet with a balance in order to register. These sites, like Betcoin or SWC Poker, will give you a unique deposit address. Use this address to move BTC from your wallet to your player account in order to start playing.
2. Poker sites with Bitcoin payment options means that BTC is not the only payment method. Examples of such online poker rooms are BetOnline, Black Chip Poker, and Americas Cardroom. At these rooms, BTC is just a payment option like credit/debit cards or eWallets, such as Neteller and PayPal. You will first need to get a wallet and some coins. Then log into your account, visit the cashier, click on the deposit options, and select Bitcoin as your preferred payment method. Enter the amount you wish to deposit in U.S. dollars. The system will then convert the dollars into BTC and inform you exactly how much cryptocurrency you will have to deposit. The system will also provide a unique address. You can now visit your wallet and send the specified amount of BTC to the unique address.

3. Bitcoin deposits can be made through Neteller. Since Neteller has recently integrated BTC, you can now make BTC deposits at popular online poker rooms through Neteller. Neteller’s partnership with BitPay and its sudden decision to integrate cryptocurrency came as a pleasant surprise to online consumers, particularly since Neteller charges zero fees for BTC deposits. Neteller’s integration of Bitcoin is good news for online players, as several online poker rooms accept Neteller as a banking method. For instance, players cannot deposit BTC directly into their William Hill accounts from their wallets. But they can first deposit into their Neteller accounts and then move the funds to their William Hill accounts. They can withdraw their winnings back to their Neteller accounts and then use their Net+ MasterCard to withdraw their funds at any ATM that accepts MasterCard.

Poker Sites that Accept Bitcoin

Best Bitcoin Poker Sites Sites

1. Betcoin

Betcoin is a Bitcoin / Litecoin based poker room that was established in 2013 by a team of i-gaming experts. The player base is not the largest, but Betcoin is part of the Winning Poker Network, and players can enjoy huge and frequent daily tournaments.

Playing poker at Betcoin on an Android device is kind of overwhelming though. The poker room requires Android users to download a specific browser called the Puffin Web Browser in order to even load the game. Once you’ve downloaded the browser, you can then play casino games at Betcoin.

2. CloudBet

CloudBet Casino is a Curacao-regulated poker room that was established in 2013. The Cryptocurrency-only online casino is not a provably fair gaming platform. On the other hand, CloudBet offers a Random Number Generator (RNG) certificate to ensure that gameplay results are statistically random and unpredictable.

There are nearly 50 video poker variations to keep you entertained and help you earn the coveted loyalty points, which count toward cashing out the very generous matched deposit bonus of up to five BTC.

A friendly customer support team and independent audits guarantee smooth and fair gameplay for those who are ready to test their skill and will against the mighty RNGeesus.

Getting started at CloudBet – signup and initial deposit – takes less than two minutes. Withdrawals are processed instantly.

Playing poker at CloudBet on an Android device does not require a specific browser or app. CloudBet will work on all types of Android devices including Samsung, Sony, HTC and LG.

3. FortuneJack

FortuneJack offers you the best experience anywhere in the industry, whether you are new to the game, or have been playing for years. It’s free, and no download is required. You start playing immediately, which means you can learn the basics at your own pace. Once you’re comfortable with how things work, you can then start competing for real money across all the different games offered.

Even though the variety of games extends only to Bitcoin Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Stud, the interface is pleasant and functions smoothly. Besides poker, FortuneJack offers various crypto dice, slots, and other casino games.

Additionally, players can qualify for cashback, rakeback, and a generous casino first deposit bonus. Best of all, withdrawals and deposits take minutes to process. Everything is done through a web browser, but the site is fully optimized for mobile devices.

4. SwC

SwC is one of the crypto websites dedicated exclusively to poker. It’s been around for a while and has managed to establish itself as one of the most reliable names in the industry. Bitcoin transactions and account management function very smoothly.

SwC has a restriction though: it is available only for Windows users. You have to download their client to play, and it has yet to be released for any other platform, desktop or mobile.

The site has an impressive variety of games and the lowest rake on a gambling site that I have seen. The latter is particularly attractive and quite unique to SwC. Whereas most gambling site collect around 4% rake, SwC gathers 2-2.5% rake on cash tables.

5. NitrogenSports

The interface allows players to transition smoothly from one area of the site to another. Viewing your account settings, betting on sports and customizing your own bets is simplified and makes using the site pleasant for beginners and experts alike.

Registration does not require an email or any personal information of any kind and can be done in 2 simple clicks of the mouse. Deposits require 0 confirmations so you can start betting as fast as the Blockchain permits, and withdrawals are virtually instant. Accounts can be secured with 2-Factor Authentication if players wish to maximize the safety of their coins.

Poker can be played in all stakes with a legitimately decent interface, chat box included. There are freeroll tournaments which run every hour for unskilled players to participate in if they so choose with 1 mBTC payouts for 1st place.

Bitcoin Poker Sites for US Players

Can I play Bitcoin poker in the U.S.A.? The short answer is yes, although, because online gambling is essentially unregulated in the United States right now, except in 3 states, playing on a gambling site that both accepts U.S. players and BTC is a big risk.

This part of the article might be especially useful for American poker fans because they otherwise would have to wait a long time for payouts to arrive and sometimes would have to pay substantial surcharges. We’ve compiled a short and sweet list of the top poker sites accepting BTC that serve U.S. Players:

1. Ignition Poker

Withdrawals – min: $10 | max: $9,500 | speed: 1 day
Deposits – min: $10 | max: $5,000

Ignition Poker is the largest site in the U.S. market for cash games, and its popularity will probably grow even further now that it supports BTC.

2. BetOnline/Sportsbetting.ag

Withdrawals – min: $20 | max: $10,000 | speed: 2 days
Deposits – min: $20 | max: $50,000

These sites on the Chico Poker Network are heavy supporters of digital currencies, as evidenced by their recent decision to transact in Litecoin, in addition to Bitcoin.

3. Bovada

Withdrawals – min: $10 | max: $9,500 | speed: 1 day
Deposits – min: $10 | max: $5,000

Bovada is a wonderful place for BTC gambling, and also for casino games and sports-betting. There are separate welcome bonuses for each type of gaming.

4. Intertops

Withdrawals – min: $100 | max: $2,500 | speed: 2 days
Deposits – min: $25 | max: $1,000

The limits at Intertops are a bit restrictive, but they should be fine for most players looking to just play a few tables now and again.

5. Americas Cardroom/BlackChip Poker/True Poker

Withdrawals – min: $50 | max: $10,000 | speed: 3 days
Deposits – min: $50 | max: $25,000

All three of these sites are on the Winning Poker Network, which is THE place to go for tournament action in the United States.

6. Grand Poker

Withdrawals – min: $50 | max: $10,000 | speed: 1 day
Deposits – min: $25 | max: $10,000

Grand Poker is among the newer gambling networks, but it can handle large deposits and payouts because of its association with the large 5Dimes sportsbook. If you choose to deposit only in BTC at this site, the $10,000 withdrawal maximum will be lifted.

7. PokerHost

Withdrawals – min: $1 | max: $40,000 | speed: 1 day
Deposits – min: $1 | max: Unlimited

PokerHost is on the Winning Poker Network, but it uses a different cashier than ACR/BCP/True use. The range of valid BTC amounts is a bit wider than at other WPN skins, so this might be a better solution for some people.

8. SwC Poker

Withdrawals – min: 0.02 BTC | max: Not Stated | speed: less than 12 hours
Deposits – min: 0.00001 BTC | max: Not Stated

SwC Poker is the latest evolution of the old Seals with Clubs, which first introduced cryptocurrency to the gambling ecosystem. Unlike the previous sites on our list, this one banks exclusively in BTC, and all tables are denominated in milli-BTC (one SwC chip is equal to 0.001 BTC).

9. Nitrogen Poker

Withdrawals – min: 0.001 BTC | max: None | speed: less than 12 hours
Deposits – min: None | max: None

Nitrogen Sports is probably the most well-known Bitcoin sportsbook around, and they added poker to their portfolio in 2014. Each chip is equal to 1/1000 of a Bitcoin, and BTC is the only valid currency accepted.

A note to U.S. cryptocurrency users: Certain online wallets prohibit the use or transference of coins to or from casinos or other gambling institutions. Coinbase is one of these. Don’t risk having your account cancelled and/or your crypto assets frozen. Make sure to read all of the rules and regulations before using an online wallet to make deposits into an online casino. Don’t worry, there are plenty of wallets that don’t have these restrictions. You can also use a hardware wallet, which is the safest way to store your coins. They have no restrictions, and require no middle man for storage or transactions.

Is Bitcoin Poker Legal?

The legality of a gambling site is dependent on the country in which it is based. For instance, depositing and withdrawing cryptocurrencies in European-based websites is entirely legal.

On the other hand, Bitcoin gambling websites are usually illegal in the United States, thus U.S. players often can’t play gambling games online. Some countries or states regulate Bitcoin poker sites, and some don’t. As BTC is not seen as official money yet, it is handled like playing for play-money in many countries – which makes it perfectly legal.

There are many crypto casinos that are secure and provably fair in their games and payouts, as there are many fake and unfair casinos that are not secure. Because cryptocurrencies are largely unregulated by governments, many Bitcoin casinos can operate freely without a license or any oversight whatsoever.

Conclusion

Bitcoin grants highly valuable online anonymity, but it does bring about a handful of problems that have yet to be addressed convincingly. Bitcoin poker sites should continue perfecting their security policies. Constant monitoring of their expanding player base can reduce the unfair play significantly.