Bitcoin was launched over a decade now, and from 0 to the moon, it has been a long way. The industry has changed a lot since then. Now many holdings invest in cryptos, and online poker players worldwide process payments with BTC or other cryptos. So, what are Bitcoin poker sites? In short, we could give this name to any real money online poker room that accepts BTC as a payment method. However, there are two kinds of crypto poker sites: those offering games in digital currencies, and those having it only as another method in the cashier. Now let's check the main features of cryptocurrency poker.
In general, there are two types of cryptocurrency poker sites:
Although most operators belong to the first group, with the accelerated development of the crypto world, new 100% blockchain sites are increasingly emerging and gaining market share.
In this article, we'll explore all the best poker sites, regardless of their operating model, that accept cryptocurrency for playing online poker. We'll highlight the advantages and disadvantages and everything you need to know to grow your crypto with your best hands.
Poker room | Welcome bonus |
Accepted Cryptocurrencies
|
---|---|---|
GGPoker | 100% up to $600 | USDT, USDT, BTC, ETH |
BetOnline | 100% up to $1,000 | BTC, BNB, ADA, DOGE, MATIC, SHIB, SOL, USDT, USDC, TRX, ETH, XRP |
WPT Global | 100% up to $1,500 | USDT, BTC, ETH, BNB, USDC |
ACR Poker | 100% up to $2,000 | Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether |
CoinPoker | 150% up to $1,500 | USDT, BTC, ETH, CHP, POL, BNB |
GGPoker is the world's largest poker site, owner of the WSOP (World Series of Poker), and one of the best places to play online poker by depositing with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Upon registration, you'll receive an exclusive welcome bonus of 100% up to $600 or $100 in rewards. The Fish Buffet rewards program offers up to 60% rakeback, and in addition, you'll participate in various rake races and other promotions designed for all available formats (Texas Hold'em, Omaha Poker, PLO5, All-in or Fold, Spin & Go, MTT, Short Deck Poker).
Pros
Cons
The World Poker Tour's digital bet featured a cryptocurrency-compatible cashier upon launch and has since scaled to compete head-to-head with the largest rooms in the market, such as GGPoker and PokerStars. The main characteristic of WPT Global's traffic is that it primarily comprises Asian players, and in fact, many games and tournaments are played in Chinese yuan (CNY).
Pros
Cons
BetOnline Poker is the flagship site of the American Chico Poker Network, which promotes using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as the primary deposit and withdrawal method. The welcome bonus is 100% up to $1,000, and reload bonuses are frequently offered for BTC users. It specializes in hosting MTT series with large guaranteed prize pools, PL Omaha H/L, Omaha 5, regular NLH, fast-fold poker, straddle, and Spin & Go.
Pros
Cons
ACR Poker, formerly known as Americas Cardroom, is the flagship room of the also American Winning Poker Network (WPN). Their relationship with cryptocurrencies is so close that in 2019, they even earned a Guinness World Record for processing the largest cryptocurrency payout in online poker tournaments, transferring $1,050,560 in Bitcoin to the winner of The Venom.
This is one of the few rooms that offer cryptocurrency access to games in exotic formats like Seven Card Stud, although some others popular in movies, like 5 Card Draw, are currently unavailable.
Pros
Cons
CoinPoker has established itself as the leading cryptocurrency poker site on the market. It's a blockchain-native site, so all transactions, games, security, and algorithms are based on this technology. Games are played in USDT (stablecoin), and the site promotes its crypto asset, CHP, rewarding those who hold it with a 33% weekly rakeback. The room offers Texas Hold'em, four- and five-card Omaha Poker, and MTT tournaments.
Pros
Cons
The development of cryptocurrencies has accelerated in recent years. Many sites of various kinds have decided to add cryptocurrencies such as BTC or USDT as payment methods, so the selection criteria, especially for poker players, must be much more stringent to avoid potential scams.
The main factors to consider are:
We highlight the following benefits of playing online poker with Bitcoin:
Of course, there are also some disadvantages to consider:
Like any new technology, Bitcoin offers significant advantages for those who decide to embrace it.
Bitcoin is available worldwide. Although you need some technical knowledge to process BTC transactions, exchanges are working daily to make their products more user-friendly, but all of this compensates with the possibility of receiving almost immediate transactions from anywhere.
Bitcoin transactions are anonymous. If a poker room runs games entirely in cryptocurrencies (deposits + games are held in BTC or similar), you can bet that games will be anonymous.
Usually, BTC online poker sites only ask for an email to play, no other data is asked, and nicknames can be changed (or new accounts can be created).
Please note that this applies only to pure crypto poker rooms. Sites like GGNetwork, which accepts Bitcoin, ask high rollers to disclose their identity. Others like WPN have privacy as a top priority and won't reveal your identity to anyone. Nevertheless, if the site is 100% crypto, you don't need to worry about this.
With Bitcoin, you can send hundreds of thousands of dollars in seconds, paying minimal transaction fees. Even some exchanges run promotions like "trade Bitcoin for free." Another great feature is the possibility to exchange BTC for any other crypto, including stablecoins, to save your bank from volatility.
Bitcoin Poker isn't massively popular. Only fans, crypto users, and players from restricted countries (primarily amateurs) play online poker with Bitcoin; hence the fish/pro ratio is very attractive.
Volatility can be your friend or your worst enemy. The Bitcoin price can go up or down like any regular stock. You can protect against this by using stablecoins, but it's essential to be aware of this situation that can affect your bankroll. If you don't invest in crypto, there is no need to be exposed to such risk.
A step-by-step guide to starting playing cryptocurrency poker.
BTC is a digital currency that is being added to several businesses worldwide, but still, you cannot take a Bitcoin and put it in your pocket. You don't need to worry; getting and exchanging BTC for real money is effortless, and there are many options available nowadays, including sites that give debit cards to withdraw from an ATM.
Our customers use the following exchanges/services with good results:
A summarized process would be as follows:
After you have your Bitcoin wallet set, the process to deposit into an online poker room will be as follows:
In short, a Bitcoin is a piece of software (or computer file) that can be transacted among different people using a P2P (peer-to-peer) protocol. All the transactions are processed (and recorded) using a blockchain, a public list where all the Bitcoin trades are stored.
The Bitcoin rate is not fixed and constantly changes (you can check trusted exchanges like Bitstamp to see the current price) just like any other fiat currency.
You have probably heard the term "e-wallet," a popular product by poker players. To pay and get paid with Bitcoin, you'll also need an e-wallet, a virtual site where your balance in Bitcoins will be stored. The process is simple, and we will explain it in detail later.
Instead of sending dollars or euros, you'll be sending Bitcoins (or fractions of them), and such balance can be exchanged later for fiat money (bills or coins).
Blockchain has been used in two ways in the online poker industry:
The first one is a complex technological development, and we'd only say it is a significant advance that makes the game safer.
Many poker rooms, especially those working in the US, China, or so-called "gray markets," have added Bitcoin to their cashiers. Why? Because BTC transactions are safe, fast, cheap, and anonymous.
The world of BTC and cryptocurrency wallets can be divided into two:
While it's impossible to directly answer which is the best BTC and cryptocurrency wallet for online poker, we can help you refine your needs to decide which one best suits you, or even a mix of both.
Many of our players have implemented the ideal solution of using centralized exchanges as a transactional medium while storing their bankroll in cold wallets.
We could use an easy answer: choose the crypto poker site with more trustability. However, this isn't an easy task because unlicensed sites with no background are the rule in this market. We have reviewed the market to handle this risk.
Here are some tips:
Do you need to play online poker in Bitcoins, or just deposit and withdraw via crypto? According to this, you can choose a room like CoinPoker (100% crypto site) or GGPoker (a crypto-friendly site with games in USD).
Are you looking for casual games or need massive traffic? Smaller poker rooms are friendlier for recreational games.
What's the background of the poker room? Use our reviews to learn before depositing.
Contact us to get a deal and start playing now: