A plain-language look at where online poker stands legally around the world, and exactly who operates and licenses each room we review on PokerHub.
Online poker law is a patchwork, not a single global rule. Most countries have never passed legislation that specifically addresses offshore online poker, which leaves it in a legal gray area rather than clearly legal or illegal. In practice, this is why the large majority of online poker traffic worldwide runs through offshore-licensed, often crypto-first rooms rather than domestically regulated ones.
This page explains the general landscape and exactly how each site reviewed on PokerHub is licensed, so you can make an informed choice. It is a general information guide, not legal advice — laws change, enforcement varies, and you're responsible for checking the rules that apply to you before you deposit.
Broadly speaking, countries fall into three buckets. Use this as a starting point, then confirm the specifics for where you live.
Online poker is directly licensed and regulated by a local authority, usually restricted to locally-licensed operators.
Examples: UK, Malta, Spain, Portugal, parts of the US (e.g. Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan).
No specific law licenses or bans online poker locally, so players commonly use offshore-licensed rooms with little to no enforcement against individual players.
Examples: most of Asia, Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe — where the sites on this page are most commonly used.
Online gambling of any kind is explicitly prohibited, sometimes with penalties aimed at players as well as operators.
Examples: mainland China, and a handful of other jurisdictions with explicit online gambling bans.
None of the crypto-first rooms below hold a top-tier license like the UKGC or MGA — those regulators generally don't license crypto-only payment models. Offshore licenses from jurisdictions like Anjouan, Curaçao and the Isle of Man are the industry standard for this category instead.
| Site | Operator | License | Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Poker | Twocent Technology Limited | ALSI-202410011-FI1 | Anjouan |
| CoinPoker | Precise Interactive Inc. | ALSI-202412004-FI1 | Anjouan |
| GGPuke | GG International Ltd | Isle of Man GSC | Isle of Man |
| WPT Global | Seventip N.V. | OGL/2024/522/0354 | Curaçao |
It depends on where you live. Some countries license and regulate online poker directly, most have no specific law against players using offshore sites, and a small number ban online gambling outright. This page is a general overview, not legal advice — check your own local regulations before depositing.
In most countries, the law targets unlicensed operators rather than individual players, so simply playing on an offshore site is rarely prosecuted. A few jurisdictions do restrict player participation directly. Since enforcement and wording vary by country, verify your own local rules if you're unsure.
Top-tier regulators like the UKGC and MGA generally require a local corporate presence and don't license crypto-only payment models, which excludes most crypto poker rooms. Offshore regulators such as Anjouan, Curaçao and the Isle of Man fill that gap and are the industry norm for this category.
Tax treatment of gambling winnings varies by country and is entirely separate from whether the site itself is licensed. Some countries tax winnings, others don't, and crypto proceeds may carry their own reporting rules. Check with a local tax professional.
Sign up through the links on our room review pages, then message us on Telegram with your username so we can activate your exclusive PokerHub rakeback rate.
Once you've checked your local rules, compare the sites and sign up through our links for exclusive bonuses and rakeback.
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