Online Poker Bitcoin
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Bitcoin Information for Online Poker Sites Although Professional Rakeback recommends Coinbase as a good way for beginners and advanced users to purchase and manage Bitcoins, there are several accepted wallets and exchanges that vary in ease of use depending on your knowledge of Bitcoins. There are three types of poker rooms which allow players to participate with bitcoin as a currency. The first type is bitcoin-only poker sites. These are specialized poker sites which only allow players who use bitcoin as a method of payment. Here, there is no other option, which is. Bitcoin only poker rooms have much lower overheads that regular online poker rooms so there are generally able to offer lower rake rates on cash game and tournament. Major offshore poker rooms like Americas Cardroom and Bovada charge the standard 4% to 5% rake but crypto-exclusive sites like SwC offer significantly lower rake.
Online Poker That Takes Bitcoin
Which Online Poker Sites Accept Bitcoin Payments?
While for players, enjoying real money poker at offshore sites is completely legal, US banks still do their best to block deposits. Thankfully there is a super-reliable solution available – Bitcoin. What was once in the realm of technical ‘geeks’ is now very much mainstream. Anyone can set up a Bitcoin wallet, fund it and deposit at online poker sites quickly and easily.
On this page you will learn the following;
- Why Bitcoin has become a popular banking method for US players
- How to deposit and withdraw and access payouts using Bitcoin at poker sites
- Which US poker sites cheaply and easily accept Bitcoin
- History and information on how to get started with Bitcoin for poker
USA poker rooms continue to thrive. Most are based out in the Caribbean, or in Central America. In the past, you would need to make an international credit card purchase (or money transfer) to get money on-board – now you can use Bitcoin at all of the main networks.
If you want to deposit to an online poker site using Bitcoin, check out the list below!
Also on this page: Top Bitcoin Sites >What is Bitcoin > Deposit & Withdrawal Limits > Types of Online / Offline Wallets > Downloading a Wallet > How to Buy > How to Cashout > Pros & Cons > FAQ > Terms
Which Sites Are The Best Sites for Bitcoin Deposits ?
1. Ignition Pokeris the single biggest Bitcoin site. Their software features anonymous gaming, and a restriction on multi-tabling which keeps grinders away and the games easy. This poker site has a detailed explainer video, which shows you how to use Bitcoin to get your money on board. You’ll find more Bitcoin poker, games, and tournaments here than at any other US friendly poker site.
2. Bovada Poker is a top online poker site for tournaments. Their weekly schedule is packed full of small-to-mid buy-in games, many with guaranteed prize pools including use of Bitcoin poker. Look out for the tournament festivals known as the ‘Online Super Series’, which often include a tournament with a $1,000,000 guarantee.
3. BetOnline Poker is the final major legal US poker site welcoming Bitcoin. This is a long-running sports betting brand which is based down in Panama. BetOnline is a leading site on the Chico Poker Network (another US site on this network is Sportsbook Poker). You’ll find plenty of cash games and a lot of action generated by the sports betting crowd.
With so many other legal poker deposit options available, there are fewer international brands making the move to Bitcoin. NetBet have started accepting BTC at their UK Licensed sportsbook and casino – we hope that some poker rooms will join this list soon.
Non-US players are welcomed at both the Winning Poker Network (America’s Cardroom) and the Chico Poker Network (BetOnline.ag).
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the world’s largest cryptocurrency – the coin that started the crypto revolution. Bitcoin allows for peer-to-peer money transfer, which are written in a digital ledger, a bit like an accounting transaction. There’s no coin or physical manifestation of Bitcoin – it’s simply code, which represents a value in fiat currency.
Getting into definitions about Bitcoin can become quite technical, and quite quickly, so it’s best just to think of it as a digital payment method that does away with the banks, payment providers, and prying eyes of the government.
Bitcoin was first released in 2009, following a white paper explaining the fundamentals of this new technology. The cryptocurrency is attributed to an anonymous inventor – Satoshi Nakamoto – who’s true identity remains a mystery to this day.
Today, you can buy bitcoin on exchanges and wallet services like Coinbase or Bitpay. These are probably the easiest option for those new to buying or selling bitcoin for fiat, providing both access to the bitcoin market as well as a digital wallet service for storing and transacting with your bitcoin.
Bitcoin wallets are the digital equivalent of the wallet in your pocket. From this wallet, you’ll send and receive funds using your unique wallet address and corresponding private key, which secures your bitcoin. Don’t lose any of this information – lose track of your wallet or your private key, and you might end up getting locked out of your funds.
Multiple different wallet services exist. While the likes of Coinbase roll all the services you’ll need into one, downloading a wallet and buying/selling bitcoin yourself remains the cheapest option.
Downloading a Bitcoin Wallet
If you don’t want to download and maintain a wallet and you’re just looking for the easiest way to buy, store and send your bitcoin, check out Coinbase. Otherwise, you can follow these simple steps below to get up and running with your own bitcoin wallet.
Bitcoin.com offers a wallet app which can be quickly and securely downloaded to your smartphone – perfect for both bitcoin core (BTC) and bitcoin cash (BCH).
1. Head to your device app store.
2. Type ‘bitcoin.com wallet’
3. Find the bitcoin.com wallet
4. Tap ‘Get’ or ‘Install’ to begin the downloading process.
5. Open the app to reveal your new wallets – one for BTC and one for BCH.
You’ll find send and receive tabs below your main wallet balances, which will guide you through the process of transacting in bitcoin.
If you’re buying from an exchange like Coinbase, you can then send your funds from the platform to your wallet, using the unique address generated under the receive tab.
How to Buy Bitcoin
Bitcoin is bought from exchange services, or from brokers, depending on your requirements. We’ve already mentioned Coinbase, which is the market leader, but there are others you can use, like like BitPay and Blockchain.info. You can also buy bitcoin from any individual – it’s a peer-to-peer market, after all.
Follow these simple steps to buy your first bitcoin to play Bitcoin poker and other games.
1. Download and set up your bitcoin wallet – you’ll need your wallet address for storing the bitcoin you’re about to buy.
2. Choose an exchange service, such as Coinbase or Kraken.
3. Create an account with the exchange – you will likely be asked to verify your ID before you can begin purchasing bitcoin.
4. Go to the ‘Buy’ section of the exchange, and enter the amount you want to buy in either BTC or your local currency.
5. You’ll be quoted a price for your transaction. Once you accept this, the transaction will be processed and your bitcoin will show up in your exchange account.
6. From your exchange account, send your bitcoin to your external wallet address.
Easy instructions on how to buy Bitcoin for poker deposits.
Be sure to write down your private key and treat it like cash or anything else that’s highly valuable – lose this, and you lose your money in most cases. So if you do intend to store your bitcoin in a software wallet, make sure you don’t lose the digital keys to the door.
What are the Main Benefits of Using Bitcoin
Bitcoin has exploded in popularity since its launch, to the point where an increasing number of merchants online now accept payment in bitcoin. If you use Bitcoin for poker, a lot of these benefits cross over.
- Peer-to-peer: no third parties required
- Anonymous transactions (kind of)
- Secure payments
- Variable value: holdings can increase in value
- Low transaction fees
- Minimal counterfeit/fraud risk
What are the Disadvantages of Using Bitcoin
Of course, bitcoin does have some disadvantages you should weight up.
- Not fully anonymous
- Lots of hackers and scams; it’s up to you to securely store your funds
- Processing times for BTC can be sluggish (BCH is quicker)
- Variable value: investments can go down as well as up!
Bitcoin Deposit and Withdrawal Limits
Deposit and withdrawal limits vary with each Bitcoin accepted poker room, along with the processing times. You will find both the deposit and withdrawal limits for each poker site. The minimum deposit varies for each site. Ignition and Bovada both accept deposits as low as $10 with Bitcoin, Sportsbetting and Betonline accept deposits as small as $20 while America’s Cardroom has a $50 requirement via Bitcoin.
- Bovada Poker: Deposit up to $5,000, unlimited withdrawals. Usually takes around 1 day for withdrawals.
- Ignition Poker: Deposit up to $5,000, unlimited withdrawals. Usually takes 1 day or less for withdrawals.
- Americas Cardroom: Deposit maximum of $25,000, withdrawal maximum of $10,000. One withdrawal per day, up to 5 per week.
- BetOnline Poker: Deposit maximum of $25,000, withdrawal maximum of $10,000. Withdrawals take a maximum of 48 hours.
- Sportsbetting Poker: Deposit maximum of $25,000, withdrawal maximum of $10,000. Withdrawals take a maximum of 24 hours.
Pros & Cons of Using Online or Offline Bitcoin Wallets
The pros and cons of using both online and offline Bitcoin wallets
There are two main types of cryptocurrency wallet – online and offline. Online wallets are probably the easiest to use. You log in, do your business, and log out. This leaves your coins sitting in the wallet. But this convenience comes at a price – security.
These are called ‘hot’ wallets, because bitcoin is being held online. This means you’re always more susceptible to hacks and thefts, versus storing your coins on a hardware wallet. If you’re only sending $10 here and there, it might not be worth going the whole hog and getting yourself a hardware setup. But if you intend to be a regular user or you’re sending and receiving larger amounts, this can be a good investment in the security of your bitcoins. And we know you want to keep your Bitcoin at poker sites safe.
Coinbase: The leading online wallet and exchange service, this platform is great for those new to BTC. It’s easy to use, secure and probably the most trustworthy name in crypto. However, it can be expensive relative to other services, and some users get understandably nervous about holding large balances with any online wallet.
Electrum: A ‘cold’ wallet, which stores private keys offline. This is the choice for the more security conscious, protecting your funds from the risks of hacking faced by so-called ‘hot wallet’ funds. Not as easy to use as the likes of Coinbase.
BitPay: An easy to use app which does it all for you. Like Coinbase, this can be a more expensive choice, in terms of fees and exchange rates. However, it is simple to use, and widely regarded as a trusted bitcoin wallet and payment service. Play Bitcoin poker and other games safely and securely.
Blockchain.info: Send, receive and trade with a Blockchain.info wallet, which offers up some of the lowest fees around. It’s still an online service, so not quite as secure as the hardware options, but over 29 million users trust Blockchain.info to handle their crypto transactions and store their coins safely.
Ledger: A hardware wallet that lets you store your cryptocurrency entirely offline – the most secure option available for safeguarding your funds. Probably not for the casual user, and there’s the hardware cost for buying a Ledger wallet, but the security benefits make this more than worthwhile for those regularly using bitcoin, or sending larger transactions.
Bonus offers with Bitcoin
There are plenty of playing crypto poker and & crypto poker online. One of them is generous bonsues. A number of online casinos who offer online gambling have generous welcome bonuses and deposit bonuses for using Bitcoin to play Bitcoin poker and other games. It is pretty much free bitcoin to use! Here are some bonus offers to play Bitcoin poker and games today.
1. Ignition- Ignition offers a 200% Bitcoin match bonus up to $2,000. If you make your first deposit with Bitcoin you will get an additional 100% bonus up to 100%. It is a top Bitcoin poker experience.
2. Bovada – Bovada offers a bevy of Bitcoin promotions to meet your gambling needs. In sports, Bovada offers a 50% match bonus up to $500. In Casino games, they offer a 150% match bonus of up to $1,500 (redeemable 3X). Bovada is a worthwhile Bitcoin poker experience.
3. BetOnline – They offer a 100% 1st-time cryptocurrency bonus with a max deposit of $1,000. They also offer a 35% crypto bonus on reloads. Use bonuses on their sports, poker games, and more! There are few places for Bitcoin poker.
How to Cashout from a Poker Site with Bitcoin
So you’ve got a Bitcoin poker balance after you cashed out from the poker room and you want it in cold, hard local currency. Simple – this is a ‘sell’ transaction, so you’re basically going to go through the buying process in reverse.
- Login to your exchange account and find your exchange wallet address. The exact process here varies depending on which platform you’re using, but this is usually not too difficult to find. Platform-specific instructions will be available from the ‘Help’ section of your exchange.
- From the wallet where your bitcoin is currently stored, you want to send the amount you’re intending to withdraw to your exchange wallet, so your funds are primed and ready to go. Alternatively, if your funds are already stored in a wallet linked to an exchange, you can just directly sell them for market value.
- Head to the ‘sell’ section of the exchange, and input the amount in BTC or local currency equivalent you want to sell.
- Confirm the transaction and wait for funds to appear in your exchange account. From here you can withdraw to your bank account through your verified exchange account.
How to cashout from the poker room to Bitcoin wallet and finally, to your bank account.
Bitcoin Poker FAQ
Are Bitcoin Poker Sites Safe to Use?
Bitcoin for poker is entirely safe, as long as you’re careful with where you’re sending your money. If you transact through an exchange like Coinbase, and you double-check you’re sending to a verified, trusted bitcoin address, that’s a perfectly secure transaction. However, there are scammers out there who will do their best to get you to part with bitcoin, your private keys or other sensitive information – so you should definitely be careful, at least until you know what you’re doing.
Is Bitcoin Legal?
Using Bitcoin for poker is legal in most jurisdictions worldwide, although some countries like Russia and China take a more restrictive approach to its use. There’s nothing illegal about bitcoin in itself, just as there is nothing illegal with any cash payment. Bitcoin is just another currency, albeit in digital form – even if some countries don’t yet recognize its status as legal tender. But if a site accepts it, you can use Bitcoin for poker without worrying.
Is Bitcoin available to use on mobile devices?
Bitcoin is available to use on your mobile device paired with a Bitcoin wallet (details listed above) when you are playing on a mobile-friendly site or on a casino-specific app. Mobile devices ensure great Bitcoin poker action.
Is Bitcoin Really Anonymous?
Bitcoin is anonymous to a point. There’s nothing with your name on it, but all transactions are permanently recorded in the distributed ledger, and it may be possible to trace transactions that originated from the same accounts. So it’s anonymous in most cases. But if you’re doing something illegal, you should still be concerned about this being traced back to you, in part through the clues you leave on the bitcoin ledger with each transaction.
Can I Use Bitcoin to Deposit and Cashout of Poker Sites?
Yes! Bitcoin is supported across a growing number of real money poker sites. Check out Bovada Poker, Ignition Poker or Americas Card Room for great sites that allow you to deposit and cashout with BTC while having a great Bitcoin poker experience.
Which Bitcoin Poker Sites Process Withdrawals the Quickest?
Bovada and Ignition Poker are the quickest in terms of handling withdrawals, with less than one day required before you get your hands on your cash.
Terms to Know for New Crypto Users
Cryptocurrency: Any virtual currency like bitcoin or ethereum that is bought and sold digitally.
Bitcoin address: The unique address, a string of letters and numbers, which makes up your bitcoin wallet. Send and receive funds to this address, like an email address. You’ll need one if you want to use Bitcoin for any poker site.
Private Key: The main security feature, you’ll need this private key to send transactions from your bitcoin wallet address. Guard this with your life, it’s the equivalent of your PIN number.
Bitcoin Wallet: The digital wallet identified by your bitcoin address, which holds your bitcoin and, for example, you Bitcoin poker winnings. Again, this is essential if you’re planning on using Bitcoin for poker.
Blockchain: The distributed ledger technology that supports cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. Blockchain has a number of use cases aside from cryptocurrency and is widely regarded as one of the most fundamental tech revolutions since the Internet.
Decentralized: The opposite of centralized – bitcoin transactions are recorded on a ledger spread across multiple different ‘nodes’, rather than one single server. This improves security, as well as being fundamental to the smooth operation and recording of cryptocurrency activity.
Value: The market price for bitcoin at a given time. Bitcoin is valued based on supply and demand, and is still subject to volatile price swings. As a result, the value of bitcoin is always changing – hence why many see it as a vehicle for investment, as well as a digital currency.
Supply: The total number of bitcoins that have been mined, or that are available for purchase. Bitcoin’s supply is restricted to ensure value.
Bitcoins are 100% digital. Not a single bitcoin has been printed or minted. They are not insured by the FDIC. It's all online, and you can directly transfer, buy, or sell bitcoins using a computer or a mobile app without any middlemen. It's a lot like transferring cash digitally, but there are no credit card fees and banks involved in the process.
You have to store your bitcoins in a 'digital wallet' (or a virtual bank account) which can be on your computer or in the cloud under your name. It can be software-based, mobile-based, or web-based.
In 2021, there are more bitcoin online poker rooms cropping up everywhere. Poker sites that accept bitcoins have the same great Texas Hold'em and Omaha action as rooms taking credit cards. They're also great for real-money players who want to keep their card details safe or who fall foul of banks declining gambling payments.
Getting Started With Bitcoins
Bitcoin Casino
- Bitcoin is different to what you are used to. To get started visit Bitcoin.org and read their helpful guides .
- Once you've read up on Bitcoin you need to select a wallet where you'll store your Bitcoins, agian bitcoin.org have a handy list of available wallets.
- After choosing a wallet you need to get some Bitcoins, you can do this by buying from someone you know, being paid in Bitcoin or buying them from an exchange, howtobuybitcoins.info lists where to buy from. Ensure you check who you are buying from!
- When you've got your hands on some Bitcoins, simply visit one of the sites above who accept Bitcoin depsosits and you'll be at the table in no time.
How Are They Created?
Bitcoins are 'discovered', not produced or printed. Lots of bitcoins are 'mined' using super-servers or via software installed on your hard drive. By mining them, you're helping build the Bitcoin economy, but there's a catch: there's an infinite number of coins produced, and as the years go by, we will reach a point where no more are mined.
Theoretically, therefore, the value of bitcoins will continue to go up. But as with any commodity, the value of Bitcoins can go down as well as up. In April 2021, one bitcoin (BTC) is worth $244. Just a year ago, they were worth $1200; you can see the volatility.
As well as mining, you can buy and sell Bitcoins at online exchanges or other users. (Try Coinbase.com and QuickyCoin.com as two solid exchange sites.) You agree a price then complete the transaction. From there you can make deposits at any of our top Bitcoin poker sites.
Some poker rooms that accept Bitcoins only offer games that are played in this currency; others will convert them at that day's conversion rate.
We Find the Best Bitcoin Poker Sites Online
If you're looking to 'mine' the best poker sites accepting Bitcoin in 2021, you're in the right place.
Our team evaluates each of our poker rooms that accept Bitcoin to make sure it delivers on cashouts and customer service. As well as a solid record on transactions, it must also have good player traffic so you aren't waiting around for a table to fill.
Our careful selection has resulted in a list of the absolute best Bitcoin online poker rooms. Pick one of our great websites and get yourself the best welcome bonus around; all without using a credit card.