Can You Use GGPoker in the US?

In short – no, GGPoker‘s real money games are not available for play from the United States. Let‘s explore why and the alternatives for US poker enthusiasts.

The Legal Landscape for Online Poker in United States

While the legality of online poker in the US continues to evolve, currently only six states have regulated and legalized real money online poker – Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Michigan.

This fragmented situation is largely a result of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) enacted back in 2006, which prohibited gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments related to "unlawful internet gambling".

While the UIGEA didn‘t directly ban online poker and gambling, it did make it difficult for sites to operate in the US. Many sites like PokerStars and Full Tilt left the US market in 2011 as a result. Lawmakers in states like New Jersey and Nevada eventually created regulated frameworks for online gambling sites to operate within state lines.

But the complex state-by-state legal situation has left many players wondering – what about GGPoker?

Why Can‘t You Play Real Money GGPoker in the United States?

As one of the leading online poker sites internationally, GGPoker has made the decision not to offer real money games to players located in the United States.

Section 15 of their Terms & Conditions states:

"GGPoker strictly prohibits users located in prohibited jurisdictions to use VPN/PROXY, remote desktops, or any alternative methods to mask their true location."

The US is one of those prohibited jurisdictions where they block players from accessing real money games. Even if you try to use a VPN to bypass restrictions, this violates their terms and could get your account closed.

With growing demand from a massive audience of over 200 million adults in the US, the market potential for online poker is huge at around $2.5 billion per year according to industry estimates.

It seems likely regulated online poker will expand to more US states in the coming years. For now, GGPoker is taking a cautious approach.

Can You Bypass Restrictions With a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and masks your real location, allowing you to bypass geographic restrictions on websites. Many players try using VPNs to play poker sites like GGPoker from unsupported countries.

However, GGPoker and most online gambling sites are getting increasingly sophisticated at detecting and blocking VPN traffic. According to GGPoker‘s VPN policy, they use methods including:

• Tracking known VPN server IP addresses
• Monitoring source IPs connecting to the site
• Correlating IP addresses used across player accounts

If they catch you playing from a blocked jurisdiction like the US with a VPN, your account is subject to seizure and balances may be forfeited.

While some still take the risk, you have to weigh losing your funds against a bit of poker fun.

Alternative Options for US Players

So playing on GGPoker itself isn‘t an option if you‘re based in the United States. Fortunately, there are some legal alternatives:

1. Play Free Poker on ClubGG

ClubGG is GGPoker‘s official free-to-play app with integrated social features. You can join or create clubs to compete and chat with other members around daily missions, leaderboards contests and tournaments for fun.

"It‘s impressive how close the ClubGG experience is to real money GGPoker in terms of software and gameplay. Plus it‘s available in the US app stores unlike their real money product," said avid poker player Matt D.

With free leaderboard prizes and quick tournaments that take just minutes to complete, ClubGG is a great option for casual American players who still want to be part of the GGPoker ecosystem.

2. Regulated US Online Poker Sites

In states where online poker has been legalized and regulated, there are licensed site options for real money play. Top picks include:

• PokerStars – Available in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Known for having the highest traffic and some of the biggest tournament prize pools due to their shared player liquidity.
• WSOP – The online home of the World Series of Poker. Available in New Jersey and Nevada with innovative game variants.
• BetMGM – Backed by MGM Resorts, BetMGM Poker launched in New Jersey in 2022. Integrates well with their leading casino and sportsbook platform.

I predict more recognizable brands like Wynn, Caesars, and FOX will expand into online poker this year as well.

For players in states with legalized online poker, there is no shortage of reputable and experienced options compared to unregulated offshore poker sites.

How Do Regulated US Sites Compare to GGPoker?

While the experience of playing regulated US online poker sites differs across states and specific providers, here is a general comparison to what you might be familiar with on GGPoker:

In terms of game and tournament variety, GGPoker currently exceeds regulated US sites. However licensed sites in the US continue improving their gaming content with creative new formats that appeal to recreational players.

I expect regulated US online poker products to catch up over time as more states legalize and player pools can be merged across state lines. But for now, GGPoker remains the leader when it comes to poker product innovation.

If you have any other questions around playing online poker from the United States, join my email newsletter below where I share regular updates and insights!