Looking for the best sites for NC online poker? At PokerScout, we have reviewed reliable operators and tested their software, games, and bonuses. This article will also discuss local poker laws and live poker rooms in the Tar Heel State.
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North Carolina Online Poker Sites Reviewed for November 2024
The following reviews discuss the best online poker North Carolina sites in detail, helping you to make an informed decision.
1. CoinPoker – Best NC Online Poker Site for Crypto Transactions
| Poker Network | License | Payout Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | Curaçao eGaming | Within 24 hours |
- Poker Games Variety 9/10 – There’s a plentiful supply of Hold’em and Omaha games. Notably hosts the world’s biggest Pot Limit Omaha games featuring top pros like Tony G. In addition, there’s Cosmic Spins which is a Jackpot Sit N Go where you can win up to 1,000x your buy-in.
- Poker Tournaments 9/10 – Innovative tournament formats like “freebuys” (a variation of freerolls) with low entry fees and buy-ins to suit all bankrolls. Sunday Special buy-ins range from $2 to $5,000 with six-figure guarantees.
- Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – Solid traffic levels for the most part, but the majority of players are serious. Higher standard than many other US poker sites.
- Software Quality 10/10 – This North Carolina online poker site and app is extremely easy to use with a minimalist but cool design. Looks great, but there’s also substance behind the style.
- Betting Limits and Payments 10/10 – No need to jump through identity verification hoops to transact. Extremely quick cryptocurrency payouts. Options include BTC, USDT, ETH and CHP, the site’s unique ERC-20 token.
- Mobile Friendliness 10/10 – A mobile app is available for all most operating systems, including Android and Windows. Light on storage and easy to navigate.
CoinPoker boasts one of the best mobile poker apps in the business. It looks great, facilitates super quick cryptocurrency payments and features plenty of busy tables, across a number of formats.
Play against professionals like Tony G, or rail the nosebleed games, which hosted the biggest pot ever played online at $7.75 million.
Read our complete CoinPoker review for more information about the North Carolina online poker site.
Pros
- User-friendly mobile app
- Home to the best PLO games
- Low rake and entry fees
- 33% rakeback
Cons
- No traditional payment methods
- Requires a crypto wallet for payments
- Anonymous poker with easy registration
- Get 33% rakeback every Monday
- Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
2. Ignition Poker – Best NC Online Poker Site for Busy Hold’em Tables
| Poker Network | License | Payout Speed |
|---|---|---|
| PaiWangLuo Poker | Curaçao eGaming | Within 48 hours |
- Poker Games Variety 9/10 – Terrific choice of cash games at a range of stakes. particularly for Holdem and Omaha. It would be nice to see Stud and niche games added in the future of this North Carolina online poker site.
- Poker Tournaments 9/10 – Enjoy millions of dollars worth of prizepool guarantees every single month, such as the $200K Weekly Guaranteed on Sundays. Regular freerolls, with buy-ins up to $300.
- Traffic and Player Base 10/10 – You’ll struggle to find busier Hold’em tables and they’re much softer than average. Decent Omaha traffic too.
- Software Quality 8/10 – Offers everything you’d expect in an intuitive app, but not reinventing the wheel. Plus points for the no download option of playing in a browser.
- Betting Limits and Payments 9/10 – Some of the fastest withdrawals of any North Carolina online poker site when using cryptocurrency. Avoid card payments though due to high fees.
- Mobile Friendliness 9/10 – Neither the browser version nor the app are particularly pretty. However, the simplistic approach actually makes for a user-friendly app.
It’s remarkably easy to join this Curaçao-licensed offshore poker site thanks to a basic registration form and no intrusive KYC checks.
Ignition also makes life easy in a number of other ways, including an intuitive app, same-day payouts, and a web-based no download option.
Read our detailed Ignition review to learn more about the online poker North Carolina operator.
Pros
- Poor standard means beatable games
- High volume of players
- No need to download software
- Huge guaranteed prizepools
Cons
- No direct rakeback
- Software not the most polished
- Reward store with bonuses and tickets
- Quick and easy seating at cash game tables
- Easy to use poker hand history
3. ACR Poker – Best NC Online Poker Site for Tracking Software
| Poker Network | License | Payout Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Winning Poker Network (WPN) | Curaçao eGaming | Within 48 hours |
- Poker Games Variety 10/10 – There’s something for everyone in this North Carolina online poker site with the best selection of non-Hold’em games, including Seven Stud and its variants.
- Poker Tournaments 10/10 – Home to incredible prizepools, including the record-breaking $12.5 million guaranteed Venom tournament (the biggest online event in the world), and multi-million dollar guarantees for Omaha events too.
- Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – This is a Winning Poker Network member site, so expect reasonably competitive tables, but lots of traffic.
- Software Quality 9/10 – Nice-looking, functional Android app that feels smooth. Desktop client not as pretty, but still very easy to use. HUDs and trackers allowed.
- Betting Limits and Payments 8/10 – Its four crypto options (BTC, ETH, USDT and LTC) ensure lightning-fast withdrawals. A great perk of this North Caroline online poker site is the low minimum deposit limit of just $10.
- Mobile Friendliness 8/10 – No iPhone app at the moment, but the Android version is largely very good. One or two minor graphical glitches, but nothing major.
Many of the best online poker sites in North Carolina are banning tracking software and HUDs, but not ACR Poker. Founded in 2001 as Americas Cardroom, few platforms can boast such a long and storied history.
Its famous Venom series broke a world record in May 2024 with its $12.5 million guaranteed prizepool.
Pros
- Allows HUD and tracking software
- Enjoy numerous non-Hold’em games
- Massive tournament guarantees
- Extremely reputable site
Cons
- No card withdrawals
- Doesn’t have live support
- WPN network with solid player base
- Blitz poker for speed and convenience
- Seven card stud poker available
4. Black Chip Poker – Best NC Online Poker Site for Omaha Variants
| Poker Network | License | Payout Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Winning Poker Network (WPN) | Curaçao eGaming | Within 48 hours |
- Poker Games Variety 10/10 – Wide choice of cash tables, especially Hold’em. Play many niche games, like Five Card Omaha and Stud Eight Or Better, plus Blitz Poker.
- Poker Tournaments 10/10 – Everything from freerolls to Jackpot Sit & Gos worth up to $1 million. This North Carolina poker site also boasts the Venom series, with consistent multi-million dollar pools. You can also get involved in various satellite poker tournaments.
- Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – Part of the popular Winning Poker Network, meaning high volumes and busy tables. Don’t expect weak games, however.
- Software Quality 8/10 – Sleek mobile software and boasts easy-to-use features. There may be outages from time-to-time, but still offers a solid desktop client. You’re free to use your own HUD.
- Betting Limits and Payments 8/10 – Player-friendly deposit requirement of just $10 with quick cashouts through Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and Tether.
- Mobile Friendliness 8/10 – Black Chip Poker is super mobile user-friendly via web browsers. Though there’s no iOS version right now.
Hold’em and Omaha players will appreciate the abundance of busy cash tables.
However, Black Chip Poker is also a great choice for players of less-popular games, with Seven Stud, Eight Or Better and Five Card Omaha games. The range of tournaments is highly impressive too.
Read our Black Chip Poker review for more details about the online North Carolina poker room.
Pros
- Rewarding Elite Benefits program
- Millions in monthly tournament guarantees
- Great collection of non-Hold’em formats
- Low minimum deposit requirement
Cons
- Not the softest Hold’em cash tables
- Could use more payment methods
- Play with other US poker players from all non-regulated states
- Winning poker network
- Seven card stud and 5 table PLO available
5. BetOnline Poker – Best NC Online Poker Site for Casual Players
| Poker Network | License | Payout Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Chico Poker | Panama Gaming Commission | Within 48 hours |
- Poker Games Variety 9/10 – No shortage of Hold’em and Omaha cash tables, with stakes for every bankroll. Free-to-play games available for practice.
- Poker Tournaments 9/10 – Sunday specials guarantee almost $10 million a month. Freerolls aplenty and everything else in between with fair entry fees.
- Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – BetOnline may be a sportsbook at heart, but the poker tables are always full. The standard is pretty weak overall, too.
- Software Quality 8/10 – Not the most eye-catching software, but it works well and features everything you could want. Possible to play download-free within a browser, too.
- Betting Limits and Payments 9/10 – Expensive card charges aside, one of the better sites for payments. Fair limits, 16 crypto coins and same-day payouts.
- Mobile Friendliness 8/10 – App doesn’t take up much space and the browser version displays well on mobile. Design could be nicer, but it’s highly functional.
There’s a lot to love about BetOnline, including crypto payouts processed in just a few hours, plus the option to play without downloading software.
However, the busy cash game tables, which are packed with sports betting fans, are perhaps the standout feature. We found the lower-stakes games to be particularly soft.
Pros
- Player base among the weakest
- High traffic network
- Downloading the mobile app is optional
- Solid choice of games
Cons
- No rakeback program
- High fees on card deposits and no withdrawals
- Fast seating with Boost for zero waiting time
- Huge tournaments like Sunday Million and PKO's
- Solid traffic on Chico Poker Network
Benefits of Playing Online Poker in North Carolina
Here are the main advantages of playing at North Carolina online poker rooms compared to live games.
- Faster Games– With no need to shuffle a physical deck, online poker games are much quicker, leading to more hands per hour.
- Play Multiple Tables– On a similar note, the ability to sit in multiple concurrent games means winning players can maximize their edge.
- Easier to Review and Learn– Many online poker North Carolina sites permit hand tracking software. Analysis becomes much easier, allowing you to spot and fix any leaks in your game.
- Greater Choice– North Carolina online poker rooms have fewer overheads, meaning it’s affordable to run less-popular tables. As such, you can access more games at wider limits.
Popular North Carolina Poker Games
What games are actually available when playing poker in NC? You’re about to find out.
Texas Hold’em
No Limit Hold’em tournaments are the most popular way to play online poker for real money in North Carolina. The “Cadillac of poker” provides an intoxicating mixture of psychology, skill and the promise of big wins.
It’s also possible to play Hold’em with a Fixed or Pot Limit structure, in both tournaments and cash games.
Limit games are often better suited to patient players who are happy to grind, while the big bet games tend to steal the headlines.
Best NC Online Poker Site for Hold’em: Ignition
Omaha
In terms of structure, Omaha is extremely similar to Hold’em. The only real difference is the starting hand of four cards, instead of two. Players must use two of these in tandem with three from the board.
This minor rule change has a big impact upon strategy, however. With so many additional cards in play, relative hand strengths decrease compared to Hold’em. This favors a disciplined approach to hand selection.
Five Card Omaha is a popular variation of the game that’s found at the best North Carolina online poker sites. As the name suggests, an additional card is supplied to each player.
Best NC Online Poker Site for Omaha: CoinPoker
Omaha Hi-Lo
Based on regular Omaha, this variant chops the pot in two. Half goes to the strongest hand as normal, with the remainder awarded to the best qualifying “low”. That’s a five-card hand that is eight-high or lower with no pairs.
If no law is possible, all of the money goes to the strongest hand, just like ordinary Omaha.
The most successful Omaha Hi-Lo players are versatile, usually skilled in multiple forms of poker. That’s because it appears in lots of mixed games tournaments, making up the “O” level in SHOE and HORSE games, for instance.
Best NC Online Poker Site for Omaha Hi-Lo: Black Chip Poker
Seven Card Stud
You won’t find Seven Stud in any North Carolina poker rooms these days, unfortunately, as the game isn’t as popular as it once was. However, you can still play tournaments and cash games at leading online poker sites.
Each player receives up to seven cards, three of which are face-down with the other four exposed. There aren’t any shared cards, like in Omaha or Hold’em, and the game is usually played with a Fixed Limit structure.
Popular variations include Razz, where the best “low” hand wins, and Eight Or Better. In the latter, there are two pots up for grabs; one for the strongest hand, and one for the low.
Best NC Online Poker Site for Seven Card Stud: ACR Poker
How to Pick Online Poker Sites in North Carolina
When choosing the sites for online poker North Carolina, here are the key factors to consider. All of our featured recommendations score highly in these areas.
Cash Tables and Tournaments
The selection of games is the most important feature of any North Carolina online poker room.
Sites must cater to as many players as possible, meaning a good variety of high and low-stakes tables and tournaments. But we also expect to see different forms of poker alongside the likes of Hold’em and Omaha.
Number and Ability of Opponents
The next most important aspect is the site’s traffic. Without players at the table, there can be no poker, so numbers are crucial. Not just for the most popular events, but niche games too.
However, nobody wants to consistently swim with the sharks. While it’s good to get out of your comfort zone sometimes, finding weak games is the best way to improve your bottom line.
User-Friendliness, Design and Accessibility
The best sites for online poker North Carolina make things easy for their players. This applies to many areas of the platform.
For example, we enjoy basic registration forms without intrusive identity checks, as well as intuitive cashier pages with fast withdrawals.
Mobile accessibility is also important, as is the overall look-and-feel of the software.
Bonuses, Promotions and Loyalty Rewards
The online poker space is competitive, so there’s no excuse for a site failing to look after its players.
This starts with a generous welcome offer, whose terms and conditions are fair. In addition, we want to see plenty of ongoing poker bonuses and rewards.
That would usually include a comprehensive VIP or loyalty program. But it could simply involve frequent reload bonuses and other special offers for regulars, like rakeback.
Selection of Banking Options
Ultimately, there’s no poker without cash. That’s why the best online poker sites in North Carolina make payments as easy as possible.
We value cryptocurrency payment options most highly, as these are the quickest when processing withdrawals. Most of our featured crypto poker sites pay on the same day.
However, everyone has their own personal tastes, so a broad variety of deposit and withdrawal options is vital.
Claim North Carolina Poker Bonuses
As you might expect, the best online poker sites in North Carolina offer frequent bonuses. Both new and existing players can get involved with the following promotions.
It’s exceedingly rare to find a North Carolina online poker site without a signup bonus. It’s almost always a deposit match promotion, but some sites offer access to private freerolls, as well as free tournament entries.
A deposit match sees a percentage of your first real money transaction awarded as a bonus. For example, a 150% bonus on a $100 deposit leads to $150 bonus funds.
All North Carolina poker rooms take a cut from certain cash game pots, as well as tournament entry fees.
However, the best sites now refund a percentage of those charges as a loyalty bonus.
Top poker rooms award comp points that can be exchanged for various goodies, including tangible gifts and tournament entries.
Furthermore, the more of these points a player amasses, the higher they’ll progress through the loyalty and VIP ranks. Each tier comes with a new set of improved perks.
Many of the best North Carolina online poker sites issue deposit match bonuses to players topping up their accounts.
Dubbed “reload” bonuses, the percentages are usually much smaller than welcome bonuses. They tend to be more in the region of 25% to 50%.
These special tournaments don’t cost anything to play, but there are still real prizes to be won.
Most online poker North Carolina sites run several freerolls per week, as they’re a great way for new players to learn and piece a bankroll together.
These are essentially free passes to events that you’d otherwise have to pay a fee to enter.
They can be acquired as part of a welcome package or as a loyalty reward from a VIP program.
What are the Best Payment Methods for NC Online Poker?
If you want to play online poker in North Carolina, you’ll need to fund your account. Here are the most common ways to do so.
Cryptocurrency
Playing with cryptocurrency is increasingly popular, due to the additional layer of privacy offered by tokens like Bitcoin, Ethereum or Tether. However, it’s also a reliable, convenient and fast way to move money around.
North Carolina online poker sites offering cryptocurrency often process withdrawals in a matter of hours. It rarely, if ever, takes longer than 48 hours to receive your winnings.
Debit and Credit Cards
All of the best online poker sites in North Carolina offer plastic as a payment method. It’s not difficult to see why, given that over 82% of adults in the country own a debit card.
Despite the obvious benefits of cryptocurrencies, many players are slow to adapt. Familiarity is important, with reputable processors like Visa offering reliable deposits instantly. However, withdrawals can take up to a week, and fees are often applied.
Ewallets
Ever since the dawn of online gambling, players have used ewallets like Neteller to store their bankrolls away from day-to-day funds. Not only are they practical, but transactions are secure and extremely quick.
On the other hand, fees do apply at some North Carolina online poker sites. These popular payment methods are often excluded from certain bonuses and promotions, too.
North Carolina Poker Laws
Is it legal to play poker in the Tar Heel State? Let’s take a look at the existing NC online poker laws, as well as those governing land-based games.
Is Online Poker Legal in North Carolina?
No. Although there are no specific North Carolina poker laws, Chapter 14 of the General Statutes clearly states:
“any person who plays at or bets on any game of chance at which any money, property or other thing of value is bet … shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.”
Since poker undeniably involves a large amount of skill, it has been argued that it should be exempt. However, in 2007, the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled that poker is predominantly a game of chance.
Can You Play Online Poker in North Carolina?
Although online poker apps and websites are technically illegal, many North Carolinians play at offshore poker sites. The truth is, it’s extremely difficult to enforce the existing law in practice.
First of all, the authorities can’t prevent a foreign company from accepting US players. Then, if someone does choose to play at an overseas site, how could anyone know? Finally, it would have to be proven that you were specifically playing a game of chance.
A less-risky approach would be to play online poker at sweepstakes sites. You’re not technically gambling, as no money changes hands at the table. But it’s possible to win prizes with a real world value.
When Will North Carolina Online Poker Be Regulated?
Will online poker be legal in North Carolina anytime soon? This seems unlikely, given the state’s traditional anti-gambling approach.
However, in March 2024, sports betting was legalized, giving poker fans hope that things could change. At the moment, though, there are no concrete proposals for debate and no immediate signs of a legal framework for online poker.
Land-Based Poker in North Carolina
There are two live poker rooms operating in NC, both of which are legal. That’s because they’re located within the two Harrah’s casinos built on tribal land.
Regulated by the Tribal Gaming Commission for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, different laws apply to these properties.
Are Poker Winnings Taxable in North Carolina?
Poker winnings from $5,000 upwards are taxed as income in the state of North Carolina. As such, you must include them on your federal income tax returns.
In addition, the state taxes income at a flat rate of 5.25%. Unusually, you aren’t allowed to deduct losses. For instance, if you win $1,000 from a poker tournament, then lose $3,000 playing cash games, you’re still liable for the $1,000.
Live Poker in North Carolina
There are only two legal land-based poker rooms in North Carolina. Learn more about them in this section of our guide.
- Address: 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC 28719
- Opening Hours: 10:00am – 6:00am
With capacity for 32 tables, this venue hosts World Series of Poker Circuit events. These feature some of the biggest North Carolina poker tournament prizepools, as well as the potential to win a coveted ring.
WSOP aside, expect daily No Limit Hold’em tournaments, with buy-ins ranging from $80 to $250.
On the cash game front, there are usually $1/$3 and $2/$5 No Limit Hold’em tables running. In addition, you can sit in $1/$2 and $5/$5 Pot Limit Omaha games, plus the occasional $4/$8 Limit Hold’em.
- Address: 777 Casino Parkway, Murphy, NC 28906
- Opening Hours: 10:00am – 2:00am
The second live North Carolina poker room is smaller, with just ten tables. It hosts an $80 No Limit Hold’em tournament every Monday and Thursday, but no others.
$1/$3 and $2/$5 No Limit Hold’em cash tables are available until 2:00am daily, with a $1/$2 Pot Limit Omaha game running most evenings.
Famous North Carolina Poker Players
There are several big name players associated with the Tar Heel State. Here are some of the best-known.
- Greg Raymer – With over $8 million in live earnings to his name, the “Fossilman” from Raleigh, NC will always be known for winning the 2004 WSOP Main Event.
- Chris Hunichen – The Clayton, NC resident, nicknamed “Big Huni”, has banked more than $16 million from live tournaments, including a win in the 2024 WSOP $100,000 High Roller event.
- Anthony Spinella – Now living in Mexico, Spinella hails from Waxhaw, NC. With a WSOP bracelet and Circuit ring to his name, he’s won over $4.5 million playing live.
Poker in Other States
Compared to other US states, the law on poker sites in North Carolina is quite clear. Most jurisdictions lack any sort of legislation that properly addresses gambling on the internet.
The Buckeye State is a good example of this. Live poker is legal, as long as it’s a private home game or within one of four licensed casinos. However, there are no guidelines regarding online poker in Ohio, which creates a loophole for offshore platforms to exploit.
However, Nevada is an exception to this trend. As you’d expect, the home of gambling boasts a solid legal framework for gambling. Naturally, the state’s many land-based casinos can host poker games. Online poker in Nevada is also legal, but only the WSOP is licensed to operate.
North Carolina Online Poker – Key Takeaways
Hopefully, our guide to the best online poker sites in North Carolina has answered everything you need to know. If not, please check out the frequently asked questions below.
In the meantime, here’s a summary of the situation in NC:
- Only land-based poker is legal – This applies to the state’s two tribal casinos and there’s no sign of new online legislation.
- Offshore poker sites are illegal but accessible – Many North Carolinians play at offshore sites as it’s practically impossible to enforce existing laws.
- Sweepstakes poker is permitted – There is no law against sweepstakes gambling sites.
FAQs – Play Online Poker for Real Money in North Carolina
What is the best North Carolina online poker site?
Is poker legal in North Carolina?
Can you play poker online in NC?
What are the cashout times for NC online poker?
Are poker sites in North Carolina safe?
References
- https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-292.pdf (General Statutes: § 14-292. Gambling)
- https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/nc-court-of-appeals/1096267.html (FindLaw: Joker Club v. Hardin 2007)
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1362157/debit-card-ownership-rate-usa/ (Statista: Debit card ownership)
- https://www.wral.com/story/cooper-calls-for-change-to-tax-law-around-gambling-winnings/21409307/ (WRAL News: Cooper calls for change to tax law around gambling winnings)
- https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=7955&sort=place&dir=asc (Hendon Mob: Greg Raymer)
- https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=179641&sort=place&dir=asc (Hendon Mob: Chris Hunichen)
- https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=101755&sort=place&dir=asc (Hendon Mob: Anthony Spinella)