Legal Poker For Oregon Residents
Poker is one of the most popular forms of gambling—both on land and online—for many reasons. First and foremost, it is a game that allows players to engage in social activity while enjoying the thrill of making wagers. For some players, poker is a challenge that allows them to test their strategic skills and make the most out of each hand that they are dealt. For others, the game is one that allows them to relax and enjoy a favorite pastime after a long day. No matter why you love playing poker, though, it is important that you act safely with regard to the law.
Oregon is one of the stricter states when it comes to gambling. While this may come as a surprise, it is actually one of the few states in the country that has addressed online gambling and significantly restricted gambling opportunities. But don't worry—this doesn't mean that you can't play poker in Oregon; it just means that you have to be smart about where and how you engage in this form of betting. To learn more about the laws regarding gambling in Oregon keep reading, as we will go over the poker regulations one section at a time to ensure that you have the information necessary to make educated decisions.
Oregon Poker Laws & Statutes
The laws that are enforced in the state of Oregon are quite strict with regard to where individuals can play. There are no commercial casinos in the state, so this limits the land-based poker opportunities that players can call upon in Oregon; however, there are tribal casinos. Many of these establishments host real money games that are 100 percent legal. For this reason, tribal casinos are a popular destination for players in this state. But you don't have to go to a casino in order to play a legal game of poker. In fact, thanks to a social exclusion that has been written into the law, you can play real money games in social settings so long as the house doesn't take a cut. This means that you can enjoy your favorite game with friends as long as no rake is taken and there is no profit made from the actual operation of the game. In terms of online poker, though, the legal code isn't so cut and dry.
Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in Oregon?
Online poker is, for all intents and purposes, not allowed in the state of Oregon. In fact, Oregon is one of the few states in the country that has expressly passed a law that serves to limit online gambling activity.
Despite this, the news is not all bad for individual players. You see, the law focuses on online gambling businesses, not the individuals who play in online poker rooms. In fact, the section of the law that speaks directly to online betting doesn't mention any charges for individual players while it does provide instruction for law enforcement regarding charges to be raised against operators. For this reason, many residents of Oregon feel comfortable engaging in online poker activity.
Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker Oregon?
The law regarding online poker activity in the state of Oregon does speak to online activity—and it does mention that this activity is considered out of the bounds of legal play. This said, though, it is important for you to remember that, as mentioned above, the law that speaks to online gambling only provides a charge for operators—not individual players.
Because of the way in which the law is written, many individuals in the state of Oregon feel safe engaging in poker games on the World Wide Web. The key, though, is to find a poker room that offers reliable and trusted service.
Legal Poker Sites That Accept Oregon Players
Although Oregon possesses the strictest laws of any of the 50 states concerning online gambling, poker is still prevalent in the state. Although technically illegal, it is not criminalized and there are no cases on record of an Oregon resident ever being prosecuted for playing online poker. Still, all the legal poker sites listed below provide the utmost discretion for Oregon residents.
Bovada Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For Oregon
When it comes to playing online poker, there is one name that stands a full head and shoulders above all the others when it comes to serving US citizens, and that name is Bovada. It’s not fully known quite what it is that makes Bovada as popular as it is. It could be the up-to-the-minute poker technology offered by the site, guaranteed to be the fastest and most reliable network around, or it could be the wide variety of ways to play, everything from small stakes sit and go tournaments to high rolling hands at rotating tables that has Oregon residents in love with this online poker room, but the love affair is very real.
If Oregon residents stay for the software and the service, than surely they show up initially to take advantage in one of the all-time best enrollment deals ever offered, for online poker or otherwise. For each new account with Bovada, whenever the initial deposit is made, the user who has opened the account is eligible to receive the full 100% of their bonus back in installments over time as they keep playing poker. This bonus can even be withdrawn immediately! Bovada is so confident in what they offer that they are willing to give away free money since they are so confident customers will be back. It’s time for all Oregon residents to go see what the fuss is about.
SportsBetting Poker - All Oregon Players 18+ Welcome Here
Sometimes Oregon residents like to roll with the new kid on the block. Although having been in business for over ten years, not really the new kid by any standards, the online poker room available at SportsBetting feels a lot like that bad boy poker room. With the most attractive and intuitive layout of any online poker site, users of this online poker room can find themselves at a table of their choosing within seconds of booting up.
This is no small feat for the software to pull off as there are quite literally thousands of poker tables functioning for SportsBetting at any given time. Why so many? There simply have to be. Between all the users from around the world logging on every day and the wide variety of games and tournaments SportsBetting's poker room boasts, it takes a thousand tables to merely hold everything in. Check back with SportsBetting around major holidays for special, novelty tournaments like games centered around Valentine’s Day or the zombie apocalypse.
| Legal Oregon Poker Sites | Welcome Bonus | What To Play | Site Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker Play / Sign Up | $1,000 FREE - 100% Match | Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo - Stud Hi/Lo |  |
| BetOnline Poker Play / Sign Up | Maximum $1K: 200% Rate | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| SportsBetting Play / Sign Up | 200% Match / $1,000 Max | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| 5Dimes Poker Play / Sign Up | Vary Weekly - Check Website | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo |  |
Does Oregon Have Legal Land-Based Poker?
If you are interested in land-based games your options are quite limited. You see, the state of Oregon only offers legal land-based poker in tribal casinos and social settings (as long as there is no profit generated from a social game).
Your options open up quickly when you turn your attention to online poker activity, though. There are numerous online poker rooms that are ready and waiting to offer you their services; however, it is crucial that you pick a website that you can trust. You want to ensure that whatever site you choose is stable, is operating within legal bounds, and is going to provide you with the service you deserve.
Legal Land-Based Poker Rooms For Oregon Players
As we have mentioned, there are two places in which you can play land-based poker in Oregon on a legal level: at a tribal casino and in social settings. If you are going to play at a tribal casino, it is important to make sure that the establishment you are going to visit actually offers the game, as not all are required to do so. While this means you may have to go out of your way to play, the upside to visiting the casino environment is that you will have access to other kinds of gambling, too. Many players appreciate a more diverse gambling landscape.
With regard to social games, it is completely legal to play for real money in instances in which no profit is made from the game. All of the money involved must be kept in the pot—you can't give a portion to the host or organizer as payment, as this would make the game against the law because it will generate a profit.
Future of Poker/Online Poker in Oregon
The state of Oregon has been a bit quiet recently with regard to efforts pertaining to gambling. As such, it is difficult to say what the future will bring in terms of how the state's leaders will opt to treat online poker. For now, though, many residents feel safe engaging in their favorite game on the World Wide Web.
