18+ Online Poker In Massachusetts

Q: Is online poker legal in Massachusetts domestically?

No. As of [yr], the state of Mass. has no plans to legalize online poker in a domestic capacity. This could change in the future, but we wouldn’t hold our pocket aces.

Q: Is online poker illegal in Massachusetts if played with offshore sites?

Definitely not! It is not illegal to play online poker in Massachusetts when doing so with an offshore Internet poker room. In fact, because there are no domestic online options – or even local brick-and-mortar options – for players under 21 years old, these offshore sites are the only legal avenues to enjoy your favorite competitive gambling game.

Q: Can you play online poker in Massachusetts for free?

No. Online poker – at least real online poker – is only available in a paid format. While there may be online poker sims or online poker apps that advertise free poker, these are either simple poker video games or microtransaction-heavy electronic poker apps. Real multiplayer poker is always going to be “pay to play”, so don’t be afraid to ante up!

Q: Are home poker games legal in Massachusetts?

Yes! In-home poker games are 100% legal in Massachusetts. The only caveat is that all games must be funded by the participants and no player or host may operate as the “house” and take a cut of the pot. This is the same approach most other states take when addressing social poker gambling within their borders.

Q: Can you play poker in Massachusetts under 18 years of age?

No. You cannot play poker in MA if you’re under 18 years of age. At least, you can’t do so through any domestic state-based casino (21+) or legal offshore gambling site (18+). If you wish to play poker with your friends in a social setting, of course, you can do that at pretty much any age. But no matter how old you are, always remember to play responsibly!

The Bay State has a history of keeping most online gambling entertainment at bay, and that includes online poker. Honestly, Massachusetts isn’t much of a poker state at all. Even MA’s huge brick-and-mortar casinos only have a few poker tables to choose from. But you don’t actually need them. It turns out that 18+ online poker in Massachusetts is freely available at several highly rated online casinos, which means you can enjoy your favorite pastime anytime.

International online MA poker rooms have been serving state residents for years, and the 18+ poker sites we recommend are consistently rated as the best in the business. These “full houses” offer all the Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha games you love, with cash tables, Sit-N-Gos, Zone Poker events, and major online poker tournaments held around the clock. Don’t caught by the big blind – Our short guide to playing online poker in MA at 18 and up is all you need.

Best 18 And Up Massachusetts Online Poker Sites Of 2024

	Bonus	Rating/5	Visit Site
1	100% Max $500	4.8	Play Now Review
2	150% up to $1,500	4.7	Play Now Review
3	100% Max $1,000	4.5	Play Now Review
4	100% Max $1,000	4.2	Play Now Review

Are Massachusetts Poker Rooms Legal For Players Under 21?

No. Massachusetts poker laws bar those under the age of 21 from playing poker and other common gambling games with regulated state-based operators. There are two Massachusetts Indian casinos currently being planned, but these venues will also adhere to the state’s 21+ gambling age. We definitely don’t expect MA to lower the legal poker age anytime soon.

Is MA Online Poker Legal For Players 18 And Older?

Yes. You can legally play poker in MA at 18+ by joining a trusted offshore poker site. At these online poker rooms, Massachusetts residents can bet and win real money – safely and without breaking any laws – and just 18 and over.

While domestic online poker will probably be legalized in the next few years, no Massachusetts online poker bill is likely to lower the age of participation to 18-plus.

Of course, no law is likely to bar offshore sites, either. As a result, 18-year-old players will be able to rely on these international poker venues for the foreseeable future.

Massachusetts Minimum Legal Poker Age

The minimum age to play poker in Massachusetts is 21 years old. This law applies to both commercial and tribal gambling venues in the state. As such, there are no legal local poker options for players aged 18-20. Luckily, the MA poker age applies only to domestically regulated venues.

If you join a legit online poker room that operates outside of both MA and US borders, you can play at just 18 and older. Remember, there are no Mass. or US poker laws that prevent players from being able to safely and legally access these sites.

List Of Poker Rooms In Massachusetts

Encore Boston Harbor Poker Room – Everett (Commercial, Open)
MGM Springfield Poker Room – Springfield (Commercial, Open)
Aquinnah Cliffs Casino Poker Room – Aquinnah (Tribal, Pending Launch)
First Light Casino & Resort Poker Room – Taunton (Tribal, Pending Launch)

As of 2024, there are two operational casinos in MA that host dedicated poker rooms. However, per state law, poker in these venues is limited to players aged 21 and up. There are no standalone Massachusetts poker houses or MA card rooms outside of these major casinos.

Additionally, pandemic restructuring has resulted in permanent reduced capacities at both casinos’ poker rooms, along with more limited operating hours. This makes online poker all the more attractive to MA residents, even for those players living close to these venues.

Note: Massachusetts’ Plainridge Park Casino is not a traditional casino but is categorized as a “slots parlor.” The venue does not offer real poker tables and is instead limited to electronic poker, electronic slots, and electronic casino table games.

How To Play Online Poker In Massachusetts

Playing online poker is basically the same as playing in real life. At sites with multiplayer poker tables, you simply pick a table (or multiple tables if multitabling is your thing) and ante up.

To keep things fair, all players are 100% anonymous, and tables are separated according to minimum and maximum bet amounts. Aside from that, the games play just like you’d expect. If you’ve ever played Texas Holdem, Omaha, or Omaha Hi-Lo, you’ll be right at home, as these are the main variants offered at each site.

Poker rules and poker hands are standardized, too, so the games play out just as they would at domestic venues. Basically, if you know how to play poker in person, you know how to play poker online.

The only real hurdle for new players is signing up at a legit online poker room. If you’ve never gambled over the Internet, you might feel a little overwhelmed at the prospect of getting started. Fortunately, it only takes a couple of minutes:

Follow any link here to a legit online casino poker room.
Click or tap the “Join” or “Sign Up” button.
Enter in all requested information. Be sure to use only your real, verifiable info, since these sites all use industry-standard KYC protocols to secure your account.
Choose a supported deposit method (see below). We recommend cryptocurrency above more traditional options, as crypto comes with the best gambling bonuses and allows players to claim same-day payouts.
Navigate to the “Poker” tab and take a seat at an open cash table. You can also join Sit-N-Go tables, enter Zone Poker events, and enjoy major online poker tournaments at your leisure.

Note: Most real-money Massachusetts online poker sites offer downloadable poker software for Windows and Mac computers if you wish to use a dedicated application. However, you can also play the same games directly through your web browser, which is what we recommend.

18+ Online Poker Tournaments In Massachusetts

If you’re looking for 18+ poker tournaments, Massachusetts doesn’t have any options for you. While the poker rooms at the Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield both host regular poker tournaments, these are limited to players aged 21 and older.

Of course, all the sites featured in our online poker reviews accept MA residents at 18+, and they have round-the-clock poker tournaments available. These range in size from small Sit-N-Go events that conclude in just 1-2 hours all the way up to massive multi-day poker tournaments with thousands of players competing for hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money.

MA Online Poker Banking Methods

Poker states

You can freely play real-money online poker in the Bay State, but these Massachusetts poker games are paid only. Free online poker just isn’t a thing. At least, not if you want to win actual cash.

Naturally, in order to bet real money, you’ll need to move that money into your gambling account beforehand. All sites support Visa and Mastercard along with several other traditional poker banking options (i.e. cashier’s checks, bank wires, money orders, etc.). However, we recommend using cryptocurrency whenever possible.

Every legit 18+ MA poker site accepts Bitcoin (BTC) as a matter of course, and many sites also support a selection of other popular crypto coins. Crypto is the most secure, direct, and valuable way to top up your account. It’s also the only way to claim same-day payouts when it’s time to rake in those virtual online poker chips!

Deposits: Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Cardano, Solana, Tether, etc.), Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Cashier’s Checks, Bank Wires, Money Orders, Retail Money Transfers, Gambling Vouchers, MatchPay
Withdrawals: Cryptocurrency, Courier Checks, Bank Wires, Retail Money Transfers, Gambling Vouchers, MatchPay

MA Online Poker Bonuses And Promos

All credible online gambling sites offer deposit match bonuses for new members, and most offer similar deals for returning customers. However, poker bonuses are materially different than typical online casino or online sports betting bonuses.

If you have experience with these latter options, you’ll recall they come with wagering requirements that must be met before you can withdraw any associated winnings. This is called “playthrough” or “rollover.”

Poker bonuses, however, have no such limitations or restrictions. Online poker promos are offered as free cash with no strings attached. The difference is that you have to earn the bonus by playing poker hands.

Let’s say you accept a 100% match bonus on a $100 deposit. Here, you’ll be in line for $100 in free money. You don’t get it all upfront, though. Instead, this money is disbursed incrementally based on the number of hands you play, tournaments you enter, etc.

For example, a site may reward you with $5 in free cash for every 250 completed hands. Typically, you’ll have 30 days to score as much poker bonus money as possible.

Massachusetts Mobile Poker Apps

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While real online poker sites still offer dedicated downloadable poker software for PC and Mac computers, most people play these games on their smartphones and tablets. However, you won’t find downloadable poker apps for these.

Instead, if you’re looking for MA iPhone poker apps or Android poker apps for real money, all you need is your favorite mobile device and an up-to-date mobile web browser.

All the best online poker sites in Massachusetts host every one of their many real-money events in a browser-friendly, touchscreen-optimized package. There’s nothing to install or update, there are no geographical restrictions, and you can log in and play your hand anytime, anyplace.

18+ Massachusetts Poker FAQs

Is poker legal in Massachusetts?

Yes! If you’re worried about whether or not poker is illegal in Massachusetts, you can put those concerns to rest. The pastime is 100% on the up and up.

Of course, there are various age restrictions and accessibility limitations to consider.

To play poker at domestic venues in the state, you must be at least 21 years of age. If you’re under 21 (i.e. 18-20 years old), you can only legally play with a legit online casino poker site like those featured here.

Is online poker legal in Massachusetts domestically?

Is online poker illegal in Massachusetts if played with offshore sites?

Can you play online poker in Massachusetts for free?

Are home poker games legal in Massachusetts?

Can you play poker in Massachusetts under 18 years of age?

Can You play charity poker in Massachusetts under 18 years old?

No. If you want to participate in charity poker, Massachusetts accommodates such events. However, players must be at least eighteen years old.

These rules are established by the state’s charitable gambling laws.

Generally, you will find MA charitable poker and similar events hosted by non-profits such as veterans’ organizations, churches, fraternal orders, service clubs, and the like.

All monies raised must go to these various entities’ established initiatives, and operator permits are always required.