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Of all the different offshore sites out there, Youwager Poker is probably one of the places you should avoid the most. While the site is primarily a sportsbook betting operation (offering betting on football, NFL, NBA, etc.) and a casino, they do feature an online poker room that caters to US players but this is the last place where any player should seek poker action.
The question is Youwager Poker scam has surfaced time and time again on forums and other communication channels and it seems that the operator is doing very little to try and deny any accusations made against them. The site isn’t just operating illegally in the States but they also seem to have a very reckless attitude to their other poker sportsbook users as well.
Casinos that take US deposits and pay them back out
Ranked on the size of the welcome package, the cashier and how long the operator has served US players. We earn a commission when you sign up — it never changes the order.
- 1
MyBookie200% up to $1,500SportsbookCrypto cashierServing US players since 2014Claim offerRead our review - 2
Red Dog200% up to $8,000 over 4 depositsCrypto cashierServing US players since 2019Claim offerRead our review - 3
BetUS250% up to $5,000SportsbookCrypto cashierServing US players since 1994Claim offerRead our review - 4
Las Atlantis280% up to $2,800 on each of first 5 deposits (up to $14,000)Crypto cashierServing US players since 2020Claim offerRead our review - 5
Bovada125% up to $3,750 across your first three depositsSportsbookPoker roomCrypto cashierServing US players since 2011Claim offerRead our review - 6
Slots.Lv200% up to $3,000 + 30 free spins on Golden Buffalo30 free spinsServing US players since 2013Claim offerRead our review - 7
Cafe300% up to $2,000 + 150 free spins over three days150 free spinsCrypto cashierServing US players since 2016Claim offerRead our review - 8
El Royale230% match on first depositCrypto cashierServing US players since 2020Claim offerRead our review - 9
Slots of Vegas250% up to $2,500Serving US players since 2004Claim offerRead our review - 10
Ignition300% up to $3,000 split between casino and pokerPoker roomCrypto cashierServing US players since 2016Claim offerRead our review - 11
SuperSlots400% up to $4,000100 free spinsCrypto cashierServing US players since 2020Claim offerRead our review - 12
SportsBetting.ag100 free spins welcome offerSportsbookCrypto cashierServing US players since 2003Claim offerRead our review
21+ only. Gambling should stay entertainment — never a way to make money. If it stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER. State law decides what is available where you live; check your own rules before you deposit.
Is Youwager Poker legal in the US?
If you’re wondering is Youwager Poker legal in the US, the quick and simple answer to that question is no. Like other offshore sites, this one also offers its services without having any relevant licenses to do so. The room isn’t licensed in any of the states and there is absolutely no control over what’s happening behind the scenes.
While Youwager and others try to reason their actions and explain them in all sorts of ways, the facts are quite simple. No sportsbook or poker room can offer any type of betting services or a gambling game without an exclusive license from a state. Since there is currently no legislation on the federal level, no operator can get a license to legally work in the entire country.
Is Youwager Poker legit & why you shouldn’t
The question really isn’t is Youwager Poker legit in the US, because it is clear they have no business offering their poker, sportsbook, and casino services in the country. Rather, the real question is how legit this operator is in general and from all the information out there, they don’t seem quite legit whatsoever.
While some offshore operators at least try to cater to their players’ needs and make the gaming experience somewhat smooth, this particular room seems to be on the opposite side. There have been numerous cases of users’ fund being confiscated, especially for those who wager on sports here, which is a huge red flag.
The room has some very shady terms in place and their general policy towards users is definitely not very fair. All of that is on top of other issues that you might expect when playing poker on a site such as this, which could go under at any point, leaving you completely out of pocket and with no one to turn to.
Another big issue here has to do with your personal bank account. Namely, receiving transactions from a place such as Youwager could well create problems for you at your bank because they don’t care is Yowager Poker illegal or not for you as a player. They are not allowed to accept any gambling-related transactions and they might close your account for that reason alone.
Youwager Poker scam or not: Operator in check
There is hardly a positive Youwager Poker review out there. Most people seem to believe this isn’t a legitimate operation and those who are able to get some money out of the site are actually lucky. This goes for their poker room and their sportsbook alike. Still, we’ve spent some time checking what they have to offer on the poker side of things, just for the sake of completeness of this review.
Game types & tournaments
Like we’ve already mentioned, the poker room is just a sidekick for the casino and sportsbook at Youwager, so users can’t really expect a great variety of gaming options here. Unlike licensed poker rooms in the US that focus on providing a good variety of poker variations, this operator only offers basic Hold’em and Omaha tables. There are some scheduled tournaments but with very low guaranteed prize pools and even these are often cancelled because they don’t get the minimum number of participants.
Bonus & VIP Program
New users can get a solid welcome bonus here but beyond that, there is very little for their poker players. The operator is clearly focused on their sports betting customers but even them don’t get a particularly good treatment in terms of bonuses and promotions. All in all, there isn’t much in terms of getting back some cash for the betting you do on the site and Youwager doesn’t seem overly concerned with keeping customers interested through promotions.
Payment methods
The operator accepts a solid range of payment methods, including major credit and debit cards like Visa and American Express. They also accept a variety of popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Players from the US do have access to most of these methods but some of them don’t really work the way they are intended to. Your deposits via credit cards will often be declined and cashing out your winnings can be very complicated.
Software & usability
The operator offers both an instant-play version that can be accessed through different browsers and the Youwager Poker download software. This is a nice touch as it lets players access cash game tables and tournaments whenever they feel like it without having to download the software every time. However, the software itself is very basic and not player-friendly at all. Once again, this goes to show that the operator’s focus is on the sportsbook and betting sports while poker is just a side dish.
Player pool & poker network
The player traffic at Youwager Poker is really poor. Since they’re primarily a sportsbook and casino site, the number of poker players that frequent the site is really low. This means that users seeking action on cash game tables or tournaments will have difficult time finding what they’re looking for. Beyond very low stakes, the room is virtually dead and many of their daily tournaments are cancelled due to lack of interest.
What Lies Ahead for Offshore Operators in the US?
Various offshore sites have been present in the States for years now, offering players a chance to bet on sports, try their luck with casino games, and play online poker. These betting and gambling operators have managed to stick around despite the fact they are operating against the laws and have found a decent number of players willing to take on the risk associated with betting with such sites.
However, times are starting to change as the regulation is slowly but surely entering the US. There is a growing number of states that are passing bills regulating online betting, poker, and casino gambling, which definitely doesn’t look promising for offshore sites.
Back in the day, when they were the only game in town, it was much easier for them to grab a solid share of the market as players didn’t have any options and wanted to play or bet sports. However, with more regulated sites appearing left and right, this is bound to change as more people will flock to regulated and legal alternatives.
Conclusion
Stay safe – play with regulated poker rooms only
While this battle between offshore and regulated sites is ongoing, you, as a player, should really stay away from all that and stick only to properly licensed poker sites. While some offshore sites do have much more to offer than Youwager Poker, they are still not worth all the trouble it will take to get the money in and cash out your winnings. That, combined with the fact that these rooms can really go under at any point, your money disappearing together with them, means that playing with any offshore site, be it a sportsbook, casino, or a poker room, is just not worth it!
Questions players ask
Can US players legally play at Youwager Poker?
Users from the United States aren’t allowed to bet on this site. While the room does accept accounts from the US, they are doing so against the law. So, while they may have you believe otherwise, their operation is certainly not legal by any stretch of imagination.
Is there something the room offers that would make it worth a risk?
This particular operator really doesn’t offer anything that would make the risk worth it. They are a very small poker room with low traffic and no particularly good bonuses. While we suggest all players stay away from all offshore sites, most of them are actually doing a much better job than Youwager.
Can US players withdraw their winnings?
In theory, the room does offer a variety of withdrawal methods US players can use, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. In practice, though, things are not nearly as smooth. Withdrawals often take a long time and the room has some strange terms and rules in place to prevent cashouts.
Will I get in trouble if I play at Youwager?
It’s not likely you’ll have legal problems for just betting here or playing poker or a casino game. However, it is still possible, especially in certain states. So far, no one has ever been prosecuted for playing online poker but it is still better to stay on the safe side of things.
Are there legal poker sites available to US customers?
Of course they are and we list all of them on our site. If you want to play poker legally, you’ll find all the different licensed rooms reviewed in depth so that you can make your choice. We recommend all players stick to these US poker rooms and easily avoid all potential problems.