If you’ve ever played online poker in the US or watched some of the recent streams on YouTube, you could not possibly have missed “GGPoker” or “ClubGG” somewhere.
And no wonder – it’s one of the biggest poker brands and networks in cash game traffic and number of tournaments. But can players in the US access GGPoker? Let’s examine this from different points of view:
GGPoker is not available in America. If you currently live in the US, you cannot access GGPoker or participate in the World Series of Poker, a popular tournament for players worldwide. You must travel to countries where GG Poker is legal to play online poker. But that wouldn’t be easy.
What’s the Difference Between GGPoker & ClubGG in the US
In 2021, GGPoker announced the launch of ClubGG, a platform specifically designed for you and other US players. You can access and participate in poker money tournaments at no additional cost.
However, you won’t play real money games on ClubGG similar to what you can find on licensed online poker sites. You can read more about ClubGG and how it operates here.
You can use ClubGG as a desktop or mobile app on Android and iOS. In either case, you’ll enjoy smooth operations on the mobile application.
What Game Formats ClubGG Offers
Some attractive offerings on ClubGG include Pot-Limit Omaha, Five-Card Omaha, and No-Limit Hold’em. You can also enjoy Short Deck (6+) Hold’em and Open-Face Chinese Poker.
After signing up on ClubGG, you can either join existing poker clubs or create your private poker club and play against your friends. Whichever route you take, you do not have to meet other players physically to enjoy a poker game!
Here’s a list of alternative platforms you can also access:
- Ignition Poker
- Bovada
- Americas Cardroom
- FanDuel Casino Betting (for those of you looking for other games than online poker)
What is the History of GGPoker
The Good Game Network Established GGPoker in 2014 for the Asian gambling market. Due to its good performance in Asia, there was a need to expand to the West. Today, GGPoker operates worldwide and is second only to PokerStars.
For three years after its launch, the gaming platform focused on Asian players. Then, in 2017, it acquired a UK gaming license and expanded into Europe. Next, GGPoker spread its wings into Ireland and Canada.
GGPoker also has a gaming license from Curacao, which it acquired in 2020. But can you play GG Poker in the USA? In 2021, the company received a Pennsylvania gaming license, the first in the US. While that gave it a foothold in the US, it is still illegal given that Federal laws prohibit all forms of online gambling.
Further, GGPoker was reported to have received another license from the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission in 2021. If you are an international player outside the US, you can access the platform courtesy of this license. The same year, the company got another license from Ukraine and expanded into the country.
GGPoker has partnerships with local on-site casinos in Belgium and Romania. It also operates in Quebec, Canada, and the Netherlands. After getting licensed in Ontario in 2022, the company launched the WSOP.ca site in partnership with the WSOP. Thus, it’s a big player in Canada.
But GGPoker’s success can be attributed to its use of famous personalities. In 2019, GGPoker hired Daniel Negreanu, a six-time MSOP winner, as a brand ambassador.
So far, GGPoker has leveraged Negreanu’s social media presence and contacts to forge new, strategic partnerships and expand rapidly. A good example is the exclusive deal between GGPoker and WSOP. Additionally, the platform has a complete superstar, GGTeam composed of big names in poker. They include Ali Nejad, Jeff Gross, Fedor Holz, ElkY, and Jason Koon.
Besides the main GGTeam, the platform has built localized teams from talented players worldwide. For example, it has poker teams in China, Brazil, Ukraine, and Poland. They also have a Twitch Squad, which brings together poker streamers worldwide.
GGPoker is the sleeve sponsor of several clubs in Dutch Eredivisie soccer, such as Go Ahead Eagles and NEC Nijmegen. It maintains worldwide appeal, which keeps the hopes alive that there will be GG Poker in the USA one day. You can read more about the legal status of online poker in the US here.
What are the Banking Options at GGPoker
What form of banking methods would you use at GGPoker? Well, it largely depends on the payment method available in your location. But while several payment methods could be accessible to you, not all are convenient. That’s because how you deposit funds affects how you intend to withdraw your winnings.
You can access the available payment methods by opening the Cashier on GGPoker. For example, if you live in Canada, you may use Interac; those in the UK need Debit cards. From here, you can select a payment method that best suits you. The following are the most popular deposit and withdrawal methods on GGPoker:
1. Visa
Visa is by far the largest debit card network globally. It’s one of the best for making deposits on GGPoker. Once you enter the GGPoker website, you will receive a prompt to pay. It’s not any different from what you do when making everyday purchases online. You can deposit $10 to $500 using a Visa debit card. Once verified, you can deposit over $500.
2.PayPal
PayPal is a world-leading electronic wallet. It’s available in various countries. If the GGPoker interface has a PayPal logo, you can use it to deposit and withdraw funds. The lack of the logo means PayPal isn’t available. You’ll pay a small fee to withdraw funds to PayPal. However, since the transfer is instant, paying the fee shouldn’t be that painful.
3. MasterCard
MasterCard also allows deposits through Debit or Credit cards. However, it doesn’t have an option for withdrawal. You can use a MasterCard debit or credit card to pay as little as $10 to GG Poker.
4. Neteller
Neteller is an electronic wallet. It works like PayPal, albeit at a smaller withdrawal fee. Thus, you don’t get charged for using Neteller on GGPoker.
5. EcoPayz
EcoPayz is both an e-wallet and a prepaid card. It allows you to create a virtual debit card when depositing funds to GGPoker. Unlike physical debit cards, you can use EcoPayz to withdraw funds from GGPoker.
6. Interac
If you live in Canada, you can use Interac to deposit funds to your GG Poker account. The Interac system prevents Canadian banks from tracking deposits to gambling sites. Otherwise, they would block the funds from reaching the intended destination.
7. Luxon Pay
You may use Luxon Pay, a multi-currency eWallet if you live in Europe. It allows you to transfer funds from one currency to another free of charge. You can use it to separate gambling from personal banking.
8. MuchBetter
MuchBetter is a mobile e-wallet app. It’s, therefore, tied to your mobile number and requires two-factor authentication to deposit to GG Poker.
9. WebMoney
WebMoney is a Russian electronic wallet that’s also available across Europe. You can use it in Central or Eastern Europe. It is excellent for depositing funds into your GG Poker account.
Can You Play GGPoker with a VPN in the US?
Yes, but it’s not safe, and we don’t recommend it. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, GGPoker does not allow you to use Virtual Private Networks (VPN) in any country where it’s banned. After all, you could get careless while using a VPN. If your location leaks, GG Poker will give you a total ban.
According to media reports, GGPoker has previously confiscated winnings from players they caught using VPN to access the platform in the US and other prohibited countries. The reason for confiscating funds is to dissuade you and other players in the US from circumventing the ban.
A VPN is useful in masking your location. It allocates you an IP address in a country where GGPoker is legal, helping you access GG Poker in the USA. However, if you get discovered by GGPoker, you’ll immediately be restricted from accessing the platform. As noted above, GGPoker may seize any money you deposit or win.
Additionally, the GGPoker Terms and Conditions expressly prohibit you from using a VPN on the site. If you illegally access GGPoker via VPN, you may face immediate restriction. Interestingly, GGPoker makes playing easy for US residents even after detecting VPNs. It bids it’s time until you have made substantial deposits or won big time.
As such, GGPoker may allow you to use a VPN for some time without getting banned. While it may send a warning for a breach of their terms and conditions, it could be some time before you get banned.
What is the Best VPN for GGPoker
If you decide to play with a VPN despite all the risks, you can use several VPNs to access GGPoker in the United States. The following are the very best, listed in the order of preference:
- NordVPN
- Surf Shark
- Atlas VPN
- Express VPN
- CyberGhost
According to Daniel Negreanu, GGPoker’s brand ambassador, he doesn’t mind where you play from: “I personally don’t give a crap where you’re playing from as long as it’s you. It doesn’t bother me.”, he says. He said it doesn’t make sense for GGPoker to spend money enforcing restrictions on players trying to access the site via VPN.
