Americas Cardroom review

Our Complete Review of Americas Cardroom

Americas Cardroom is an online poker room that operates on the Winning Poker Network. Founded in 2001, it is one of the oldest online rooms still spreading games today. It offers a wide range of game formats at different limits, so whatever type of poker game you are looking for, you can be sure to find one on Americas Cardroom. It accepts players from all around the world and, as a result, is one of the most popular online poker rooms today.

Ever since the Black Friday shutdown in 2011, Americas Cardroom has served the American players left without a place to play, and it remains the most popular site for US poker players. For the average poker player in the US looking for an online game, Americas Cardroom is going to be one of the best choices.

Software

If you have played on Americas Cardroom before, you may be aware of some past software bugs and issues. Worry no more: a new, updated software platform was released in 2019 and seems to be working out great so far. The lobby is well designed and easy to navigate to your favorite games. There is minimal promotion in the main lobby, other than some small images at the bottom.

The software also boasts some other great features, such as:

• Blitz Poker
• Dynamic Avatars
• Auto Top Off
• Preferred Seating
• Bet Sizing Buttons
• Synchronized Tournament Breaks
• Jackpot Sit & Go's
• CAP Tables
• 6 Max / Full Ring

Another great thing about the Americas Cardroom software is that it's compatible with all sorts of devices, including Windows computers, Apple computers, iPads, iPhones, and Android phones and tablets. The one operating system where you may run into issues is Linux, but if you use Linux you're probably smart enough to figure something out.

Player Traffic

When the Black Friday shutdown happened in 2011, a lot of American poker players were left wondering where they could play next. Luckily for them, there was Americas Cardroom, which quickly became one of the largest online poker rooms serving US customers. Compared with all the other US-serving sites, Americas Cardroom usually has the most traffic. At peak hours you can expect to see upwards of a couple thousand players online.

NLH and PLO cash games run pretty regularly all the way up to mid-stakes, with the higher stakes running at a decent frequency. The limit games are hit or miss, with most of them played at the smaller stakes.

Games Spread

Americas Cardroom runs cash games, multi-table tournaments, sit & go tournaments, and jackpot sit & go tournaments. Games run around the clock, so you can always find a game to your liking.

Big Tournament Guarantees

For all you tournament players out there, Americas Cardroom has you covered with a full schedule and big guarantees. Most notably, it is home of The Venom, a $6,000,000 guaranteed tournament that took place in December 2019, with the winner taking home $1,039,982.

Here are some more tournament highlights from Americas Cardroom:

• More than $3.8 million in weekly guarantees
• Daily $530 buy-in high roller event
• Daily $215 buy-in, $25K guaranteed event
• $150,000 guaranteed Sunday warm-up
• $200,000 guaranteed Sunday special
• Freezeouts

Real Money Banking Options

There are numerous banking options available to get your money on and off Americas Cardroom. Here are some of the most popular methods.

Americas Cardroom Deposit Options for US Players

• Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency: All players may deposit with Bitcoin or one of the 60 other accepted cryptocurrencies. The minimum deposit is $10 and the maximum is $25,000. Cryptocurrency is anonymous and is the method we recommend most.
• Credit/Debit Cards: Players can also deposit with a credit or debit card. At the time of writing, Americas Cardroom accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. The one caveat is that the transaction may not be approved by your bank or card issuer. The minimum card deposit is $48, and the maximum is $2,000 for Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, with Discover limited to $1,000.
• Money Transfer: Players can also deposit through a money transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram. The minimum is $50 and the maximum is $500. These services charge fees, so we only recommend this method if all other options are unavailable.
• Player to Player Transfer: The last way to get money onto the site is to have another player transfer funds from their account to yours. You may have a friend who plays online and could give them cash in exchange for player funds, or you could visit one of the online marketplaces, like the one on 2+2, and find someone selling player funds. If you go this route, always make sure the person you are trading with has an excellent reputation and is someone you feel safe dealing with.

Americas Cardroom Withdrawal Options for US Players

• Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency: The quickest and most efficient way to withdraw your winnings from Americas Cardroom is Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency. The minimum withdrawal is $50 and the maximum is $25,000. Bitcoin and crypto withdrawals usually arrive within 48 hours, but that isn't guaranteed, and I have personally had them take 4 days.
• Money Transfer: Players can also receive a withdrawal via money transfer. There is a $100 minimum and a $350 maximum. Fees are very high on this method, so we don't recommend it unless you have no other choice.
• Check in the Mail: Some players may be able to receive a check in the mail. There is a $100 minimum and a $3,000 maximum. Players may request one check per week, and the first check every 30 days is free; additional checks in that 30-day period cost $65. This is another method we don't recommend unless you have no other options. Your bank may have trouble cashing the check or place an extended hold on it, and in some rare cases bank accounts have even been closed for cashing a check from online gambling.
• Player to Player Transfer: If you need your winnings quickly, you can sell some of your player funds to another player, such as a friend or someone from an online marketplace like 2+2. You can usually find a buyer who will send you money via a service like Zelle, and you then send them the funds from your player account. As always, do your due diligence on the person and make sure you feel comfortable with the trade. Once you send money from your player account, it is hard to get back if anything goes wrong.

Withdrawals are processed Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm central time.

Sign-Up Bonus

If you are a new player on Americas Cardroom, there is an excellent sign-up bonus waiting for you: a 100% match on your initial deposit up to $1,000. If you use cryptocurrency to make your deposit, you receive a 200% match on your initial deposit. The bonus is released at $1 for every 27.5 points you generate.

In addition to the match bonus, there are 20 days of free cash where you can win up to $50. Log in once a day, head to Rewards > Special Offers > $50 Free Cash, and pick a card to redeem your cash. The cards are only available for the first 20 days, and if you pick a card each day you will win $50.

To claim this bonus, click here (opens in a new tab) to sign up for an account and enter the code tbpsRB when you create your account.

Rewards & Promotions

One thing is for sure: Americas Cardroom has one of the best reward programs for players, along with great promotions. For rewards, players can choose between Elite Benefits, a VIP points program, or 27% rakeback. More information about each program is below.

Elite Benefits

The VIP points program is called "Elite Benefits," and it is usually the default reward program players are entered into when they sign up. There are different rankings based on the points you have earned, with numerous benefits available at each ranking. The main benefit is that you can trade your points for cash or tournament tickets, and as you move up the rankings you get better multipliers on your points.

Rakeback

Rakeback is a percentage back of the total rake you have paid. Americas Cardroom offers 27% rakeback, so if you paid $100 in rake, you would get $27 back. Rakeback can be claimed every 24 hours. To claim rakeback, you may have to contact Americas Cardroom and ask them to enable it on your account. Alternatively, sign up and enter the code tbpsRB and you will be enrolled in the rakeback program automatically.

Elite vs Rakeback

If you are unsure which rewards program is most beneficial for you, don't worry, we've got your back. We carefully calculated the rewards at the different levels and came to this conclusion: unless you are a serious player putting in lots of hours and hands, the 27% rakeback will be the most beneficial for you. To make more money with Elite Benefits, you have to reach the level of General, which requires clearing 100,000 Rank Points, the equivalent of $18,181 in rake paid. For most players this is simply unobtainable, so they should opt for the 27% rakeback.

Sit & Crush

Americas Cardroom is home to a weekly progressive Sit & Go points race. It runs each week from Saturday at 12:00am until the following Friday at 11:59pm EST. You get points for every entry into Sit & Go's, Jackpot Sit & Go's, and On Demand tournaments. Players can win cash prizes of up to $1,250 per week as well as tournament seats. For more information about Americas Cardroom Sit & Crush, click here (opens in a new tab).

The Beast

The Beast is the Americas Cardroom weekly progressive cash game race. It takes place each week from Saturday at 12:00am until the following Friday at 11:59pm EST. Every cash game table competes for The Beast, and there are no extra fees because the prize money is taken from the rake. Players have the opportunity to take home cash prizes up to $2,500 and tournament seats. To find out more about The Beast, click here (opens in a new tab).

Mobile

For players looking to play poker on the go, Americas Cardroom has you covered. You can log in to your account through the web browser on your phone and play right there. While you don't have the full game selection of the desktop client, you can still play Blitz cash games and Jackpot Sit & Go's. Mobile play is available on most modern smartphones, including iPhones and Android devices. To play, you need an internet connection; log in to your account and select the game you want. If you don't have an account, click here (opens in a new tab) to sign up and start playing on your phone. The sign-up bonus and rewards still apply to new accounts created through that link.

Safety & Security

That said, Americas Cardroom has been around since 2001, and while it has had some issues along the way, it has ALWAYS paid out its customers. For us, this is one of the most important things to consider when choosing an online poker site: there is no point playing on a site if you can't collect your winnings. Historically, Americas Cardroom has always paid, and usually very quickly. It claims that all player balances are kept separate from operating expenses, but unfortunately there is no way to substantiate this claim.

Americas Cardroom says it uses military-grade encryption on all its software and cashier systems, which could be why the site has never faced a major security breach. An on-staff security team constantly reviews hands and user behavior to detect malicious activity. If it detects bot accounts, it bans them and redistributes the funds to the accounts that played against the bot.

The site's RNG is certified by iTech Labs, an ISO/IEC 17025 certified testing laboratory for online gaming systems.

Customer Support

Americas Cardroom customer support could be better, but overall it's pretty solid. There are several ways to get in touch, including email, phone, and live chat. Emails are usually answered within 24 hours. Phone support is available 24/7, but you may find yourself on hold occasionally if they are busy or you call during off hours. Live chat is usually available 7am to 7pm and can be accessed from inside the poker client. Support can be hit or miss: sometimes they quickly solve your issue, and at other times they can be pretty unhelpful. Overall, though, they do a good job, and I have never had an important issue remain unresolved.

Conclusion

All in all, Americas Cardroom is one of the best choices for US players looking to play online poker. It has a solid sign-up bonus, an excellent rewards program, good traffic and game selection, and, most importantly, it always pays out and does so in a timely manner. From tournaments to cash games and Jackpot Sit & Go's, Americas Cardroom has a game at most stakes for most players. If you are a multi-tabling, HUD-using, 6-max cash game grinder, Americas Cardroom is for you. Sign up here (opens in a new tab) and get a 200% match bonus up to $1,000 when you deposit with cryptocurrency.

Frequently Asked Questions about Americas Cardroom

Is Americas Cardroom legit?

Even though it is not officially regulated in the United States, Americas Cardroom is legit. It has been in business since 2001, stayed in business after Black Friday in 2011, and has always paid out. While not perfect, it has one of the best reputations in the market among poker sites serving US players.

How is Americas Cardroom legal?

Depending on who you ask, you will get a wide range of answers about whether Americas Cardroom is legal. Let me save you the trouble: there are NO federal laws that prohibit a person from playing online poker in the United States. The state of Washington has a law that prohibits online gambling, but to date there has never been a case of anyone being prosecuted for playing online poker in the United States.

How can I deposit onto Americas Cardroom?

The best way to deposit onto Americas Cardroom is with a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. It's fast, free, safe, secure, and not tied to any of your personal bank accounts. You can also deposit with a debit or credit card like Visa, or use a money transfer service like Western Union. Card deposits do not always work and you pay a fee to use them. Money transfers take more time and also carry a fee.

Can US players play on Americas Cardroom?

Yes. Even though most Americans do not have access to regulated online poker, Americas Cardroom still allows them to play on its site.

How do I download Americas Cardroom?

To download the Americas Cardroom client, click the link here (opens in a new tab) and click the appropriate download button for Windows or Mac. Once it's downloaded, follow the installation instructions and set up your new account.

Does Americas Cardroom have a mobile app?

It does not have a standalone app, but it does offer mobile play through the web browser on your smartphone or tablet. It supports most newer iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.

How do I play Americas Cardroom on an iPad?

To play Americas Cardroom on your iPad, click the link here (opens in a new tab) and log in to your account. If you do not have an account, use the same link to sign up and you can be playing in minutes.

How do I install Americas Cardroom on a Mac?

Mac users can visit the Americas Cardroom site and click the "Mac Users Click Here To Download" button on the right side of the screen, then follow the installation instructions and set up a new account. Don't forget to use the code tbpsRB to receive a 100% match deposit bonus of up to $1,000.

Can I use a HUD on Americas Cardroom?

Yes. Americas Cardroom currently supports Poker Tracker 4, Holdem Manager 2 & 3, Drive HUD, and Hand2Note.

What games are offered on Americas Cardroom?

Americas Cardroom has one of the best game selections for US poker players.

Tournament players will find tournaments in various game formats with buy-ins ranging from $0.10 to $2,650.

Sit & Go players will find single-table and multi-table sit & go's in both NLH and PLO formats, with buy-ins ranging from $1.50 to $520.

Cash game players have a wide range of games to choose from.

No Limit Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha games are spread at the following blinds:

• 0.01/0.02
• 0.02/0.05
• 0.10/0.20
• 0.25/0.50
• 0.50/1
• 1/2
• 2/4
• 3/6
• 5/10
• 10/20
• 15/30
• 25/50
• 50/100

Limit Omaha games are spread at the following blinds:

• 0.02/0.04
• 0.05/0.10
• 0.10/0.20
• 0.25/0.50
• 0.50/1
• 1/2
• 2/4
• 3/6
• 5/10
• 10/20
• 15/30
• 20/40
• 30/60
• 40/80
• 75/150

Limit 7 Card Stud games are spread at the following blinds:

• 0.04/0.08
• 0.40/0.80
• 1/2
• 2/4
• 4/8
• 5/10
• 10/20
• 20/40
• 30/60
• 40/80

Americas Cardroom also offers Blitz Poker, its form of fast-fold poker. It runs as No Limit Hold'em at both 6-max and heads-up tables, at the following blinds:

• 0.05/0.10
• 0.10/0.25
• 0.25/0.50
• 0.50/1
• 1/2

Lastly, there are Jackpot Sit & Go tournaments. These are 3-handed, hyper-turbo, winner-take-all sit & go's where the prize is a random amount set by an RNG before the tournament starts. The most common prize is double the buy-in, but prizes go all the way up to 2,500x the buy-in, although those are VERY rare. Jackpot Sit & Go's are offered at the following stakes:

• $2: max prize of $5,000
• $10: max prize of $25,000
• $25: max prize of $62,500
• $40: max prize of $100,000

You can find out more about Jackpot Sit & Go's on Americas Cardroom by visiting this link (opens in a new tab).