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Read on and learn about the biggest poker tournaments in the Last Frontier State
Alaska’s laws regarding poker and gambling in general may be outdated, but they’re still in effect. According to them, poker is considered a game of chance, and all games of this type are illegal in the Last Frontier.
Therefore, it’s safe to say that there are no official poker tournaments in Alaska. The only land-based option is to play home games, where no rake is collected. However, if you want to participate in real money tournaments, you will have to seek an alternative — online poker.
There are plenty of great online poker sites licensed by offshore regulators that offer their services in AK. Unsurprisingly, playing poker on these platforms isn’t 100% legal, but there are no recorded cases of anyone being prosecuted for playing it online. Still, since it is not fully regulated, make sure to proceed with caution.
Let’s cover the available options for Alaskan poker players interested in playing in tournaments. Read on.
Land-based poker tournaments do not exist in Alaska, and there are no state-licensed online poker services. You can find some decent offshore sites, though — however, before choosing the one that suits you best, make sure it meets all your requirements.
According to Alaska Code, section 11.66.200, et. seq., engaging in unlawful gambling activities, including poker, is considered a violation the first time and a class B misdemeanor for the second and every subsequent offense.
Class B misdemeanors are more serious than violations but are still relatively minor compared to other misdemeanors. You could be sentenced to a maximum of 90 days in prison and fined up to $2,000 for these offenses. (Alaska Stat. § § 12.55.035, 12.55.135.).
Violations are not punishable by jail time, and the fines are usually up to $500.
Since there are no laws pertaining to online poker exclusively, we have to apply the existing ones and view all poker activities as illegal.
Now, there are some things you should consider that may make it easier for you to decide whether joining an offshore online poker room is a good idea.
First, as mentioned in the introduction, there are no recorded instances of Alaskan poker players being prosecuted for enjoying poker online. Does that mean you’re free to play online poker tournaments? Kind of, but we still advise you to consult a lawyer in order to assess if joining a poker site is worth the risk.
Unfortunately, some poker sites might not offer favorable conditions to Alaskan players — in fact, they may even have shady business practices. That is why you should refer to our list of fair and trustworthy options if you decide to register on an offshore platform. We have reviewed dozens of poker sites, so we advise you to read our impressions first and learn which platforms are the best fit for you.
No land-based poker options are available. AK residents can only enjoy pull-tab games and bingo in land-based properties. Betting on dog mushing is also available, as it has a long tradition and history in Alaska.
Even though the poker scene is limited in the state, some players managed to master it and make a living playing it. One such example is Adam Hendrix, who comes from Anchorage. According to The Hendon Mob, Hendrix has made $3.8 million in live poker earnings to date. He won his first poker cash in 2016 and has managed to collect several six-figure prizes since then. The largest one so far amounted to $384,231, when he finished a runner-up at the EPT Barcelona — € 1,100 No Limit Hold’em – EPT National (Event #6). His second-largest payout is also his most significant tournament win, achieved during the Wynn Summer Classic in Las Vegas, when Hendrix topped the $1,600 No Limit Holdem for $257,885.
Despite earning less money than Hendrix, Perry Green from Fairbanks, AK, is definitely the most popular Alaskan player. Green is a poker veteran with more than $1.1 million in live poker earnings. He finished second at the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship (part of the 1981 WSOP), earning a total of $150,000. This remains his largest prize to date.
Finally, we should also mention Sean Berrios, who topped the $1,675 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event, which was part of a 2015 WSOP Circuit stop in Vegas. He took home a WSOPC ring and $347,192. Berrios currently holds third place on the Alaskan all-time money list, with a total of $762,261 earned at live poker tournaments.
Each online poker platform listed on our site allows Alaskan players to participate in its tournaments if they have an account. If you are new to this, here’s what you need to do:
Feel free to examine all available options on our platform. You should select the perfect website based on your tournament preferences. Bear in mind that all featured options are checked for fairness and trustworthiness.
The sign-up process is almost identical for all offshore sites. First, you must find the registration button and fill out the form with the required details, such as your email, password, name, and more.
Please note that offshore platforms do not require you to enter your Social Security number (or any of its parts). On the other hand, on state-licensed poker platforms, players must provide their home address and the last four digits of their SSN to identify themselves.
Click on the verification link in the email you have received. Then, you will be able to log in using your credentials. You might have to verify your identity and age by uploading the requested documents.
Usually, the next step is to fund your account. Pick one of the accepted payment methods, but pay attention to the minimum and maximum betting limits. To avoid using traditional payment options, you should pick a platform that accepts cryptocurrencies.
Many poker platforms offer rewards for newcomers who decide to make a deposit. Make sure to learn how to claim the welcome offer and kickstart your online poker journey on the right foot.
Almost all featured online casinos offer ongoing daily, weekly, and monthly tournaments, in addition to a range of special contests, Sit & Go’s, and more. It’s up to you to carefully examine available options and pick a tournament that fits your budget and preferences.
There aren’t any casinos in Alaska, let alone those that feature poker tournaments. You will have to settle for pull tabs and bingo if you want to enjoy land-based gambling in AK.
Since there are no poker rooms in Alaska, no land-based tournaments are available. Therefore, we cannot provide any information on this.
On the other hand, every offshore poker site available in AK has its own tournament schedule that you should check out before registering.
Kindly be aware that some links on Top 10 Poker Sites are affiliate links, for which we may earn a commission. Find out more on our terms & conditions
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To sum up, Alaska doesn’t offer much in terms of poker tournaments. This game is illegal, and so is engaging in unlawful gambling activities.
The only way to access tournaments is via offshore poker platforms that are available in AK, but you should still be careful, as it’s prohibited.
No, there aren’t any state-licensed poker sites offering tournaments. You can only register for the ones hosted by offshore sites.
Technically speaking, it’s illegal to take part in any unlawful gambling activities, including poker. However, nobody has been prosecuted for joining offshore poker sites.
There are plenty of great offshore options, most of which are featured on this platform. Feel free to read the reviews and pick the one that suits you best.
Unfortunately, given the absence of any serious initiative, it’s improbable that Alaska will legalize online poker or casinos any time soon. Still, since many other states have already passed laws allowing sports betting, Alaska lawmakers will likely do the same in the future.