States Where Online Gambling Is Illegal\n\n As we mentioned, gambling in all forms is currently illegal in Utah and Hawaii, and that's unlikely to change. But there are several states where online gambling remains illegal while in-person gambling is allowed.

Basically, not all states allow online poker to be played within their borders. However, due to US federal law (The Wire Act) that prohibits moving funds for gambling of any type over state lines, all the players in a poker game must be within the state.