ClubGG Poker is an innovative free-to-play app that allows players to enjoy legal online poker in the US. Players can establish poker clubs, craft personalized games for friends, and have a chance of winning entry to the WSOP main event.
In our ClubGG Poker review, we assess its diversity of tournaments, explore its subscription services and much more. Continue reading to uncover all the essential information about ClubGG Poker.
An Overview of ClubGG
Here is a brief overview of ClubGG, including who owns it, when it was established, and our ranking score.
Established | 2021 |
---|---|
License | Not needed |
Owned by | NSUS Group inc |
Device Compatibility | Windows, macOS, iOS & Android |
Games | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 6+ (short deck) |
Poker Network | GGPoker Network |
Min. Deposit | N/A |
Payout Speed | N/A |
ReadWrite Rank | 8.6/10 |
What Exactly is ClubGG?
ClubGG Poker is not a traditional real-money poker site where you make deposits and play cash or tournament games for real money. Instead, it’s a state-of-the-art free-to-play poker app with two operational models: its club system and sweepstakes model.
The club system allows players to create their own private ClubGG Poker club and run ring games, sit-and-go tournaments, or multi-table tournaments to win Play Chips. All the games are fully customizable and Texas Hold’em, Omaha and 6+ Short Deck are the available poker variants at the time of writing. Creating your club and playing at your friend’s club is 100% free.
The sweepstakes model is a paid subscription service that allows players to compete in exclusive tournaments and the World Series of Poker satellites. Players can also earn virtual currency known as L$, which we explain in more detail later in this article.
Despite the site not directly offering cash games, you can find games at ClubGG for real money. These games are not provided directly by the site but are merely hosted using the site’s club software. You can find various ClubGG club IDs that provide real money games on poker forums and social media sites. However, it’s important to keep in mind that ClubGG is not responsible for any real money transactions at these clubs, and players participate at their own risk.
Over $200,000 worth of Ticket Prizes every month.
- Create your own personalized tournaments & play with friends
- $1,000,000 prize for any GG Qualifier who wins a WSOP main event
- Platinum members receive loyalty rewards, bubble protection & more
Is ClubGG Poker Legal in the US?
ClubGG Poker is the sister site of GGPoker, one of the top offshore poker sites in the world. Unfortunately, access to GGPoker in the USA is largely restricted as it offers real-money games and does not hold a US gaming license. However, ClubGG Poker is legal and available to play in almost every US state.
This is because it’s technically a free-to-play site with no way of accepting direct deposits, meaning it is not considered gambling. This is why it does not need a gaming license. Instead, it operates under sweepstakes laws. Although it does not hold a gaming license, it is still 100% legit and it is BMM Testlabs certified, guaranteeing the randomness of its RNG.
Pros and Cons of Playing ClubGG Poker
Running a poker game with friends on your own ClubGG Poker club is convenient and eliminates many obstacles. The monthly paid subscription allows unlimited tournament entries, easing bankroll concerns and helping those with gambling issues.
However, the platinum membership fee may deter casual players, and real-money games are only available through private clubs, with no support from ClubGG for transaction issues.
Pros
- Easy to manage poker bankroll
- Promotes responsible gambling
- Legal to play in almost every US state
- Conveniently play games with friends for free
- Get entry into prestigious poker tournaments like the WSOP
Cons
- Requires paid membership to play in stages 2 and 3
- No real money games directly hosted by ClubGG Poker
ClubGG Rakeback & its Structure 9/10
There is no ClubGG rakeback offer because players don’t deposit or use real money to play the games. However, certain clubs hosted on the platform that play real-money games do offer rakeback schemes. But because the rakeback has nothing to do with ClubGG itself, the amount and structure of the rakeback will differ from club to club.
ClubGG Table Games & Traffic 10/10
There’s plenty of traffic for the satellite and L$ tournaments that ClubGG directly hosts and big tournaments have hundreds or even thousands of participants. Traffic at individual ClubGG clubs varies significantly, but big clubs have thousands of members, host regular tournaments, and have ring games running around the clock.
Bonuses & Promotions at ClubGG 9.8/10
Players using ClubGG’s free subscription service do not get any sort of bonus or promotion, but if you have a paid standard or platinum subscription, you get a 20% discount in the store. In addition, users who sign up for the Platinum subscription are awarded tiered loyalty bonuses in the form of final-stage tickets.
You can also use the site’s Refer-a-Friend program to increase your chances of winning a ticket to the WSOP. If your friend uses your unique ClubGG referral code when they sign up and become a new member, you will receive extra chips that qualify you to take part in the special Vegas Crew WSOP satellite tournament.
Live Poker Tournaments at ClubGG Poker in the US 10/10
With a paid subscription, patrons at ClubGG Poker in the USA can win entry or trade in L$ to gain access to various high-profile live tournaments. You can find all the available tournaments by clicking on the live event tab at the bottom of the ClubGG app home screen.
You can also find Destination Rungood tournaments in the USA, as well as World Series of Poker tournaments. If you are prepared to travel further afield, Asian Poker Tour and Dusk Till Dawn tournament tickets are also available.
WSOP Main Event & Stages 10/10
The World Series of Poker Main Event is the most prestigious poker event in the world. Held annually in Las Vegas, the WSOP sees thousands of players compete for millions of dollars and the highly sought-after WSOP bracelet.
The 2023 WSOP $10,000 NLH main event smashed records for the largest attendance, with over 10,000 players taking part. This increased attendance also saw the biggest-ever prize pool of over $93,000,000, with the winner, Daniel Weinman, taking home another record-breaking $12,100,000 first-place prize.
ClubGG Poker offered 91 paid packages to the WSOP 2024 main event, and to be one of the lucky winners, you must have completed three stages of tournaments.
The schedule followed for the tournaments is displayed in the table below. Note that although this specific event has already ended, ClubGG hosts these annually and the overall process to winning paid packages to the WSOP events is similar each year.
Day | ET | PT | UTC | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monday | 19:00 | 16:00 | 23:00 | PLO – Road to Vegas 1 WSOP Package. + L$1,000 GTD |
Wednesday | 19:00 | 16:00 | 23:00 | [6-Max] – Road to Vegas 1 WSOP Package. + L$1,000 GTD |
Thursday | 17:00 | 12:00 | 19:00 | Deepstack – Road to Vegas 1 WSOP Package. + L$1,000 GTD |
Friday | 19:00 | 16:00 | 23:00 | [7-Max] – Road to Vegas 1 WSOP Package. + L$1,000 GTD |
Saturday | 17:00 | 14:00 | 21:00 | NLH – Road to Vegas 1 WSOP Package. + L$1,000 GTD |
Sunday | 17:00 | 14:00 | 21:00 | PKO – Road to Vegas 2 WSOP Package. + L$3,000 GTD |
The Difference Between Playing With Live Dollars & Play Chips
If you upgrade your account and have a paid membership account at ClubGG Poker, you can win Live Dollars (L$) when playing in tournaments.
L$ is still not real money that you can withdraw directly into your bank account, but it does have value. Patrons can exchange their L$ for a variety of rewards. If you are a member of their real money sister site GGPoker account, you can redeem your club L$ into money to enter GGPoker tournaments with real money prize pools.
In addition to online tournaments, you can cash in your L$ to enter in-person tournaments in the USA and Asia. If you live in an area where you can’t access GGpoker or cannot attend any of the live events, you can exchange your $L for Amazon gift cards or cryptocurrency.
How to Create the Best ClubGG Poker Clubs
ClubGG Poker Clubs is one of the site’s highlights. This free feature requires no paid membership and allows users to set up their own club and create their own ring games and tournaments for friends.
Games are highly customizable and come with many options, so you can produce the exact type and style of poker game you want. Below, we look at some of your choices when setting up your ring game or tournament.
ClubGG Ring Games
Ring games, also known as cash games or live-action games, are non-tournament poker games. In ring games, players don’t necessarily start with the same number of chips, but there is a minimum and maximum buy-in limit. When played for real money, the chips in ring games have real monetary value, so a $1 chip is worth $1.
In addition to the standard game settings below, users can choose to add additional features, including a bad beat jackpot, bomb pot, double board all-in insurance and run it multiple times.
- Set Table Name: Choose any name (max 20 characters).
- Table Size: 2-9 players.
- Time Bank: 0 to 60 seconds. You can also set an additional time bank after 10,20 or 30 hands.
- Action Time: 13, 15, 18, 20 or 25 seconds.
- Buy In: 0.40 – 60,000.
- Blinds: Micro, low, medium, and high blinds are available, ranging from 0.01/0.02 to 1,000/2,000.
- Payout structure: 10%, 12%, 15%, 20%.
- Ante: Depending on the blind level, antes can be set from 0.1BB to 4BB.
ClubGG Tournaments
In tournament games, players pay a buy-in fee and are given a set amount of chips. All players start with the same number of chips, which do not have real money value. For example, You can pay a $1 buy-in and receive 1,500 chips.
Players are knocked out when they have no chips remaining and the tournament ends when only one player remains. In addition to the basic tournament settings listed below, you can add bounties, make it a satellite tournament, and set break times.
- Create Tournament Name: Choose any name (max 20 characters)
- Min/Max Player Limits: 5-10,000
- Table Size: 2-9 players
- Time Bank: 0 to 60 seconds. You can also set an additional time bank after 10,20 or 30 hands.
- Action Time: 13, 15, 18, 20 or 25 seconds
- Late Registration Setting: 10-120 minutes.
- Blind Setting: Slow, Standard, Turbo, and Hyper
- Starting Chips Requirement: 1,000-100,000 (in increments of 1,000).
Comparing ClubGG’s Subscriptions
Downloading the ClubGG poker client, setting up your own club, and running your own ring games and tournaments within your club are completely free. In addition to the free subscription, the site also provides two paid subscription levels: the standard ($9.99 a month) and the Platinum ($49.99) a month.
The two paid subscriptions offer great perks that enhance your poker-playing experience, such as loyalty bonuses, additional game and software features, the live dollars feature, and increased access to WSOP satellites.
The site has also recently added casino games for paid subscribers. Currently, slot games are mostly available, but other games like video poker, blackjack, and roulette are likely to be added soon.
Benefits | Free Subscription | Standard Subscription | Platinum Subscription |
---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Access | ❌ | Once a day | Unlimited |
Loyalty Bonus | ❌ | ❌ | Tiered Rewards |
Final Stage Re-Entry | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
GG Class | ❌ | Free | Free |
GG Store | ❌ | 20% Discount | 20% Discount |
Rabbit Hunt | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Splash | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
River Card Squeeze | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
NFT/Custom Avatar | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
ClubGG Poker Client 10/10
The software is developed by its sister site, GGPoker, and it’s easy to tell why this is the most popular poker network in the world. It’s easy to navigate, with menus clearly displayed at the bottom of the home screen.
The create-your-own club and the game customization features are smooth and straightforward and take no time at all. You have complete control over the ring games and tournaments you set up, and the creation menu is straightforward.
In-game, the software is responsive and runs seamlessly, with several useful features. One of them is the ability to add color-coded labels to players and notes about them just by clicking on their avatar. You can also view hand history, current tournament info, and the tournament lobby with just one simple click, and all of these features will allow you to implement your poker strategy more effectively.
ClubGG Banking Options 9.8/10
As previously stated, ClubGG is a free-to-play platform and cannot accept deposits. However, it provides a paid subscription service and the ability to purchase diamonds (which can increase your club’s capacity).
If you wish to do either of these two things, you can pay for them through whatever method you have linked to your Apple store account or Google Play store if you are playing on your phone or a Mac. If you are playing on the Windows app, Visa and Mastercard are the available options.
ClubGG User Experience 9.9/10
Whether you are a seasoned pro or a complete newcomer to the game, ClubbGG poker provides a flawless user experience. Sign-up is simple and navigating the ClubGG downloadable client is responsive and user-friendly no matter what device you are using.
The platinum subscription service provides the best user experience. In addition to the loyalty rewards and access to WSOP satellites, you also get some nifty extra features that enhance your gameplay. One example is the “Splash” feature, which allows you to virtually splash other players with water, eggs, smoke, or give them a few jabs with boxing gloves. You can also set an NFT as your avatar as a platinum member.
ClubGG Poker App 9.8/10
There are native downloadable apps for iOS and Android devices. The ClubGG poker app can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple and Google Play stores. The app is played in portrait mode, which is very convenient when playing on a cell phone. However, it can be a bit awkward if you choose to use a tablet.
The graphics look crisp and clean on the small screen. The blind levels, the total prize, the number of players, and your current position are displayed on the table. They are always visible. Thus, eliminating unnecessary tabs cluttering up your screen.
Customer Support at ClubGG 9.9/10
The comprehensive FAQ section answers most queries you are likely to have. If you can’t find the information you need to contact someone, the only option directly from the site is email, which is a bit of a drawback.
However, response times are fast for emails, and an agent answered all of our messages within two hours. In addition, users can utilize the site’s social media profiles on Facebook and Twitter to make contact with representatives.
What We Have to Say About ClubGG Poker
As you’ve seen from our ClubGG review, the site has a lot to offer. The paid subscription service allows players to compete in some of the biggest live poker tournaments in the world without having to pay the often high buy-in fees. Plus, the L$ you earn from tournaments can be exchanged for a variety of rewards.
What’s more, creating your own ClubGG Poker makes playing games with your friends more convenient than ever before. So, in our opinion, if you are interested in poker, this is a must-have app, especially as it’s free to download and use the club feature.
Over $200,000 worth of Ticket Prizes every month.
- Create your own personalized tournaments & play with friends
- $1,000,000 prize for any GG Qualifier who wins a WSOP main event
- Platinum members receive loyalty rewards, bubble protection & more
FAQs
Can you play for real money on ClubGG?
Is ClubGG legit?
Is ClubGG the same as GGPoker?
How much can you withdraw from GGPoker?
Is ClubGG’s membership worth it?
Responsible Gambling
Responsible gambling is essential whenever engaging in activities like poker. While most individuals can manage their gambling habits effectively, others may develop addiction issues. Problem gambling can profoundly affect finances, mental well-being, and relationships with loved ones.
If you suspect you or someone you know has a gambling problem, it’s vital that you seek assistance from professionals. We have included some resources below that can help you:
- NCPC: Provides a national gambling helpline and can connect you with resources in your local area.
- Gamblers Anonymous: Offers local helplines plus in-person and virtual anonymous meetings.
- GamTalk: 24/7 chat service operated by professionals.