Best Online Poker Sites in the UK for December 2024

With the best online poker sites in the UK, you can play cash games, take part in massive tournaments, and even have fun at the fast-fold tables. You can also claim large bonuses that allow you to play poker online with less stress. Let’s go over the top UK poker sites and find the best seat at the table.

The UK’s Best Online Poker Sites

No 1 Crypto Poker

150% Welcome Bonus up to $2,000

150% Welcome Bonus up to $2,000

  • Get 33% rakeback every Monday
  • Anonymous poker with easy registration
  • Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
10
5 Stars CoinPoker
PLAY NOW
Play Hi-Lo Stud

100% up to $2,000

100% up to $2,000

  • Blitz poker for speed and convenience
  • Seven card stud poker available
  • WPN network with solid player base
9.9
5 Stars Americas Card Room
PLAY NOW
WSOP Qualifiers

100% up to $2,000 Welcome Offer

100% up to $2,000 Welcome Offer

  • Seven card stud and 5 table PLO available
  • Winning poker network
  • Play with other US poker players from all non-regulated states
9.7
5 Stars Black Chip Poker
PLAY NOW
Play 7 Card Stud

Poker Bonus of 100% up to $2,000

Poker Bonus of 100% up to $2,000

  • Check players at tables with rail tickets
  • WPN - US friendly poker network
  • Step satellites for popular tournaments
9.5
5 Stars Ya Poker
PLAY NOW

UK Poker Sites Ranked by Traffic

Last Updated: December 15, 2024 at 8:24 am GMT
Poker Site 7 Day avg Online Cash 24 H Peak Last Week Play Now
PokerStars 1900 55540 977 3158 12429,12884,12046,12107,11915,11168,11198,11674,12187,11748,11458,11304,10515,10805
GGNetwork 10000 160656 9087 13297 3962,3960,3820,3674,3599,3284,3428,3571,3690,3683,4069,3989,3520,3802
888poker 325 149 669 1868,1921,1823,1857,1936,1726,1895,1802,2002,1848,1692,1705,1604,1669
PartyPoker 575 235 1120 3007,2816,2952,2933,2862,2566,2590,2865,2805,2731,2658,5003,2496,2805
iPoker 1600 1958 841 3008 1543,1611,1601,1580,1718,1512,1378,1430,1549,1494,1571,1683,1442,1401

Best UK Online Poker Sites for Beginners

With the best online poker sites in the UK now easily accessible, many players are interested in trying out some poker games. But, which are the best UK poker sites for beginners? These must support low stakes, have a user-friendly interface, and make it easy to deposit and withdraw funds.

Top recommendation: CoinPoker

CoinPoker is the best site for online poker in the UK where you can enjoy the game as a beginner. Cash game stakes start from $0.01/$0.02, making it the best for micro stakes. Plus, the traffic is really good here and you will find several tables running for no-limit Texas Hold’em that you can join for just $2.

Of course, if you are interested in slightly higher stakes, CoinPoker delivers a rich assortment of tables. The tournaments also follow a similar trend, and we found quite a few freerolls on the UK poker room. We also recommend the $1 Daily Dollar with a $200 guaranteed prize pool, a great tournament for checking out the action without breaking the bank.

No 1 Crypto Poker
  • Get 33% rakeback every Monday
  • Anonymous poker with easy registration
  • Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
10
5 Stars

Honourable mention: Black Chip Poker

Black Chip Poker is one of the best poker sites for UK players and it is very welcoming for beginners. While the client interface is a bit more difficult to navigate than CoinPoker, you will find a lot of tables for $0.01/$0.02 blinds. Texas Hold’em is the go-to option here but Omaha beginners will not be disappointed either.

Plus, Black Chip Poker has a slight banking advantage for newcomers since you can easily deposit with credit cards through the cashier. It maintains a high acceptance rate in the UK and you can play poker online right away after downloading the client for free.

Best UK Online Poker Sites for Experienced Players

The requirements for experienced poker players often include high traffic for bigger tournaments, great rakeback, a big poker bonus, fast withdrawals, and a poker client with the right features. So, which real money poker sites in the UK fit this description?

Top recommendation: CoinPoker

CoinPoker truly delivers the complete package across a range of stakes. It has the best poker bonus in the UK, giving new players a big incentive to join and deposit a significant amount. Plus, it also offers an industry-leading rakeback system where active players can claim 33% back on the rake they pay.

The extra funds will come in handy when browsing the many cash games for mid stakes. This is also the best UK poker site if you are interested in high stakes play and you can find quite a few players ready for $100/$200 heads-up.

Moreover, not only does CoinPoker have a busy schedule for tournaments, it also runs special series known as the Crypto Series of Poker (CSOP) that come with big guarantees across several levels.

No 1 Crypto Poker
  • Get 33% rakeback every Monday
  • Anonymous poker with easy registration
  • Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
10
5 Stars

Honourable mention: ACR Poker

ACR Poker remains a solid choice for serious online poker in the UK. It gets great traffic, so finding an active table with an open seat will not be an issue, no matter what stakes you prefer. It is also home of The Beast progressive jackpot race where you can earn extra rewards simply by playing poker and earning points.

The Jackpots Sit ’n Go events are worth mentioning here for experienced poker players in the UK. These are fast-paced events with three players available at $5, $15, and $50 buy-ins where the prize is determined randomly before the game starts and can go up to $1,000,000.

Best UK Poker Sites for Cash Games

Poker cash games are the most popular in the UK. The blinds remain the same and you can leave the table at any time. Plus, playing online poker in the UK comes with nice perks, like the option to multi-table, customize the layout, and more. If you are interested in the best poker sites for cash games, check out the following recommendations.

Top recommendation: ACR Poker

The overall best UK poker site for cash games is ACR Poker. It covers multiple variants of the game across a range of stakes. You will find tables for Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha H/L, 5-Card Omaha, 5-Card Omaha H/L, 7-Card Stud, and 7-Card Stud H/L.

Plus, there are standard cash games, all-in or fold, short stacked, bomb pot, and more. You will also find quite a few cash tables that are “7 Day No Rathole”. This means that players can only join the same table within seven days by using the same amount they had when they left the table. The feature is meant to prevent players from winning a big pot and then leaving the table only to come back with the standard table buy-in.

Play Hi-Lo Stud
  • Blitz poker for speed and convenience
  • Seven card stud poker available
  • WPN network with solid player base
9.9
5 Stars

Honourable mention: CoinPoker

Although CoinPoker has fewer game variations, its online poker UK cash games section is always buzzing. The main options are for no-limit Hold’em and pot-limit Omaha, with 5-Card Omaha also being available for cash games. Ante cash tables are quite popular at CoinPoker UK and you will also find tables with a maximum of four players.

One of the special types of cash games found here are known as Show Hole Cards tables. As the name suggests, all live hole cards are automatically revealed at the end of the hand. The option to muck the hand is not available.

Best UK Poker Sites for Tournaments

Poker tournaments can provide a big payout from a small buy-in, but they require different skills than the ones for cash games. This can make them more exciting and a busy schedule is a must for serious tournament players as choosing the right events is a crucial part for the best results. As a result, the best poker sites for tournaments in the UK must meet specific criteria.

Top recommendation: CoinPoker

The tournament offering at CoinPoker is hard to beat. As one of the best poker sites in the UK, CoinPoker gets great traffic and this results in big tournaments at all stakes. The operator also makes sure to offer a variety of events with special features and modifiers. In addition to the standard formats, you will also find loads of satellites, turbo and hyper turbo tournaments, knockout bounty events, rebuy, add-on, and more.

Furthermore, CoinPoker is the only site for real money online poker in the UK where you can directly buy packages for live tournaments. These include tournaments in major series in the UK and Ireland. You can also check out the qualifiers for the chance to win live poker packages for cheaper by playing online.

No 1 Crypto Poker
  • Get 33% rakeback every Monday
  • Anonymous poker with easy registration
  • Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
10
5 Stars

Honourable mention: Black Chip Poker

Black Chip Poker offers more than $12 million in weekly guarantees, making it a top site for online poker tournaments in the United Kingdom. We like the fact that it provides good action every day of the week, but the weekend is clearly the busiest based on the schedule.

Special events on the Winning Poker Network include the $10 million GTD Venom tournament that takes place twice a year, the Online Super Series Cub3d that is made out of three series with hundreds of events for buy-ins at all stake levels, and the Million Dollar Sundays that has a lot of satellites.

Best Poker Sites in the UK for Bonuses and Rakeback

The bonuses and promotions can make a big difference when playing online poker for real money in the UK. You can earn more when you deposit, claim rakeback as you are playing, and even take part in special promotions that can have cash rewards. If you are looking for the best websites for poker in the UK that have awesome bonuses, we have the best picks.

Top recommendation: CoinPoker

The welcome bonus at CoinPoker provides the most value for real money UK online poker. British players can benefit from a significant boost when making a first deposit and the maximum limit ensures that even high rollers can take advantage of this deal. Like with other UK poker bonuses, the CoinPoker welcome offer is released in 10% instalments as you pay rake.

Speaking of rake, the 33% rakeback offer at CoinPoker is also above the industry norm. This is awarded every week and you just have to have some CHP in the account to qualify. Other promotions at CoinPoker UK include daily leaderboards for Omaha and Hold’em that each come with $1,000 prize pools, a monthly tournament leaderboard worth $10,000, and more. There is even a Bad Beat Jackpot for all stakes.

No 1 Crypto Poker
  • Get 33% rakeback every Monday
  • Anonymous poker with easy registration
  • Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
10
5 Stars

Honourable mention: ACR Poker

ACR Poker has its fair share of poker bonuses and promotions for players in the UK. It starts with a matching bonus on the first deposit and continues with weekly reload bonuses. The other promotional highlights on the network include the progressive races – The Beast, Daily Double, and Sit & Crush.

Comparing the Best Online Poker Rooms in the UK

Compare the top UK poker sites and see which have the best bonuses, what games they offer, and even if they have fast-fold poker games.

UK Poker SiteWelcome BonusRakebackPoker GamesFast Fold PokerTournaments
CoinPoker150% bonus match up to $2,00033%Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Omaha 5N/ATournament Series, SNG, PKO, Jackpot SNG (Cosmic Spins), Qualifiers and Satellites, Live Tournament Buy-in
ACR Poker100% bonus match up to $2,00027%Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Omaha 5, Seven Card StudBlitz PokerTournament Series, SNG, PKO, Jackpot SNGs, Qualifiers and Satellites, Live Qualifiers
Black Chip Poker100% bonus match up to $2,00027%Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Omaha 5, Seven Card StudBlitz PokerTournament Series, SNG, PKO, Jackpot SNGs, Qualifiers and Satellites, Live Qualifiers
Ya Poker100% bonus match up to $2,00027%Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Omaha 5, Seven Card StudBlitz PokerTournament Series, SNG, PKO, Jackpot SNGs, Qualifiers and Satellites Live Qualifiers

Top UK Online Poker Sites Reviewed

 

To find out more details regarding the best sites for online poker in the UK, we will go into in-depth reviews for each brand. This way, you can compare offerings and see which one best fits your requirements.

1. CoinPoker – Best UK Online Poker Site in 2024

🌐 Poker Site: CoinPoker.com

✔ Established: 2017

📃 License: Curacao eGaming

🌎 Poker Network: Independent

💻 Desktop Client: Free Download

📱 Mobile Poker: iOS App, Android App

💵 Deposit Methods: USDT, BTC, CHP, ETH, MATIC, BNB, Deposit from Exchange

💸 Deposit Fees: None

⏱ Deposit Timeframe: Instant

💰 Withdrawal Methods: USDT, BTC, ETH, MATIC, BNB

💸 Withdrawal Fees: $0-$10

⏱ Withdrawal Timeframe: 2-12 hours

Texas Hold’em Cash: $0.02/$0.05 – $1,000/$2,000

Omaha Cash: $0.02/$0.05 – $1,000/$2,000

5 Card Omaha Cash: $0.02/$0.05 – $500/$1,000

Tournaments Buy-In: $0 – $5,000

SNG Buy-In: $0.25 – $100

Live Chat: No

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @CoinPoker_OFF

CoinPoker - UK Poker Sites

Overall UK Poker Site Rating: 10/10

CoinPoker is the best site in the UK for poker online for real money. It uses a decentralised random number generator (RNG) to ensure that every shuffle is random. This makes the games fair and actually better than the live poker games in London. Moreover, the poker client is user-friendly and you can easily navigate the lobby on a desktop computer or on your mobile as Coinpoker has one of the best online poker apps around.

Inside, you will find cash games at all stakes, tournaments of various sizes, special events and even live buy-ins, and jackpot sit and go events called Cosmic Spins. CoinPoker offers games across Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and 5-Card Omaha. Traffic is solid from stakes starting from just $0.01/$0.02 and going all the way up to $1,000/$2,000 blinds.

Banking is only done through cryptocurrencies, while the displayed currency for the table is USDT to make it more familiar for all players. You can deposit via major coins and also from an exchange. The welcome bonus is applied automatically and so you won’t need to worry about any promo codes. When we did our CoinPoker review, withdrawals only took around 10 minutes to process.

Pros

  • Easy to access from anywhere in the UK
  • Instant deposits and fast withdrawals
  • Great action across all stake levels
  • Exclusive series of tournaments every year

Cons

  • Lack of fast-fold poker options online
  • Limited help section on the site
No 1 Crypto Poker
  • Get 33% rakeback every Monday
  • Anonymous poker with easy registration
  • Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
10
5 Stars

2. ACR Poker – The Flagship Poker Site of the Winning Poker Network

🌐 Poker Site: AmericasCardroom.eu

✔ Established: 2001

📃 License: Curacao eGaming

🌎 Poker Network: Winning Poker Network

💻 Desktop Client: Free Download

📱 Mobile Poker: Android App

💵 Deposit Methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, BTC, LTC, ETH, USDT

💸 Deposit Fees: None

⏱ Deposit Timeframe: Instant

💰 Withdrawal Methods: BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, Check

💸 Withdrawal Fees: None for crypto, $55 for check

⏱ Withdrawal Timeframe: 1-3 business days

Texas Hold’em Cash: $0.02/$0.05 – $5,000/$10,000

Omaha Cash: $0.01/$0.02 – $200/$400

Blitz Poker: $0.05/$0.10- $5/$10

Tournaments Buy-In: $0 – $2,500

SNG Buy-In: $0.50 – $200

Live Chat: Yes (virtual assistant)

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @ACR_POKER

ACR Poker - UK Poker Sites

Overall UK Poker Site Rating: 9.8/10

Americas Cardroom, also known as ACR Poker, is also popular across the pond. In fact, it is one of the best poker sites for real money for UK players. The software is available by free download for Windows, MacOS, and Android. After a quick installation, the lobby will present a variety of options, which can be a bit overwhelming at first.

The good news is that you can use the filter options to only view the available cash tables for your preferred game and stakes. In addition to Hold’em and Omaha, ACR Poker also has a few tables for Seven Card Stud, which is a great alternative for playing poker online in the UK.

One highlight here is that ACR Poker offers staking, which allows you to buy a portion of another player’s buy-in for a tournament or sell a part of yours. By buying a stake in another player, you receive a percentage of the payout if they make it into the money for that tournament. With several ACR pros and experienced players on the website, staking can be a good way to earn money without even playing.

Pros

  • Fast-fold poker games known as Blitz
  • Long list of tournaments available weekly
  • Can deposit with cards and cryptocurrencies
  • Extra races for cash games, tournaments, and SNG

Cons

  • Doesn’t have an online poker app for iPhone
  • Smaller bonus and rakeback than other UK poker sites
Play Hi-Lo Stud
  • Blitz poker for speed and convenience
  • Seven card stud poker available
  • WPN network with solid player base
9.9
5 Stars

3. Black Chip Poker – Great Software Features for UK Online Poker

🌐 Poker Site: BlackChipPoker.eu

✔ Established: 2001

📃 License: Curacao eGaming

🌎 Poker Network: Winning Poker Network

💻 Desktop Client: Free Download

📱 Mobile Poker: Android App

💵 Deposit Methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, BTC, LTC, ETH, USDT

💸 Deposit Fees: None

⏱ Deposit Timeframe: Instant

💰 Withdrawal Methods: BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, Check

💸 Withdrawal Fees: None for crypto, $55 for check

⏱ Withdrawal Timeframe: 1-3 business days

Texas Hold’em Cash: $0.02/$0.05 – $5,000/$10,000

Omaha Cash: $0.01/$0.02 – $200/$400

Blitz Poker: $0.05/$0.10- $5/$10

Tournaments Buy-In: $0 – $2,500

SNG Buy-In: $0.50 – $200

Live Chat: Yes (virtual assistant)

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @BlackChipPoker

Black Chip Poker - UK Poker Sites

Overall UK Poker Site Rating: 9.7/10

Black Chip Poker is on the Winning Poker Network, along with ACR Poker and Ya Poker. This means that it comes with most of the same games and features. However, the client design is a bit more elegant and so it can be the preferred option when it comes to the best UK poker sites.

The client is free to download from the site and it has some awesome features. First of all, you can enable two-factor authentication for extra security when playing. Once on the tables, the stats display will be very useful for tournaments as you can see the standings at a glance. Also for tournaments, the final table hands are revealed just 30 minutes after.

Black Chip Poker offers anonymous tables but users also receive rail table tickets that can be used to view the players at a table for five hours. If you prefer cash games, Blitz Poker tables are available around the clock and the fast-fold variant runs very well. The list of special features at Black Chip Poker continue and you can join the UK poker action right now.

Pros

  • Good poker action for all bankrolls
  • Simple withdrawals at any time
  • Loads of satellites and qualifiers
  • Elite Benefits Rewards program for extra perks

Cons

  • Doesn’t accept many altcoins for banking
  • Customer support can take a few days to respond
WSOP Qualifiers
  • Seven card stud and 5 table PLO available
  • Winning poker network
  • Play with other US poker players from all non-regulated states
9.7
5 Stars

4. Ya Poker – Secure Online Poker for Real Money in the UK

🌐 Poker Site: YaPoker.com

✔ Established: 2013

📃 License: Curacao eGaming

🌎 Poker Network: Winning Poker Network

💻 Desktop Client: Free Download

📱 Mobile Poker: Android App

💵 Deposit Methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, BTC, LTC, ETH, USDT

💸 Deposit Fees: None

⏱ Deposit Timeframe: Instant

💰 Withdrawal Methods: BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, Check

💸 Withdrawal Fees: None for crypto, $55 for check

⏱ Withdrawal Timeframe: 1-3 business days

Texas Hold’em Cash: $0.02/$0.05 – $5,000/$10,000

Omaha Cash: $0.01/$0.02 – $200/$400

Blitz Poker: $0.05/$0.10- $5/$10

Tournaments Buy-In: $0 – $2,500

SNG Buy-In: $0.50 – $200

Live Chat: Yes (virtual assistant)

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @OfficialYaPoker

Ya Poker - UK Poker Sites

Overall UK Poker Site Rating: 9.5/10

Ya Poker comes with all of the features and perks of the Winning Poker Network. This means great traffic for UK poker online and secure real money banking. It also offers something for everyone across cash games and tournaments, with extra options for casino games and sports betting available within the same client.

While it doesn’t have the sharpest visuals, especially when compared to CoinPoker, Ya Poker does make it easy to find the preferred tables and take a seat. The only downside is that it doesn’t have an iPhone poker app in the UK, which can discourage some users from checking out the platform on the go.

The improved cashier supports credit cards, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, and MoneyGram for deposits. These are processed instantly and start from just $10, although credit card deposits can have fees. As for withdrawals, you can cash out directly to your crypto wallet or via MG. However, MG payouts must be between $100 and $350, while BTC withdrawals can go up to $25,000.

Pros

  • Gaming Curacao license and fair shuffling
  • Can play Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud
  • Matching deposit bonus for new UK poker players
  • Tournaments with large fields and big prize pools

Cons

  • Not as popular as other WPN brands in the UK
  • Deposits by credit cards can have fees attached
Play 7 Card Stud
  • Check players at tables with rail tickets
  • WPN - US friendly poker network
  • Step satellites for popular tournaments
9.5
5 Stars

Online Poker Games for Real Money at UK Poker Sites

With the best poker websites easily accessible in the United Kingdom, you will find a good variety of games available. Since some of the rules are different with each game variation, it is important to know how they work before taking a seat. Learn more about the main types of poker games found in the UK.

Texas Hold’em

The go-to poker variant available in Great Britain and really in the entire world, is Texas Hold’em. When talking about UK poker, odds are that it is about Texas Hold’em. This is where each player at the table receives two cards that they can see from the start of the round. Five community cards can be placed on the table by the end of the hand and there are several betting rounds provided.

The goal in Texas Hold’em is to have the strongest hand of five cards, resulted from combining the two hole cards with the available community cards. You can also win by being the last player left in the round.

Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo

Omaha is available at all of the best poker sites in the UK and it generally gets good action. The main difference when compared to Hold’em is that each player in Omaha starts with four hole cards, rather than two. However, you must only use two of those four cards to create a hand.

Omaha Hi/Lo tables are very popular as they split the available pot into two halves. One half goes to the strongest hand, and the second half is for the weakest hand. This often results in more betting since there are two outcomes that get paid. Most Omaha tables are played at pot-limit, but there are also no-limit tables available online.

Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo

Seven Card Stud is available in the UK on the Winning Poker Network. This variant is quite different from Hold’em and Omaha as players receive a total of seven cards each, five of which are facing up. This means that you are playing with more info for each player, instead of relying on a community board of cards.

With Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, the strongest and the weakest hands at the end of the round each receive half of the pot.

Other Poker Games in the UK

If you are looking for additional versions of poker, you will find that the best UK poker websites also have dedicated casino sections. These are great for enjoying other games and include poker variants like casino Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud Poker, Triple Card poker, and more.

Video poker machines are also popular on no KYC casinos and include Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, and Joker Poker. These are quite easy to play as you start off with five cards and can replace any of them once in an attempt to create the strongest hand for a matching payout.

Banking Methods for Online Poker in the UK

Banking is of major importance when it comes to online poker and the best UK poker sites offer a solid range of methods for depositing and withdrawing funds. These allow for simple transactions, usually with limits starting from just 10 GBP and going well into the thousands.

The actual deposit methods will depend on the sites for online poker in the UK and you can learn more about the top options here:

  • Credit and debit cards: Since the top poker sites in the UK are based offshore, they don’t have to worry about local regulations for using credit or debit cards online. This means that you can deposit via Visa and Mastercard on most poker rooms. However, these options are not available for withdrawing and so you will have to opt for something else.
  • Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and other cryptocurrencies have become the best banking methods for online poker in the UK for real money. They allow for instant deposits and fast withdrawals without charging any significant fees.
  • Ewallets: While ewallets like PayPal and Skrill remain quite popular for online transactions in the United Kingdom, they are not available on the best poker sites. Due to local regulations, the operators cannot process transactions that well and so ewallets have been replaced by cryptos for the most part.
  • Wire transfers: Bank wire transfers remain a solid option for online poker in the UK. They can allow for large transactions, but can also present higher fees than the other methods covered above.

How to Deposit and Play Online Poker in the UK

The top sites really make it easy to deposit and start playing poker online in the UK. After selecting a poker room from the list, you simply have to visit the site and create an account. In some cases, you can play directly on the site but for other platforms, you will have to download and install the poker client.

Note that some poker sites may require personal details when signing up, such as:

  • Full name
  • Address
  • Date of birth
  • Email
  • Phone number

Once everything is ready, you can sign in using your new account and deposit funds through the cashier. Here is where you select your preferred payment method from the list and fill out the required details. Deposits are usually instant and your funds will then be ready.

Now you can browse the cash tables and tournaments from the lobby and join the ones you prefer. Any winnings you earn will be instantly added to the account balance and you can withdraw funds from the same cashier you used to deposit.

Online Poker Regulations in the UK

The United Kingdom is readily recognized as one of the most, if not the most, online poker-friendly countries in the world.

No consumer taxes, permissive regulations, and strong modern gambling traditions have shaped it into an European iGaming enthusiast’s dream. UK citizens can easily access a variety of poker sites and play for real money at any time.

The only negative aspect of the UK’s legal situation is that the majority of quintessentially British gambling businesses moved their headquarters offshore. However, this is not at all surprising, considering how noncompetitive the UK’s tax system is when compared to the likes of Gibraltar or Isle of Man.

United Kingdom Real Money Online Poker Laws

Two important, 21st-century legal documents outlined regulations pertaining specifically to online poker. The first was the Gambling Act of 2005, which essentially guaranteed players the freedoms they were already enjoying at the time. It explicitly allowed UK-based players to play on poker platforms of their own choosing, outlawed cheating, and transferred licensing authority to local regulatory bodies.

The second was the 2014 Gambling Bill, which reintroduced licenses for offshore gambling sites looking to offer services to UK residents. Keep in mind this bill did not fence-off the UK gambling market. It simply imposed a point-of-consumption tax on UK-facing operators.

As hard as it is to believe, the UK didn’t have any regulations mandating poker sites pay relevant operator-side taxes. On the contrary, the British regulators were counting on sites to pay their dues voluntarily.

What Is or Is Not Legal in the United Kingdom?

UK residents have had legal access to all the poker variants available online since the earliest days of the industry. Cash games? Check. Sit & Go tournaments? Check. Multi-table tournaments? You bet.

Everything was available right from the get-go. As mentioned above, UK legislators have never made any serious attempts at changing this.

The United Kingdom and Poker-Related Taxes

UK-based players haven’t had to pay any consumer taxes on online poker throughout the poker boom, an era which started back when Chris Moneymaker won his WSOP bracelet in 2003. What’s more, players don’t have to pay them to this day. This is due to the fact that in 2002, the Labour government got rid of consumer taxes on all forms of gambling in an attempt to encourage local iGaming enthusiasts to play on local sites.

History of Online Poker in the United Kingdom

The roots of modern online poker-related regulations can be traced back to the Betting and Gaming Act of 1960. This act allowed UK residents to bet on Bridge and other games of skill. It also allowed UK-based businesses to open betting shops across the country. In 1965, over 15,000 betting shop licenses had been issued by local magistrates.

The second breakthrough for UK-based gambling came with the Gaming Act of 1968, which added land-based casinos to the mix. In 2005, the Gaming Act was expanded to include massive Las Vegas-style gambling establishments. It’s worth noting, however, that this came with rather strict limits on the total number of venues of this type that could be built. With that limitation, online casino enthusiasts and high-stakes players often look to non gamstop casinos instead. These acts set the stage for all the aforementioned modern legislative acts.

Where Can I Play Poker Live in the United Kingdom?

With 578 poker tables spread across 78 rooms located all over the country, the United Kingdom is a perfect place for people who enjoy physically playing poker. It’s also a major tournament hot-spot, with major events scheduled on a weekly basis. Below, find a short list of UK brick-and-mortar poker rooms worth visiting:

  • Dusk Till Dawn (Redfield Way, Boulevard Retail Park, Lenton, Nottingham, NG7 2UW)
  • The Vic (150-162 Edgware Rd, London W2 2DT)
  • The Hippodrome (Cranbourn St, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7JH)
  • Aspers Stratford (312 Montfichet Rd, Olympic Park, London E20 1ET)
  • G Casino Coventry (Ricoh Arena, Phoenix Way, Coventry CV6 6GE)
  • Empire Poker Room (6 Leicester Street, London WC2H)
  • Grosvenor Casino Victoria London Poker Room (150-162 Edgware Rd, Marylebone, London W2 2DT)

Conclusion

The bottom line is that poker online for real money is booming in the United Kingdom and players have access to top sites. You can join UK online poker rooms and start playing within minutes, with CoinPoker and ACR Poker being the best choices right now.

Both of these offer great cash games and tournaments, plus SNG events, special series, and more. Banking is also simple since the secure poker sites give UK players convenient methods in the form of cryptocurrencies. As a result, you can deposit and withdraw your funds at any time, giving you full control. Plus, the welcome bonus and other promotional offers can help you win more in the long run.

FAQs

Where can I play online poker for real money in the UK?

Can I withdraw my winnings from a UK poker site?

Is PayPal available for deposits on UK poker sites?

References