The popularity of UK poker sites has not gone unnoticed by providers of casino games for UK players. The number of high-quality poker sites for UK players is much higher than ever before and players are spoiled for choice. The one question most players ask themselves though is “which are the best online poker sites in UK?”. On this page, we will provide you with criteria to look for when searching for a place to play, and general information about playing online poker in the UK.
Best Poker Sites UK
All casinos are: 
Licenced & Verified Expertly Reviewed
Licenced & Verified 
Expertly Reviewed| Casino | Pilot Rating | Pros | Bonus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Your Guide to UK Poker Sites
When looking for the best UK poker sites, there are features that will differentiate the good from the bad, but more importantly, the good from the best online poker sites. You will find in this section, a list of features to look out for.
Games Available
There are different types of poker games to be found at the best UK poker sites. These include:
- Virtual poker
- Live casino poker
- Video poker
The best online poker sites UK will have some of these. We will discuss all these types of gameplay at UK poker sites in more detail further down on this page.
UK Poker Tournaments
While having a great selection of poker games is a must at UK poker sites, the best online poker sites UK players can enjoy will also offer the possibility to enter regular tournaments. There are a number of different types of tournaments to look out for which we discuss further on.
The important features to consider if you are looking for the best UK poker sites for tournaments are:
- A large selection
- Different tournament formats
- Different buy-ins and payouts
- Prizes for multiple occurrences
- Regular tournaments
These qualities can all be found at UK poker sites that are top notch when it comes to poker tournaments.
Payment Options
Often banking at UK poker sites is overlooked but it shouldn’t be. Getting money in and out of your account with ease is crucial to an enjoyable experience and the best poker sites UK have a wide selection of options. Most will offer:
- Card payments
- E-Wallets
- Vouchers
- Bank transfers
- Cheque
- Cryptocurrencies
While this is the first step, you also should pay attention to:
- Deposit and withdrawal times
- Fees
- Maximum and minimum amounts
- Security infrastructure
Top UK poker sites will tick all these boxes.
Mobile Poker Sites UK
Part of the beauty of online poker is the convenience so the final thing you should look out for at UK poker sites is their support for mobile gameplay. New mobile casinos allow you to play the latest online poker games on your device– even if some features will usually be on desktop only. Mobile UK poker sites are common but the best UK poker sites will offer a downloadable mobile app as well.
UK Poker Games Explained
Poker is not one game. There are many poker varieties with different rules and gameplay. The best UK online poker sites will offer a wide variety of games. When it comes to a poker site, you do not want to be short-changed in the games department as it is good to have the option to try something new or interchange between different styles.
Three Main Poker Styles
There are three main versions of poker that all the best online poker sites UK should all have in some capacity.
Texas Hold’em
The most popular version of poker is Texas Hold’em. The aim of the game is to make the best 5-card hand out of two of the player’s dealt cards and 5 community cards gradually revealed over the course of the game. Players have the option to check, call, raise, or fold as the game progresses.
Omaha
Omaha is similar to Texas Hold’em in most parts of the gameplay. The main difference is the fact that the player is dealt 4 cards instead of 2, but they must use 2 of them, as well as 3 of the 5 community cards to create a 5-card hand. There are also other rules that aren’t present in Texas Hold’em.
7 Card Stud
7 Card Stud was previously the most popular version of poker prior to the popularity of Texas Hold’em. In this game, there is no community cards and instead, the player is dealt 7 cards in total which he must make a good 5-card hand out of. Again, there are also further rules that define the gameplay as different to Texas Hold’em.
At UK poker sites, these games manifest themselves most frequently as virtual games, whereby they are played out on a virtual table against virtual players. At the best UK poker sites their games will have high-definition graphics and sounds that bring the feel of a real-life poker table to life.
Other Possible Versions
While these games are the standard that most self-respecting UK poker sites will offer, the best online poker sites will offer far more than these. At these, you are likely to find a much wider and more diverse selection. These may include:
- Razz– Essentially, the opposite of 7 Card Stud, the aim is to make the lowest possible hand.
- Omaha Hi-Lo– This game offers the same rules as Omaha, but the pot will be shared among the highest hand and lowest hands.
- 2-7 Triple Draw– Another game that is all about scoring low. There are no community cards and players need to make the lowest hand with 5 dealt cards.
- 5 Card Draw– A quick and simple version of poker. Players are dealt 5 cards and must make the best possible hand by replacing cards over the course of betting rounds.
Live Casino Poker
One of the main problems previously facing players at UK poker sites was the lack of realism found when playing poker. This is because part of the fun and thrills is the interactions you have with other players or the dealer. Even the best online poker sites struggled to provide virtual games that matched up to that. Fortunately, this was remedied with the launch of live casino poker.
- Live casino poker bridges the gap between the two worlds. The game offers a real-life dealer and real cards which are played out on a real table.
- All is communicated over a live stream from bricks and mortar casinos across the world. You will also be able to interact with a live chat box with the dealer and other players.
- All the while you will be able to enjoy it all from the comfort of your own home.
Live casino poker is a necessity today, with the best poker sites UK having a large number of games from a number of the leading live casino providers.
Live Poker Games
Often live casino poker at UK poker sites take a slightly different format to traditional poker due to the limitations that live streams put in place. Most prominently, this involves quicker, snappier versions of games and a heavier reliance on dealer participation. Live casino poker games include:
- 3 Card Poker
- 3 Card Brag
- Caribbean Stud
- Casino Hold’em
- 2 Hand Casino Hold’em
It is also possible to find other variations too.
Pros of Live Poker
- Authentic gameplay
- Ability to speak and interact with dealer and players
- Offers the same convenience of online casinos
- Plenty of unique styles
- High-roller tables available
Cons of Live Poker
- Poor connections can hinder gameplay
- Limited opening hours
- Tables can sometimes be full
- Gameplay can vary from traditional formats
Video Poker
While video poker online is more commonly found at US casinos, some UK poker sites also offer a selection of video poker that you may find interesting.
- These are different because while they are called “poker” and use cards in the same way as poker, it has a larger resemblance to slot games.
- This is because unlike traditional poker games, they have no other players and no dealers and have results based on RNGs (random number generators) and pre-determined RTPs (return to player) based on man-made odds.
- This said, there are still some elements of skill and strategy in place as the values of hands in video poker are the same as traditional poker.
Are these games the best online poker sites offer? Simply, the answer is no. However, they do offer quick and snappy gameplay, with less effort and skills required.
The Best Poker Hands
Across the world of poker games, the best poker hands remain the same. These are as follows:
- Royal flush
A, K, Q, J, 10, all the same suit. - Straight flush
Five cards in a sequence, all in the same suit. - Four of a kind
All four cards of the same rank. - Full house
Three of a kind with a pair. - Flush
Any five cards of the same suit, but not in a sequence. - Straight
Five cards in a sequence, but not of the same suit. - Three of a kind
Three cards of the same rank. - Two pair
Two different pairs. - Pair
Two cards of the same rank. - High Card
If you don’t achieve any of the above hands, then whoever has the highest card wins.
While there may be some extra rules on top of these, at most UK poker sites, these 10 outcomes will determine the result of your game.
Tournaments at UK Poker Sites
At the poker sites UK players can play at, tournaments are hosted frequently. Tournaments are a great way to up the ante and take your gameplay at UK poker sites to the next level.
While the most sought-after prizes can be won at UK tournaments that occur sporadically, there are monthly, weekly, and even daily tournaments being hosted at the poker sites UK players frequent. These tournaments come in different shapes and formats with the intent to cater to both rookies and veterans of online poker.
Tournament Formats
Sit N Go – These will be straightforward tournaments which begin once a set number of players join. Depending on the number of players, there will be different numbers of rounds. The final three remaining in the tournament are usually awarded payouts of different sizes.
MTTS – These endurance tests will see you buy a set amount of chips and then as players go bust, those who remain in the money and stay successful get moved to other tables until only one payer remains.
Heads-Up – These are head-to-head tournaments where you play one player at a time. Win that and you will progress and face another player in the tournament until one champion emerges.
Freerolls – These are free to enter and happen regularly but with low valued wins.
Bounty Tournaments – These will see you earn money for each player you knockout, alongside the potential to win with traditional gameplay too.
Types of Buy-In
Freezeout – These ask you to invest once, once you have spent all your investments you are out.
Re-Buy – These allow you to re-buy early on in the tournament but not continuously.
Multibuy – These allow you to re-buy as many times as you want to ensure you keep playing.
The Best Online Poker Sites are 100% Safe
If you want to play at UK poker sites, then you can do so within the confines of the law as it is completely legal. The only pre-requisite for players is that they are over the age of 18. As such, permitting you are, you can choose any of poker sites UK players are eligible to join.
There are some legal aspects that UK poker sites themselves must follow. These revolve around advertising laws, the guarantee of fair play on poker games offered on their site and general player safeguarding. This is all monitored by the UK Gambling Commission, the UKGC.
It is of the utmost importance that you only play at poker sites that have been licensed by the UKGC. Failure to do this puts you at risk of playing at a casino that doesn’t abide by the rules set by the UKGC, which could prove to be problematic, not to mention, illegal.
While you are searching for licensing, which should be easy to find, it is also necessary to check the security in place. Most casinos will offer encryption software and other security measures to protect you and you should be aware of these too. Moreover, casinos will ask you to provide a KYC to confirm your identity before joining, another important security aspect and a legal requisite of the UKGC.
The Do’s and Don’ts of UK Poker Sites
In closing, it is time to soak up some Dos and Don’ts of playing at UK poker sites.
Do
- Read reviews and seek authority about the UK poker sites
- Check for bonuses, games and other important parts of the service
- Understand the different games available and play them
- Check for UKGC licensing
- Ensure there is the option to play tournaments
- Understand mobile capabilities
- Read T&Cs
- Have fun
- Gamble responsibly
Don’t
- Settle for the first poker site you find
- Sacrifice security for the sake of service
- Play high-roller games or tournaments until you are ready
- Bet more than you can afford to loose
- Play at unlicensed casinos
Follow all these Dos and Don’ts and your experience at UK poker sites will be as fruitful as it will be fun!
FAQ
What are the best poker games to play?
While Texas Hold’em is generally the most popular, this is a matter of taste. Each game has its own merits and flaws and it is a matter of trial and error and finding out what games you find are most enjoyable, not to mention, most lucrative.
Is strategy important in poker?
Poker strategy is massively important. The exact strategy you should implement will depend not only on the style of poker you are playing but also on your goals. Over time, you will naturally develop a strategy based on what you learn from playing but there are many guides out there that can also put you on the right track.
Can I make a living from poker?
It is entirely possible, but it shouldn’t be your sole aim. Of course, people have lived off poker winnings and have even become very rich thanks to it too. However, these are in the minority and most people don’t achieve this. Your primary aim should be having fun and, hopefully, turning a frequent profit.
Do I pay taxes on online poker winnings?
Thanks to the gambling tax laws in the UK, any winnings made by gambling online is completely tax-free and you are not obliged to pay any of it back to the government. The casinos themselves, though, are obliged to pay taxes.
01/12/2020