The Best Online Poker Sites in the UK December 2024

Written by Dominic Field |

Updated on 16 December, 2024

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It’s perfectly legal to play at online poker sites in the UK, and there are plenty to pick from. We’ll reveal your best options, as well as how we chose them.

In addition, we’ll discuss all aspects of the British poker scene – from live games to the country’s top pros.

10
/ 10
# 1
CoinPoker

150% deposit bonus up to $2,000

  • Top freeroll offering
  • Quick and easy seating
  • Good MTT offerings with guarantees
Play Now
9.9
/ 10
# 2
ACR Poker

New Player Bonus Up To $2,000

  • Massive daily tournament schedule
  • Great deposit methods with local options
  • Fast payouts within the hour
Play Now
9.8
/ 10
# 3
Black Chip Poker

100% up to $2,000

  • Play fantasy poker league Monte Carlo
  • Offers sportsbetting and casino while playing poker
  • Accepts crypto payments since 2015
Play Now
9.7
/ 10
# 4
Ya Poker

100% up to $2,000

  • Bomb Pot tables for extra fun
  • Minimum of two big MTT every day
  • The Beast weekly leaderboard
Play Now
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Best Online Poker Sites in the UK Compared

The table below provides an at-a-glance overview of the best online poker sites for UK players. It lists game types, bonuses and poker networks for many of the best poker websites in the UK.

Poker Site Best Site for: Welcome Bonus Promo Code Poker Network Poker Games
CoinPoker Best Overall Poker Site 150% deposit bonus up to $2,000 CPLAYER Independent NLHE, PLO, PLO5
Ya Poker Finding Fishy Players 100% deposit bonus up to $2,000 N/A – Claim Here Winning Poker Network Hold’em, Omaha, Stud
ACR Poker MTTs 100% deposit bonus up to $2,000 CP1000 Winning Poker Network Hold’em, Omaha, PLO5, Stud
Black Chip Poker SNGs 100% deposit bonus up to $2,000 CP100BCP Winning Poker Network Hold’em, Omaha, PLO5, Stud

Best Overall Poker Site in the UK

coinpoker logo

As you’ve already seen, there are plenty of quality sites offering online poker for real money in the UK. However, CoinPoker is the clear choice for the number one spot, according to our expert team.

Hold’em players will enjoy the vast selection of busy cash game tables, with stakes to suit all bankrolls. Meanwhile, the rake is some of the lowest in the industry – something that’s also true of the site’s tournament entry fees.

CoinPoker Tournaments

Speaking of tournaments, you’ll find plenty of attractive options, including the Falcon and Nemesis Sunday Specials with their six-figure guarantees.

Look out, too, for the Crypto Series of Online Poker (CSOP) which put up $3 million worth of guarantees in 2024.

High-Stakes Omaha

The Omaha cash games are where this site really excels. Aside from offering interesting variants like 5-Card Omaha, the high stakes tables here are legendary.

Tony G is a regular, and he famously took down the biggest pot in online poker history – worth $7.75 million – at this site.

Other famous regulars to look out for, whether playing Omaha or Hold’em, include Charlie Carrel and Olga Iermolcheva.

33% Rakeback

The rakeback arrangement at CoinPoker is exceptional, with an impressive 33% available to all players.

The only condition is that you play using the site’s proprietary cryptocurrency, Chips (CHP).

High-Tech

Along with several other tokens, like BTC, USDT and ETH, these cryptocurrencies facilitate extremely quick withdrawals.

Finally, CoinPoker offers arguably the best poker app in the UK for Android devices, with a sleek and modern design.

Visit CoinPoker

Choosing the Right UK Poker Room

Although we rate CoinPoker extremely highly, it’s not the only place to play poker online in the UK.

Everyone values different qualities in a poker site, so it’s perfectly possible that you’d prefer to play somewhere else. So, with that in mind, let’s look into a couple more examples of leading online poker sites in the UK.

Best Online UK Poker Room for New Players – Ya Poker

Ya poker logo

If you’re new to the game, Ya Poker is among the best online poker sites to get started.

Why? For one, there’s a generous welcome bonus – among the biggest in the industry at the moment – to help you get started.

Additionally, Ya Poker is also a sportsbook. This increases the likelihood of players, who aren’t poker experts, flicking between the two and giving poker a go.

As such, the standard is weaker here than the average UK online poker room.

Visit Ya Poker

Best Online UK Poker Site for Experienced Players – ACR Poker

Americas Card Room poker logo

ACR Poker is one of the best online poker sites in the UK for a number of reasons. Aside from the slick Android app and strong reputation, it offers some of the best ongoing rewards.

The Elite Benefits program, for instance, is great for high-volume players. But you can choose to opt into a flat 27% rakeback deal instead.

The site also offers a greater selection of games than most. So, if you want to test yourself away from the Hold’em tables, it’s easy to find a game of Seven Stud Hi-Lo, for instance.

Finally, ACR Poker is home to the Venom, one of the biggest online poker tournaments around, with previous prize money guarantees peaking at over $12.5m.

Visit ACR Poker

Types of Poker in the UK

The best online poker sites in the UK offer all of the most popular games, and more besides. Learn more about how each variant works in the following section – though this is by no means an exhaustive list of available poker games.

Texas Hold’em Poker

The most popular way to play poker online in the UK – and indeed the world – Texas Hold’em is most people’s entry point into the game. You’ve almost certainly seen a Hold’em tournament on television or the internet, as the biggest series usually feature it as the main event.

Each player receives two hidden cards, with up to five more available in the middle. These are turned face-up, and every other player can use them too. This mixture of private and community cards creates plenty of opportunity for bluffing and representing hands.

Hold’em can be played with a fixed or pot limit structure, but no limit games are seen as the toughest test of a player’s abilities. As such, No Limit Hold’em is often dubbed the “Cadillac” of poker.

Omaha Poker

A cousin of Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hold’em – now simply known as “Omaha” – shares a lot of similarities. The betting structure is identical, for example, with two forced bets to begin each game, and up to four betting rounds per hand.

Like Hold’em, Omaha can use a fixed, pot or no limit setup, though PLO – Pot Limit Omaha – is the most popular way to play. However, the key difference is the number of hole cards, which rises from two to four. In addition, players must use exactly two from their hand.

This subtle difference greatly affects the optimal strategy, requiring more patient hand selection.

The best online poker sites in the UK also offer a number of Omaha variants, including Hi-Lo (sometimes called Omaha Eight or Better) and 5-Card Omaha.

Seven Card Stud Poker

As a form of stud poker, Seven Card Stud (or simply Seven Stud) doesn’t use community cards. Instead, each player receives a unique hand, composed of face-up and face-down cards.

In this version, each player starts with two hidden cards and one on display. It’s possible to receive up to three additional face-up cards, with a seventh that’s turned face-down. That means a total of five different betting rounds.

Stud poker is usually played with a fixed limit structure. You’ll rarely find pot or no limit games, but it is theoretically possible to play this way.

Unfortunately, the popularity of Seven Card Stud is on the wane. Luckily, though, some of the best poker sites for UK players do still offer it. The likes of ACR Poker and Black Chip Poker offer both regular Seven Stud and Stud Eight or Better.

Short Deck Poker

Originating in the high stakes games of Asia, Short Deck is essentially Hold’em, but with fewer cards – hence the name. Paul Phua, founder of Triton Poker, is often credited with creating the game, while Phil Ivey and Tom Dwan helped to popularise it.

All cards valued from 2 to 5 (inclusive) are removed, producing a “short” 36-card deck. As the game only uses cards ranked 6 and up, Short Deck is sometimes called Six Plus, or 6+ Poker.

The quirky setup greatly affects the probability of making some hands. With four of each suit removed, for instance, it’s actually harder to hit a flush than a full house. As such, those two hands switch places on the standard poker hand rankings.

Fast Fold Poker & More

When Full Tilt introduced their “Rush Poker” format in 2010, online poker changed forever. Every other site quickly released their own version, with Zoom Poker (PokerStars) and Zone Poker (Ignition) a few notable examples.

All of these games fall under the umbrella term of “fast fold” poker. If you don’t like the look of your hand, there’s no need to wait around for other players to finish. Just fold, and you’ll immediately be whisked off to a new table to play a fresh hand.

Sites on the GG Poker network offer All-In Or Fold games, which are equally rapid, as they remove all of the decision making elements.

If you’d prefer a traditional poker format, but want to play faster, Turbo and Hyper Turbo tournaments are available at all UK poker sites.

UK Cash Games vs Tournaments

Even if the rules are the same, there are some major differences between tournaments and cash games. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each format.

Cash Games

When playing at a cash table, every chip on the table is worth something. You can buy into a cash game at any time, as long as there’s a free seat.

If you lose your chips, it’s possible to simply buy more and keep playing. However, if you win, that’s real money for you to cash out whenever you’re ready. You can play a quick session if you want, or continue for as long as the game is running.

UK poker sites always offer a wide range of betting limits, allowing players of all bankrolls to get involved. They usually host cash games for a number of poker variants, too, including Hold’em, Omaha and Seven Card Stud.

Tournaments

In a tournament, everyone pays the same initial buy-in and receives an identical starting chip stack. These chips are only there to facilitate play and don’t actually carry a real world value.

Lose them all and you’re out. The winner is the player left with all of the chips at the end. Often, there’s no way to buy back in, which calls for a more cautious approach than a cash game. These are called freezeouts. But there are also rebuy tournaments, which feature a short period at the beginning where you may pay another buy-in to re-enter if you’re eliminated.

All of the best online poker sites in the UK run regular tournaments, often with large guaranteed prize funds. That means the site will top up the prizepool out of their own pocket if the tournament doesn’t attract enough players. This is known as an “overlay” and it gives participants extra value for money.

How to Rate the UK’s Best Poker Sites

You’ve already seen our top-rated sites at which to play online poker in the UK. But how did we choose them? Here’s what we look for in a high-quality poker room.

Games and Players

First of all, the top UK poker sites offer a diverse selection of games. After all, there’s not much point joining a site if you want to play a game that’s not available.

In addition, they provide both cash games and tournaments, with a wide range of buy-ins and stakes. The best sites cater to everyone, whether you’re a casual player or a high roller.

We also look for sites with massive tournament guarantees and freerolls alike.

Finally, it’s important for a good poker site in the UK to be busy. After all, you can’t play poker without opponents.

Bonuses

All online poker rooms offer bonuses, whether it’s a welcome offer for new registrants, or ongoing promotions for existing players.

However, the top poker sites in the UK provide poker bonuses with reasonable terms and conditions, giving you a fair chance of making a real-money return.

Cash Outs

The ability to fund your poker account quickly, easily and securely is crucial. That’s why the top sites offer a sizable selection of convenient, trustworthy payment options. However, withdrawals are arguably even more important.

Traditionally, poker sites would make you wait for up to a week for a payout, with slow payment options like bank transfers and debit cards. Nowadays, though, the UK’s best poker sites offer fast cash out methods, like e-wallets and cryptocurrency.

Mobile Apps

Playing online poker is no longer just about desktop computers. A well-designed app with the latest features is a must have. Luckily, all new poker sites in the UK understand this.

Usually, there’s a native app available for both iOS and Android devices, allowing you to play on a smartphone or tablet device of your choice.

However, some sites – like Ignition Poker and BetOnline – offer an even more convenient solution, allowing you to play download-free in a browser.

Security

Finally, all of the best online poker sites for UK players have another common feature – they’re extremely secure.

This all starts with the regulator. Each of our recommended sites is licensed by a well-respected international authority. As a result, you can be sure that they’re looking after your deposits properly, and that they offer a range of responsible gambling tools.

In addition, top sites make use of the latest technology to help keep you safe – particularly SSL encryption. Whenever you make a deposit or withdrawal, you know that your sensitive payment details will be safe from hackers.

Biggest UK Poker Bonuses

All of the best online poker sites in the UK offer a plentiful supply of bonuses, both for new and existing players. These promotions are also some of the biggest in the industry.
Let’s find out exactly how they work.

Sign-Up Bonus

As the name implies, a sign-up bonus is strictly reserved for new players who’ve just created an account. These bonuses vary by site, with a few different options available.

Most online poker rooms in the UK today offer a match bonus that’s linked directly to your first deposit. A 150% bonus on a deposit of £50 would, therefore, result in a £75 bonus.

Although they’re extremely rare these days, you used to see no deposit bonuses at some poker rooms. Here, the site would provide you with a small number of credits to kickstart your bankroll, with no need to fund your account.

Some sites also throw in other goodies, like free tournament tickets and exclusive new-player freerolls.

Rakeback

The best poker sites in the UK usually offer a direct rakeback program. This is similar to the cashback deals you may have seen at online casinos. The site will refund a percentage of the rake paid during a specified period – usually weekly or monthly – as a kind of loyalty reward.

Rakeback is absolutely crucial if you’re going to make it as a serious player. If you’re making a slight loss in the long term, rakeback can turn you into a profitable player. Of course, if you’re already winning, it offers a healthy boost to your bottom line.

Gone are the days when you had to negotiate your own individual rakeback arrangement with a third-party affiliate. Top sites like CoinPoker (33%) and Black Chip Poker (27%) just pay the money directly into your account.

Freerolls

Although a freeroll tournament isn’t strictly an online poker bonus, it’s still worth a mention. You’re probably already aware that a freeroll is simply a free-to-enter tournament with real money up for grabs. Usually, anyone can enter and win.

However, most poker sites in the UK these days provide private tournaments, exclusive for newcomers. These may be password protected, or the software will automatically detect when you created your account, ensuring that only recently registered players can join.

It’s a nice way to welcome new players to the site, offering a free chance to build a bankroll. Plus, you can sharpen your skills in a risk-free yet competitive environment.

Poker Tickets

Not to be confused with a freeroll, some poker sites also include free tournament tickets in their welcome packages. BetOnline is a great example of this.

All new registrants have the chance to earn up to 21 free entries to step satellites, spread across their first eight days. Just play a few hands of poker to meet the low daily rake requirement and you’ll pick up the free entries.

Perform well in the satellites and you could win your way into the $100,000 Sunday Showdown, completely free. The buy-in is usually $109.

Play Chips

Also not to be confused with freeroll tournaments, play money games are another way to enjoy free poker in the UK. Most sites offer this facility, giving inexperienced players a way to practise and learn how to play poker – or to simply blow off steam.

Each account receives a number of virtual chips that have no real-world value. They can only be used in a dedicated area of the site to compete against others using play money chips.

Should you lose all of your play money chips, simply request a free top up and continue to compete. After all, there’s nothing at stake here – it’s just for fun.

Is it Legal to Play at UK Poker Rooms?

Yes. As per the Gambling Act 2005, it’s completely legal to play poker online in the UK.

You can use sites which are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, or join any number of offshore casinos and poker rooms.

Note, however, that non-UKGC poker rooms are also not on GAMSTOP, as that organisation has no power overseas.

Tax on UK Poker Winnings

The government changed taxation laws in 2001, switching the burden from the player to the operator. As such, there is no tax on poker – or indeed any form of gambling – in the United Kingdom.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing live or online – your winnings will not be taxed.

Live Poker in the UK

Poker has been pretty mainstream in the UK since the late 1990s. There was always live poker in London casinos. But when Late Night Poker hit television screens in 1999, with its under-the-table cameras, the game’s popularity exploded.

These days, a number of casinos and poker clubs can be found all over the country, running some notable tournaments. Here are a few examples:

  • Dusk Till Dawn (Nottingham)
  • Hippodrome Casino (London)
  • Grosvenor Victoria Casino (London)
  • Grosvenor Maybury (Edinburgh)
  • Poker Lounge (Manchester)
  • The Poker Room at The Empire Casino (London)

UK and Ireland Poker Tour

Launched in 2009, the UKIPT is a series of £1,000 and €1,000 events dotted around the British Isles. Although, in recent years, a few European stops have also featured on the calendar, including Malta and Spain.

The UKIPT includes the £1m GTD UKIPT Nottingham, and the €1m GTD Irish Poker Open in Dublin.

Online vs Live Poker UK

Although the rules are fundamentally the same, there are a few subtle differences between live and online poker in the UK. As such, whether you prefer tournaments or cash games, you’ll need to adjust your poker strategy slightly.

Let’s compare the two:

  • Pace of the game. Since the cards must be physically shuffled, live games are played at a slower pace than online. That’s bad for long-term winning players, as it reduces the number of hands per hour. On the flip side, though, it’s much better for those seeking a social game and results in a weaker standard overall.
  • More multi-way pots. Similarly, because people have to travel to a live game, there tends to be more action. Nobody wants to drive for an hour just to sit and fold every hand. That means you’re more likely to see multi-way pots, so you’ll need to tweak your strategy accordingly.
  • Live tells. It’s possible to pick up timing tells in online poker games. But live games are much better for those skilled in the art of reading body language. When you can stare at an opponent, hear their voice and watch how they move their chips, there are more opportunities to pick up on strength or weakness.
  • Rake. Live casinos and clubs have bigger overheads than online poker sites in the UK. Unfortunately, that means the rake tends to be higher than when playing online. The trade-off is that you’ll have more fun, plus the games are usually softer.

Top British Poker Players

There have been many hugely successful British poker players over the years. Dave Ulliott, better known as “Devilfish”, blazed a trail in the 1990s, as did the Hendon Mob.

However, in more recent years, few UK poker players have enjoyed nearly as much success as these three big names.

  • Stephen Chidwick – England’s all-time money winner, and number three in the world, Chidwick hails from the appropriately named town of Deal, in Kent. With almost $60 million in tournament earnings, he’s known as a fearsome high-stakes regular. His sole WSOP bracelet came in 2019, in a $25,000 high-roller PLO event.
  • Chris Moorman – With two WSOP bracelets, a WPT title and over $9 million in tournament earnings, Moorman boasts an impressive live poker CV. However, the Essex native has earned more than $24 million online, including successes in the WCOOP and FTOPS. He’s also held the #1 spot on PocketFives multiple times.
  • Sam Trickett – A familiar face on the high stakes cash game scene, Trickett is yet to win a major live tournament. However, he famously finished second to Antonio Esfandiari in the inaugural WSOP Big One for One Drop, earning over $10 million in the process. He’s won almost $22 million from live events, and plenty more online.

Best Online Poker Sites UK – Final Verdict

Our guide to online poker in the UK has covered a lot of ground, so let’s quickly recap the key points.

  • Online poker is legal in the UK – Not only is it legal to play poker online in the UK, but you can also play live, and both are tax-free.
  • British poker is booming – The UK has produced some of the world’s top players and there’s a thriving community, both live and online, up and down the country.
  • CoinPoker is the best UK poker site – With fast crypto poker payments, a slick mobile app and a massive 33% rakeback, CoinPoker is the best site for poker in the UK.

FAQs

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References

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