Legal UK Online Poker Guide
While Texas Hold’em and the Internet poker craze have their roots in America, it didn’t take long before poker was a worldwide phenomenon. It really all started back in the early 2000s, when ESPN aired the World Series of Poker and the entire world watched an amateur player, Chris Moneymaker, win a tournament for $2 million. After that, sites were popping up like crab grass on the Internet, and everyone from Alaska to Zimbabwe was creating an online account in an attempt to become the next poker millionaire.
One nation where poker really took root was in the United Kingdom. In today’s UK, there are millions of poker players and thousands of poker sites. If you’re a poker player, do you know how to navigate this thick terrain?
At Legal Online Poker UK, what we bring to the table is information. As any poker player will attest, information is the name of the game. Having the right information is what enables good players to make and call bluffs; it’s what gives them the confidence to come into a hand and to do well in tournaments. For UK players, this information may help you pick the best online poker room and may also help to improve your game. We can’t promise that what we offer is going to transform you into a pro poker shark, quickly eating the entire pool of guppies. What we can guarantee, however, is that you will be more informed by using our resource site to help you navigate the poker field.
Top Rated Legally Licensed UK Online Poker Sites For 2024
We understand there are several other online poker rooms that are legally licensed in the United Kingdom. However some of the biggest sites in the UK are multi billion dollar companies with betting shops located all over the UK. They even allow players to cashout their money at any of these brick and mortar locations. They are in our opinion not only the biggest and the best, but also the most reputable. They offer everything players need including a very popular online poker site, sports betting, casino games including live dealers, bingo, skill games and so much more.
| Site Name | Bonus Offer | Rating | UK Friendly? | Visit Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betonline Poker | 100% Max $1,000 | 4.8 | Yes | Visit Site |
| SB Poker | 100% Max $1,000 | 4.6 | Yes | Visit Site |
Is Online Poker Legal In The UK?
The first big issue with which to contend is the legality of poker. Because of what happened to America back in 2006, many UK residents fear the same happening to them. However, the nations are 180 degrees different in terms of how they legislate gambling. Online gambling, including casinos, bingo, sportsbooks and poker, are all perfectly legal inside of the UK. The United Kingdom passed a new gaming act back in 2005, which also installed the Gaming Commission to oversee the entire industry. This commission is responsible for licensing and regulating sites in the UK, as well as putting in place safeguards to keep children and vulnerable adults away from gambling sites. Though to put it as simply as possible, poker is perfectly legal in the UK.
And, no, this isn’t a trap that the UK government is setting you up for. You’re not going to put your money into your account, build up a stack, and have the rug pulled out from you like the US government did to so many Americans almost a decade ago. There are no plans whatsoever for the UK to crack down on gambling. If anything, they’re going in the opposite direction by actually relaxing more of their regulations. So as a poker player you are free to gamble anywhere you want if you live in the UK.
What To Look For in a Quality Poker Site
One thing we really stress at Legal Online Poker UK is that you find the right site with which to play. Just because a site is legal for you to play on doesn’t mean that it’s a good fit. You might find a site that has very limited banking options, scam-like bonuses that never put any money into your account, low traffic, shoddy graphics, and other undesirable aspects of poker that simply aren’t going to be fun. Here are a few things we recommend you look for when seeking out a quality poker site.
1: A Site with a Good Reputation
How much do you know about a poker site’s reputation? This is a very important aspect of a top-shelf site. If the site is good, then you are going to find poker players around the UK singing its praises; you’re going to find Legal Online Poker UK singing its praises. Conversely, if a poker site is rubbish, you’re going to find its members trashing the site as a bunch of bullocks all over forums and chat rooms and social media. We’re also going to jam our thumb into the eye of a shoddy site. The better the site’s reputation, the more worthy a poker home it will make.
2: A Site with Lucrative Bonuses
Almost every legitimate website out there is going to offer you some type of welcome bonus. The industry standard is typically a 100% deposit match of up to a could hundred. So, by putting in 100, you should be getting 200 to play with. However, you want to look beyond this and see how hard it is to actually claim your money. Some poker sites make you jump through too many hoops, like having to earn the entire bonus in table rake, or actually win money for a 10% exchange.
So when you’re seeking out a lucrative bonus, look for one that’s easier to get. You want a site that actually puts the money into your account, not one that holds it hostage. Also look for loyalty and other member bonuses, so you know you’ll be rewarded over the long term by playing with the site.
3: A Site with a Lot of Traffic
Traffic is what makes a poker game. Look at the World Series of Poker as a reference here. If the tournament were only made up of 12 people, would you actually be that interested in it? The main pot would be a few thousand dollars, and all the mystique would instantly evaporate. It’s because there are thousands of entrants that make it a great tournament. And the same holds true for a poker site.
If you can’t even find enough traffic to fill up a small freeroll or a few ring games, what’s the point of playing there? The more people there are, the more likely your odds of playing in big, exciting tournaments and finding players whose skills are inferior to yours so that you can take their money. You need a high-traffic site to really spread your poker wings.
4: A Site with a Wide Table Selection
Another strong area of focus with online poker is in the table selection. You want a site that’s offering plenty of games. You might love Texas Hold’em, but that’s not the only game there is. A good poker site will also be offering Omaha, 5 and 7-card stud games, HORSE, and hi-lo versions of your favorite games. You can even find some that offer Raz and other specialty games. It’s important that a site offers a bunch of table selections, if only to really spread the limits out.
For instance, let’s say you have really honed your poker skills and are out to dominate a table. You can sit down at a 5-10 ring table, where you know the caliber of player isn’t that high, and pick them off all day for profit. But on a site that doesn’t offer many table options, you might end up being the sucker at the table as the sharks sit down around you because they have no other options.
5: A Site with Good Banking Options
Lastly, try to find a poker site that offers up a few banking options. Many players think that as long as they can get their money in and out, then that’s all they need. But why settle for any old method when you have options available? You can find sites that allow you to use PayPal and Neteller for instant deposits and quick, free withdrawals. So why would you settle for methods that take days to go through and actually cost you money? Seek out poker sites that provide you with actual options. There is no reason at all to get stuck at a site that forces you to have a check mailed.
Quick Notes to Keep In Mind for Playing Poker Responsibly
At Legal Online Poker UK, we want to supply you with the information necessary to not only find a great poker home but to also do well playing the game. It’s not our money on the line, so we hope you win as much as you can carry! We’re rooting for you to become the next poker millionaire. But we also understand that, to accomplish such a feat, you need to be a measured, responsible poker player. Here are just a few tips we’re offering up that may help you hone your poker skills while avoiding unnecessary risks.
Don’t Play Over Your Head
Playing over your head, AKA the “babe in the woods” phenomenon, is what may happen when you first sit down at a poker site. You think the game is easy, and you’re having a lot of fun, and, hey, they gave you some free money to play with. So, what do you do? You enter into a tournament that costs you £150 and you only have £200 in your account. You’re putting too much of your money at risk in one tournament. The players who are participating in these high-dollar tournaments are very, very skilled.
You don’t find the proverbial donkeys and fish playing such risky tournaments. You should start on the lower side. Look for tournaments that are available for £5 or so. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but the top prize in a 10-player tournament of this variety is around £30. Also check out ring games that are affordable. It will take longer to build up your stack, but you’re also risking far less money. Give your skills a chance to shine in the appropriate game.
Adopt a Flexible Strategy
Reading poker literature from the pros is a great way to develop a real poker strategy. You will learn about the 80/20 method, about the button and position, about how to glean information and deciding whether or not you are statistically in a good spot to bet. It won’t take you long. You don’t have to start reading entire novels. Start with a few quality articles. In fact, check back with us. We’re going to sprinkle our site here at Legal Online Poker UK with tips-based articles that will help you learn how to master the game. Just make sure that you understand what it is to create a poker strategy, and make sure that the strategy you adopt is a flexible one.
For instance, you may be at a table in a large freeroll that’s fast and loose. The problem here, of course, is that your strategy may be very tight and slow. What do you do? You can’t simply fold every time until everyone busts out; the blinds will eat you alive. What you do in this situation is keep the same solid principles of your strategy, but pick up the pace of your playing. This is the type of thing you’ll have to learn to do to be a good poker player. Adaptability is the key to success.
Embrace the Fold Button
Many poker players, especially rookies, are just stubborn as all get out when they play poker. For instance, let’s say you have an A-K suited hearts and raise pre-flop. One other guy calls you, and the flop comes out J, J, 5, no hearts. You’re first to act, and to protect your initial raise you throw a feeler bet to see where the other player is at. He smooth calls. The turn card is a 4 of diamonds. So, you bet again, only this time he takes a few moments and raises you. Thinking he’s bluffing, you call. But just to be cautious, you check on the river, which is an 8 of spades. He then pushes all in.
Could he be bluffing? Yes, it’s very possible, but all you have it ace high. If he caught any part of that, or has a poker pair like 7s, he wins. Many players are stubborn with money in the pot and don’t want to fold. And the odds in this situation are great that he’s actually bluffing you because he thinks you’re weak. The issue, however, is that you are weak! If you don’t have the goods, press that fold button like you’re mad at it! Get out of the hand and live to play another day.
Becoming a good poker player requires more than just the few tips we have provided, but they should get you off to a good start. Legal Online Poker UK is all about providing you with the tools necessary to win big, but we also want you to bet responsibly. Be safe, have fun, and take your time learning the game.
Players must be above the age of 18 to gamble online legally in the UK. Please remember to bet responsibly.