Best UK Poker Online Casinos
Looking for the best online poker platforms? Tips to win? Strategies? Here, you will find Casino Legends top rated online casinos and information on real money playing.
Introduction: What is Poker?
Poker is a game of cards which have long been associated with gambling, yet it can be played purely for fun. The most popular type of poker game is Texas Hold’em poker, which is frequently mentioned in pop culture. Texas Hold’em poker requires you to make the best five-card poker hand with the hand of cards you have been dealt by the dealer and the cards in the middle of the table. It is a game of deception where players can try to mask what they have to force players to play their hands, thinking it might be a better set of cards.
Poker: The UK’s Favourite Casino Card Game?
Poker is by far the UK’s favourite casino card game and has taken the online gambling industry by storm. Other than being one of the most approachable social activities for card players, it is also one of only a few types of gambling games where it’s not simply down to the luck of the player. This is because poker also requires skills in being able to bluff your opponent and having a mathematical mind for quick thinking. Furthermore, in the spirit of winning, Britons prefer playing poker as a means to pass the notion that “the house always wins”. When playing poker, you are playing against players with your own skills and not against the house “casino”; except when playing video poker.
History of Poker in Britain
Britain has a rich history with traditional gambling games, and poker stands firm in this regard. Although poker was largely developed in the USA, it is crucial to consider that the UK invented the game known as “Bragg”, which resembles the main factors surrounding poker, including bluffing. With poker’s rich history of development throughout many different regions of the world and its humble beginnings in New Orleans, poker has, for the past 100 years, stuck to its roots. With both Texas Hold’em and Omaha poker standing firm in their rules, they are not much different, with the only exception being Texas Hold’em being played with 2-hole cards and Omaha poker with 4. With its history carrying on through generations, it is now one of the most popular online casino games for UK players looking for a gambling game of skill and excitement.
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Top 3 Real Money Online Poker Casinos
Need a reliable online casino for your poker needs? The 3 casinos listed below are recommended by us as 3 of the most trusted and reliable poker sites. No matter whether you are looking for the best promotions, tournament access, or variety in poker categories, these casinos thrive for their poker excellence.
Unibet
Unibet is one of the most decent UK online casinos and sportsbooks with table games. Furthermore, Unibet members can look forward to vast amounts of poker tournaments and special promotions.
MrQ
MrQ is a great option for those looking to play poker with different payment methods. The platform also provides many helpful bonus offers for table games.
32Red
32Red presents its members with a vast amount of poker titles to choose from, including Texas Hold’em and Omaha in both live and standard online format.
The online poker sites mentioned on this page are all trusted and reliable platforms that are regulated and licenced by the popular UK authorities. For a safe and lucrative online poker experience, Unibet, 32Red, and MrQ stand as top choices for both beginners and advanced players alike.
What We Consider Before Recommending a Poker Site
At Casino Legends, we believe in guiding you through your online gambling journey responsibly and respectfully. Whether you are looking for a bingo, poker, or slots casino site, we provide you with the most critical information to make an informed decision. None of the platforms recommended by Casino Legends are unreliable or questionable in their offerings. Below, you can find more details on how we ensure our recommendations will exceed your expectations in safety, efficiency, and more.
Licencing, Regulations, and Reputation
The first thing that any reputable online poker casino should clearly show is who they are licenced and regulated by. When it comes to online gambling in the UK, all legal online casinos must, by law, be regulated and licenced by the UK Gambling Commission. This will ensure that you are legally gambling in the UK and making use of gambling services that are regulated correctly. In turn, this also provides safety and fairness as regulated casinos are bound to fair testing by third-party authorities.
Variety of Games
Although most online casinos will have a variety of poker games to play, some are much more expedient in their number of poker games available. We look closely at the number of poker games available, whether they are from trusted providers, and whether they present a fair chance of winning to UK players. Furthermore, as there are many different categories of online poker casino games, we make sure that our recommended platforms present you with an array of poker categories to explore.
Bonuses and Promotions
As bonuses and promotions should guarantee more game time and a better chance of winning real money, we ensure that the platforms we recommend have fair and lucrative bonuses available. With online poker casinos, you can look forward to a variety of promotions specifically catered for poker; this can be seen with Unibet’s extravagant tournaments, bonuses, and loyalty programs. Among the most helpful promotions for poker, UK players can look forward to bonus credit, and poker tournament access is among the most desired.
Banking Options
It is vital for online poker casinos to have safe and secure banking methods for UK players to make deposits and withdrawals efficiently without worrying about dodgy transactions. Not only should online casino gaming be safe and secure, but you should also be able to use your preferred banking method, such as debit card, e-wallets, bank transfer, or pay-by-phone. We look into processing times for both deposits and withdrawals and provide details of any additional costs the casinos may include in any transactions.
Customer Support
Casino Legends strives to ensure proper customer support towards UK players by carefully studying the types of customer support channels that are available from UK online casinos we recommend. Most online casinos we recommend present you with 24/7 customer support and a helpline where the most common hiccups are discussed for quick resolution without having to contact customer support. Before recommending an online casino, we look into its client review to ensure that there is no questionable behaviour regarding unanswered queries.
Best Online Poker Sites
Unibet has long been known as an online casino that thrives in providing the best games, customer support, fast withdrawals, sports betting, and live dealer casino games, not to mention poker-specific promotions that are constantly reimagined to startle all your poker desires.
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1# Unibet
Unibet has been providing sports betting and casino games for more than 25 years. The casino is trusted for its wide focus on responsible gambling and safety while still providing luxurious bonus offers for the ultimate poker experience. Whether you are looking to play a quick game of Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or take part in a tournament to stand a chance at the grand prize, Unibet has it all, including other traditional categories such as Bingo games.
With the welcome bonus exclusively designed to help casino players have an overall entertaining experience, the poker bonus is even better. With a welcome bonus of £150 + 100% match to the poker bonus of £200 and entrance to the Unibet Open Poker, tournaments are as good as they can get for any poker enthusiast.
Furthermore, Unibet has a poker loyalty system where you can earn up to 50% rake back with a potential boost of up to a whopping 65%. Pairing the poker bonuses, loyalty, and games with the PokerApp makes Unibet a top choice casino for UK poker players.
Poker Tournament Categories From Top Online Poker Casinos
Other than different variations of poker existing, such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, five card, seven card, and more, there are also different ways of playing these games with a variety of features, which include multi-table tournaments, freerolls, and more. We have put together the ultimate guide below for you to find the perfect category for your next online poker session.
Sit & Go Tournaments
If you are in for a quick game of poker with the excitement of a competitive tournament, then SnG poker games fare for you. These tournaments take a mere hour to finish and feature a maximum of 10 players competing in a single round of poker. Simply put, if you lose all your chips, you’re out of the tournament. With some tournaments allowing 9 players and others 6, you can easily choose the most competitive (9 players) or quickest (6 players).
Multi-Table Tournaments
For thrill and excitement, multi-table poker tournaments are surely the best option. These tournaments are well known for their large payouts and fast-paced action play. With a multi-table tournament, you can expect between 9 to 10 players competing at each table that is present in the tournament. What makes these tournaments the most exciting and thrilling is the fact that, as a player, you will not be participating only on one table but multiple tables. It is vital to memorise and take notes to organise a system for all your active tables.
Bounty Builders and Progressive Knockouts
More commonly known as knockouts, these special multi-table tournaments are single-elimination poker games where if you lose, you are eliminated from the tournament. These tournaments are also found on online casinos in multiple forms, including turbo and hyper turbo. What makes the progressive variation one of the most popular among high rollers is the fact that you can win a cash prize for simply eliminating one of your opponents. With progressive knockouts, there is also a prize pool to be won, which can reach significantly large amounts.
Multi-Flight
Multi-flight tournaments are accessed by playing the qualifying starting flight tournaments to reach the main tournament. As a participating player, you can choose which starting flight to play. It is vital to pass all starting flight tournaments to gain access to the main tournament, as you cannot directly register for a multi-flight main tournament. A tournament may have up to three starting flight tournaments to play and will be signified as A, B, and C. Each starting tournament may have up to 26 levels to complete. If you fail a starting flight, you can simply try another for a second chance at gaining entry to the main tournament.
Freerolls
Freerolls are perfect for beginners to take advantage of not having to pay an entry fee but still gaining the experience of playing a tournament. With the freeroll tournament, you will get a chance to play against smaller prizes, yet at no cost. If you are looking for a freeroll tournament, you will easily find one from any of our Casino Legends recommended casinos. Even though freeroll games are free to play, you will still win a guaranteed cash prize if you win the tournament. Freerolls do not provide large winnings and should be considered before you opt-in for the tournament. If you are looking for large winnings, it is advised to play paying tournaments such as Multi-table games and progressive knockouts.
Satellites
Similar to starting matches in multi-fight tournaments, satellites are considered smaller tourmates that, if won, earn you seats in the major tournaments associated with the satellites. These major tournaments are buy-in tournaments, meaning you will need to pay a “possibly hefty” entrance fee.
Most Popular Types of Poker Games for UK Players
Whether you are new to the world of poker or already a seasoned pro looking to explore new poker games that have come into existence through the online craze of gambling, there are many options to choose from. Below, you will find the ultimate guide to finding your next fourth type of poker game to win real money while playing against other participants, a live dealer, or the house.
Texas Hold'em
Texas Hold’em poker is also known as a “community” poker game where each participating player receives two cards, with another 5 cards being placed in the centre of the table. The five cards on the table can be all players to make their five-card winning hand. Texas Hold’em also has 3 different betting rules that include limit Hold’em, pot limit Hold’em, and no limit Hold’em. The different hands of cards in Texas Hold’em include royal flush, three of a kind, four of a kind, full house, flush, and straight flush, with royal flush being the most desired hand.
Omaha Hold'em
Omaha falls just behind Texas Hold’em as the second most popular poker game for UK online players. Omaha poker is a popular choice for more experienced players as they stand a chance to win a bit more. If you are used to Texas Hold’em, you will easily be able to play Omaha High. This type of poker game works with the same rules, with the best hand being royal flush. The only difference between Texas Hold’em and Omaha comes down to the amount of cards handed out by the dealer. With Omaha High, poker players get four cards instead of 2.
Seven-Card Stud
When it comes to online poker real money games, Seven-Card Stud is considered highly volatile due to both face-up and face-down cards being dealt to each player. This makes stud poker a non-positional poker game where each participating player’s order will change with each round according to their up-facing card. The face-up cards are handed out through different levels of the game, with the fourth face-up being dealt after making it through the first round.
Five-Card Stud
Five-card stud poker is played with the same set of rules and basic gameplay as the 7-card variation, with the difference being in the number of cards that are being played. 5 card stud poker, in particular, is usually played with fixed betting limits, which is found in most of our recommended online poker casinos. With this variation of stud poker, you will receive one card facing up and one facing down, with two open cards dealt to each player with an option to raise later on in the game.
Video Poker
Video poker can be seen as the “digital” version of this traditional card game and is known by poker fanatics as “pokies”. This is a game that can easily be played by fans of slot games as well, as the rules are still the same yet more accessible, with only the basics coming into play with the gameplay. Simply put, when you are playing video poker, you are playing against the house and not against a live dealer and fellow poker participants. This makes video poker a game that is more up to luck rather than skill.
Live Dealer Poker
Live dealer poker is extremely popular throughout the UK for real money wins. With live online poker, casinos present you with a real live dealer to play against instead of playing against the house “computer” or other participants. With this poker variation, you will be required to place your Ante bet, followed by both the dealer and you being handed two cards with the Flop in the centre of the table.
Real Money Poker vs. Free Poker
Whether you want to play for real money or play free games, each option has its pros and cons to consider before committing to a decision. The table below dives into the pros and cons to consider before joining your next online poker casino.
Pros and Cons of Real Money vs Free Poker
Pros
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Real-money poker can give you big winnings (Especially in tournaments)
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There are more real-money poker game titles than free options
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Free Games allow you to learn a game before making a deposit
Cons
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Real money poker requires registration and a deposit
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Free poker is usually not eligible for bonuses
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Free and freeroll options usually have lower prize brackets
How to Play Free Poker Online
Although real-money poker games provide a way for UK players to win, there are benefits to free poker. You can play free poker games either with no-cash options or as a means to try the games before making a deposit. Here, we discuss the potential benefits of opting for free poker games instead of real money games.
How to Play
Free poker games are found on most online casinos in the UK, and although you might not be able to win real money, you will be able to practise and get more experience with the games. Furthermore, some online casinos offer freeroll tournaments where you can play for free but still have a chance to win real money.
Why Play Free Poker?
Free poker can be a great way to learn a new type of poker game before you invest from your cash balance. Furthermore, the freeroll option in tournaments presents you with a way to play free poker while still standing a chance to win. With freeroll tournaments, you are also able to experience live gambling with a real dealer and fellow poker players for a real immersive poker experience.
How to Play Poker Online
After you have chosen your preferred online poker casino, it is time to get started with your first game. If you have chosen Texas Hold’em poker, “best for beginners”, you will be presented with two facedown cards. With these cards and future cards, you need to build a lucrative hand that could have a good chance of landing you a win. The best hands are usually royal flush and straight flush, which includes a 10 of spades, A, King, Queen, and a Jack, all with the same symbol and colour.
For the best experience, it is advised to make use of one of our top-rated online poker casinos, as they are safe for beginners as well as professional players and may serve as more nifty guides to getting started.
Online Poker Strategies and Tips to Win Online
Tired of the same tactics and strategies with each poker game? If that is the case, your usual players have probably figured out your usual bluff. If you are trying to up your game, consider reading the guide below to find your next strategy for winning real money with online poker.
Fold if you Feel Unsure
When it comes to poker, your gut feeling should probably not be ignored. Playing a hand too soon can make you lose the round and further on the game. If you don’t wish to lose your funds, simply fold before you lose. Consider folding if you don’t have a pair after post-flop when a player who never bluffs is betting too much or if you feel negative about the hand. Not folding can cause you to lose the winnings you have obtained throughout a good run.
Choose The Right Game For You
Exploring the vast amount of poker games available online might sound like a great idea, but if you are not used to the games, you should not be making large bets. First, get a feel for the game; if a free version is available, start there. Furthermore, if you are playing a game, you have become quite an expert in. It could be fruitful to make bets that are higher than what you usually bet. Choose the games that suit your experience the best for a productive and fruitful poker gaming experience online.
Carefully Consider Your Options
When a game is not completely up to luck, it’s best to take a breath and carefully consider all of your options before playing a hand. If you are not sure about your hand, it might even be better to fold than to lose all of your earnings. In fact, in some cases, it may be extremely risky to play hands without considering the different options. As some players may be experts at bluffing, you should carefully study their demeanour towards players throughout the game; this way, you can easily scope out who has a good hand or not.
Work on Your Bluffing Ability
Bluffing is one of the most important skills needed to become good at poker. No matter which type of poker you are playing. Eventually, you will need to bluff players to advance in the game. Simply put, if you have a good hand, you don’t want the other players to figure it out. Many experts would also recommend trying to focus your bluffs on specific players rather than trying to bluff all participants in a single moment.
What are Your Chances?
As poker is largely up to skill, it still has its luck associated with winning. If a table has players that exceed your experience and skill, it would not be wise to join in. Rather, join in on games where you are on par with the experience of your fellow participants. This creates a fair chance for you to bluff accurately, not be bluffed, and play your hands with an open mind rather than taking big chances.
Explore Advanced Poker Tactics
When considering advanced poker tactics other than trying to figure out whether participants are bluffing or not, you should be able to know when to raise and when not to. This, however, can become difficult depending on the other players. If one player has called a raise, it’s vital to consider the number of players who were playing in the pot when it happened. This could turn your attention to the other players and may highlight whether the players are set on winning or having their own doubts.
Online Poker FAQ
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Can I play online poker for real money?
Yes, poker can be played online for real money wins. Online poker casinos recommended by Casino Legends are all real money platforms for poker and other casino games. If you are looking for free poker games, many of our recommended casinos also provide ways to play free video poker games.
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Is online poker legal in the UK?
Yes. Online poker is legal throughout the UK. It is, however, vital that the casino is operating legally within the laws and regulations of the UK Gambling Commission and that they are licenced and regulated by them. All the UK casinos recommended by Casino Legends are licenced and regulated by law to be legal in the UK.
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Is it enjoyable to play poker online?
Whether you are an experienced poker player looking for the best poker site or a beginner looking to play for free, poker is sure to provide you with great entertainment and a new set of skills to be learned. As long as you are making use of a reliable and trusted poker platform, you will enjoy the game.
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Do you pay tax on Online Poker Winnings in the UK?
No. If you are gambling online in the UK, there is no need to be worried about any tax deductions on your winnings. The laws on taxes of casino winnings are also valid with tourists who are gambling in the UK, regardless of which online casino you are playing poker on.
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What is the best online poker site to win real money?
Although the UK may have many online poker casinos that stand as reputable real money platforms for poker players and enthusiasts, some casinos do stand out as better options. In our regard, Unibet.com online casino stands as a remarkable online poker casino that presents its members with poker-specific loyalty programs, bonuses, and more.
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How do I withdraw money from online poker?
As long as you do not have any active bonuses on your account, it is possible to withdraw your winnings through the casino’s cashier page. It is vital, however, to ensure you have complete wagering requirements of a bonus, as you may lose your winnings if you attempt to withdraw your winnings before finishing the bonus terms.
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Can I play online poker with a debit card?
Yes. Both Mastercard and VISA debit cards are accepted in the UK as a form of payment, whether you are looking to make a deposit or a withdrawal. It is, however, important to consider that to withdraw to a debit card, a casino usually requires you to have made a deposit using the same card. Credit cards are not permitted for gambling in the UK.