The Best Online Poker Sites in the UK
Last Updated on: 20/10/2023
Verified by Lee James Gwilliam
This complete guide to real money poker sites in the UK will provide all the key information you need to start playing poker online. We list the best poker sites right now, explain how to spot trustworthy casino sites that host poker, compare online play to live poker rooms, and reveal the best strategies specific to online poker to boost your winnings.
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- Playing at UK Poker Sites: Key Takeaways
- 6 Best Online Poker Sites for 2023
- How to Choose the Best Poker Sites
- Popular Online Poker Games in the UK
- Online Poker Bonuses: Which Are Worth Claiming?
- The Digital Poker Table: How Playing Online Is Different
- Think Strategically: 10 Expert Tips for Online Poker Success
- How the Rake Impacts Your Strategy and Earnings
- Safety First: Trustworthiness of UK Poker Sites
- Online Tournaments and Game Types
- Payment and Withdrawal Methods at the Best Poker Sites
- Online Poker on Mobile: Better on Browser or App?
- The Engine Behind the Game: Software at the Best Poker Sites
- How We Rank the Best UK Online Poker Sites
- Online Poker Glossary
Playing at UK Poker Sites: Key Takeaways
You probably have a few questions about online poker in the UK that you want answering. Here’s a list of the nine most important things you need to know.
- The top UK online poker sites are trustworthy and fair. They use state-of-the-art encryption technology to ensure your security, and they are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, which forces them to follow strict protocols.
- Texas Hold'em and Omaha are the most popular online poker games in the UK, but many sites also offer unique variations.
- Online poker tournaments in the UK range from freerolls to high-roller events with massive prize pools. Satellite tournaments provide entry into live tournaments.
- The benefits of online poker include convenience, bonuses, fast gameplay, and tracking software, which sets it apart from live casinos. But playing online lacks live interaction and the opportunity to spot physical tells.
- The top UK poker sites accept various payment methods. Casino withdrawals take 1–5 days depending on the method, with debit cards and e-wallets fastest. Overall, transactions are safe and convenient.
- Many top poker sites offer a dedicated mobile poker app for iOS and Android, allowing you to play on the go. But tracking software and multi-tabling can be harder on mobile.
- Online poker sites collect a rake – a percentage fee from pots and tournaments. Higher rakes decrease winnings, so you’ll have to adapt your strategy. Understanding the rake helps you choose sites wisely.
- Major UK poker sites use software from providers like Playtech and Connective Games. This expands the player pool at partner operators, and can lead to huge prizes.
- Free poker allows you to practise risk-free, while real money offers big rewards but requires proper bankroll management. Freerolls combine benefits of both for an ideal introduction.
6 Best Online Poker Sites for 2023
There are many factors that go into deciding which poker sites are worth playing at, as you’ll see below. But before we get to the nitty gritty of what makes a great poker casino, here’s a quick list of the six best online poker sites right now.
How to Choose the Best Poker Sites
Choosing the best online poker site in the UK can seem overwhelming at first. With so many options to pick from, how do you know which poker sites are right for you? Here we walk you through the key factors you need to consider when wading through the top UK poker sites for real money play.
- First and foremost, look for a variety of poker variants and tournaments on UK poker sites. The best poker sites in the UK offer all the popular poker games like Texas Hold'em and Omaha, alongside more niche options like Razz, Stud, and HORSE. And if you love playing tournaments, it stands to reason that you'll also want plenty of choices on poker sites, with a healthy range of buy-ins so you can play whatever your bankroll.
- You might want to look for generous poker bonuses at both established and new UK casinos. Poker-friendly bonuses include attractive welcome offers, cashback deals, and loyalty programmes to give your bankroll a timely boost. Remember to read the T&Cs before to make sure that online poker counts towards wagering requirements before signing up.
- The best UK poker sites have plenty of traffic and liquidity. You want to pick a platform that has thousands of players online at all hours, which means full tables and huge prize pools. Don't settle for poker rooms with little activity.
- Safety and security protocols are non-negotiable at the best poker sites in the UK. Only play at poker sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which guarantees fair play, encryption, and secure handling of your hard-earned funds. Making sure they have eCOGRA certification will give further peace of mind.
- High-quality poker software elevates the gameplay experience on poker sites. Look for slick design, smooth performance, and features like whether they allow poker-tracking software like HUDs (Heads Up Displays). Some of the best UK poker sites also offer dedicated mobile apps for poker on the go.
- Lastly, find an online poker site that best matches your skill level. Some sites are ideal for casual play and micro stakes, while others attract seasoned players through prestigious tournaments.
Variety Is the Spice of Life: Popular Online Poker Games in the UK
There’s no such thing as a standard game of poker. Just like at the best blackjack casino sites, there are so many variants available, as well as variants of variants, that it can be hard to keep up. Here are the most popular versions you’ll find at the top poker casinos in the UK.
Texas Hold'em
The most popular poker game worldwide, bar none. In Texas Hold'em you have to make the best 5-card hand from two hole cards and five community cards. Its straightforward rules and exciting rounds of betting make it appealing to both beginners and pros alike. Famed for the World Series of Poker Main Event, Texas Hold'em offers endless gameplay varieties through cash games, Sit & Gos, and large tournaments. Its dominance both online and in real life has cemented it as the no. 1 poker game.
Omaha
Similar to Texas Hold'em but with key differences, Omaha is an appealing alternative. You get four hole cards instead of two, from which you use two along with three of five community cards to make your hand. Its pot-limit betting structure facilitates big pots and allows skillful players to leverage strong starting hands. Omaha's extra hole cards create more possibilities, and this added complexity is why some people prefer it to Hold'em.
Seven Card Stud
Seven Card Stud enjoyed immense popularity before the unstoppable rise of Hold'em. You get two down cards and one up card to start, then three more up cards and a final down card. Of course, this inability to see all the cards increases the potential for deception. Games use structured limit betting, meaning you can only bet fixed amounts. Success in this game comes down to your ability to master hand strengths from partial information and remember exposed cards. As such, if you’re new to poker in general, you may find the learning curve is steeper than for Hold'em.
Razz
A variant focused on making the lowest hand, Razz uses Seven Card Stud rules but flips the hand ranking on its head. As such, the best hand is 5-high with different suits. Razz forces creative hand reading skills since opponents want to make weak-looking hands. Its slow structured betting gives it a relaxed pace that’s attractive to old-school poker purists. Patience and avoiding costly draws are the key to success in Razz tournaments and cash games.
HORSE
HORSE is truly a poker tour de force. It mixes up gameplay by cycling between Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Stud, and Stud Hi-Lo. Playing five games one after another tests your versatility and adaptability, which are vital attributes in poker. HORSE emerged as mixed poker grew popular at the World Series of Poker. Competing at HORSE tables or tournaments requires mastering all game formats, including their varying rules and strategies. This diversity makes HORSE a favourite among well-rounded players looking to avoid repetitiveness.
Casino Hold'em
Casino Hold'em plays out like a simplified Texas Hold'em, except you bet against the house dealer, not other players. Two hole cards are combined with five community cards (a three-card flop, plus a turn and river) to make the best hand versus the dealer. Optional side bets and flexible betting rules make it an easy introduction to poker card hands. This version of Hold’em is popular among casual players at online casinos.
Video Poker
You’ve probably seen video poker machines in pubs and clubs. They function much like real money slots, but use the poker hand rankings. Popular variants include Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild and Joker Poker, where strategically holding and discarding cards boosts payouts. Approachable for beginners, video poker also rewards mastery through optimal play strategies. Plus its solo pace may appeal to you if bluffing and deception aren’t your thing.
Live Dealer Poker
Live dealer poker games are where real cards are dealt by a human dealer, with each player tuning in via webcam. Of course, this is closer to what you would experience at a real casino, not least because you can chat with both the dealer and your opponents. Casino Hold'em and other simple variants work best for live play. The game speed can be slower, but you might think it’s worth it to enjoy an authentic poker atmosphere.
Casinos.com Tip
Whichever variant you choose, start playing with low stakes to get used to the rules and fast pace online.
Online Poker Bonuses: Which Are Worth Claiming?
The top UK poker sites will offer special perks and programmes to attract new players and reward regulars. Here's an overview of the main features and promotions that will allow you to play for longer.
Freerolls
Freeroll poker tournaments give you the chance to win real money or prizes even though entry is free. They are often promotional events to attract beginners or reward loyal players. Freerolls help you build up your skills as you can play without pressure or the fear of losing your own money. On the other hand, the player fields can be really large, which often means smaller prizes, and some come with strict eligibility requirements like new players only.
Rakeback
This is where you receive back a portion of the rake – which is essentially the poker site’s cut for hosting the game (read more about the rake and how it affects your strategy below). There are three types of rakeback that you might come across:
- Contributed rakeback: The money you will receive is based entirely on how much you personally added to the pot.
- Dealt rakeback: A percentage of rake returned to everyone that was dealt into the hand, regardless of how much each individual contributed
- Progressive rakeback: A mix of the contributed and dealt rakeback models. In this system everyone receives a portion of the rake, but how much you get also depends on how much you put in.
It therefore pays (literally) to do your research and find a poker site with the most generous rakeback for your preferred poker variant.
Loyalty Programmes
Loyalty schemes give you points for playing real money games that are redeemed for poker bonuses, merchandise, tournament entries, or free spins on some of the best UK slots. Generous programmes will allow you to accumulate points quickly and offer great prizes in return, whereas at other schemes it may take an age to turn your points into something you may actually want.
Casinos.com Tip
Always check that online poker contributes at least 10–15% to wagering requirements before accepting any offer. If not, poker games won’t help you unlock your winnings from the bonus funds.
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome offers like a deposit match or a no deposit welcome bonus can boost your bankroll. They typically require you to make an initial deposit at the poker site, which will then match what you put in up to a certain amount. Sometimes you don’t have to deposit any money at all and you’ll be given real cash to bet with.
But be warned: even the best welcome bonus casino will attach T&Cs that limit how much you can win, or require you to wager the bonus multiple times before you can claim a win, or (at broader online casinos) restrict poker from the bonus in part or altogether. So read the terms carefully before you sign up to anything.
Here are some of the best casino welcome bonuses available right now:
Cashback
A cashback scheme is where the poker casino will give you back a percentage of your losses. How much can you expect back? Well, it varies from site to site, but around 10% is common. What you can do with this cash also depends on the casino – some will give it to you as bonus gambling money, similar to store credit in a shop, while other sites will let you withdraw it into your bank account to spend on whatever you like.
The Digital Poker Table: How Playing Online Is Different
While poker variants have the same rules regardless of where you play, playing online is a very different beast to being in the same room as your opponents. Just like if you wanted to play online roulette, the digital format offers distinct opportunities and conventions that can influence your strategy and affect your experience. Understanding these key differences allows you to optimise your approach and win rate. Here is an in-depth comparison of real life poker versus online poker.
Advantages of Playing Poker Online vs Real Life
Of course, online poker at an operator like Party Casino is much more convenient than offline. You can play from the comfort of your own home at any time, so there’s need to travel to a poker room or wait for a seat. The variety of games and tournament formats is much wider than at most live cardrooms, including games with micro stakes that may well appeal to you if you’re a beginner. And as we saw above, many poker sites provide generous welcome bonuses and rewards unavailable at in-person casinos.
Added to that is the fact that player pools are significantly larger online, with poker sites attracting thousands of players from around the world together across cash games and tournaments. This means you'll always find full tables and huge tournament prize pools at all stake levels. And the pace of the online game is much faster – you get to play roughly twice the number of hands per hour due to faster automated dealing. Auto check/fold also makes multi-tabling easier by reducing required actions.
However, some people prefer the tangible cards, chips, and social dynamics of playing poker in person. Plus when you play online you can’t register people’s physical tells, which weakens your ability to analyse opponents – but conversely, it hides your giveaways too! Finally, for some people the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of the casino or cardroom is a major part of the live poker experience, and even live dealer poker struggles to recreate that.
Here’s a simple comparison of the differences between online and live poker:
Think Strategically: 10 Expert Tips for Online Poker Success
So, we know what the main practical differences are between online and live poker, but what about gameplay and strategy? Specifically, how can you adapt your game online to take advantage of the different opportunities the format offers?
Our poker experts have put together this list of tips to help you succeed online.
- Start at low stakes to get used to the faster pace of online poker and learn the software without risking much money. In online poker hands are dealt much faster than at live games, and this faster pace takes time to adjust to. By starting small, you can learn the gameplay and software while minimising losses. Jumping into high stakes right away is risky.
- Use poker trackers and HUDs (head-up displays) to get stats on opponents, where the site allows. These apps track hands to give you stats on exactly when opponents are raising, calling, or folding. This data gives you an edge online that you can't get live, since you can't manually track everything at a fast live table. The stats allow you to identify (and hopefully exploit) other opponents' habits and weaknesses
- Play a simplified, tight, and aggressive strategy before the flop. This means only playing strong hands preflop, raising for value and 3-betting light (when you re-raise someone else’s raise, even though your hand isn’t the strongest). Passive opponents and players using multiple tables tend to play too many weak hands preflop online, so you need to exploit them before the flop. This works better online because it's faster to can find good situations like this due to all the extra hands dealt.
- Avoid bluffing and fancy moves against calling stations (players who consistently call bets and rarely raise). Many casual players and fish love to call too much, so bluffing them when you miss the flop just loses money. Instead, aggressively bet when you make a hand. This is specifically applicable to online low stakes games, which are full of these player types.
- Be prepared mentally and financially for bad luck and variance. Online poker deals hands much faster than live games. This produces many more failures per hour. You must be ready for the swings or you'll get frustrated and risk losing your bankroll. Don't get emotional about it. This extreme variance is unique to online poker.
- Review hands and database filters to fix leaks in your game. Online poker sites let you review past hands and see stats for spots you commonly play. Use this data to analyse weaknesses and improve. Doing this live would require extensive manual tracking. Fixing leaks is vital for beating tough online player pools.
- Respect turn and river raises as very strong. At the micro stakes, opponents aren't frequently bluff raising. Assume a raise on the turn or river is for value with a strong made hand – we’re talking sets or better. Don't pay them off lightly. This applies online specifically because ranges tend to be weaker in live games.
- Select your table based on available player stats. Sites with anonymous tables let you cherry-pick weak players by their stats. A high VPIP (Voluntary Put money In Pot; how often a player voluntarily decides to put money into the pot, excluding blinds) and weak aggression factors indicate a fish (an unskillful player). You can't choose live tables in this way, so table selection is a big advantage online.
- Use time-bank features to get more time for decisions. Online poker uses a timer forcing fast decisions to keep the pace quick. Use time extensions so you can play accurately. Live poker doesn't force you to act as fast. Managing the online clock takes practice.
- Multi-table to maximise earnings. You can play more tables at once to make up for the lower win rate, but start with one table until you are comfortable. Multi-tabling works online because you play faster. Playing ten live tables is impossible. More volume equals more profit.
Understanding the Rake: How It Impacts Your Strategy and Earnings
When playing online poker, you'll come across mentions of a ‘rake’ taken from pots by the poker site. But what is it? Here's a basic explanation of the rake and how it impacts your earnings.
Simply put, the rake is a fee the poker site charges for providing the game. It's their revenue stream, which they need to cover costs and make profits. This rake is taken from the pot after each hand.
There are a few different rake models:
- Pot rake. This is a percentage (typically 2.5–5%) of the total pot, up to a maximum fee per hand. In this model, the more action there is, the higher the rake.
- Time collection. In this system, a set fee is taken from each player at fixed time intervals like every 30 minutes.
- Tournament rake. This is where a percentage of the total buy-in goes to the site.
So how does this affect your strategy? Well, higher rakes result in lower long-term earnings. As a result, it may be better to play a tighter (more conservative) game when rakes are high, which means avoid paying to see a lot of flops by folding more. In general, your definition of a hand that is worth calling or raising may become narrower.
The rake also impacts the optimal stack-to-pot ratio (the ratio between the size of your remaining chip stack and the size of the pot in a given hand). For example, let's say you’re in a poker game that has a rake of 5% up to a max of £5 per pot. In a £100 pot, the rake would be the full £5. So if you had a £1,000 stack, betting £100 into that pot has a 10:1 stack-to-pot ratio, so the % rake impact is minimal.
However, if the game had a 10% rake up to £10, that same £100 pot now has a £10 rake taken. That means for you to have the same 10:1 stack-to-pot ratio, you’d need a stack of £2,000 in order to bet £100 into the pot.
In this example, the higher rake game required double the effective stack to maintain the same ratio. Keeping a larger effective stack minimises the rake's impact on winnings from any given pot. The high rake impacts stack strategy, forcing deeper buys.
Safety First: Trustworthiness of UK Poker Sites
When playing online poker for real money, safety should be one of your highest priorities. Don’t settle for anything less than legit UK poker sites with stringent security measures in place. Here's what to look for when figuring out the trustworthiness of top UK poker sites.
Ensuring Your Security: How Top UK Poker Sites Protect You
The best possible advice here is to only play at UK poker sites licensed by the UKGC. For sites to get this licence, they have to meet strict standards around safety, transparency, and responsible gambling. The UKGC also handles complaints against dodgy operators… whereas if you use an unlicensed poker site, you have nowhere to go if you suffer poor treatment. For the record, all online casinos recommended by Casinos.com, including each online poker site listed on this page, are fully licensed and regulated.
The best poker sites in the UK use advanced encryption to protect your personal and financial data. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology scrambles information during data transfers. This means that your passwords, banking details, and gameplay actions are all fully encrypted and kept out of the reach of hackers.
Reputable online poker sites also undergo regular auditing by eCOGRA and other third parties. This verifies their random number generators produce fair game outcomes. eCOGRA also checks payout percentages and enforces responsible gambling. So if you see their logo, you know the site is regularly checked for fairness.
Navigating the Legal Landscape: Recognising Legit Poker Sites
You can double check if an operator is licensed by searching the UKGC database here. While you’re at it, you may also want to verify if they have certifications for responsible gambling standards, such as those promoted by GamCare.
And while we’re on the subject of responsible gambling, you may want to consider joining GAMSTOP. This handy tool allows you to self-exclude from all licensed UK gambling sites including poker sites. A casino that takes this issue seriously will promote GAMSTOP on its site, so it’s worth looking out for a link to the service.
On the other side of the coin, playing at unlicensed poker sites is extremely risky. They offer no protections or recourse for you if things go wrong. We encourage you to always verify UKGC licensing and look for certificates from eCOGRA and others. This guarantees you are gambling at legal, highly secure poker sites in the UK – like the ones on this page.
Online Tournaments and Game Types at UK Poker Sites
Just as the best baccarat casinos online regularly host tournaments for players, poker sites in the UK offer plenty of opportunities to pit your wits against others for huge prizes.
Online poker tournaments have lower buy-ins than most live tournaments, making them accessible to all bankrolls. Here's an overview of the major online game and tournament formats at the top online poker casinos.
Cash Games
The simplest form of poker game out there. You don’t need to buy into a tournament, or wait for a table to fill up – just join a table with some chips and start playing. And whenever you want to leave, you can. Other players don’t appreciate it when someone rocks up at a table, wins a couple of big hands, then makes a quick exit, but the beauty of the cash game is that you’re free to come and go as you wish.
Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs)
The most popular online poker tournament format. These massive tournaments field hundreds or thousands of players competing for top prizes. Blinds increase over time to eliminate players until one winner remains.
Sit & Go
These games begin as soon as six to ten players register at a table. The prize pool distribution is predetermined based on the field size. At Sit & Gos, you aren’t allowed to cash out or rebuy – everyone keeps going until they’re out, and the last person standing (or sitting, more likely) takes the top prize.
Satellites
These provide entry into major live tournament events or online equivalents. Buy-ins are lower but prizes consist of seats to bigger tournaments. Satellites funnel large fields from small entries to big target events.
Other Tournaments
The best UK poker sites host major tournament series like Spring Championships and Summer Series. These high profile events have huge guaranteed prize pools up to $30 million for the largest series.
Top sites also run marquee tournaments with big buy-ins and even bigger prizes. Satellites give you a shot at reaching these events on without having to stump up the (often considerable) buy-in. While massive player fields make it difficult to win outright, coming in the top 5–10% can result in five or six-figure paydays at some poker sites.
Freeroll Tournaments
These don't cost anything to enter but give you a shot at real money prizes or seats to bigger events. New players can find freerolls under the 'Promotions' tab at most poker sites. Some require loyalty points or a deposit to enter. But remember to read the eligibility requirements carefully before registering. While freerolls won't make you rich, they help grow your bankroll and skills risk-free. Take advantage of them when starting on your online poker journey.
Secure and Swift: Payment and Withdrawal Methods at the Best Poker Sites
Reputable UK poker sites offer a variety of secure payment methods to make it easy for you to deposit and withdraw cash. Here are the most common options and their pros and cons.
Debit Cards. Poker sites always accept Visa and Mastercard debit cards from the major UK banks. Deposits are instant, while withdrawals take 1–3 days but go directly to your bank account. Debit cards are simple and convenient for British players. Remember that credit cards are not permitted at UK online casinos, so if you want to pay by plastic consider the top Visa Electron casinos.
E-Wallets. PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill are popular e-wallet options that you’ll find at most poker sites. Both deposits and withdrawals are processed quickly – within 24 hours in most cases. This is a very convenient method once you’ve signed up with a provider, not least because you can easily attach your e-wallet account to other online casinos or simply use it as a way of storing cash. One big downside though is that online poker sites often exclude e-wallets from taking part in bonuses, so read the T&Cs carefully if you’re thinking of playing at online casinos that accept PayPal, for instance.
Prepaid Cards. Prepaid cards purchased from high street shops are both secure and private, since you’re able to make anonymous deposits. Bear in mind that there may be limits in place depending on the provider – for example, if £100 is the largest amount you can buy, you’ll have to get multiple cards if you want to deposit more. Withdrawals can be directed to your bank account or your card balance, usually after you’ve registered for a full account with your provider.
Bank Transfer. Direct bank transfers from your account to the poker site allow you to make large deposits and withdrawals securely and without fees. On the other hand, they’re the slowest possible method, taking 3–5 days to process in both directions, and can be awkward to set up.
Financial Safety Nets: Security Measures at Leading Poker Sites UK
OK, so now you know what your options are when it comes to paying money into a poker site and then taking it out again, but how can you trust the operator to look after your cash? What systems and protocols are in place to keep your money hidden from hackers and fraudsters?
The first thing that reputable UK poker sites like Bet365 casino do is use state-of-the-art technological systems to protect your money. This means using 128-bit or higher SSL encryption as well as firewalls to secure financial transactions and player funds. Not only that, but your account balance is kept in protected accounts, separate from company funds. Independent auditors also regularly verify that your account balance matches whatever you deposited.
And how do you know which UK poker sites have these procedures in place? Well, as we’ve mentioned a couple of times, that’s one of the great benefits of joining a UKGC-licensed poker site, since having appropriate security measures in place is a strict requirement for obtaining and keeping the licence. Every poker site listed on this page holds a UKGC licence, so you can rest assured that your money will be safe if you sign up with one of them.
Casinos.com Tip
If you want to sign up for a poker site bonus, first check which payment methods are eligible and which aren't. If not, you risk forfeiting your bonus funds.
Online Poker on Mobile: Better on Browser or App?
Gambling on your mobile is now standard. So much so, in fact, that every top UK poker site has a highly responsive mobile casino site that you can access from any smartphone or tablet and enjoy the same experience as if you were on desktop.
Swipe controls and features like auto-check/fold make it extremely simple to play mobile poker. You'll also find full game lobbies, account management features, access to bonuses, and the ability to join tournaments. Multi-tabling is often supported through split-screen views, and resizing and portrait/landscape orientation all help to optimise mobile play. All you need is a stable internet connection.
But some leading poker sites have gone a step further and developed top online casino apps for iOS and Android devices that you can download. So that begs the question: if you want to play poker on mobile, should you download an app or not?
The short answer is… it depends on the operator and your preferences. In general, apps often provide a slightly smoother, richer experience. They’re designed to take full advantage of your device’s capabilities, which means they are designed specifically for smaller screens and mobile UX. In some cases, certain features that are unavailable or slightly difficult to use on a mobile browser are there in all their glory on the app. Against this, you’ll need to download and install the app, which takes up memory space on your device.
The Engine Behind the Game: Software at the Best Poker Sites
To make sure playing online poker is as fun as can be, it’s vital that poker sites use modern and robust software for managing games, security, and overall user experience. Here's an overview of the key software providers and features powering the top UK poker sites.
Many poker sites use third-party software from specialist companies. This allows them to provide best-in-class experience to their customers, while giving you access to larger player networks and big prizes. Two of the biggest ones are:
- Connective Games: This company specialises in creating and building localised online poker products. Their technologies and services are tailored to local markets, allowing their partners to compete with some of the largest online poker brands in the world.
- Playtech: Playtech is a well-known name in the online gaming industry. They have a product called iPoker, which is a poker client used by many online poker sites. The client features multiple game types and an extensive selection of table stakes and buy-ins.
On the other hand, some poker sites use their own software to stand out from the competition by putting on a unique experience.
Modern poker software typically uses innovative features to enhance gameplay. Here are some common features you can expect to find.
- Integrated Table Selection: This allows you to filter and select tables based on parameters like player stats and the number of players. It makes finding ideal games for your level and style much faster.
- Action Clocks: These are timers limiting how much time you have to act on when it's your turn. This keeps gameplay fast-paced, and it can take a while to get used to.
- Rabbit Hunting: This reveals what the next community card would have been after a hand ends. It lets you analyse how the hand could have played out had it continued.
- Hand Replayers: Here you can replay a full hand after it ends from all positions. This is incredibly useful for analysing your own play or spotting your opponents’ ticks and strategy.
- SnapCam Avatars: Some sites generate virtual avatars and faces based on your play statistics and style for a bit of extra fun.
- Multi-tabling: This allows you to play on multiple tables at once without it looking too cluttered on your screen.
- Trackers: These built-in Heads-Up Displays (HUDs( and trackers gather stats on opponents to help you exploit their weaknesses. Often the displays are customisable.
Of course, poker software also includes highly sophisticated security technology to prevent fraud and guarantee fairness through RNG technology, which ensures that card dealing is totally randomised.
How We Rank the Best UK Online Poker Sites
We focus on several important criteria when assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the various poker sites in the UK. These are the main areas we look for:
- General reputation
- Ease of registration
- Quality of the user experience
- Strength of the mobile app
- Poker game variety
- Site traffic and liquidity
- Breadth of skill levels
- Range of buy-ins
- Guaranteed prize pools
- Customer support
- Security record
- Bonuses and promotions
The best online poker sites in the UK excel in all of these categories. They offer a strong all-round user experience via the website or the mobile app. Plus of course they’re all licensed, regulated operators with flawless security records and a proven ability to pay out in full and on time.
The poker sites on this page offer a variety of games to suit all styles and bankrolls. You should be able to play the games you enjoy, at buy-in rates you feel comfortable with, against players of the correct skill level, at any time of day.
Online Poker Glossary
If you're new to the poker, one of the first things you'll notice is how much jargon everyone uses. Don't worry, it's not very complicated, although it does take a little getting used to. Here are some of the most important terms explained.
- Action: The betting and raising that occurs during a poker hand.
- All-in: When a player bets all of their remaining chips on a hand.
- Ante: A small forced bet that players pay before being dealt cards.
- Bad beat: When a strong hand loses to an even stronger hand in an unlucky manner.
- Bet: Chips placed in the pot on a betting round.
- Big blind: The larger forced blind bet, usually double the small blind, posted before cards are dealt.
- Blind: Forced bets made before seeing any cards to stimulate action.
- Bluff: Betting strongly, often on a weak hand, to get opponents to fold better hands.
- Board: The community cards in Hold'em and Omaha visible to all players.
- Bounty: A prize collected for eliminating a player in a bounty tournament.
- Button: A marker indicating the dealer position at the table.
- Call: Matching the amount of a bet placed by another player.
- Check: Choosing not to bet when facing no pending bets on that round.
- Chip leader: The player with the most chips at the table.
- Community cards: Shared cards dealt face up in the centre of the table.
- Continuation bet: A bet made after the flop by the player who bet before the flop.
- Disconnect protection: Rules that protect a player if they lose internet connection.
- Flop: The first three community cards dealt in Hold'em and Omaha.
- Flush: Having five cards of the same suit.
- Fold: Forfeiting a hand by not calling a bet.
- Four of a kind: A hand with all four cards of the same rank.
- Full house: A hand with three of one rank and two of another rank.
- Heads-up: When the action is down to just two players.
- Hole cards: A player's two private cards not visible to opponents.
- Implied odds: Future bets a player could earn eventually with their hand, e.g. two hole cards of the same suit isn’t worth much initially, but could develop into a flush.
- Kickers: Unpaired cards used to break ties between similar hands.
- Limp: Calling the big blind instead of raising preflop.
- Multi-tabling: Playing at multiple tables at the same time.
- Nuts: The best possible hand in that scenario.
- Open-ended straight draw: Needing one card at either end to complete a straight.
- Overpair: Having a pocket pair higher than any possible pair using the board cards.
- Pot: The total sum of chips wagered in a hand.
- Pre-flop: The betting round after hole cards are dealt but before the flop.
- Quads: Four of a kind.
- Rake: The percentage fee taken by the site from each pot.
- River: The fifth and final community card in Hold'em and Omaha.
- Satellite: A tournament where prizes are entries into a larger tournament.
- Set: Three of a kind with at least one in the player's hole cards.
- Side pot: A separate pot for players still active when others are all-in.
- Small blind: The smaller of two forced blind bets, usually half the big blind.
- Straight: Five consecutive ranked cards.
- Straight flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
- Three bet: A re-raise after one player has bet and another player has raised.
- Three of a kind: Having three cards of the same rank.
- Turn: The fourth community card dealt in Hold'em and Omaha.
- Under the gun: The player first to act preflop after the blinds.
- Value bet: Betting to get maximum value when you have the best hand.
- Wheel: The lowest possible straight (A-2-3-4-5).
- Wet board: A board with several possible draws or straight/flush possibilities.
- Wrap: Having cards that can make a straight with three different cards.
- Check-raise: Checking and then raising after an opponent bets.
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