There has never been a better time to start playing online poker in the UK — the cash traffic is crazy, there are tons of fish to profit off, and massive tournaments are taking place 24/7.
After months of playing at the UK’s top online poker rooms, we’ve narrowed down a list of the 4 best poker sites that you must consider if you’re serious about playing cards.
Thanks to its big-money tournaments, newbie-friendly approach, and one of the best poker bonuses, PokerStars took the top spot as UK’s best poker site. Still, all of the other online poker platforms listed below are just as good.
Let’s take a look.
Best Poker Sites in the UK
– PokerStars: Best UK online poker site overall
– Grosvenor: Best for satellite tournaments
– 888 Poker: Best for new players
– 777 Poker: Best for live dealer poker games
1. PokerStars – Best Poker Site in the UK Overall
18+ and new players only. Bonus expires after 120 days. Bonus will be paid out in increments of £5 for every 100 redemption points earned. Note that the full T&Cs apply.
Pros:
– Home of the WCOOP, the biggest online poker tourney in the world
– Free poker resources, live TV shows, poker school
– Home Games Poker Club to play privately with friends
– Generous 100% deposit match welcome bonus
– 20+ poker variants
– Fully-customizable poker software
Cons:
– UK residents must download the poker client
PokerStars is the name that brought online poker to life — that’s a fact. It continues to do so 2 decades later with numerous poker variants, some of the best tournaments for UK players, and massive traffic that provides action throughout the entire day.
These are just a few reasons why PokerStars ranked as the best UK online poker site, so let’s see what it’s all about.
Poker Variants: 5/5
Nearly all poker sites offer the three standard options for online real money poker games (Texas Holdem, Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo), and a handful will offer a few more types. But this prestigious online poker brand offers over 20.
Variants include Showtime Hold’em, 6-Card Omaha, HORSE, Razz, 5-Card Draw, 7-Card Stud, Fusion, Badugi, and much more.
Tournaments & Other Poker Features: 5/5
This trend-setting online poker brand is constantly busy with traffic 24/7, so finding a quick cash game or enough players for a tournament is not an issue here.
PokerStars offers a plethora of daily, weekly, and annual tournaments, including two of the biggest attractions in the industry today: the largest weekly online tournament (Sunday Million) and the most prominent online poker tournament worldwide — the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP).
Indeed, PokerStars gives UK players the option of Home Games, where you can form your own private club to play real money poker with your friends.
There are a ton of bells and whistles that you will find in Home Games, like the video chat option, which allows you to see and talk with your friends while you take their money (that’s mean).
Welcome Offer: 4.8/5
PokerStars offers new UK players a 100% match up to an impressive £400. Even better, this bonus is good on your first three deposits.
To trigger this offer, UK players must deposit at least £10 and enter the code STARS600.
The bonus money is released in £5 increments for every 100 redemption points earned; for every £1 you pay in tournament or rake fees, you will earn 6.5 points.
Players are given four months (120 days) to complete the bonus, which should provide you with plenty of time to collect your online poker winnings.
Banking: 5/5
It’s always the more the merrier at PokerStars, and their banking options are no exception.
UK players have over 20 banking methods to choose from, many of which are good for both deposits and withdrawals alike. This is a much higher number of methods than what most other UK poker sites offer.
For deposits and payouts, PokerStars accepts debit cards, Skrill, wire transfer, ecoPayz, PaySafeCard, PayPal, Google Pay, and Neteller, most of which are fee-free. However, we still recommend checking that for your particular method of payment.
Start playing poker at the biggest online poker room in the UK
2. Grosvenor – Best Satellite Tournaments of all Poker Sites in the UK
18+, UK residents and new players only on the first deposit. £20 bonus 5x rollover, £10 bonus 10x rollover. £20 expires after 30 days. £10 bonus expires after 7 days. £20 bonus on select games in the casino only. £10 bonus for classic slots or live casino games only. Note that the full T&Cs apply.
Pros:
– Home of the National Poker League, GUKPT, and The Goliath
– Exclusive qualifiers for the biggest MTTs and tours
– Live streaming for major poker events
– Fast PayPal withdrawals
– No banking fees
Cons:
– Few banking options
– No bonus for poker
UK poker players are no strangers to Grosvenor, the United Kingdom’s biggest land-based poker operator. They are the creators of the National Poker League (NPL), the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT), and the biggest European live poker tournament, The Goliath.
Grosvenor is also an excellent platform for an engaging poker community, and you can even watch live poker streams directly on the site.
Poker Variants: 4.6/5
Grosvenor offers five primary variants: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7-Card Stud, and a classic form of poker rarely offered by online poker rooms these days, 5-Card Stud.
Although the variety here is not as comprehensive as at PokerStars, Grosvenor still covers the most popular variants plus some classic games.
Tournaments & Other Poker Features: 5/5
This online poker site has a solid range of styles for ring games and tournaments, such as fixed limit, pot limit, no limit, 6-plus, twister, and sit-and-go jackpots.
Ranking as the best online poker site for satellite tournaments, Grosvenor offers a large-scale schedule of satellites that rivals options from any online poker provider.
This extensive schedule provides players of all skill levels a chance to earn UK tour tournament tickets for major multi-table tournaments (MTTs) that are exclusively held in the United Kingdom.
Major online poker UK events sponsored by Grosvenor include the 25/25 Series, the two-day Deepstack tournament, The Goliath (a massive tournament with daily guarantees of £250,000), and a wide range of GUKPT events.
You can also earn a seat at an MTT competition via Grosvenor’s NPL, a points-based league where UK players earn points that can be used to enter qualifying tournaments.
Welcome Offer: 4/5
Grosvenor’s qualifiers, satellites, and other poker-specific features are reasons enough to visit this online poker site, which is good because, unfortunately, they currently do not offer a deposit bonus for their poker room.
However, if you want to take a break from playing cards to check out what Grosvenor’s casino is all about, then they have a great deal for you.
New UK players can claim a casino bonus on their first deposit of £20 to play with £50. When you make a minimum deposit of £20, Grosvenor will match it 100% up to £20; then, you can claim an additional £10 bonus that you can use on some of the best UK online slots or live games.
Banking: 4/5
For deposits, you can use debit cards, PayPal, and PaySafeCard. For withdrawals, the poker site offers debit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal.
While a lack of banking options is not ideal, conveniently, there are no fees for any of the methods. Payouts via PayPal are delivered within just 24 hours, a much faster rate than many UK poker sites, so this helps make up for Grosvenor’s slim range of banking methods.
Take a stab at some of the biggest satellite poker tournaments in the UK
3. 888 Poker – Best UK Online Poker Site for New Players
18+ and new United Kingdom players only. Bonus is released in tournament tickets over 7 days after they are claimed. Each ticket expires in 24 hours after it is distributed. Note that the full T&Cs apply.
Pros:
– Micro-stakes for ring games and tournaments
– Satellites for major events, including the WSOP
– Excellent poker tools for new UK players
– No deposit bonus for poker
– Over 18 banking methods
Cons:
– Longer payout times than other poker sites
– Few poker variants
The well-known 888 online gambling brand first debuted in 1997, followed by its 2002 launch of online poker, making it one of the oldest casino sites in history.
While 888 has high-stake options and features suitable for players of all skill levels, the low-stake poker cash games are perfect for beginners and grinders. Additionally, the poker tools 888 provides are second to none.
Poker Variants: 4/5
If you are new to poker, then you will likely appreciate that 888 is not going to overwhelm you with an abundance of choices in this category. However, if you are a seasoned card player in search of variety, then PokerStars may be a better fit for you.
This UK online poker site offers three main variants for cash games and online poker tournaments: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo. You can also enjoy the classic poker cash game, 7-Card Stud.
Tournaments & Other Poker Features: 5/5
At 888 Poker, you can join PKOs, turbos, freezeouts, 6-max, and MTTs with a large variety of high-stake and micro-stake buy-ins.
An impressive feature of this poker site is the dedicated “Beginners” section, which features three easy-to-understand poker variants at nine different tables.
Yet another reason why 888 is one of the best UK poker sites for new players is the availability of tournaments with blinds starting at the lowest stake possible of just 1p/2p. This micro-stakes (deep stack) feature is perfect for beginner card players to learn the ropes.
This poker operator is also known for holding low-stake satellites for entry into the WSOP, so there is a lot of opportunity in their satellite and tournament sections without much risk.
If you are new to online poker or your style is to grind out a profit, you may want to visit 888 for their micro-stakes cash games, which also start at 1p/2p blinds. This is a unique low-risk opportunity because an experienced or professional poker player is likely to be found playing ring games, but 1p stakes tend to keep the sharps away.
Welcome Offer: 4.5/5
New UK players can claim a £20 no deposit bonus at 888 to play poker tournaments. The £20 is distributed in free tournament tickets over 7 days.
Then, for your first-ever deposit of at least £10, you can claim a 100% deposit match up to £800 for select games in the casino.
Related: UK’s Best Bingo Sites
Banking: 4.5/5
This online poker platform offers over 20 banking methods. For deposits and payouts, options include debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, and wire transfers, along with 15 additional methods for funding your poker account, including Neosurf and Purple Pay.
Related: Best PayPal Casinos in the UK
We recommend using PayPal here since some of the other payment methods carry transaction fees.
Get started at our top pick for new poker players
4. 777 Poker – Best Live Dealer Selection of any Poker Site in the UK
18+ and new players only on the first deposit. Minimum deposit £20. Players have seven days to convert FreePlays into a bonus. Players have 90 days to complete the 50x rollover on the bonus to withdraw the bonus winnings. FreePlays are good on select games only. Note that the full T&Cs apply.
Pros:
– Excellent variety of live dealer poker tables
– Good selection of progressive jackpots
– Fast payouts
Cons:
– High wagering requirements
– Doesn’t host tournaments or cash tables
777 Poker has become very popular for its premium online slots and massive selection of 100+ live dealer tables for blackjack, roulette, baccarat, game shows and poker.
Related: New Online Slots in the UK
While most players prefer competing against other users in an online poker room, some enjoy live dealer poker, like the games found on the main casino floor at brick-and-mortar gambling halls, which 777 is perfect for.
Poker Variants: 4/5
Since 777 Poker does not offer online cardrooms, to be fair, we compared the games here to other live dealer casino site, and 777 ranks as one of the best live casinos in the UK.
You have over a dozen tables to choose from, consisting of Casino Stud, 3-Card Brag, Hold’em, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, 3-Card Poker, and 2-Hand Casino Hold’em, among many others.
Tournaments & Other Poker Features: 3/5
Clearly, you won’t find any tournaments or ring games here. However, 777 is arguably one of the best online casinos in the UK for the rare offering of low-stake live dealer games.
Most live dealer poker tables have stakes that start at just £1 and go up to £3,000, but you can play some of their most popular titles, including Texas Hold’em, for as low as 50p.
Welcome Offer: 3/5
This retro-styled casino site is giving new players a 100% deposit match up to £200 on select titles with a 50x rollover. The rollover is a tad steep, and we can only recommend claiming it if you don’t mind playing for a longer period of time until you meet it.
Enter the code WELCOME777 before depositing to trigger this offer — and don’t forget that you’ll need to lay down a minimum of £20.
The casino at 777 consists of over 500 quality games to choose from, the majority of which are massively popular slot games, so it’s safe to say that you’ll have plenty of games to use your bonus funds on.
Banking: 4.5/5
Banking is never an issue at 777, as the most popular methods among UK players are all covered, including debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Skrill, MuchBetter, Neteller, wire transfer, and Trustly.
Related: Best Crypto Gambling Sites
Impressively, most payouts get processed in just 10 minutes, but it takes a bit longer until they hit your e-wallet or bank account.
Play the highest-quality live dealer poker games at 777
How We Rated the Top Online UK Poker Sites
Poker Variants:
Texas Hold’em is the most popular variant, granted. Still, since some of you might prefer other less-popular options, we made sure only to recommend poker sites with enough variety to suit the needs of most players from the United Kingdom.
Tournaments & Other Poker Features:
We studied the styles of online tournaments and cash games the UK online poker sites provide to their players. We also analysed any standout features that players find truly useful, such as guides, a poker club, or any major MTTs, tours, or satellites a poker site may sponsor.
Related: Best New Casinos in the UK
Welcome Offer:
Poker-tailored welcome offers are not that common, so UK poker sites received points straight away if they offered a bonus for poker. We also assessed the T&Cs to ensure the welcome offer is actually redeemable.
Banking:
Another one of our ranking benchmarks was whether a poker site offers the most popular payment methods among UK players. That said, each poker room we recommend features broad banking flexibility to accommodate most players from the United Kingdom.
Guide to Playing at UK’s Best Poker Sites
Is Playing Online Poker in the UK Safe?
If you play online poker at reputable and top UK poker sites, then it is safe to play real money poker games online.
Legit UK online poker sites, such as PokerStars and Grosvenor, are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which oversees the entirety of the UK gambling market in Great Britain.
Where Are the Best Resources to Learn to Play Poker Online?
From a seemingly countless number of video tutorials, books, and websites — which are all good resources to learn the ropes — actually playing the game is what’ll give you the greatest insight.
Most UK poker sites have in-depth resources to help new poker players get started, like 888 Poker’s informative guides or PokerStars’ free poker school, which includes videos, written materials, and even tips from their sponsored pros.
Should Beginners Start with Cash Games or Poker Tournaments?
Poker strategy completely differs when it comes to cash games and tournaments, so it is best to stick with one at a time when first learning the game.
Most casual and beginner players love tournaments, while most professionals and sharps hit the cash tables. Playing with pros can be a fun and educational experience, but it is best to head where most of your peers will be if you are just starting out.
Plus, tournaments are a better platform for learning and analysing the game of poker because they typically move at a slower pace than cash tables, which is perfect for new players.
However, tournaments can be very time-consuming, so a cash game is great if you are looking for moderate gameplay time, but it is wisest to hit the tables with lower stakes if you are new.
What is the Most Popular Type of Poker Tournament in the UK?
Freezeout is the standard tournament and the most popular. This is a single-elimination tournament where each player involved receives a set stack of chips with no options for re-entries or rebuys.
Most major poker tournaments are freezeouts, including the Main Events of the WSOP and PokerStars’ WCOOP.
What is the Best Poker App in the UK?
Based on its popularity, player traffic, and overall poker software reliability, PokerStars is the best poker app for UK players. There’s a 100% up to £400 welcome offer for new players from the United Kingdom.
Is Online Poker Rigged in the UK?
No, online poker is not rigged and is just as safe as playing at a land-based poker room. Poker sites in the UK make money by charging a percentage of the pot — not by rigging the game or ripping you off. Online poker at licensed sites is completely safe.
Can I Play Free Games at UK Poker Rooms?
Yes, most poker sites in the UK allow players to enjoy free poker games for fun, which is a good way to learn the game before spending real money.
Which UK Online Poker Site is Best For Me?
Aside from safety, the first thing to look for when sifting through UK online poker sites is to make sure the platform has plenty of player traffic, like 888 Poker, PokerStars, and Grosvenor.
Choosing an online poker platform that provides you with a solid selection of your favourite poker games is also important.
If you enjoy big tournaments, then you may want to play cards at Grosvenor. Or, if you love having a vast selection of variants to choose from, then PokerStars may be your new favourite spot. And for those that prefer live dealer poker casino games, 777 Poker is definitely worth visiting.
Comparison of the Top Online Poker Sites in the UK
Here is a brief recap of the top UK poker sites and their stand-out features:
PokerStars: Coming in at the top of the list as the overall best United Kingdom poker site, PokerStars hosts the biggest online poker tournaments, features over 20 poker variants, and allows you to play with friends privately. Get started at this world-famous site using the code STARS600 for a 100% bonus of up to $600 (£400). Note that the full T&Cs apply.
Grosvenor: Known for its exclusive qualifiers and satellites for major MTTs and tours, including The Goliath and GUKPT, plus live streaming options to watch your favourite poker contests. UK players can also enjoy fast PayPal withdrawals and no banking fees. If you want to switch to the casino section, you can claim up to a £50 bonus. Note that the full T&Cs apply.
888 Poker: An excellent platform for beginners, known for providing micro-stakes tournaments with GTDs, low-stake cash tables, and amazing poker tools that players can take advantage of. If you are an experienced player or a novice, you can enjoy this fun UK poker site with zero risk by claiming their no deposit £20 poker bonus. Note that the full T&Cs apply.
777 Poker: This casino provides players with some of the best live dealer poker games in the market, perfect for that land-based casino feel. You can also benefit from the quickest withdrawals here and claim up to £200 on your first deposit. Note that the full T&Cs apply.
How to Get Started at UK Online Pokers Sites
Since PokerStars ranked as the top site for poker in the UK, let’s see how easy it is to sign up with them:
Step One: Head to PokerStars
– Visit PokerStars and click the green Join Now button
– Choose your username and password, and enter your email
– Accurately fill out the next pop page, including your home address and full name
Step Two: Verify Your Email
– Open your inbox and look for a mail by PokerStars
– Click the link inside to verify your account
Step Three: Deposit and Play Online Poker
– Open the cashier section, located at the top of the site
– Use the code STARS600 for a 100% deposit match
– Deposit at least £10 to start playing poker online at the best UK poker site
Related: Best online casinos UK
Ready to Play at the Best Online Poker Sites in the UK?
We hope our deep dive into the UK’s online poker world provided you with ample information on what each of the top poker rooms has to offer.
Since PokerStars features the best cash game traffic and some of the biggest online poker tournaments, we’ve selected it as the best online poker site for players from the United Kingdom.
Still, 888Poker and Grosvenor are two other online poker rooms that you must consider. It’s best that you test them out on minimum stakes to see which software suits you best.
Playing poker is primarily a fun activity, so don’t forget to play responsibly!
DISCLAIMER: Gambling isn’t a venture to engage in if you have financial troubles due to the risks involved. Don’t forget the famous catchphrase: the house always wins.
Suppose you’re struggling with a gambling addiction or know someone who does, contact the National Gambling helpline today via 0808-8020-133. There are several advisors available to help make gambling safe for both you and your loved ones.
Don’t forget that gambling websites are rated 18+ only. More so, you may be unable to access the casino sites listed here, so ensure you check your local laws for online gambling and its legality. We offer reader-supported and independent reviews. While we may earn commissions for recommendations in our website guides, it won’t affect our ranking method. We’re committed to providing the best gaming experience for all players.
For more free gambling addiction resources, visit these organizations:
https://www.gamcare.org.uk/
https://www.gamstop.co.uk/
https://www.begambleaware.org/
