Poker in the UK
The UK is one of the friendliest markets in the entire world when it comes to online poker. There are some areas of where the laws are changing, mostly to require local licensing of online poker sites for tax purposes. For the most part though, the United Kingdom offers the most liberal poker laws available.
888 Poker
A well-known informational poker website, describes 888 Poker as “one of the top five online poker networks in the world in terms of traffic.” Naturally, 888 Poker offers a multitude of opportunities for No Limit Hold’em poker players given that No Limit is the most popular game in the poker world; thanks largely to widely-televised Main Events of WSOP and WSOPE.
However, 888 Poker also offers players the choice to play Omaha and/or Stud games (both regular and high-low for each kind).
888 Poker features HUD Compatibility
888 Poker’s software is one of its strengths. First, a player who uses a HUD can have all of his hand histories stored on his hard drive.
Mac Users enjoy Downloadable Software from 888 Poker
Next, a Mac-using poker player will love that 888 is compatible and that there is no need for downloads.
888 Poker features 3D Gaming
Finally, a player can simultaneously play both in the poker room and casino in 3D and can even utilize a webcam at certain tables. Interestingly, between 2004 and 2008, 888 sponsored a UK Poker Open live tournament.
Bet365 Poker – A top choice in the UK
Bet365 Poker website is another one of the largest poker websites in the world, and while the US players cannot access it, it provides plenty of opportunities for European players. Bet365 has a good variety of games: besides the usual Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud, it also offers Big and Super Big 2, as well as the lesser-known 13 Card Poker and Fight the Landlord.
The site has tons of player traffic, easy-to-use software, though without a Mac option, and a large number of tournaments, including WSOPE entry opportunities. While 888 Poker website is considered ‘soft’ and a good site to swindle “fish” out of some dough, Bet365 Poker, though also offering up plenty of softies, can boast a few serious players using the site on a regular basis.
PokerStars – The world’s Largest Poker Site
PokerStars is hands-down the largest poker website in the world. This site has the most celebrity poker players out of any other poker network, though now it’s missing the US players, and offers the greatest variety and number of cash games: besides Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud, it offers H.O.R.S.E., H.O.S.E., 2-7 Triple Draw, Five-Card Draw, Razz, 2-7 Single Draw Lowball, Badugi, and 8-Game. The site has tournaments going on 24 hours a day, including WSOPE entries. The software is top-notch while still easy to master, with unique features, like private games and timed tournaments, setting the industry standard. However, a player should be careful: this is the site with the biggest ‘sharks’ at higher-limit games.
UK Poker Deposit Methods
All of the above-mentioned casinos utilize such UK-friendly payment deposit and withdrawal methods as NETeller, Skrill, PaySafe card, and PayPal (special bonuses at 888 for PayPal users). Other online casinos worth trying out are Lucky Ace Poker, Betfair Poker, Carbon Poker, and Bovada Poker.
The English Poker Open in the UK
English Poker Open has started in 2009 and has been held every year since then. The UK players are hopeful that the event will take place this year as well. Of course, if a UK poker player wants to play some live poker games, there are plenty of casinos to choose from, especially in the UK poker capital, London.
There is a dazzling massive poker room, which is open 24 hours every day, at the historical The Casino at The Empire, in London’s Leicester Square. According to the owners’ website, the casino establishment “combines the thrill of Vegas with the magnetic draw of London.” Another high-roller poker room is at the Victoria Casino. As the London Poker Guide describes it, “Better known as The Vic, this casino card room is a poker landmark in the UK, and the spot for high stakes cash games in London.
This is a classy card room, extremely well-run, and boasts the widest variety of games and stakes you will find in London.” Manch235ter Casino, a Caesar’s Casino entertainment property, also open 24 hours a day, hosts an enticing WSOPE satellite tournament, and due to its affiliation with a Las Vegas hotel-casino group, promises glitz and glamour. Several other bustling poker rooms are the Western Club in West London and Equal Chance in East London and at the Golden Nugget Casino, located in London’s Leicester Square.
