Best Online Poker Sites UK 2021

Making your choice between the different poker rooms online can seem like a tough task. There are so many sites now, that as a new player this can be very intimidating. Even the more professional players might have difficulty choosing between them. There are so many poker games to try out – but which one is the best? The truth is that usually, it depends on what you want as a player.

However, there are some things that set one poker site apart from the other. It could be the software quality, the different types of avatars available – or it could be the tournament schedule. However, whatever you are looking for, we want to provide you with all the information you need to pick the best poker sites for you – whether you want free play or real money games. You need to get the most enjoyable, fun and safe experience you can.

All Online Poker Sites Are Different

The nature of the game means that you don’t really want to play against the best poker players all of the time. In fact, people would generally prefer to play against players that aren’t so well-practised. Picking the right game against the right players with the right wildcards and you could win some serious moolah.

Many people tend to stick to the biggest poker sites because you’re highly likely to find the tournaments or cash games that interest you. However, smaller poker rooms may well offer a smaller community with easier games. There can be some big advantages to playing on a smaller and less popular poker site.

When playing at a smaller site, you may well be faced with less skilled players – and chances are that you will even get a better poker bonus for signing up – as well as more generous loyalty rewards to incentivise you to play there. If you do manage to register at a poker room that has lots of unskilled players it’s a good idea to hang around for a while… and not let too many other people know!

The Best United Kingdom Online Poker Sites

So, you have seen the sites that we recommend for poker players in United Kingdom – and a lot of thought process and research has gone into producing this list. These have stood out from the rest of the Internet poker sites that accept United Kingdom players. We have included those that offer a variety of games and tournaments – with Texas Hold’em websites always a popular choice. We have also only included trustworthy and safe poker sites. We want you to have faith when playing on United Kingdom poker sites for real money – whether you want to play on desktop or mobile devices.

When it comes to table games, poker is up there with the most popular – and simply playing video poker against the computer at an online casino simply isn’t enough for anyone wanting to take it more seriously. So, if you are that player that wants to play online poker in United Kingdom and are just getting started – we recommend you not only find out about the best poker site but how to choose the best poker games to suit your skills.

Why Online Poker is So Popular in United Kingdom

So, what makes online poker so popular in Great Britain? Well, the reason most enjoy it is that unlike casino games such as slots and Slots, this is a fun game that is pretty easy to play but is also intellectual and requires skill. This is a game that rewards skilled players – not lucky players. You can also practise and play wherever and whenever you like – even from the comfort of your own front room.

Winning Real Money From Online Poker

But let’s not kid ourselves… it’s not just about fun. One of the main reasons people are so attracted to online poker is the fact that you can win real money with even the smallest of stakes.

Getting Started Playing Online Poker

So, if you are new to the game of online poker – and you have picked your preferred site, here’s how to get started!

How to Play Poker Online

Chances are that you are going to play poker from your home computer or laptop. In this case, your first step will be downloading the online poker software from your preferred online poker site. Most poker site downloads won’t require too much memory and the download process should be quick and easy, especially if you have a good Internet connection. However, if you would rather not use a download, then there are various no download poker games available at most poker sites. Bear in mind that these might not offer the same features and play quality as the downloadable game version.

When the installer package has finished downloading (if that’s your preference), then double click on it and install the software. When this is done, you need to create a new user account. You will need to be 18 years or older and they will check your age.

When playing for real money, you will need to deposit money. Most online poker sites offer a variety of deposit methods including credit cards, debit cards and even prepaid options. Popular deposit options usually include Visa, MasterCard and e-wallets like PayPal, Neteller or Skrill.

The Different Types of Online Poker Games

Most Popular – Texas Hold’em

For most players, old and new, Texas Hold’em is the most popular of all. There are lots of all different poker variations you can play online, but not every poker site offers all poker variations. However, across the globe, the most popular of all poker games is No-Limit Texas Hold’em, famously dubbed ‘The Cadillac of Poker’. As such, there are thousands of no-limit hold’em games available online all day, every day – at stake levels suitable for all. In the No-Limit Hold’em games, you are dealt only 2 cards and you need to combine these with the five community cards in order to create the best possible hand. It’s easy to learn but hard to master, which makes it popular with players old and new.

The Texas Hold’em game is available to play in all different formats – including standard cash games and tournaments as well as turbo games, speed games and jackpot Sit and Gos.

Other popular poker games include:

• Pot-Limit Omaha
• 7 Card Stud
• 5 Card Draw
• Omaha Hi-Lo
• Chinese Poker
• Short Deck Hold’em
• Razz

Online Poker Tournaments

Because of increasing TV exposure of tournaments such as the World Series of Poker, the European Poker Tour and the World Poker Tour, these have become increasingly popular both online and live. Tournament poker requires you to pay a buy-in in exchange for a stack of chips. If you lose all of your chips you are out. The winning player is the one who successfully manages to win all of the chips. As such, this is the cheapest way for a poker player to win big. In fact, there are even £10 buy-in online tournaments that could offer up prizes in excess of $200,000 for the first place player. Usually, the bigger the buy-in the bigger the prize.

Finding big online poker tournaments is really easy, especially at the weekend. At the weekend, you can find huge tournaments with thousands of players – because online poker tournaments don’t require physical space, so player numbers are limitless. There are some poker tournaments that even offer prizes of £1 million for a buy-in of your $109. Moreover, there are low buy-in satellites that are available to play every day.

Sit & Gos

Sit and Go Tournaments are smaller than standard tournaments and some only even have 1 table. As soon as there are enough players seated at the table then the tournament starts. These tournaments start all the time online because there are so many players wanting to play. A big advantage of these tournaments is that they take a lot less time than the larger, multi-table tournaments. However, the rewards are also less impressive. Also popular for new online poker players are Jackpot Sit and Gos (also knowns as BLAST Poker or Spin & Gos). These are super fast 3 or 4 handed tournaments that increase the prize pools before it starts.

Poker Cash Games

Online poker cash games are the classic form of poker – which requires a player to buy in with a set amount of cash. They then receive chips with a real money value. Every cash game table has a minimum and maximum amount that a player can have on the table which is related to the size of the blinds at that specific table. As an example, a 1c/2c blinds table would have a $2 minimum buy-in and a $20 maximum buy-in. What’s more, online poker cash games are played as ‘table stakes’ games. This means that the maximum a player can wager in any one hand is the number of chips on that table. A player is able to top up their chips up to the max during the play.

Because you can cash out whenever you like, you can choose whether you play for 5 minutes or 5 hours. This gives players the flexibility they don’t have in tournaments when you are locked into it for a long time if you wish to make any money.

Finding the Best Online Poker Sites

The best online poker site very much depends on you as a player.

Which Poker Site is Right for You

The great news is that there are a huge number of poker sites to enjoy – and the one that is best for you depends on a number of factors. The larger poker sites usually have more players and more games available. However, smaller sites have fewer (and worse) players – and better casino sign up bonuses and promotions.

There are some sites that offer more variety of games – while other poker sites offer just Omaha and Hold’em.

Getting the Best Online Poker Bonus

No matter how big or small the site is, most will offer new players a welcome bonus or sign up offer. This could be a match deposit bonus – 100% up to a set amount… so, for example, if you deposit $100 you will get $200 to play with as long as you fulfil the requirements. However, there’s a wide variety of different types of welcome bonuses available, which could range from a quick, easy £10 free, up to bonuses worth $1000s. Remember, the best idea is to make sure that you shop around in order to find the best bonus for you.

Depositing and Withdrawing from Online Poker Sites

It’s now easier than ever to deposit into and withdraw your money out of online poker sites – and, depending on where you live, there are usually a very decent amount of online casino payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets, e-checks and prepaid cards. Usually, you can withdraw your money using the same method with which you deposited.

Poker Strategy for Beginners

If you are new to online poker, then the best way to get started is by employing a great poker strategy. The great news is that online, there are lots of different poker strategies available depending on the game you play. We would always suggest that you decide which game you want to play then look for the best poker strategy that suits you before you start playing real money wagers.

Free Training Sites for Practice Play

There are a huge number of poker training sites, but not all are free – and some can get expensive if you need to subscribe. That’s why we would recommend you stick to free poker resources until you know what you need to in order to get started properly. Then when you are ready to move to the next level you can try out real money sites that can provide you with all sorts of videos and demos from the best poker pros out there. Ultimately, poker strategies keep on changing, so access to online video tutorials from the poker pros are generally thought to be one of the best ways to get better.

Secrets of Online Poker

So, are there any poker secrets you need to know?

Freerolls and Free Poker Online

Everyone likes the idea of free money. Well, freerolls are free tournaments that most online poker sites offer for certain customers. Because they are free to play, you won’t need to worry about losing money – but on the plus side, you can actually win real money! There are plenty of freeroll tournaments to play – and you can get access to some of the most exclusive freerolls at our preferred online poker sites.

There are a number of different ways in. These include freerolls for specific groups, clubs or regions. These are usually considered as free rewards for loyal players. However, if you are into your freeroll tournaments then you should research what’s out there because there are usually plenty available.

Cashing In Your Poker Bonus

Poker bonuses are cool, but you need to know about them before claiming one. Generally, poker welcome bonuses are not just given away on sign up. You will normally have to commit to playing hands on that poker site. This could mean that wagering and playthrough requirements are included in the terms. Bonuses are normally cashed out based on how many frequent player points you’ve accrued. As such, it’s a good idea to play as many hands as possible in the first few weeks after registration at an online poker site. When these weeks are done and you have played back some of your bonus, you can then think about cashing out your wins and relax.

Poker Tables for Beginners

In order to attract newbies, most online poker sites offer beginners tables that are best suited for new players. You will only play against other players who would also consider themselves as beginners. This means a more even playing field for all those players who are still getting to grips with the speed, features and skills of online poker games. As soon as you have played a certain number of games, you won’t be able to play on the beginner tables anymore.

Keeping Track of Your Results

Whether you’re a casual player or pro player, tracking your results will help. This can help you to keep an eye on whether, overall, you are winning or losing money – and understanding what works and what doesn’t when playing your game. The great news is that most good online poker sites offer players tracking. So, make sure you look at your session stats as soon as you have finished the game to see how well you performed. Also, pay attention to your win rate, your number of flops and also the number of times you went into showdown.

Qualifying Online for Live Poker Tournaments

The big dream for many online poker players is for qualifying for a big league, major tournament such as the World Series of Poker… with the chance of winning millions of dollars. Not only is this a dream, but it is an achievable one.

Nearly all poker sites will offer their players a number of low buy-in satellite or steps tournaments. These can start at $1, working up to winning a seat for a $10,000 WSOP Main Event.

Steps tournaments work in the following way: if you win a £1 Sit and Go then you can move to the next level… which could be a £5 Sit & Go. These steps continue until you get to the final Sit & Go that offers winners an all-inclusive package (including travel, buy-in and hotel) for a major tournament.

Online Poker Reward Programs

Aside from wins, most poker sites reward you every single time you play a real money poker hand – in the form of frequent player points. You can then redeem these for prizes and cash. Generally, frequent player loyalty points are usually given to regular players and are used to claim all sorts of perks including merchandise, tournament buy-ins… and even cash winnings.

United Kingdom Poker FAQs

What is the Best Online Poker Site?

The best poker rooms are a matter of taste. We have provided you with a list of the best poker sites and rooms, but we would recommend you read the reviews of each to see which one is the best for you based on poker rooms variety, poker software, rewards, promotions and user experience.

What Banking Options Can I Use?

This depends on the poker rooms you play at. Most offer credit cards, debit cards, pre-paid cards and e-wallets for withdrawals and deposits, but we would recommend checking with your preferred site to see what options they offer.

Do I Need to Download Software?

Playing poker at the best sites usually requires you to download software. This doesn’t take long and doesn’t take up much space but means you can enjoy the best variety of games and tournaments. You can enjoy no download poker, but usually, the choice and the player experience isn’t as good as with download poker.