Online Poker UK

Whether it be in dimly lit card rooms or the floors of the world’s grandest casinos, players have always loved testing their poker skills against one another. It’s a game that not only tests your ability and knowledge but also your resilience under pressure, and those that can withstand the heat have the chance to walk away with huge sums of money.

Now though, you can experience all that this casino table game has to offer in a secure digital environment from the comfort of your own home. As such, we decided to set our team of experts the task of finding the best UK online poker casinos that currently offer a variety of different games, explain the subtle differences in their respective gameplay and also offer up some helpful tips that you can use to better your opponents.

So, if you’re looking to get in on the action, be sure to continue reading our guide to UK online poker for all of the details.

Our Top Casino Picks

Best UK Online Poker Casinos

To get started, you’re first going to need to find a trustworthy casino where you can play online poker. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of your best options below. Simply choose your preferred site from our top recommendations, click the respective link and you’ll be hitting the tables in no time at all.

2
NetBet Casino
Welcome Bonus Up to 500 Free Spins on Your First Deposit Activate using code: NBWELCOME500
Casino Highlights
  • Quality slots
  • Great welcome offer
  • Bonus code: NBWELCOME500
This offer is available to new NetBet Casino players only. £10+ deposit required, no e-wallets/prepaid cards, 50x wagering on Vegas Free Spins, 40x wagering on Casino Free Spins. Bonus code required: NBWELCOME500. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
3
Dream Vegas Casino
Welcome Bonus 100% up to £300 + 150 Bonus Spins
Casino Highlights
  • 100% welcome bonus
  • Great slots selection
18+. New players only. One offer per player. Max bonus bet £5. Offer: 100% bonus match on 1st deposit + bonus spins. Value of bonus & number of spins depend on deposit amount: £20-£100: max £100 bonus + 50 spins on selected games; £101-£200: max £200 bonus + 100 spins on selected games; or £200+: max £300 bonus + 150 spins on eligible NetEnt Games. Winnings from spins credited as bonus and capped at £100. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds contribute to wagering requirement. Bonus funds expire within 30 days; bonus spins within 72hrs. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.
4
Temple Nile
Welcome Bonus 100% up to £300 + 60 bonus spins
Casino Highlights
  • Great theme
  • Generous welcome bonus
  • Huge games offering
18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £20. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Welcome Offer is 100% match up to £300 plus 60 Extra Spins on your 1st deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 40x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.
5
Win British
Welcome Bonus Win up to 500 Free Spins on Chilli Heat Spin the Mega Wheel
Casino Highlights
  • The chance to win up to 500 free spins
  • Leading game suppliers
  • Wide range of gaming options

New players only, £10 min fund, Free spins won via mega reel, 65x bonus wagering requirements, max bonus conversion to real funds equal to lifetime deposits (up to £250), T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org.

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PlayOJO
Welcome Bonus 50 Free Spins on 1st deposit + No wagering requirements ever
Casino Highlights
  • Overall 50 spins without wagering
  • Get 50+30 bonus spins from Kicker section
  • No wagering requirements ever
18+. First deposit only. 50 Free Spins on the Book of Dead slot. Min deposit £10. Excl. new players in N.I. Each Free Spin valued at 10p. OJO’s Rewards and Game Play policy applies. BeGambleAware.org.
7
Pink Casino
Welcome Bonus Up to £150 and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Splash
Casino Highlights
  • Deposit bonus up to £150
  • 50 Wager-Free Spins Available
  • Great array of slots
18+ . Full T&Cs apply. New player only. 7 days to claim offer and deposit a min of £10 with a further 7 days to wager 35x. Cash stakes only and wagering contributions vary. Max reward £150. 50 wager-free spins 0.10p each on Big Bass Splash awarded after wagering complete, winnings paid as cash. 3 day expiry. www.begambleaware.org.

What Is Poker?

Although there are many variants available, each of which slightly alters the overall gameplay, poker is ultimately a casino game that requires skill, patience, bluffing ability and knowledge of the hierarchy of hands – provided you’re playing against real players, as opposed to the live dealer and/or RNG-based alternatives, of course.
Depending upon which version you choose to play, betting can vary; some games call for multiple wagers, whilst others simply require a one-time ante. In essence, though, your goal is to make the best possible hand using the cards at your disposal, as per the hierarchy of hands.

Poker is a diverse genre that includes all sorts of different variants. Some game types are admittedly much more popular than others but the best UK poker sites offer comprehensive portfolios that provide all sorts of gameplay opportunities. Below, we’ve outlined some of the more familiar versions of the game so you’ll know what to expect.

Poker for Real Money vs. Free Poker

Due to poker’s popularity, there are now numerous casinos and apps that allow you to play for free. Of course, there are obvious drawbacks to doing so though, with the main difference being that you cannot win real money unless in very specific circumstances. Still, it’s a great way to practice your skills, so we’ve outlined the pros and cons of playing real money poker and free poker in the table below.

slotsia Real Money Poker
  • Potential to win significant amounts of money
  • Claim welcome bonuses and offers to earn extra cash
  • A true experience that allows players to showcase their skills
  • Mistakes can be extremely costly
  • Certain variants may not be as widely available
slotsia Free Poker
  • Offers a risk-free environment in which you can hone your skills
  • Test out different variants before risking real money
  • Enjoy more laidback gameplay
  • Cannot win real money, with the exception of freeroll tournaments
  • As there is no financial risk, players might not behave as you may expect

Why Play Poker Online

Ever since the poker boom, more and more players have flocked to casinos for the chance to go head-to-head with like-minded opponents, and whilst playing live offers an undeniably thrilling experience there are multiple reasons why many choose to play online.

One reason is that because there are so many tables, tournaments and variants available you always have instant access to a game. Another is that because you’re in a digital environment, you’re not limited to playing one game at a time, you can load up multiple tables simultaneously to reduce your potential downtime between hands. Finally, online poker bonuses tend to be much more rewarding than what you’d potentially get for playing live. So, if you’re looking to make the most out of your funds, playing online is the way to go.

How to Play Poker and Win

Taking a seat at a table and playing poker is one thing, but walking away with all of the chips is an entirely different beast. Ultimately, you can employ all of the strategies you want but understanding where and when to bet comes down to experience. Poker is a game that’s easy enough to learn but one that takes years to master, and even then you still need to run well to end up at the top.

So, when it comes to player versus player poker, unfortunately, no method guarantees you’ll win. However, the RNG-based and live poker variants usually offer fixed payouts, so as long as you understand the rules, along with your chances of winning, you can potentially maximise your returns.

Poker Tips

There are never any guarantees when playing poker, but to help you get started we’ve listed several handy tips below.

1Learn the basics

Before you play for real money, try out free poker games to gain some experience at the tables. It may not yield a cash return but it’s one of the best ways to hone your skills.

2Try out different variants

Online poker is a varied genre and it’s worth checking out the multiple variants. Yes, Texas Hold’em is immensely popular but Omaha may be better suited to your playstyle – you’ll never know until you try.

3Utilise freerolls when possible

Freeroll tournaments provide you with a fantastic opportunity to play poker for free. Not only do they remove all of the financial risk, but you can also actually win cash prizes and even entry tickets into larger tournaments.

Poker Bonus

Whether you’re new to the world of online poker or you’re a seasoned veteran, it’s always a good idea to try and make your money go as far as possible. One of the first things you should look out for when joining a new UK poker site is what type of welcome bonus is on offer, and how you can take advantage of it to extend your time at the tables. Of course, you should also continue to watch out for other offers and promotions during your time at the casino – you don’t want to leave any money on the table!

Below are some key terms to remember when considering which poker bonus to go for.

Poker Bonus

The first bonus or bonuses that you receive when signing up can sometimes be used across multiple deposits and cover different game modes, which makes it ideal for players that are still getting to grips with the game of poker. Always check the terms and conditions to avoid surprises.

Deposit bonus

Making a deposit – especially your first – at a casino will routinely see it boosted, usually by 100% or even more, giving you extra funds for the poker table. Additionally, this type of reward will usually be able to be used on other table games, offering flexibility.

Freerolls

These are simply tournaments with no entry fee, making them especially attractive as some real cash prizes can still be claimed. This also means that freerolls can be incredibly competitive, so walking away with a large cash reward is by no means straightforward.

Poker VIP Programs

If you have reached VIP status at a casino then expect to get offered unique bonuses to enhance your gaming experience. These vary, but you will have options that are not available to most other players, including personalised support and special deposit boosts which can then be used for poker.

Tournament tickets

Many online casinos, including 888, offer virtual tournament tickets which allow players to exchange them for entry to specific competitions. This gives you control over which tournaments you fancy entering, so keep an eye on top prizes and the level of other players that are competing.

Best Poker Tournaments Online

If you’re the type of poker player that’s willing to commit to longer hours, tournament play may be the way to go. There are all sorts of tournaments available, ranging from the quicker Sit & Gos to larger-scale satellite events and majors such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP), World Poker Tour (WPT) and World Championship Of Online Poker (WCOOP). 

You’ll only find the latter events at the largest online poker brands but there are plenty of alternatives available elsewhere, including many of the UK poker sites we’ve listed throughout this page! Whatever you decide, always remember to stick to a budget and keep responsible gambling in mind.

MTT

Short for multi-table tournament, this sees tens of players compete on several tables for some huge prizes.

Freerolls

These tournaments do not require an entry fee yet if players play their cards right they can still walk away with a prize. Many UK casinos offer Freerolls with ongoing tournaments.

Satellites

Satellites are qualifying competitions, with the winning prize usually the buy-in fee to a prestigious tournament; these are recommended for players on a budget.

Shootout

This dynamic and exciting game mode sees players eliminated and the winner of each table progresses.

Bounty

In Bounty, players are rewarded with a cash prize for each time that they eliminate an opponent on the table.

Heads-up

This refers to any game of poker that takes place between just two players. The absence of other people adds to the intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some questions and answers around poker that will help to further enhance your experience at the table online.

You needn’t spend hours searching for a poker site that you can trust, our team of experts has done all of the necessary legwork to ensure the security and trustworthiness of all of the poker sites we highlight right here at Slotsia!

Yes, you can absolutely play online poker using a tablet or mobile device. Nearly all of the casinos we review and recommend are fully optimised for the smaller screen, so all you have to do is select your favourite to get in on the action.

In no limit poker players can bet or raise any amount of chips from their stack at any point, which means pots can quickly grow to huge sizes. However, in fixed limit poker, players can only bet or raise in pre-decided set increments.

As long as you play at a fully licensed and regulated poker site, you needn’t worry about any of the games being rigged. All of the software and games on offer must pass rigorous testing procedures to ensure fair play standards before they’re released.

Entering a poker tournament requires a single buy-in, once you’ve registered you’ll be given chips to play with and if you lose them all you’ll be eliminated – sometimes, though, you can purchase a rebuy for the same cost as your initial buy-in. Cash games, however, are different in the respect that after buying in for at least the table minimum, each bet you place will be with actual cash. You can play for as long as you want or leave at any point.

When playing live, you’re limited to one table and the pace is typically much slower than any games found online. However, online poker players can play at several tables simultaneously, which results in more hands per hour and much faster gameplay overall.