Live Poker UK
Thanks to the rise in popularity of live casino gaming, a new wave of fast-paced live poker variants have hit top UK casinos, where you go head-to-head with the dealer, rather than other players. So, if you’re looking to experience the quickfire action only found at the live tables, be sure to keep reading our guide to the best UK live poker games.
Best Live Poker Casinos
Below, we’ve highlighted some of the best live poker casinos in the UK where you can enjoy a fantastic selection of games and some great bonuses. Simply choose your favourite and click the respective link to get straight to the heart of the action.
- 1st deposit 100% matched to £50
- Bonuses over your first 4 days
- Launched in 2020 ?
- 100% up to £100 on 1st deposit bonus
- 100 Free Spins on Book of Dead
- Over 750 casino games
- Tiered welcome bonus
- Games from top providers
- 24/7 customer support
- Loads of reload bonuses
- Overall 50 spins without wagering
- Get 50+30 bonus spins from Kicker section
- No wagering requirements ever
- 11 no wager spins on first deposit
- 100% deposit bonus up to £200
- Quality slots
- Great welcome offer
- Bonus code: NBWELCOME500
- Great array of games
- Strong mobile offering
- Up to £300
- 100 Zee Spins on Starburst
- 500 Zee Points
- Deposit match and free spins
- Huge games library
- Live casino experts
18+ new players only. Min deposit: £20. Max £100 bonus. Max bet with active bonus: £2. Wagering required 100% match bonus: 30x deposit + bonus. Max win from welcome bonus: £500. 100 Free Spins are given out 20 per day on Book of Dead for 5 days in a row. Max Free Spins winnings: £100. Free Spins winnings credited as bonus money with 45x wagering & 3 days expiry. Deposit bonus & Free Spins wins are forfeited 30 days after bonus is credited if the wagering is not met. Game weighting and restrictions apply. Play Responsibly www.begambleaware.org. Full T&C’s apply.
- 100 extra spins on 4 deposits
- Bonuses up to £200
- Great games selection
- 150% deposit bonus
- Fantastic range of slots
- Strong live casino offering
- 100% bonus up to £50
- 100 bonus spins
Terms and Conditions Apply. New Players Only. 18+. Min deposit £20. Wagering requirement apply 35x. Offer valid for 24hr
What Exactly Is Live Poker?
Terminology can be rather ambiguous at times, which can lead to potential confusion. The term live poker is a prime example as it can be taken to mean either player versus player action in a live environment or, alternatively, the collection of games where players go head-to-head with a dealer in a live casino setting. For the purposes of this guide though, we’ll be covering the latter option.
Essentially, you can find a wide range of live poker games in the live casino section of any top UK casino. These are often variants of popular games, which streamline the gameplay to allow more hands per hour but still follow similar rulesets to games such as Texas Hold’em. The key difference though is that you’ll be playing against the dealer for a chance to win fixed odds payouts.
The Rules of Live Poker
Given the range of live poker variants, you’ll need to be aware of their respective rulesets before playing as there are subtle differences when it comes to your betting and playing options. Thankfully though, most games utilise a standard poker hand ranking system so as long as you understand the basics you’ll be well-equipped to take on the dealer.
In games such as live 3-card poker, you must place a mandatory Ante bet before the cards are dealt. After examining the cards, you can then choose to either make a Play bet, which must be equal to your Ante, or fold. If you choose to continue, the dealer must have at least ‘queen high’ to qualify and if that’s the case it’s simply a matter of comparing the hands as per traditional poker rankings to determine the winner.
How To Play Live Poker?
Before you get started, you’ll first want to decide which live poker variant you want to play. After choosing your preferred game, it’s simply a matter of navigating to the site’s live casino section, selecting the right table and taking a seat. From that point, you simply select your preferred stake and follow the betting rules throughout each hand. If you win, you’ll instantly receive a fixed odds return based on the game’s betting/payout rules.
Basic Poker Hands
The following table outlines the traditional poker hand ranking system used in most live poker games, from best to worst.
| Hand | Example |
| Royal flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 suited |
| Straight flush | 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 suited |
| Four of a kind | J, J, J, J, 8 |
| Full house | 10, 10, 10, 7, 7 |
| Flush | 4, 6, 8, J, K suited |
| Straight | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 any suit |
| Three of a kind | 8, 8, 8, 2, Q |
| Two pair | 3, 3, 5, 5, 8 |
| Pair | Q, Q, 2, 5, 6 |
| High card | K, 4, 7, 9, 10 |
Live Poker Terms
- Ante: A mandatory bet placed before receiving your cards.
- Qualify: The minimum ranking hand required to continue playing.
- Play Bet: A bet placed to compare hands to determine the winner.
- Side Bet: An optional bet you place for a chance to win a fixed odds return.
Various Live Poker Games
Given how popular poker has become in recent years, it’s hardly a surprise that the term no longer refers to one specific game. Instead, it now relates to multiple live variants that players can freely enjoy from the comfort of their own homes. As such, we’ve briefly outlined some of the most popular live poker games below that are commonly available at most UK casinos.
3-Card Poker uses a single 52-card deck that’s shuffled after each round.
Players place an Ante bet to start the hand and then three cards are dealt to both the player and the dealer, the player’s face-up and the dealer’s face-down. You then must choose whether to continue by placing a Play bet, equal to your Ante bet, or fold. The dealer then reveals their cards and the best hand wins. The dealer’s hand must qualify with a Queen or higher. If the dealer does not qualify then the Play bet is returned and the Ante bet is paid at even money.
18+ | T&Cs Apply | Be Gamble Aware
Played with a single 52-card deck, live Casino Hold’em Poker is a heads-up game where multiple players simultaneously go head-to-head with the dealer using a single hand.
Placing an Ante bet puts you into the hand with 2 pocket cards and a look at the flop. You must then decide whether or not to place the Call bet to continue playing and see the Turn, River and the dealer’s cards. If successful, payouts vary depending upon the quality of your winning hand.
Each round of Caribbean Stud begins by placing an Ante bet, after which point the player is dealt 5 cards face-up and the dealer receives the same number of cards but with only one dealt face-up. The goal here is simple, form a better 5-card hand than the dealer to win.
Once the cards are dealt, players can choose to call by placing a 2x Ante bet or fold. The dealer then reveals their hand and announces the winner.
Why Should You Play Poker Online at a Live Casino?
Choosing to play poker at any of the best UK live casinos rather than at a land-based site provides you with plenty of fantastic benefits. Not only is there a wide array of great variants that are instantly accessible but you’ll also be in the best position to earn rewarding online casino bonuses and offers. Most variants also offer a selection of side bet options, which you can utilise to improve your potential returns – some games even have progressive jackpots that can net you a life-changing payout!
How Do I Play Live Dealer Poker Online?
Nowadays, playing live dealer poker couldn’t be easier. All you need to do to get started is select an online casino that has a catalogue of live dealer games, select your preferred live poker table and take a seat. In most cases, you won’t even need to wait for a seat to open up as most live poker games are played head-to-head against the dealer, which means an unlimited number of players can play simultaneously. You simply select your preferred stake and follow the betting rules of your chosen variant in an attempt to beat the house.
Is It Possible to Play Live Poker on a Phone?
Technology has always been the driving force behind the growth of the online casino market, and considering how the industry must adapt to the latest demands it should come as no surprise that you can just as easily play live poker on the smaller screen.
There are hundreds of mobile casinos that now offer the same fantastic selection of games on both smartphone and tablet, meaning you can play whenever and wherever you have a stable internet connection. All of the games are fully optimised for mobile play, with intuitive UIs allowing you to follow the action with a few taps or swipes of your device’s screen.
What Are The Differences Between Live Poker and Online Poker?
Once again, certain terminology presents itself to cause potential confusion. Here, although live poker and online poker may seem like two ways of saying the same thing, there are several key differences to be aware of, which we’ve outlined in the table below.
- Player vs. dealer gameplay
- Unlimited number of seats
- Available at most online live casinos
- Streamed in real-time HD visuals
- Side bet options and progressive jackpots
- Player vs. player gameplay
- Limited number of seats per table
- Only available at dedicated poker sites
- Often a digitised UI and display
- Cash games, tournament play and sit and gos
Top Live Poker Game Developers
One of the key factors behind the rising popularity of live casino titles such as poker is that certain game developers have committed to delivering cutting-edge games that even the most discerning players can enjoy. Industry specialist Evolution has long been the industry’s frontrunner, but many other studios have begun to throw their hat into the ring as of late, including the following:
- Evolution
- Pragmatic Play
- Ezugi
- Microgaming
- Playtech
- Vivogaming
Frequently Asked Questions
Live poker has many different aspects to consider – below are some common questions and answers.
No, all live poker games must undergo a rigorous testing process before release to meet fair play standards and strict regulatory requirements. Furthermore, all of the live dealers must pass a strict training regime before becoming eligible to host any live poker games.
Yes, that’s the ultimate objective of each hand. Depending on your chosen variant, to beat the dealer you must have a higher-ranked hand at the end of the round. If successful, you’ll receive a fixed odds return along with any additional winnings from side bets you placed before the start of the hand.
Like any other online casino game, it’s possible to win money playing live poker. Your primary goal is to beat the dealer in a heads-up scenario to earn a payout, whilst you can also place optional side bets to increase your payout potential.
