Updated: 26.08.2025
Any reputable casino, online or otherwise, will have poker. In the UK, this card game - when played for real money - has accelerated like a turbo engine in recent years. The top online poker rooms are now built around a massive player base. But for those of us in the know, this is how it really breaks down: Most UK players are looking for a relaxed, casual game, punctuated by laughs and a few lighthearted barbs in a totally social environment. Ambitions escalate as we move up the scale. Some players seem to be in it for the experience, some are in it for the cash, and a few are in it for the tournament glory.
We took everything into account and compiled a list of the top poker casinos out there:
PokerStars |
888 Poker |
Bet365 |
Betfair |
William Hill |
Paddy Power |
Ladbrokes |
Coral |
Unibet |
Identifying the top poker casinos is a tough job. Our specialists have spent many hours researching the UK casino market for real money poker in order to find the very best deals available. And because they spent such a monumental amount of time playing and checking every detail, we now know exactly what the key components are that make a poker casino outstanding. The specialists in our ranks have also provided quality ratings on these key components, allowing us to rank the poker rooms as we see fit.
Players in the UK have a plethora of options when it comes to playing poker for real money. To streamline the process and help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a list of the top real money poker sites currently available. Below, we go through the sites and highlight what makes each one unique.
The name PokerStars is already well known to UK gamers. It's currently the most popular destination for poker enthusiasts in the UK and boasts an impressive number of viewers - it has the largest audience of any site listed here. The actual games are where many of the site's strengths come into play. Their RNG poker offerings are a little sparse, and their live casino poker section only has about ten titles, but there's a separate poker tab that features some excellent software. Even better, if you're a tournament player, this is the place to be. In terms of sheer volume, it's hard to beat the number of poker tournaments this site churns out.
888 Poker is the custom poker site of global gaming giant 888. Not surprisingly, 888 Poker offers just about everything you would expect from an excellent dedicated poker software. Tournaments are plentiful, the online cash game options seem almost limitless, and when it comes to live dealer action, 888 Poker has you covered as well. The factor that really sets 888 Poker apart, however, is the educational platform that is built into the site. To say that 888 is chock full of good articles, guides, tips and tricks is an understatement. The site is literally overflowing with helpful content. Although beginners may not fully grasp the importance of the educational material when they first sign up, even amateurs can work their way up to the pro level in a relatively short amount of time if they take advantage of the wealth of resources available.
Bet365 Poker is a well-established global online poker casino. On their platform, players can expect all the bells and whistles associated with online poker. It has a wide range of poker products, nice bonus offers and virtually non-stop player support. However, what makes Bet365 Poker truly excellent is how friendly it is to players new to the poker genre. For 90 days after a new account is created, its holders have access to cash tables that are exclusive to beginners. This way, a new player isn't trying to do what they should be doing - learning the game - under the kind of pressure that can come from playing in a cash game against seasoned veterans who are just so much better at the game.
Betfair Poker provides a relaxed environment for any poker player to enjoy - it does an excellent job of being welcoming. As part of the iPoker network, it provides a quality platform with a nice, even flow of players. Betfair Poker offers just about every game you can think of, but that's not what makes it special. Betfair Poker is the best when it comes to setting up private, custom games. You and your guests can enjoy a dedicated room with customizable game settings, including money and buy-in management!
When it comes to playing online poker for real money, William Hill Poker is a great choice. Like many of its peers, the site is powered by the iPoker Network. Because of this, players can expect to see not only online poker, but also live poker and poker tournaments with some regularity on the William Hill platform. However, these games are not the only fast action that can be found at William Hill. Poker fans of the trio that is Twister will find plenty of opportunities to play this fast-paced, three-player sit-and-go game where the prize pool is determined by a lottery. That means two things: a very small percentage of players are likely to walk away with cash at any given time, and the potential for some big wins, and fast, is just really, really good.
Paddy Power Poker is a name that most poker players are familiar with. While it may not be as big as some of the other names on this list, it is well established in the UK poker scene. And that is something to take note of because it was founded in Ireland back in 1988. Since then it has expanded well beyond the Emerald Isle. Paddy Power has a lot to offer" might be the understatement of the year, as the site is huge and has tons of options. And one of the many games you can play there is poker.
The Ladbrokes Poker platform is a favorite of players in the UK and those who choose to play from anywhere else in the world. The software it uses may be your typical iPoker Network shtick - with a few upgrades and flourishes - but what really sets it apart are the offers it serves up to players. There are many reasons to prefer Ladbrokes, and poker is just one of them. While the poker presence is great, the real reason to go and stay at Ladbrokes is that this online casino platform is arguably the best in the industry at offering poker tournament opportunities that are both frequent and free.
Coral Poker is something of a rising star on this list. The PartyPoker software used by the operator offers excellent quality, which is further enhanced by Coral's curated selection of bonuses and events. Naturally, Coral Poker offers plenty of variety. Players will find plenty of sit and go games, cash games and more than enough live games to satisfy everyone. However, Coral Poker's live games are easily the best quality on the site. Not only does the casino offer a wide variety here, but the quality is top notch. In addition, the betting limits make it a perfect fit for both high rollers and casual players.
Unibet Poker may not be the best-known site on this list, but it holds its own against some tough competition. Right now, most people associate Unibet with its amazing design and user experience (UX). Of course, the clean look of the site and software isn't the only thing that players love about it. Unibet is unique for having such a low rake! For those unfamiliar with the concept, a rake is a commission that the poker site takes from the pot for hosting the game. The lower the rake, the more money stays in the hands of the players. At the moment, Unibet's rake is so low that it's practically unchallenged.
New poker casinos are currently establishing a very noticeable online presence in the UK. If you are considering playing online poker for real money, then chances are you will come across these fresh members of the online poker gaming community. However you may feel about them, being so new to the industry often means that they have a very distinct advantage: freshly minted poker rooms offer players the chance to enjoy the latest in gaming technology with the added incentive of some very hefty bonuses that only new online gaming operations can afford! Of course, not all signs point to new online poker casinos. They can be very sketchy, with only a select number of games to offer and very few customer testimonials.
A factor that often escapes notice in online poker is the rake—the small percentage taken from each pot by the house. After a while, rake clearly and directly affects how profitable a player is, especially for the ones in it for the long haul. Below is an averaging out of the rake percentages across some of the leading UK poker rooms.
Poker Site | Cash Game Rake (Approx.) | Tournament Fees | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
PokerStars | 4.5% – 5% | 7–10% | Large player pool, but slightly higher rake. |
888 Poker | 4% – 5% | 6–9% | Balanced structure, fair rake for casual players. |
Unibet | 3% – 4% | 5–8% | Lowest rake in the UK market, ideal for grinders. |
Bet365 | 4.5% | 7–9% | Beginner-friendly tables with slightly above-average rake. |
Main point: For you, as a recreational player, the rake probably is not going to significantly impact how much you profit (or, in some cases, don't profit) when playing online poker. But for players who participate more often (and professionally), the levels of rake can make a noticeable effect when calculating return on investment (ROI), especially over longer time frames. As an example, Unibet's rake levels are lower than average when compared to other online poker sites.
The majority of poker websites in the UK roll out lavish welcome bonuses, but the promotions don’t always hold the same monetary value in reality. What’s most important when evaluating these offers is the effective clearance rate, which, in layman’s terms, means how likely the average player is to actually get the bonus cash after meeting the play-through terms. Here’s a look at the various types of offers and how likely you are to clear them.
Tip from an expert: When it comes to appraising bonuses, direct your attention away from the eye-catching total and toward the attainability of that sum. A bonus that is smaller in number yet significantly more likely to be earned is often a far superior form of compensation than a preposterously unrealistic one that is inflated in size.
Most UK players are moving to mobile; thus, poker apps are now as crucial as desktop clients. Yet performance, stability, and exclusive features allow for a wide disparity between them. Below is a not-to-scale comparison of said experiences.
Poker App | iOS / Android | Performance | Exclusive Features |
---|---|---|---|
PokerStars | ✔ iOS / ✔ Android | Very stable, large selection of tournaments, heavy on resources. | Multi-tabling on mobile, smooth UX. |
888 Poker | ✔ iOS / ✔ Android | Solid, slightly slower than PokerStars, but reliable. | Integrated tutorials and strategy tips. |
Bet365 | ✔ iOS / ✔ Android | Excellent for beginners, clean interface, no lag. | Beginner-only tables available via app. |
Unibet | ✔ iOS / ✔ Android | Fast and lightweight, designed for casual players. | Anonymous tables for added security and fairness. |
Easily one of the most popular table games in the world, poker has long been the source of more than a few variations of itself. And while these variations often take on a life of their own in terms of local or regional popularity, the good news for you is that the actual rules of poker don't change much from one variation to the next. This means that you can learn a few relatively simple rules - and maybe even a local story or two about their origins - to be able to play all of the most popular poker variations floating around the online and land-based poker communities.
Online poker for real money comes in many different forms. Players are fortunate to have a plethora of options to explore when they visit online poker sites. While this is an excellent way to get a feel for what's out there, we recommend that you make your home at the top-tier poker sites. For starters, they all offer poker tournaments and sit-and-go games. Here's the lowdown on both forms of poker.
Coming across bonuses is an inevitability when playing at the top real money poker sites. Offering their players some positive reinforcement is something these sites seem to just love to do. Overall, the bonuses offered at poker sites look like this: 1. Welcome Bonuses. These are the biggest poker bonuses you can find because they need to entice you to get started. For example, you can often get a 100 percent match on your first deposit at a site with a decent welcome bonus.
Live dealer games are a relatively new idea in the online casino world. They use modern technology to create a more authentic and social atmosphere for players. Of course, this can and does include a format for enjoying live poker! Your two main choices when it comes to the most popular poker sites, as with most casino games, are to either play for real money or blow off some steam with games that don't count until you're ready to cash in.
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If you're really into poker, then chances are you've thought about the mobile poker option. The good news is that mobile poker is now more than just a part of the poker landscape - it is a full-fledged member of the community. With the huge number of fans that have moved to the mobile platform, poker site operators have been busy making their sites much better for mobile users. As a result, the vast majority of poker sites now function much better on mobile devices than ever before.
There are numerous advantages to playing on a dedicated poker app. The first and most important is sheer convenience. Playing on your smartphone is perfect for when you're trying to sneak in a little poker on the go. It sounds obvious, but poker on a mobile device just works. And luckily, the mobile poker experience is usually top notch. Mobile apps are generally not overloaded with content and extraneous features. They're usually pretty slick and well-designed experiences that let you play poker with ease.
Playing poker on mobile has its drawbacks, just like any other form of portable gaming. Even the best real money poker apps can sometimes tempt fate and run into technical problems. And because mobile devices tend to be less powerful than computers, the experience can be a bit choppy at times. Not like the choppiness of an online poker app that isn't quite as good as it should be, but more like the choppiness of a desktop poker game that slows down in bad weather.
When choosing a poker app to review, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, make sure the app isn't packed with content. Such apps usually have problems with loading and gameplay. Second, look for site-specific offers! Mobile apps often offer exclusive content that you can't find on a PC, which could give you the edge.
Poker may be one of the most popular games in the world, but not everyone knows how to play. If you're a beginner in the world of online poker for real money, it's wise to learn some of the basics. Most online casinos and poker sites offer a good amount of "how to play" information that can help you. Just as a frame of reference, these sites primarily deal with online poker strategies, which can be quite in-depth. And if you're a beginner, those types of strategies aren't really what you need to focus on. It's the basics that you should be focusing on. So to get you started, here are some of the most important rules for Texas Hold'em to give you some basic insight into how to play poker.
As we've already pointed out in this article, poker is an extremely diverse game. Given its many incarnations, players can look forward to a vast array of betting possibilities. Although each different version of poker has its own unique bets, they generally follow a familiar pattern. If you're going to play poker online, there are a few basic betting options you need to be aware of. These options appear on most online poker sites and in most versions of the game. Here are those options, along with a description of the mechanics behind them.
Playing online poker for real money can be an exciting pursuit for anyone. Of course, it's easy for beginners to get carried away with the excitement and make some very costly mistakes! If you're going to be playing at real money online poker sites, it's a good idea to get very familiar with the basics. Here are some of the best poker tips for beginners that can help you make better decisions.
The online poker experience can change from day to day. Even if you visit the online poker rooms often, there are always new ideas to consider and useful tips to follow. Even veteran poker players can use a good tip or two from time to time, and we have plenty to share. Let's take a look at some of the biggest poker sites.
If you play Internet poker, you've probably come across a number of different variations of the game. The online gaming world is vast, so it's not surprising to see a variety of different games created by different developers. Of course, the many different offshoots of poker that exist today aren't all equally fun or well made, and some can be downright boring. There are a number of reasons for this, but one of the biggest is simply the quality of the games. And game quality is where the game developers come in.
Currently, the leading poker providers are Microgaming and Playtech! Microgaming leads the pack when it comes to RNG and Video Poker titles! On the other hand, Playtech tends to reign supreme with tournaments and Twister Poker! Of course, these two companies aren't the only gaming studios with impressive poker offerings. If you like live poker, you should definitely check out the live casinos run by Evolution Gaming! All of these developers offer plenty of variety when it comes to poker, but some of their game variations really take things up a notch.
Texas Hold'em and Caribbean Stud are the most common poker games in online casinos. They are especially popular in RNG and live casino games. When it comes to video poker, online poker makers tend to keep things simple. Most of these titles take Five Card Draw as their inspiration. From there, they make these games as beginner friendly as possible.
Many of the well-known Internet poker casinos can provide you with a good time. Unfortunately, this is not the case with all poker sites. Not everyone who runs an online poker room has the player's best interests at heart. In fact, some of these poker sites are nothing more than scams, and they can do you a lot of harm and take a lot of your money. If you're determined to play poker on the Internet, and you want to do it without worrying about the poker site you're playing at, then you need to look out for these red flags.
It's not hard to see that you have excellent alternatives available to you if you want to play poker online! These sites are for you if you're looking for a light, not-so-serious poker experience. They're also perfect if you prefer to play in a more competitive manner and perhaps earn some cash. The best online poker casinos for UK players will satisfy almost every whim and fancy you might have. We recommend a few of them above and urge you to give them a try.
Yes, most online Poker sites allow players to deposit and play for real money.
Plenty of Poker rooms have excellent software. We recommend checking out our recommended best Poker Casinos mentioned above!
No, if you play at a legitimate site, online poker is not rigged. Always make sure that the poker site you are playing at is properly licensed by the appropriate authorities.
In fact, online poker is a legal enterprise in the United Kingdom. Since 2005, both poker and various other forms of Internet gambling have operated under the umbrella of legality in this part of the world.
Many of the poker sites we recommend offer fast withdrawals. Of these, Unibet Poker has the fastest payouts, processing them in as little as 12 hours via e-wallet.
In fact, you can. Most online poker platforms allow you to create exclusive rooms where you can choose your opponents.
All of our recommended poker sites offer an excellent mobile platform for Android. However, PokerStars takes the top spot! The PokerStars Android app offers an excellent experience and a top-notch user interface.
In most cases, yes, it is possible. Although not every poker site allows free play, many allow users to try out the poker games for free.