The Top Legal Poker Sites for UK Players in 2024
By Andrew Collinson
Legal Expert
Online poker sites provide a safe and regulated place for UK gamblers to indulge in their favourite real money pastime - if the casino site is legal to play at. Fortunately, in 2024 poker is 100% legal.
However, there are still plenty of dodgy poker rooms out there. While these sites may technically not be illegal, rogue casinos that make it impossible to play fair, should be avoided at all costs.
Our top rated Legal Poker Sites
- Awarded Digital Operator of the Year by the Global Gaming Awards
- Customer service readily available for phone, email or chat
- Join a game or tourney instantly with their “Quick Seat” option
- Receive £10 in tourney tokens when you first sign up
- Many fun tourneys for casual players with a £5,000 prize bonus
- Lots of easy wins and fishy players!
- Start gambling with £5 worth of tokens in your pocket
- Join exclusive Beginner’s Cash Tables to learn the ropes
- Stunning redesign and updated software
- The biggest online poker room, and arguably one of the best
- Play tournaments for real cash whatever your budget
- Top quality, on-hand customer support for any issue
- Get £0 free without depositing
- Lots of action and weak players
- Great and easy to achieve deposit
Playing Legally Online in the UK
To comply with UK law, and provide poker games to British players, sites must carry a special licence awarded by the UK Gambling Commission. That's the provision for operating an online casino set out by the 2014 Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill.
This Act ensures that any online site offering gambling to British players must be subject to solid regulation. It guarantees UK players are protected online and that the real money casino games open to British players are safer than ever.
Legitimate Licenses & Online Security Measures
To offer online poker games, legal rooms must hold a UK issued licence. But they may also hold a perfectly acceptable licence from a recognised and legitimate overseas gambling jurisdiction. Such as that of Gibraltar, Malta, or Curacao. While gaming jurisdictions operate slightly differently in each territory, a licence granted by any of these governing bodies is a guarantee of reliable payouts and fair games.
The top sites online will run software that has been tested externally by an independent verifier such as eCOGRA. If a casino's Random Number Generators are solid, a certificate will be issued, which the casino is obliged to display on its poker site for players to read. Audits like this are conducted regularly and give players peace of mind that every time you play a hand you can be sure the shuffle and deal of the cards is fair and the payouts accurate.
Legal sites will also have excellent security measures in place. Look for evidence of good SSL (Secure Socket Layers) before parting ways with your details or your cash at a UK poker room. Certificates of authenticity are also another means of verifying whether a poker room is safe to play at.
Staying Safe When You Playing Online in 2024
Playing poker safely means sticking to UK-licensed sites that adhere to regulations and pass our rigorous tests here at OnlinePoker.co.uk. We take time to thoroughly rate and review the sites we recommend to ensure they offer players a top online poker experience. Have recognised licences and a good reputation for fast payouts. Our top rated rooms also segregate funds so that player winnings are always kept apart from overheads and operating costs.
Any legit online poker room worth its salt will also have set processes in place if you suspect a game you're playing at might be fixed. Instances of collusion and cheating are taken extremely seriously by legal poker rooms in the UK, and are always swiftly investigated. Just one of the many perks of only playing at a legally regulated site.
Finding the Best Legal UK Poker Rooms
If you want to guarantee staying safe when enjoying online poker, it's important to always play at legal sites that offer top security and reliable software. Only then can you be sure your money is safe and the rooms aren't going to get abruptly shut down by the authorities. Leaving you out of pocket. With proper licences in place, your funds are totally segregated and always perfectly secure at all times.
Among OnlinePoker.co.uk's top rated casinos for poker variants you'll find games at a huge range of stakes, along with some amazing loyalty schemes and promotions. Plus with a first real money deposit you'll even be able to claim a welcome bonus to help boost your bankroll even further. These benefits are exclusively available in legal UK sites so be sure you don't miss out when you open an account.
By playing your favourite tourneys and cash games not only can you earn points to redeem against gifts and money. These member rewards are just another indication you can trust in the casino being legit. And offering UK players an unrivalled online poker experience in 2024.
FAQs
Are online poker sites legal in the UK?
Yes. Under current gambling laws, it's completely legal to play online poker for real money in the United Kingdom in 2024
What about other types of gambling?
Online casino games and slots (games of chance) and sports betting are also legal for UK gamblers.
What is the minimum age to play?
The minimum age for British poker players is 18.
Who regulates poker sites in Great Britain?
The UK Gambling Commission, set up in 2005 after the Gambling Act, regulates online poker sites. However, many offshore sites will also hold licences from jurisdictions based overseas. If they want to cater for UK players, they must acquire a UK Gambling Commission licence alongside their native licence for the site to be considered legal in Great Britain.
Are taxes owed on winnings?
No. Gambling tax for consumers has been scrapped. However, under UK gambling laws, poker sites must pay 15% tax if their players are based in the United Kingdom.
