Play At Top Northern Ireland Online Pokers Sites
By Andrew Collinson
Legal Expert
In Northern Ireland, it's legal to enjoy Texas Hold'em or Stud games online. Poker fans from Belfast to Derry can fire up the laptop and gamble with GBP at the best websites around. Best of all, there's no tax to pay on Internet poker online winnings.
Our top rated Irish online poker rooms
- 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
Online Poker: Northern Ireland Games
As a resident of the UK, you can enjoy totally legal online poker games. From the best betting sites with poker rooms to the biggest dedicated poker sites, you're free to deposit from a card or bank account and enjoy real-cash games.
For the best online poker, Northern Ireland players need just read our reviews. We only pick out sites that are ideal for United Kingdom gamblers. All of our sites allow banking in GBP, have good traffic, and customer support in English. You'll also discover great satellites to the biggest live tournaments in England, Wales and Scotland.
Current Online Poker Laws in NI
Internet gaming is relatively legit under the wider UK legislation. Poker sites have to pay tax based on where their customers are based. So, if you're in Belfast playing online, you won't pay tax but the site will.
Online poker laws are clear: gambling for real money on the net is legal. The Gambling Act 2005 and 2014 amendments mean that anyone living in the United Kingdom can enjoy cash games and tournaments at home.
Live Poker in Northern Ireland
Meanwhile, gambling is strictly overseen by the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (NI) Order 1985. Under this rather outdated law, there are no legal land-based cardrooms or casinos in N.Ireland. Betting on a Sunday is also outlawed in the country.
Only small charity poker games are currently permitted but Stormont is currently considering a change in the law governing live gambling.
Find the Best Online Poker Games in Northern Ireland
If you love online poker, Northern Ireland is the perfect place to get your fix. You might not be able to hit the live tables, but there are still hundreds of top rooms you can access via your PC or Mac.
With OnlinePoker.co.uk's top-rated gaming sites you'll also find an amazing welcome bonus. By making a first deposit and hitting the tables you'll start to earn player points. The more points you earn, the bigger the bonus. There are also some pretty impressive VIP schemes open to NI real-cash players. Get involved today and make your bankroll go even further.
FAQs
Is online poker legal?
Yes. Under current UK law, online casino and poker games for real money are totally legal. You can deposit GBP and win real cash on your PC or mobile phone.
Who is the regulator?
The UK Gambling Commission regulates poker sites offering games to NI residents. Even online poker rooms who are licensed overseas must hold a UK license to offer real-cash games.
At what age can I play?
The legal age of gambling for Northern Ireland online poker players is 18.
Are there any restrictions?
Only poker online is legal for residents of Northern Ireland, land-based games are still outlawed.
Do I need to pay tax on my winnings?
No. Gaming tax is not needed for consumers. However, under the new gambling laws, online sites must pay 15 percent tax if their players are based in the United Kingdom.
What if I am a professional gambler?
If you play professional online poker, Northern Ireland players can still avoid tax on winnings. However, if you incur a lot of expenses from travel and equipment you may be able to work those costs into your self-assessment return every year.
Can I claim back tax on losses?
It's difficult, and most players won't claim tax back. Instead, the government made the decision to scrap gaming tax on winnings altogether in the early 2000s.
