Poker in the United Kingdom: online rooms, live venues & tournaments
The UK is one of the best-regulated places in the world to play poker. Online poker has been licensed by the Gambling Commission since 2014, every operator serving British players must hold a UK licence, and player funds are protected under that licence. Our partner GGPoker runs GGPoker.co.uk for exactly this market — home of the WSOP Online and the biggest tournament guarantees available to UK players.
Live, the country has a deep scene: Aspers in London and Dusk Till Dawn in Nottingham are two of the largest poker rooms in Europe, Grosvenor's GUKPT tour visits a dozen cities a year, and the WPT, EPT and UKIPT all stop here.
Play online from United Kingdom
GGPoker
Home of the WSOP Online, GGPoker runs the biggest guaranteed tournaments and the busiest cash games online. Locally licensed skins (GGPoker.uk, GGPoker.de, GGPoker.nl, GGPoker.ca in Ontario) serve regulated markets.
Play at GGPoker →Also accepting players from United Kingdom: Unibet Poker. 18+ · advertising.
Is online poker legal in United Kingdom?
Upcoming tournaments in United Kingdom
All tournaments| Dates | Event | Venue | Buy-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 – 28 Sept 2026 | UKPC Masters | Dusk Till Dawn | £560 |
| 7 – 11 Oct 2026 | DTD250 Deepstack | Dusk Till Dawn | £290 |
| 24 Oct 2026 | DTD250 One-Day Event | Dusk Till Dawn | £290 |
| 4 – 16 Nov 2026 | WSOP Circuit UK | Dusk Till Dawn | £1,500 |
| 26 – 30 Dec 2026 | Dusk Till Dawn Christmas Cup | Dusk Till Dawn | £150 |
| 25 – 31 Jan 2027 | UK Poker Championships 2027 | Dusk Till Dawn | £560 |
Poker rooms & casinos in United Kingdom
All venuesTop players from United Kingdom
All players| # | Player | Hometown | Live earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen Chidwick | Deal, Kent | $79,308,052 |
| 2 | Ben Heath | London | $38,932,382 |
| 3 | Talal Shakerchi | London | $20,218,635 |
| 4 | Sam Grafton | Leamington Spa | $15,653,991 |
| 5 | Benny Glaser | Eastleigh | $12,874,899 |
| 6 | Chris Moorman | Brighton | $11,778,266 |
| 7 | Philip Sternheimer | London | $10,540,018 |
| 8 | Toby Lewis | Hampshire | $10,395,726 |
| 9 | Richard Gryko | London | $10,301,182 |
| 10 | Charlie Carrel | London | $9,614,815 |
Online poker in the UK: what to know
UK players can deposit with debit cards (credit cards have been banned for gambling since 2020), bank transfer, Apple Pay and most e-wallets. Winnings are tax-free for players — gambling winnings are not income in UK law. Every licensed room must offer deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion, and connects to GAMSTOP, the national self-exclusion scheme.
Live poker
Casinos may spread poker cash games and tournaments under their premises licence, and dedicated card clubs such as Dusk Till Dawn operate under the same regime. There are no membership waiting periods any more; walk in with ID and you can sit down.
The festival calendar runs all year: GUKPT stops around the Grosvenor network, the Goliath at Coventry every summer (the largest poker tournament outside Las Vegas by entries), WPT Prime and EPT stops in London, and the UKIPT at Dusk Till Dawn.
Frequently asked questions
Is GGPoker legal in the UK?
Yes. GGPoker.co.uk operates under a licence from the UK Gambling Commission. Play on the .co.uk site, not the international one — the licensed site is the one that accepts UK players and protects your funds under UK rules.
Are poker winnings taxed in the UK?
No. HMRC does not treat gambling winnings as taxable income for players, whether from a £5 online tournament or a live main event.
What is the minimum age to play poker in the UK?
18, online and in casinos. You will be asked to verify your identity and age before you can withdraw, and usually before you can deposit.