Las Vegas may be considered poker’s spiritual home, but there are many fine establishments wherein you could indulge in your favourite game while in Europe.
Whether you want to play in luxurious and elegant settings in a land-based casino or you want to pit your skills against some of the finest players online, you will find Europe amazingly ripe with poker opportunities. And with some of the most tolerant policies toward gambling on the planet, poker is only one of the many games of skill and chance that you could enjoy there.
Poker can trace its European roots to a French game known as poque, which was especially popular in the 17th century. Poque, and its closely-related German game pochen, were both based on primero, a Spanish card game that was popular in the 16th century. The story goes that poque was brought to North America by French colonists, where it spread and developed into poker.
Recommended European Online Poker Rooms
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The 2024 WSOP Main Event has set a new turnout record with a massive field of 10,112 registered players announced on Monday, before the official closing of the registration.
Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu has made another flawless soul reading during the $250,000 Super High Roller event at the World Series of Poker.
June 25, 2024
Scott Seiver has won his sixth WSOP Gold in $1,500 Razz, marking his second bracelet win in two weeks.
June 18, 2024
Sean Troha has completed a hat trick in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship after defeating Tyler Brown.
June 10, 2024
Online European poker players have a unique advantage in that they have access to a larger number of poker rooms than many other poker players. This is due to the laws that govern online poker in multiple European jurisdictions being liberal when it comes to gambling online.
Where the advantage comes in is that those who live in Europe and play poker are in high demand and poker sites, therefore, offer special promotions in the hopes that it will see players register, deposit and play at their poker room.
As we are poker players ourselves, we are here to help you find the best promotions with European online poker sites that are licensed, regulated and responsible. As we know the level of quality at each of the sites, we can assure you is that you will be greeted with a generous welcome bonus with each of our top 10 European poker sites.
When one considers the sheer number of online poker rooms, it can be rather difficult at times, even for experienced online poker players, to know which poker sites are reputable. There are many things so one must consider when making their selection, and when left to determine this on your own it can be a long, arduous challenge that can, for some, lead to frustration and poor results. However, to help European players, some requirements need to be followed when considering which poker rooms to register with.
One of the first is to ensure that the licensing that the poker room has received is one that governs its licensees properly and enforces the regulations that they are bound by. This relates to the quality of the software, its genuine randomness, the handling of deposits and ensuring player deposits are kept in a separate account from its operational accounts, be organised, reliable, game selection and be able to provide quality service to its players.
Is poker legal in Europe?
Poker and most other forms of gambling are legal in most of the 58 countries of Europe. In fact, gambling is general looked upon with tolerance all over the union. While many countries implement specific gambling-related laws, most simply govern the gambling industry according to guidelines set for all member nations.
It is imperative, and your responsibility to ensure you are legally allowed to play poker online for real money. We urge you to check laws as we believe strongly in responsible gambling initiatives and do not condone illegal gambling activities.
European Laws And Regulations
Europe is made up of 58 different countries, each with its own set of gambling laws and regulations. There does tend to be a more tolerant view of gambling in most every country in the union as compared to the United States and other countries. Europe is in fact considered one of the more progressive regions in the world as far as gambling is concerned.
The advent and subsequent popularity of online gambling has simply brought about more options for European poker players and gamblers.
In general, Europe tends to approach the whole gambling issue with permissiveness, opting for licensing and regulation rather than prohibition.
The majority of gaming companies will license their sites with several top licensing bodies so as to be able to provide their services to a broader range of geographical jurisdictions. This includes the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gambling Authority, Dutch Gambling Commission and several others. It ensures that those poker sites offering their services to Europeans are operating at the highest stands of responsibility and understand the importance of running a professional gaming site that adheres to only one licensing bodies regulations, but to all licensing authorities that have chosen to acquire licenses from.
One thing that is important to understand is that legislation within European countries changes and recently, many of the changes have impacted the industry becoming stricter than they were previously. This is to prevent underage gambling, potential fraud, identity verification of identity, paid for licensing and the prevention of offshore gambling operators who continue to try to operate within borders they are not permitted to offer services within.
Europe’s Governing Body For Poker
There is no single governing body for the regulation of gambling in Europe, nor is there sector-specific legislation addressing gambling across the union. EU countries are considered autonomous in that the individual gambling industries are regulated on a local level.
The only requirement is that countries comply with the laws and regulations concerning fundamental freedoms as outlined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The treaty is subject to the interpretation of the Court of Justice of the EU.
There is a body known as the European Commission that works in support of the gambling industry in Europe. The commission is supportive of efforts by the individual countries to modernize their online gambling frameworks. One of the main objects of the commission is to encourage cooperation between gambling regulatory authorities on an administrative level. Also among its goals are ensuring better protection for gambling customers.
Legal Age To Gamble In Europe
The legal age for engaging in poker and other types of gambling activity is 18 years old. This applies to most European countries, although some have their own specific restrictions.
In Portugal for instance, tourists aged 18 years old and up are legally allowed to gamble. But Portuguese citizens will have to be 21 and up in order to gamble legally. Some Portuguese casinos even require patrons to be 25 and up.
Europe’s Best Poker Rooms
Some of the finest poker rooms in the world are found in Europe. These include:
The Fitzwilliam Casino and Card Club, Dublin
Known among its regular clientele as “The Fitz”, this is a poker room with near-legendary status.
Some of the most revered names in Irish poker have played here, including Padraig Parkinson, “Gentleman” Liam Flood, and even new and younger players that are blazing a path through the global poker scene.
Hippodrome Casino, London
A hugely popular poker venue in a city that has more than its share of well-loved poker establishments. Located right in the middle of Leicester Square, The Hippodrome was launched in July 2012.
In the relatively short period of its existence, it has become one of the most respected, with a Casino of the Year award under its belt.
Casino Barcelona, Spain
Located in the center of the Olympic Port in Barcelona, this casino has one of the most action-packed poker rooms in Spain.
This is the sites of some of the most prestigious poker tours and festivals in the world, among them The Spanish Championship, the World Poker Tour, and the European Poker Tour.
Portomaso Casino, Malta
A bustling seaside holiday destination, Portomaso Casino is known for its “Junkets” that combine poker with a host of other casino games.
It also has four separate poker areas, which between them accommodates more than 100 tables. Some of the bigger poker festivals are held here, including the European Poker Tour.
Concord Card Casino, Vienna
Offering a variety of other card games, Concord Card Casino in Vienna is an especially poker-friendly establishment.
In addition to several high profile festivals, the casino is also frequently the setting for cash games and smaller tournaments.
Popular European Poker tournaments
Some of the most prestigious poker tournaments in the world are held in Europe. These include:
The Big One for One Drop
The was The Big One for One Drop held as part of the World Series of Poker in 2012. Established by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, the tournament had an entry fee of $1 million.
From each entry, $111,111 went to the One Drop Foundation, a no-profit organization that works to provide safe and clean water.
European Poker Tour Main Event
The main event of the European Poker Tour which takes place in August. The last time the event was held was in 2016, at the Casino Barcelona in Spain.
There was a €5,300 buy-in to the event, with the prize pool getting up to more than €8.6 million.
World Series of Poker Europe
The World Series of Poker Europe is the European counterpart of the World Series of Poker tournaments that take place in Las Vegas.
The first event took place in London in 2007, which was the first time a World Series of Poker event was hosted outside of Las Vegas.
European Poker Players To Watch Out For
It is hardly surprising to note that some of the biggest winners in the world of poker come from Europe.
Fedor Holz
Still quite a young player from Germany, Holz is already considered one of the best modern poker players, equally prominent in the online and live tournament circuits.
In 2014 and 2015, Holz was ranked at the top of the online MTT player listings, but it was in 2016 when he really came into the public consciousness. It was then that he won his first World Series of Poker victory, coming in at first place in the $111,111 No-Limit Hold’em for One Drop event. This was only a few weeks after he won second place at the Super High Roller bowl.
Subsequent victories in 2017 earned Holz the number seven rank on the Global Player Index. Altogether, he was won closed to $26.8 million.
Sam Trickett
Sam from the United Kingdom has had an equally stellar career. With a total of $20,766,881 racked up over the years, his biggest victory was his second place finish at The Big One for One Drop.
Coming in behind Esfandiari, Trickett earned $10.1 million during the event, which comprised nearly half of his career total winnings. He has racked up a number of other wins as well, among them a slot in the World Poker Tour finals in 2015.
Promotions are an important part of the experience for online poker players. This especially comes into play when competing to win a seat in a professional poker tournament such as those sponsored by the WSOP.
New promotions and the upgrading of welcome bonuses are constantly being added or changed. As completion is stiff, each poker room will be aggressive in its promotions to ensure it retains players and do all they can to avoid them moving on to other rooms that may have superior promotions.
When you register with a new poker room that we recommend, you will be offered a bonus on your first deposit, and thereafter, the poker room will run various weekly/monthly promotions that will relate to depositing based bonuses, tournament seats and others.
Banking Options for European Poker Players
There is quite a good range of options available for European poker players when they wish to make a deposit or withdrawal winnings from online poker rooms.
To make sure poker rooms accommodate people in different jurisdictions, they will have a number of practical options that cover a wide spectrum of preferences to ensure players receive their withdrawals quickly with the least amount of fuss possible.
Those options include credit cards, e-wallets, bank wires, debit cards and cheques. All payments are handled by a processing company in the currency you have selected to receive your winnings. And will be based on the current posted exchange rate.
Currencies Used In European Poker Rooms
The Euro is the primary currency accepted in casinos all over Europe. The national currencies of the individual countries will of course be accepted in their country of origin.
Some land-based casinos may accept the US dollar and other major currencies as well. A number of online establishments have also begun accepting Bitcoin.
Conclusion
With the exception of Las Vegas, Europe is quite possibly one of the best places in the world to enjoy poker. With so many establishments offering the game in all the countries in the union, you could definitely enjoy several rounds or more if you have occasion to travel there.
European Poker Players FAQs
Is Europe governed by a single set of gambling laws?
Gambling laws in Europe should generally be considered on a case to case basis, with each country implementing its own sets of laws and regulations. However, members of the European Union are expected to conform to gambling-related guidelines instituted for all members.
How tolerant is Europe to poker and other types of gambling?
Europe is one of the most tolerant places in the world for poker and all other gambling activities. Apart from ensuring that you are of the legal age in the country where you wish to play, there are almost no restrictions to gambling in most of Europe.
Am I required to pay taxes on my winnings?
Most countries do not tax winnings when playing online poker. However, to know if you are exempt from taxation of monies you withdraw, you will need to consult your local taxation laws in so far as to how it relates to online gambling.
Must I only play using real money? Or can I play with “fun money”.
No, you are not required to deposit and use real money to enjoy poker online. Most poker rooms allow for real money and fun money play. There are tables dedicated for those wishing to play with real money and tables for those preferring to play simply for fun. The same applies to tournaments as well, but for fun money players, poker rooms will offer freeroll that allows you to win real money and for beginners, this is a good way to get accustomed to playing online and having the opportunity to build a bankroll without any upfront investment.
When I register a poker room account, is my information safe?
All information you provide to a poker room when registering is protected and kept safe offline; this includes all banking information. In addition, all transactions are protected using the same software that your bank uses when carrying out online banking activities. If you wish to avoid sharing personal banking information or credit cards with multiple poker sites, you can register with an e-wallet provide. This will limit the number of times you need to share information when transacting online as payments will be processed by the e-wallet provider and not
What payment methods are available to Europe players who wish to gamble online?
Most reputable online casinos, poker rooms, and gambling establishments that cater to the European market accept major credit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cash vouchers, checks, and bank wire transfers.
What type of poker games can be played with European poker sites?
Most poker rooms will offer the usual selection of poker games. This includes limit, and no limit hold ‘em, Omaha, five card draw and stud poker thereby allowing you to use a variety of strategies as you play based on the game being played.
Can a Mac be used to play online poker games in Europe?
In days gone by, this would not have been possible. However, today’s technology has vastly improved, and most poker rooms in Europe are compatible with Mac operating systems, as they are with other Apple products such as their iPad and iPhones. Today, any poker room worth its reputation has software that will be suitable for Mac software.
