Poker rooms are not currently open in the United Kingdom. As of February 2019, there are no licensed poker rooms operating in the UK.
This means that all players must play at sites that are not licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. This includes playing at online poker sites and land-based casinos. .
The current legal situation for poker in the UK is uncertain. In February 2019, the UK Gambling Commission announced that it was considering whether to license poker rooms in the country. However, as of March 2019, no decision has been made and there is no indication when this might happen.
If a licensing process does commence, it is likely to be lengthy and complex, given the strict regulation that applies to gambling in the UK. In the meantime, players in the UK will be limited to playing at sites that are not licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
The lack of licensed poker rooms in the UK presents a significant challenge for players who want to participate in live poker tournaments. Many of these tournaments take place at land-based casinos, which are not currently licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
This means that players who want to participate in live poker tournaments must travel to one of these casinos if they want to take part.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the legal situation for poker in the UK, it is difficult to say whether or not this situation will change in the future. It is possible that licensed poker rooms will eventually open up in the country, providing players with a wider range of available options for enjoying live poker tournaments.
Alternatively, it is possible that regulators will decide that poker is not a suitable form of gambling for inclusion on Britain’s regulated market. In either case, players who want to take part in live poker tournaments in the UK should keep an eye on developments over the next few months/years as they will likely have a significant impact on their ability to do so.
