European Online Poker, UK Poker Rooms, & UK Poker Sites
You have just found the number one place on the web for information regarding European online poker, UK poker rooms, and UK poker sites. Below you can find brief reviews of some of the top UK online-poker sites as well as the latest news relating to European poker.
Top UK Poker Sites
Titan Poker
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Summary
Titan Poker is one of my preferred rooms on the iPoker network and typically the ideal among the network of players. It’s basically what they offer that makes them such an attractive room. The games are well targeted so finding a limit game in the wee hours of the night is never a problem. They are a fully licensed and regulated room by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and have never had any negative reports. An impressive feature is they support over a dozen different languages and multiple choices for currencies. UK players can play in Euros if they choose or even British Pounds so you’re not limited to just using dollars and you always know what it is your taking to the table. The tournament promotions are always massive in terms of prizes like the €1 Million dollar freerolls event, the World Challenge or seats to the Grosvenor Poker Tour along with the European Championship of Online Poker.
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Bonuses and Free $25
Titan Poker offers a great bonus of 100% match up to $500. I have personally spoke with Titan Poker to work an even better deal. By signing up for Titan Poker from this page you will not only receive the 100% bonus, but you will also receive a free $25 in your poker account upon depositing. On top of all of this, I have also arranged for you to automatically be eligible for all f the freerolls hosted by PokerNews.com. Pretty sick huh? Click here to play now. Or simply use bonus code SQUIDOO when making your first deposit.
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Competition
As far as competition, I find each room has its own level of competition and feel for the game. Titan can be very loose at the micro levels right up to the €2/€4 limit games. Until you reach the mid stakes you will be playing a field of players who like lots of action, and will play their hands till the river. Titan statistically shows a pre-flop viewed percentage of 55% so you will need to decide if you want to play the loose games or bump it up a level to a more competitive game, and these lobby stats will help you decide.
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Games
The most visited ring games is the Texas Holdem like most rooms but they do have quite a bit of action at the Omaha and Stud tables. I have found that peak hours make these games prime targets of interest but after that the traffic does drop off. You can play ring games in various formats such as Heads up, Full Ring, Shorthanded, Turbo as well as tables with a “No Disconnection Policy.”Beginners can find stakes as low as 1c/2c , however Titan will only allow you to play in these games for a certain period of time as they are for beginners. After that you will need to move up a step. Ring games will climb to the €100/€200 levels but the most action you can find right now is the €20/€40 NL. Titan has a fixed rate of 5% rake which is taken from each pot up to a maximum of €3.
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Tournaments
TitanPoker offers some pretty impressive tournaments including seats to some of the live events that take place across Europe as well as globally. I prefer the guaranteed payment tournaments and more so those that take place when the traffic seems to subside. I have cashed in more games that are held in the evenings at Titan than anywhere else because of this. That being said, the tournaments featured during the day can hold some tight competition if you find the right ones. Low buy in games are loose, highly populated and very fast. If you want to avoid these games, look towards the tournaments where the buyin is at least €20 and above. You will find they offer a better poker game and the prize pools are fairly decent. The largest GP Titan has to offer is a weekly €75,000 GP Rebuy event with qualifiers held daily. Since Titan is predominantly a UK poker room most of the tournaments packages they give away are for live events held within Europe. Currently they are giving away seats to the ECOOP, Grosvenor UK Poker Tour and a Mediterranean’s Poker Cruise.
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Software
The Titan software has gone through some major overhauls the last six months and is now up to par as far as the industry standard goes. They have integrated some new lobby features such as menu filters that automatically separate your games for you or you can take that to the next step and customize the filter so the stakes are those that you wish to play. All your in lobby stats are available such as average pot size, hands per hour which is typically 120/hr, along with pre flop percentage. The poker room is Poker Tracker compatible for Holdem and Omaha. One of the key features that I really like is the ease in multi tabling. You have the options to play full screen, in a 4 x 4 screen, or can resize the tables yourself allowing control over your own viewing. This is done very easily with no interruptions to your game. The table graphics are three dimensional but do need an update. There is nothing overly unique in this department. Table stats are well delivered. Most of your game stats are found within the chat window but if you want extra details you can view them in a popup which will give you all your info on hands played, what your folding percentage is and where. Overall, Titan Poker offers a stable program that’s powered by Playtech ( so you know it delivers) and all the way around it’s a well-built card room.
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Customer Support
The Titan support team is one of the best there is. Unlike other rooms you will be given an individual one on one treatment. They offer services by email, live chat, and a toll free number based out of the UK. The live chat support team are called floor managers. This means they know this company inside and out. Titan is the only room I have seen online where I requested a manager and was able to talk to a manager just as you would a regular casino. Not to mention these people will instant message you with extra offers and incentives, as well as make sure you are enjoying the poker room. I have not seen this done anywhere else.
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Deposits and Withdraws
The deposit and withdraw methods are available in a wide selection. Withdraws take 24 hours to process but once this is done payments are issued quickly. They also have an express cheque method which depending on what country you are in is very quick. Deposit methods include; VISA, MasterCard, Citadel, NETeller, FirePay, MoneyBookers, InstaCash, InstaDebit, EcoCard, UseMyBank, wire transfer, bank draft and personal checks.
Ladbrokes Poker
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Summary
Ladbrokes Poker, one of the most recognized brands on the famed Prima Network, has been catering to the online poker community since 2001. The Microgaming software that the site utilizes has been designed to run ultra smooth and without a lot of lag. It has a very simple interface that seems to attract the more modern and sophisticated player. With traffic consistently hitting 15,000+ people during peak hours, it’s no surprise why Ladbrokes is one of the more popular rooms in Europe. Ladbrokes is also home to some of loosest action on the web today, with short-handed tables averaging flop percentages above 50% and full tables averaging near 40%.
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Deposit/Sign Up Bonuses
The current Ladbrokes Poker bonus is a 100% match up to€500 for all new players who sign up. To receive the full amount of the bonus, new players must clear 30 times the number of “Player Points” in relation to your initial chip purchase. So if you were to purchase€100 in chips through Ladbrokes. You must clear 3,000 player points within the allotted timeframe of 30 days to unlock your welcome bonus. If you clear at least 50% of the bonus within the same period of time, but do not attain the full 100%, you will still be able to get half of your first chip purchase credited to your bonus account.
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Traffic on Ladbrokes
Once online, players will discover a very large selection of both ring tables and tournaments. There is a wide variety of game selections at Ladbrokes, which include Texas Hold Em, Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo, 7-Card Stud, 5-Card Draw and 5-Card Stud. All of these games come in No Limit, Pot-Limit, and Fixed variations - and the formats that are available include short-handed, full-handed, and heads-up (the maximum rake taken at these ring tables is €3). With more than 60% of peak traffic playing in their many daily guaranteed tournaments, a lot of the cash game traffic is known to be lurking at the smaller to average stakes games. Cash game limits at Ladbrokes Poker start as little as 2p/5p and climb as high as €150/€300 and €200/€400. The high stakes action at Ladbrokes has been known to bring together some of Europe’s finest professionals like “Devilfish” and “Roy The Broy Brindley” in a setting where 5-figure and 6-figure swings are common.
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Ladbrokes Software
Now as previously mentioned, the software the site has implemented is quite basic. It has a very simple user interface, and the overall design doesn’t have the normal “flash” that a lot of the newer online rooms have been introducing lately. However, what it lacks in design it more than makes up for in regards to playability and game speed. Its multi-table option allows for little to zero lag, and the table features (i.e. player notes, average flop percentages, and ‘previous action taking’ functions) the site offers really allows its players to customize their poker experience. The lobby is simple to navigate, and the color scheme at Ladbrokes is easy on the eyes and makes it very easy to find a cash game or tournament. You also don’t need to download the site directly to play - it comes fully available in an accessible Flash version from the Internet.
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LB’s Customer Support
The customer support team at Ladbrokes is one of the best in the business. Their 24/7 dedication to its players is something that should be seen by all online poker rooms. All general inquiries or account-related questions can be sent to care@ladbrokespoker.com, where it will be responded to within a short amount of time. In addition, players can also call their direct customer service phone line at 0800 032 1133 for live assistance. For players outside the UK, feel free to call 00 350 43003 to get any of your concerns answered. Both numbers are open around the clock, so calling “during business hours” need not apply.
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Deposit & Withdraw Options
The deposit options at Ladbrokes offer their players a wide variety of options. Please note a minimum deposit of £5 is required, or the approximate currency equivalent. The following methods are currently accepted: credit cards (Visa/MC), debit cards (Delta, Maestro, Switch, Solo), cashier’s checks, money orders, personal checks, wire transfers, Western Union Quick Pay, NETeller, PayPal (limited amount of countries), Ukash, eNETS.
Party Poker
Party Poker is a European poker room and clearly one of the largest with shares traded on the London stock exchange. Through some dedication they remained at the top of the industry even after the UIGEA. Use bonus code SQUIDOO to receive a 30% bonus of up to $150 on your first deposit.
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Software
The software is available in a download and flash client although if you’re a MTT player you will need the download version. MTT games will be available sometime soon in the instant play. They have developed high volumes of traffic from the UK as well as other areas of Europe so finding a game will never be an issue. Players can use Euros, Pounds and Sterling. A bad beat jackpot is available for players who opt for specific ring games. These games are highlighted so you know which ones qualify and the jackpot can go well above the $400,000.
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Competition
I find Party Poker interesting as far as competition goes. For starters everyone talks about the reckless play and the swings in the micro and low limit tables. This is true to an extent. If you look at the tables you will find some micro games leading an average viewed flop percentage of 55%, but this doesn’t mean that all the games are weak. There are still ample players who are there playing a solid game. Now if you look at the limit poker, that’s a whole new ball game. In limit, even up to the $2/$4 tables you can expect a lot of players to be in the hand till the end. This holds true for the Omaha PL games. If you understand the game of Omaha than you should be able to profit easily with the stakes up to $1/$2. Ring games where the stake is at least $3/$6 will start to ease up with over aggressive players.
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Games
Ring games are packed almost any time of the day and not just in Holdem either. Party Poker offers Texas Holdem in NL, PL, L formats while the Omaha spread is PL and Limit. They also include Stud but not in Hi Lo. Of course Texas Holdem is full of action, that’s a given with most poker rooms of this size. The stakes range from 1p/2p up to$25/$50. If you want to play NL Holdem at top level, be sure to note that the majority of the players are occupying the NO DP tables. Not often will they play where disconnections are taken into consideration so you should make sure your internet will hold up for your games. Omaha is well targeted. Almost anytime I have logged on to my account I can find a pot limit game running, with all stakes active up to $3/$6 with the occasional $5/$10 game going. If you want micro games than you will never have a difficulty finding a busy table. As far as Stud, the tables do see some traffic but not a lot, and I prefer to play H/L which they don’t offer either.
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Tournaments
Tournaments at Party are loaded with everything you could want. High guaranteed payments, exclusive tournaments giving away seats to events based out of Europe as well as fast paced. These games see plenty of traffic, with average peak hours exceeding 60,000 + real money players. Party Poker only offers tournaments in Texas holdem and Omaha but they do support a lot of re-buys, GP’s, freezeouts and my favourite - the turbo games. Your largest tournament you will find is the $200,000 GP. Players can buy into these directly (215) or enter in one of the daily qualifiers in MTT format or SNG. The SNG games are great. I have never played one where I had to wait above 2 minutes for it to start. During peak hours it may take you a couple of attempts to register because they fill so quickly. SNG tournaments are available in your standard selection as well as qualifiers, sub-qualifiers and the new Hellkat tournaments. These are alot of fun. If you don’t have much time to play or you’re not wanting a long tournament the Hellkats are available for this purpose. These Hellkat SNG’s are played on a time schedule with an allotted amount of time. So if all you have is 5 or 15 min and want a fast game look for these.
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Party Poker Bonuses - Use Party Bonus Code SQUIDOO for a 30% bonus of up to $150
If there is one thing I have to credit to Party for it’s their bonus offers. Not the initial sign up bonus but what you receive after you sign up. I consistently receive emails giving me extra cash bonuses for my account. These bonuses will use a base amount calculated on what your norm is but it’s nice to see a room offer something on a regular basis. The sign up bonus is a 30% up to $150 and add the extra offers on top of this (which can come weekly or bi weekly) Party Poker does meet the same standards as most of the other poker rooms for bonuses and they are not as difficult to clear. PartyParty Poker bonus is released in increments of $10 with players earning 5 points for every dollar in rake.
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Customer Support
The support team is great. They are available 24/7 through email, live chat and phone. I have contacted them a few times with email response being minimal. The phone support team answers very quickly and will assist you anyway they can.
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Deposits and Withdrawals
Party Poker offers multiple methods for deposits and withdraws and each financial processor has been tested for security prior to being used. Your current options available include; VISA, MasterCard, NETeller, FirePay, Western Union, eChecks (by iGM-Pay), bank draft, cashier’s check, money order, check
Pacific Poker
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Summary
Pacific Poker is part of the 888.com company which is a publicly traded poker room in Europe. The poker room has been in the industry since the rage of online poker first started. They offer an impressive line up of tournaments, highly populated ring games and are backed by financial security. The poker room supports a certified random number generator tested by third parties and is owned by Cassava Enterprises (Gibraltar) Limited. One thing to note is the software is on its own network so all the players that are in the room are playing at this room.
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Tournaments
Pacific Poker offers some of the fastest tournaments online. I don’t think I have come across any other room who offers super turbos quite like these, especially in tournament formats. Hosting these fast games can also bring some extremely loose players and Pacific Poker is known for supporting its fair share of maniacs. Average viewed flop percentage can peak at 55% in the NL micro games.
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Games
Ring games are available in your standard selections and no mixed games are supported at this time. The room is typically European with the vast majority of players coming from this region. This means peak hours will be based around this timezone. You will find stakes as low as 1p/2p and climbing up to 100/200. The highest stake that can be found during peak hours is the $20/$40 in Texas Holdem NL. Omaha games are well populated and if you have a good understanding of Omaha Hi Lo you can defiantly profit from Pacific Poker. The average view flop percentage is 60% which goes with the general consensus that this room has a lot of juicy games. Pacific Poker offers Texas Holdem, Omaha, and Stud.
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Competition at Pacific Poker
Before you start playing tournaments at Pacific Poker there are two things you should take into consideration. These games are amazingly fast and you should expect some maniac players to be playing some wild games. If you prefer not to get involved with games like this than you will need to pay attention to which tournament you are registering for since Pacific offers many that super turbo. Pacific Poker hosts your standard tournament, re-buys, turbo and super turbo. In the turbo games the levels increase by every few hands instead of an allotted time bank. Pacific Poker offers many of guaranteed payment tournaments with the largest being the $150,000 GP during the week.
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Pacific Poker’s Software
The software is very reliable. I have never experienced a lag on this site and the speed has always been premium. They recently went through an update which has been an improvement to say the least and the software is at a top performance rate. The graphics are clear and sharp with Pacific enabling 3 dimensional players and the ability to customize your background. Players can multi table up to eight tables simultaneously with very little effort. The lobby and tables both provide detailed statistics that every player now requires. Overall it features an easy to use program with key strong points being the stability and the newly updated software.
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Pacific Poker Deposit Bonus
The Pacific Poker bonus allows player to claim a 25% match up to $100. Pacific Poker will release your bonus into your account once you have met the poker room’s requirements by wagering at least 20 times the amount of the bonus. The bonus is difficult to release if you are playing micro games.
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Customer Support
Support is available every day of the week with toll free numbers witin the UK and wait times to speak to a Pacific support staff kept to a minimal. Email on the other hand can take slightly longer which is mainly due to the amount of players using this option. They also provide live support chat.
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Deposit and Withdraw Methods
Deposit options include; VISA, UKash, bank transfer, PaysafeCard, MasterCard, NETeller, Citadel, FirePay, Wire Transfer, InstaDebit, ClickandBuy, ACTeCASH
See Also: Do you know about poker networks?, Online Poker vs Live Poker, Bodog Life Review, Can you See Hole Cards?, Ron Paul and Poker, How the UIGEA effects you, Current PokerStars Tournaments, Current FullTilt Tournaments, Who Regulates Online Poker, Bodog Rakeback, Using Prepaid Visas for Online Poker
NichePoker.net recommends playing poker at Aced Poker.