Online Poker for Real Money in United Kingdom
Poker is a game that has gradually become the most famous card game on the planet. This rise to fame has not come into being overnight, however. Instead, it is a result of a wide array of reasons ranging from the flexibility of the game to the way it is portrayed in the media. While figuring out the true source of this fame with any certainty may be a little difficult, it is possible to come close to the set of these reasons.
The best way to approach this is to go about the whole process in a case study format. The rise of poker in the United Kingdom can be taken as the best representative of the popularity of poker, as it shows all the milestones of the meteoric expansion of the game. Here are some pertinent points relevant to the subject in question i.e. the rise and current state of poker in the UK.
Core reasons for the sudden increase in the popularity of poker
There are two primary reasons why poker has become so famous in the UK. The foremost of these is the fact that real money poker has a lot of media coverage in the UK, and this has been a continuous trend for the last decade or so. Whether it is the small cable channels airing poker games on the television or the increasing number of online poker websites catering to the English community, the game has received a lot of coverage.
The games that can be caught on English cable television channels are fairly high profile including big stake games, World Series of poker tournaments and even innovative programmes focusing on celebrity poker matchups. While the television channels allow people to watch stars playing poker, the online websites make it easy for them to play and win themselves.
The growth in the popularity of poker in the country can also be attributed to the fact that the American variant of poker i.e. No Limit Texas Hold ‘em was only recently introduced and has since really taken off. The American variant of the game is more dynamic and allows for greater thrills and excitement. In fact, one of the qualities of the American variant is that it makes the game entertaining to a third party or the audience, over and above the players. This has, debatably, not been the case with other versions of the game, which many people complain are only entertaining for the person playing.
The World Series of Poker Europe
The UK also owes its rising popularity to the World Series of Poker Europe which has been held in its capital i.e. London for the last 4 years. The WSOPE is a derivation of the World Series of Poker tournament of the United States of America that has a following all over the planet. The first World Series of Poker Europe was held in London in 2007 and has since consistently been held through to 2010. The exposure of the population of London to poker, through the four consecutive WSOPE tournaments has also made a huge difference in the way the game is perceived.
The most notable aspect of the WSOPE is that it has a completely different environment than its American counterpart. While the American World Series of Poker focuses more on sensationalism and the entertainment of the common man, the World Series of Poker Europe tournaments have been held with class, style and panache.
In fact, the commissioner of the World Series of Poker Europe has even stated that the tournaments held in the UK have style and flair that is reminiscent of James Bond and his movies. As is obvious, this kind of fantastic setting also plays a major role in making the game of poker much more attractive to the public of the UK.
It is also worth mentioning that even though the 2011 instalment of the World Series of Poker Europe is outside of the UK, it is still nearby because it is being held in Cannes, France. Effectively, the exposure of the people of the UK would continue because Cannes is not very far from the UK.
The major professional poker players of the UK
Good proof of the increasing popularity of poker in the UK is that more and more professional poker players are becoming recognizable amongst the public. These individuals are now seen as stars in the country where the population has been following their victories consistently.
One such player is Chris Bruce who is a player hailing from Nottingham. Bruce came into the limelight after his back to back victories at the Dusk till Dawn tournaments which fielded some of the more global stars of the world of poker. Similar to this is the story of the fairly well known Kevin ‘Lovejoy’ O’Leary who wowed the poker enthusiasts of the country with two major victories followed by participation in the globally renowned Venetian Deepstack Extravaganza.
A player who has actually seen poker come from the dark into the spotlight in the UK is the legendary Tony G. Tony G, who hails from Wolverhampton, has had a 20 year career in the world of poker but has only truly become famous in his country after the game became famous. Other players who have made waves in the UK owing to the rising popularity of the game include another Venetian winner Julian Thew and the consistent performer, Dave ‘El Blondie’ Colcough.
Laws governing Poker in the UK
Even the laws governing the game of poker in the nation have been conducive to the growth of the game here. For example, an individual can easily host poker parties and tournaments at his home or even local church and village halls provided the whole thing is not commercial in nature. In fact, an individual can host a poker tournament at home between friends with unlimited stakes or prizes. However, while the definition of friend is not a part of the law governing the game, the unsaid understanding is that as long as the host does not charge admission and that he knows the individual he can be counted as a friend.
The game of real money poker in the UK is governed by the Gambling Act of 2005 which, as explained above, is not too stringent for a wide variety of tournaments. In addition to the above example, even an organization can set up a poker tournament and invite other organizations to play in it, provided the premises and the participation is not open to the public and random entrances. Moreover, poker games can be a part of formal men’s clubs or business clubs as long as the club is not inherently a dedicated poker club.
The laws only allow an individual to charge for admission or participation in poker events if the poker tournament has been arranged for charitable purposes only. Effectively, this opens the door for individuals who are looking to organize poker events and tournaments for the sake of fundraising. Another example of the laws being lenient is that even minors i.e. children under the age of 18 are allowed to play in tournaments.
Casinos in the UK
There are numerous casinos in the nation that cater to its poker players, professional and amateur alike. Notably, some of the casinos of London are even recognized the world over as some of the best. Here is a list of some examples.
- The Ritz Club Casino: The Ritz Club Casino of the Ritz Hotel is one of the most well known casinos in the world. It is known for its opulence and lavishness.
- The G Casino: The G Casino or the erstwhile Grosvenor Casino located in Luton is another very well known casino in the city of London.
- The Mint Casino: The Mint Casino which was known as the Luton International Casino, like the G Casino is also located in Luton.
- The Circus Casino: The Circus Casino, like the previous two entries, is also located in the hub of casinos in London i.e. Luton.
Apart from the established casinos of London, the casinos of Manchester are also held in high esteem by many professional poker players and international high profile tourists. These include the Circus Casino, the Manchester 235 Casino and the Mint Casino Salford.
As is evident from all the information provided above, poker, as a game in the United Kingdom, has a very bright future. This is precisely why there is a lot of influx of interest from audiences from different parts of Europe and professional poker players from all over the world in the World Series of Poker Europe.
Not surprisingly, these are some reasons why, as per many dedicated poker followers, London is quickly becoming the poker capital of Europe. And this is purely on the back of the popularity of the game in the city as well as other parts of the country as well.
