Where can I organise or play poker?
Outside a casino, you can organise poker games
and play poker in many different settings. However, the rules are
different depending on where you play.
Poker at home
Can I play poker at
home?
Poker at work
Can I play poker at work?
Poker in casinos
In Great Britain, you can play poker in
casinos licensed by the Gambling Commission. However, poker played
as a casino game could mean that you have lower gambling odds than
if you play poker as a game of
equal chance.
Casinos can also run poker tournaments at
temporary venues, for a limited amount of time, under temporary use
notices (TUNs).
Online poker
Poker can be played online with unlimited
stakes.We recommend that you read our guide
What to look out for when gambling online - November
2008 for information on how to tell whether an
online casino holds a licence from us.
Poker in a pub (public house) or
club
You can organise poker games and play poker in
a pub or club. However, there are strict conditions on any gaming
including limits on stakes and prizes. Licensing authorities
can take action against individuals whose premises do not comply
with these conditions.
You should seek independent legal advice if
you are planning on organising any sort of poker scheme. We do not
give legal advice on setting up poker games.
Poker in pubs (public
houses)
Poker can be played in pubs but there are
limits to the stakes and prizes that can be played for. For more
information (including information about poker tournaments and
linking games between pubs) read:
Advice on allowing poker in
alcohol licensed premises - July 2009 and also
Advice on gaming in clubs and alcohol licensed premises - Gambling
Act 2005 - September 2008
Poker in clubs
Poker can be played in clubs as long as it
takes account of the conditions that apply to gaming in clubs,
including limits on stakes and prizes. For more information
(including information about poker tournaments and linking games
between clubs) read:
Poker in clubs -
January 2011 and also
Advice on gaming in clubs and alcohol licensed premises - Gambling
Act 2005 - September 2008
Illegal poker
If you offer poker in a pub which falls
outside the rules for exempt gaming, or offer high stakes poker
when you do not have a casino licence, you are breaking the
law.
If you notice illegal poker taking place, you
can take action by notifying the appropriate local licensing
authority or by submitting an illegal activity complaint to us.
Further guidance
Members' club or commercial club - October 2010 ,
Advice on non-commercial and private gaming and betting - January
2010 and
Code of Practice on equal chance gaming in clubs and premises with
an alcohol license - December 2009