Top 10 Scottish Poker Sites 2023 : For Scottish Players

Like the rest of the United Kingdom, Scotland has been closely associated with poker throughout the centuries.

From the establishment of a well-known poker club in the 18th century to the rise of a new breed of young Scottish players that are fearlessly blazing a trail through the online world, Scotland has consistently proven to be one of the greatest poker playing countries in the world.

Poker’s roots in Scotland go way back. In addition to the many card game variants that were either based on poker or influenced its development, the actual game itself has had many adherents throughout the years.

One of the most significant developments in poker history in the country was the establishment of The Poker Club, which was a social club located in Edinburgh.

Recommended Scottish Online Poker Rooms

My list of the best poker sites which I consider to be the best rooms to play in 2023:

1. BetOnline Poker
2. TigerGaming Poker

Founded in 1762 by the local literary and intellectual set, the club was initially started in order to support the institution of a local militia. Over time however, it became clear that the club was more focused on the interaction and entertainment of its members.

The Poker Club enjoyed a decade of peak popularity and notoriety. It would continue on in some form until its dissolution in January 1784.

Is poker legal in Scotland?

As in most of the UK, Scotland has a very tolerant policy toward gambling, which of course applies to poker as well.

Poker is allowed in the entire country, including in land-based casinos and poker rooms, as well as in certain establishments primarily intended for other purposes.

In addition to commercial gambling establishments, Poker may be played at home, in pubs, and even at work. The game may also be played in settings intended primarily for charity. In all these settings, specific rules apply with regard to the stakes and the prizes, and even the players in attendance. Even in places wherein poker or any other type of gambling is not the primary activity, poker may be allowed subject to conformance with the appropriate regulations.

Over the past several years, more and more Scottish players have begun playing poker online. Most online establishments are subject to specific sets of regulations, as well being required to pay the necessary taxes.

Laws And Regulations In Scotland

Two laws specifically address all gambling-related activity in Scotland:

• The Gambling Act of 2005
• The Gambling (Licensing & Advertising) Act of 2014

The Gambling Act of 2005 governs games of “equal chance”, including poker. Games covered by the act may be played on licensed premises.

Although owners of the said establishments aren’t required to have a specific gambling license, they are subject to statutory restrictions.

The Gambling (Licensing & Advertising) Act of 2014 specifically targets offshore casinos and poker rooms. The Act mandates that such establishments pay taxes on their operations if they accommodate players from the UK and Scotland.

Gambling establishments based in the UK or Scotland are required to pay Point of Consumption (POC) taxes as well.

Scotland’s Governing Body For Poker

The main governing body for poker and other gambling activities in the UK is the UK Gambling Commission. The commission is responsible for issuing gaming licenses to all establishments that allow British and Scottish players to play real-money games.

In addition, land-based casinos in Scotland are granted licenses by local licensing boards. Most of the card clubs and casinos you will find locally are therefore utterly reliable and trustworthy.

Legal Age To Gamble In Scotland

The legal age for gambling in Scotland is 18 years old.

This applies to most every type of gambling establishment, including casinos, adult gaming centers, betting shops, racetracks, bingo halls, and online casinos.
 

What Should You Look for in an Online Scottish Poker Site?

It’s no surprise that televised poker created an enormous boom in the industry, allowing online poker rooms to grow significantly over the last few years, especially those that accept players from Scotland.

Due to the popularity that surrounds online poker in Scotland, players can easily improve their skills by playing at a host of online poker rooms that accept Scottish players.

If you are searching for the best online poker experience in Scotland, you’ve come to the right place.

One thing that all Scottish poker players are blessed with is the ability to enjoy online poker at just about any online poker room in the world, and this is due to the gambling laws and regulations set forth by the UK Gambling Commission.

This means that all residents of Scotland can enjoy playing at a reliable, safe, and trustworthy online poker room and will have access to an enormous selection of promotions and bonuses once they register with an online poker room.

However, with so many online poker sites available in the online poker industry, it is nearly impossible to decide which online poker room is the best for your gaming needs.

There are several online poker rooms on the World Wide Web that refuse to pay winnings, offer a lousy website that is difficult to understand and difficult to navigate, or they don’t offer your payment method, don’t answer your emails, or just don’t cater to your needs in any way. If you are not 100% sure how to look for a reputable online poker room in Scotland, you are bound to fall prey to a rogue online poker room that only wants to steal your money.

It’s for this very reason that we decided to assist you in finding the best online poker room in Scotland. Our poker experts have spent countless hours on the internet, reviewing hundreds of different poker sites, to ensure you only play with the best when choosing from our comprehensive list of online poker rooms.

Popular Poker Tournaments Hosted In Scotland

Scotland has several large and well-established casinos, so there are always high profile tournaments in which to participate. In addition, there are also a number of major poker tours that pass through Edinburgh and Glasgow among other major cities in the UK.

Some of the more prominent UK tours that have stopped over at Scottish casinos are the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKTP), the Genting Poker Series (GPS), and the PokerStars’ UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT).

Scottish Poker Players To Watch Out For

Scotland has many gifted poker players, many of whom have achieved fame and renown on a global scale.

Niall Farrell

One of the most legendary of these is Niall Farrell, who is better known in online circles as “Firaldo”.

Initially a somewhat mysterious figure in the world of online poker, Farrell has just turned 30, and yet he is at the top of a group of young players that are flying the flag of Scottish poker proudly.

Like many of this new breed of players, Farrell started out his career playing online. It was at sites such as PokerStars that he first began creating a buzz, playing under the name “firaldo87”. With a natural flair for the game that saw him rack up win after win, Farrell had begun attracting like-minded young players and become a millionaire purely by way of his online activities. Stats show that he has won a total of over $2.4 million in online tournaments, with his single biggest win coming in at a cool $236,233.

Farrell is currently second on the all-time money list in Scotland. He has a number of other titles besides, including the Pocket Fives Triple Crown.

David Vamplew

As impressive as Niall Farrell’s accomplishments are, they are eclipsed by David Vamplew’s. Yet another Scottish youngblood who first carved out success in the online poker world, Vamplew started playing poker in 2005 when he was a student at Edinburgh University. He quickly outgrew the pickup games played with friends, joining the poker society at the University, and then getting into online games soon afterwards.

Vamplew, who was then working in a supermarket, quickly realized that he would be able to earn a living playing poker, and he subsequently quit his job. He racked up the biggest win of his career in 2010, grabbing the top prize of £90,000 at the PokerStars’ European Poker Tour event in London. This made him the highest earning Scottish poker player in history.

Vamplew also won £469,000 in 2013, finishing second-place twice in the World Series of Poker held in Las Vegas.

Banking Options for Scottish Players

Scottish players that wish to play for real money online have a wide variety of banking options available, including:

• Credit and debit cards
• e-wallets
• Prepaid cards
• Vouchers
• Checks
• Bank wire transfer
• Commercial wire transfer services

When it comes to processing your withdrawals, the same applies with payments received on average in 48 hours depending on method chosen.

Currencies Used In Scottish Poker Rooms

As in the rest of the United Kingdom, Scottish gambling establishments transact primarily in pounds sterling. Many casinos do accept Euros, and more and more online establishments have begun to accept Bitcoin.

Conclusion

Scotland has had a long and proud history of poker, going back to the exclusive poker clubs of the 18th century to the brave (and relatively) new world of cyberspace. As poker continues to change with the times, Scottish players will likely remain on the forefront of the latest developments.

FAQs when playing poker in Scotland