European Poker Sites
European poker sites are international in nature, but they operate in the European market and accept players from all locations. If you live in Europe and would like to play at a high quality poker site, the ones that we have listed here are the best bets. These European poker sites are recognized for having high traffic, lots of tables and plenty of bonuses.
1. Absolute Poker
The best all around European poker site is definitely Absolute Poker. This internet poker room has been online since 2003 and it regularly sees 20,000 or more players online at a time. If we could only recommend one European poker site, this one would be our pick.
We like Absolute Poker because, first of all, they have a healthy player base. With so many players online all the time, it is never a problem finding games. It doesn’t matter if you specialize in no-limit, fixed limit or any variation of tournament play; you’ll find tables to play at here.
Fast moving software also makes for easy multi-tabling. Simple but clean graphics make it easy to always know where the action is and which tables need your attention. Waiting time between hands in minimal, which makes it possible to get in more hands per hour. On top of all that, new players get a 150% bonus for signing up and making a deposit.
2. PlayersOnly Poker
PlayersOnly Poker is an American favorite, but it is also a top notch poker site for European poker players. A large signup bonus and soft tables make PlayersOnly Poker one of the best for building a bankroll and grinding easy cash. With a reputation that dates back to 1996, PlayersOnly is also a safe and stable poker site.
The tables at PlayersOnly are softer than most because PlayersOnly is attached to a major sportsbook and internet casino. Players who sign up at the sportsbook or casino are also given access to the poker room. As you can imagine, it is not uncommon for gamblers to come over to the poker room for a little poker action.
The PlayersOnly software has undergone several major upgrades in recent years to address the demands of its players. First of all, we like the fact that this poker site listens to its players. Secondly, the current software package has everything you need to get to the tables quickly and multi-table with ease.
3. UB Poker
Our third pick for European poker sites is UB Poker. Also known as Ultimate Bet, UB Poker has been online since 2003. This was the first poker site to offer high stakes cash games, and it was home to some of the most epic battles in internet poker history. But aside from its interesting history, UB Poker is a legitimately high quality poker site.
The player traffic and software have always been two of UB Poker’s greatest selling points. They have never suffered from a lack of action, so finding tables at all stakes is never a problem. Their software is easily the fastest in the industry and it makes playing there a true pleasure. That is no mere exaggeration. Download the software sometime and see for yourself.
UB Poker also gets a thumbs-up for its large signup bonus. All new players who sign up and use the referral code XXXXX qualify for a 111% signup bonus. This bonus maxes out at $1100, which makes it one of the largest deposit bonuses for a European poker site.
European Poker Sites and Currency
Unfortunately, even European poker sites use US dollars as their standard currency. We know a lot of you would like to play in Euros, but most poker sites simply do not offer that. There are a few poker sites that do let you play in Euros, but those poker sites are small and the number of tables limited.
The good news about playing at a European poker site is that your account balance is automatically exchanged to US dollars when you deposit. When you cash back out again, your money is exchanged once again for Euros. So although you won’t get to play in Euros, you will still be able to deposit and withdraw in Euros.
Legality of European Poker Sites
The term “Europe” covers a lot of ground so we cannot give you a single, simple answer regarding the legality of European poker sites. What we can tell you is that most European countries have a positive attitude towards internet poker. Some countries may frown upon the idea, but we do not know of any European poker players who have ever been arrested for playing poker.
We can tell you that if we lived in Europe, we would feel comfortable playing internet poker in any country. But of course, it is our legal obligation to tell you to check the law in your jurisdiction before you play. In most places, you’ll be good to go.