Enjoy The Best Of Online Poker In Scotland
By Andrew Collinson
Legal Expert
Online poker in Scotland is booming. Players north of the border love their Texas Hold'em and Omaha, and you'll find plenty of Scots filling out the SNG, fast-fold poker and MTT tables at poker rooms like 888 Poker .
At OnlinePoker.co.uk, we have the best Internet sites that are perfect for Scots wanting to play online poker. All of our picks have top security, excellent customer support in English, and allow GBP deposits as standard.
Our top rated Scottish online poker rooms
- Awarded Digital Operator of the Year by the Global Gaming Awards
- Customer service readily available for phone, email or chat
- Join a game or tourney instantly with their “Quick Seat” option
- Receive £10 in tourney tokens when you first sign up
- Many fun tourneys for casual players with a £5,000 prize bonus
- Lots of easy wins and fishy players!
- Start gambling with £5 worth of tokens in your pocket
- Join exclusive Beginner’s Cash Tables to learn the ropes
- Stunning redesign and updated software
- The biggest online poker room, and arguably one of the best
- Play tournaments for real cash whatever your budget
- Top quality, on-hand customer support for any issue
- Get £0 free without depositing
- Lots of action and weak players
- Great and easy to achieve deposit
Playing Poker Online
Did you know it's completely legal to enjoy online poker in Scotland? In 2024, it's possible to enjoy completely legit MTTs and cash games from the comfort of your own front room.
Under current laws for online poker, Scotland gamblers can enjoy legal Internet gambling of every sort. You can play freerolls, micro-stakes cash games or high-roller Hold'em with just a username and a credit card. Major credit cards and Scottish banks will honour all real-cash payments and there are no taxes to pay if you take down a big pot.
For the best choice of online poker, Scotland gamblers should just read our leading reviews to find themselves a room.
Current Gaming Laws
Like England and Wales, Scottish poker clubs and casinos are licensed under the Gambling Act 2005. It's also legal to play online for real money. In 2024, Scots are completely free to log on to a top online poker room and gamble for a few pence or thousands of pounds.
In 2014, the Gambling (Licensing & Advertising) Act 2014 was introduced. This updated the existing laws to bring the powerful offshore poker and casino rooms into line. Under the new law, if a site offers online poker to British players, they must pay tax on their operations.
In Scotland, local "licensing boards" are able to issue gambling licenses to land-based casinos. As a result, Scotland boasts some excellent card clubs and casinos. Major UK chains like Grosvenor and Gala have casinos north of the border.
Major Tours and Events
Scotland has long had major casinos dotted around the country. Major tours like the GUKPT (Grosvenor UK Poker Tour) and GPS (Genting Poker Series) has made full use of casinos in major cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow.
PokerStars' UKIPT (UK and Ireland Poker Tour) has also included recent stops in Scotland as part of its live tour. Popular stops in Glasgow have attracted hundreds of eager poker nuts.
Find the Biggest Games Online For Scots
If you're into online poker, Scotland players can enjoy the biggest and best games on their PCs. We have a top selection of sites offering big-money MTTs and cash games that are never empty. We only select completely legal and regulated poker rooms too so your GBP is always safe.
Sign up with one of our rooms today and you'll be able to access a great bonus. Every Scotland online poker website we pick has a juicy welcome bonus for new players. Just register, load up some funds and start playing your favourite games. The more you play, the more points you earn. And those points can be exchanged for cash back, gifts or tournament tokens.
FAQs
Is online poker legal in Scotland?
Yes. Under current gaming law, it's possible to play legal poker online wherever you are.
Who is the regulator?
The UK Gambling Commission issues gaming licenses to all poker sites offering Scots real-money games. Rooms must pay POC (Point of Consumption) tax if their players are based in Scotland or around the UK.
At what age can I play?
The legal age for playing online poker in Scotland is 18.
Are there any restrictions?
No. Scots can play at any stakes they like. Most Scottish banks will allow bank transfers to an Internet poker account too.
Do I need to pay tax on my winnings?
No. Under UK law, gambling and poker winnings are not eligible for tax.
What if I am a professional gambler?
While poker winnings aren't taxed, if a player is a registered pro they may be able to claim expenses on travel and other equipment costs (computer, office space, utility bills etc).
Can I claim back tax on losses?
Generally, no. If poker players are professional they may ask their accountant to find ways of claiming expenses. Some British pros sometimes register as self-employed with HMRC and fill in a tax return for a second job. This way they can concentrate on it being a secondary income only.
