Live Poker In Europe
Premium subscriber poker news site and exclusive data analytics and research platform. Live Poker in Europe Returns with the Unibet Deepstack Open in March 2021 Poker Industry PRO A special edition of the UDSO will take place over a weekend in March at the Portomaso Casino in Malta. Live Poker in Europe All information about Live Poker Venues in Europe: Casinos, Rooms, Events, Rake, Games available, Poker Legislation, Internet Quality.
From Barcelona to Dublin, and from Prague to Malta, Europe has a large poker following. Whether that be in the brick-and-mortar casinos or online, and with regular tournaments, cash games, and special poker events, Europe plays host to them all in one form or another.
Live Poker In Europe Game
Unfortunately, not all of us are able to visit all of the major poker destinations within Europe. If that is the case for you, then you might want to try one of the many variations of online poker games like Texas hold’em, which is probably the most recognizable version of the game because of its use in the World Series of Poker main event. Simple to get the hang of, Texas hold’em remains popular and the version of poker that many still turn to.
Another version of poker you can play at most UK casino sites is Omaha where you are dealt four cards instead of the two. You will find that most online poker rooms offer pot-limit Omaha cash games and tournaments where those playing are not allowed to bid more than is already in the pot.
Omaha poker is one of the best for poker players that love the action and excitement, because of the draws and re-draws. If Omaha is played at high stakes then the games can get pretty interesting with some famous names both winning and losing million-dollar pots.
Before hold’em became so popular, seven card stud was the choice of many players. The aim is to end with the best five-card hand, just like hold’em, but without any community cards being dealt. Names like Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson and Phil Hellmuth are some of the top seven card stud players in the world today.
One of the simplest versions of poker is five-card draw, and tends to be played more for the fun of the game than for competition. Video poker works just like five-card draw and has a lot of similarities, and although this version of poker is still popular online it’s been a few years since the WSOP used five-card draw as an event.
One of the best reasons that you could have to play poker online is that you can often test the games and try out the strategies before using any of your own hard-earned cash by opting into some generous welcome bonuses. You don’t waste your own bankroll until you are happy that you at least known the basics of the game.
The World Series of Poker Europe just wrapped up with Phil Hellmuth winning the Main Event for his 13th career bracelet. Throughout the six-year history of the WSOPE a large percentage of the fields have been American, with four of the six Main Event winners being U.S. citizens (Hellmuth, Barry Shulman, John Juanda, and Elio Fox). Thinking about this, I realized that a large portion of the American poker playing public (i.e., recreational players who enjoy poker blogs like these) probably has no idea about what it’s like to play poker in Europe.
From experience, I can tell you that there are plenty of things that are different “across the pond” versus poker play in the U.S. If you ever seriously consider taking a poker vacation to Europe, there are a few things you’d be well advised to keep in mind before sitting down at the felt.
It Costs More, Understand?
The dollar is worth less than the euro and still less than the pound. Usually, the lowest stakes cash games you’ll find will still be 1/2, but it’ll be in the local currency. The same goes, of course, for tournaments, where the entry fees are correspondingly higher.
So, if you’re a lower stakes player, keep in mind that you’ll generally be playing for stakes that are about 25–50% higher than “normal”. Mid-stakes players can compensate for the unfavorable exchange rates by “dropping down a level”.
You’re also probably used to poker rooms having a rule of “English only at the table”. You won’t have anything to worry about in this regard in England or other Western European countries where English is commonly spoken at a high level. Central and Eastern European poker rooms, however, are far more likely to be frequented by non-English speaking clientele, so be prepared to get a little “lost in translation”.
Bring Your Passport, Pay Up, and Come On Time
The first European poker room I visited was at the Holland Casino in Amsterdam, back in 2007. I got about 10 steps in before I had to turn around and go back to my hotel, as they wouldn’t let me in without my passport. By and large, American poker players know to have an ID on them for proof of age. In Europe, however, the only ID most casinos will accept is your passport.
On top of that, many casinos, such as the famous one in Monte Carlo, will charge you an entry fee just to grace their premises, which tend to range anywhere from €5–€20.
Upon visiting European casino establishments, many tourists are surprised to learn that the poker rooms may only be open in the evening hours and that the casinos themselves may not be open 24/7 except for on weekends. Lesson: It pays to check out the casino/poker room’s website and perhaps even call the establishment in advance to find out these important details.
A Totally Different Atmosphere
Especially if you’re used to playing in the big poker rooms in gaming hubs like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or Los Angeles, be prepared for a totally different ambience inside the poker room.
For one, the overwhelming majority of poker rooms in the U.S. boast no-smoking policies. While the same can be said for many European poker rooms, not all of them have similar policies in place, so be prepared.
Also, tableside food and cocktail service is standard at most well-run poker rooms stateside. While you may on rare occasion have the ability to have food brought to you, it’s practically guaranteed that there won’t be any cocktail or beverage waitresses as far as the eye can see. Moreover, even if you can obtain an alcoholic beverage, it’s going to cost you plenty more than the $1 you’re used to giving a serviceperson as a tip.
And as for masseuses? Keep dreaming…
Conclusion
Live Poker In Europe
All told, there’s definitely a difference when playing poker abroad. That’s not to say that playing poker back at home is “better”; just different.
Finally, to our European readers out there, I’d be quite happy to get feedback from you and find out if the impressions I’ve gotten personally and from my friends and colleagues about European poker rooms are correct or mistaken in your opinion as locals. Feel free to comment below.
Other Posts You'll Enjoy
Best Places To Play Live Poker In Europe
- Female vs. Male Poker Players (infographic)
Cardplayer Lifestyle would like to thank the team at iGame for contributing this female vs. male poker players infographic. In it, you'll find some interesting…
- High Stakes Poker Season 7 Episode 3
Just a shout out to all of our fans here at the Cardplayer Lifestyle poker blog... You'll notice there's no recap for this latest episode…
- Horseshoe Casino and Poker Room Opens in Cleveland
Cleveland just got itself a brand new tourist attraction: the Horseshoe Casino! Cardplayer Lifestyle brings you the details of the grand opening as well as…
- 23-Player Poker Tournament Chop at Foxwoods Casino
Just when you thought the poker world had seen everything, here comes a headline that is sure to make you go: 'WHAT?!' Just last week,…
- Horseshoe Casino and Poker Room Opens in Cincinnati
It's a banner day for poker in Cincinnati. The Horseshoe Casino has just opened, and there's a brand new 31-table WSOP-branded poker room waiting in…
- 3 Tips to Keep Costs Down on Your Next Poker Vacation
If you're looking forward to a grea poker vacation, you also probably are aware in the back of your mind that there will be a…
- 4 Practical Tips for Playing the Tournament Poker Bubble
For many poker players, knowing how to properly play near the bubble of a tournament is something difficult to master. We're happy to share with…
- Poker Refugees Helps U.S. Online Poker Players Relocate Abroad
While many online poker pros have given serious thought to relocating abroad, where they could continue playing legally, just the thought of the bureaucracy and…
- 17 Ways to Spot Online Poker Players at Live Poker Tables
In this special Cardplayer Lifestyle article we list 17 ways online poker players stick out among a crowd of live poker players. While not exactly…