Where to play poker online worldwide
The biggest licensed online poker rooms, which regulators license them, and how to tell whether a site is legal where you live.
Gambling is for adults only and can be addictive. Online poker is legal in some countries, restricted to licensed sites in others, and banned in a few. Only play on a site licensed for the country you live in. If you need help, see responsible gambling.
Most of the online poker world runs on a handful of large networks. Each one operates separate sites for different countries, under different licences, so the site you see depends on where you are. Players in Romania, for example, are sent to the Romanian sites listed on our Romania page.
The big poker rooms
PokerStars
18+The largest poker site in the world, with the biggest tournament schedule.
- Licensed by
- UK Gambling Commission (Great Britain), Malta Gaming Authority (much of Europe), and national licences in countries such as France, Spain and Italy
GGPoker
18+Busy cash games and the online home of the WSOP.
- Licensed by
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (global site), Malta Gaming Authority (Europe), UK Gambling Commission (Great Britain), ONJN in Romania (as PlayGG)
888poker
18+Softer games and frequent freerolls: good for newer players.
- Licensed by
- UK Gambling Commission and the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner; ONJN in Romania
partypoker
18+One of the oldest names in online poker, owned by Entain.
- Licensed by
- UK Gambling Commission and the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
Winamax
18+The leading poker room in France and Spain.
- Licensed by
- ANJ (France) and DGOJ (Spain) - available only to players in those countries
Licence checked: 8 October 2026. 18+ only. Gambling can be addictive.
The licences listed are the ones each operator publishes. A licence from one country does not make a site legal in another: what matters is whether the site holds a licence for the country you live in.
How to tell whether a site is legal for you
- Check your own country's rules. In much of Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Romania, Germany and others), only sites licensed by the national regulator may serve local players, often on a separate national domain such as .fr or .ro.
- Read the footer. A licensed site names its operating company and the regulator that licenses it, with a licence number.
- Check the regulator's register. The UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority and most national regulators publish searchable lists of licensees. If the company is not there, do not deposit.
- Be wary of "no verification" sites. A site that never asks who you are is not protecting minors, and is unlikely to protect your money.
What to look for in a poker room
- Traffic at your stakes. Bigger networks mean full tables at the small stakes too.
- A good app. Most online poker is now played on phones.
- Fair rake. The small fee the room takes from each pot. Compare it before you choose.
- Responsible-gambling tools. Deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion should be one click away.
Before you play for money
Learn on free tables first. Read the basics, the opening charts and bankroll management, and play a few evenings with friends on Home Game, where the chips cost nothing.