For nationals wanting to play Poker in the UK, there are plenty of options. There’s a big variety of UK poker sites to choose from for those wanting to play online, and also plenty of land-based casinos to explore for those wishing to go the more traditional route.
Whether live or in traditional casinos, players will often find variants like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-card Stud, and Five-card draw. You’ll also occasionally find variants like Razz and Pineapple, especially in online settings. But that’s not the case everywhere.
But that’s not the case everywhere. Depending on where you play poker, you might find that the variants of poker vary significantly – this is your guide if you want to know everything about playing poker abroad.
Poker in the UK vs Elsewhere
Key differences between poker in different countries are often related to the regulations and overall culture. In some countries, gambling is more social. In some societies, it’s seen as something done by the rich and strategic, while others don’t differentiate much between slot machines and betting on cards in a round of poker. Some populations are more likely to gamble higher amounts than others, something that may be reflected in the minimum bets at local tables.
For example, Poker and gambling overall are very popular in the UK. The estimated number of gaming machines in the UK is steadily increasing year by year, and was over 180,000 according to a report from 2023. That’s not a number you’ll see in all parts of the world, especially in large parts of Africa, certain parts of Asia, and many countries in Europe.
Another big difference lies in the variants of poker that are most popular. Simply put, you’ll find slightly different ways of playing the same beloved game depending on where you go.
The Most Played Poker Variants in the US
The US has one of the biggest poker markets in the world, and in many ways, poker really isn’t all that different over there. Just like in the UK, Texas Hold’em and Omaha are two of the most popular options. Tournaments in the US, like WSOP and WPT, are usually played in the style of Texas Hold’em.
But unlike the UK, Pot-Limit Omaha comes in as one of the most popular variants, offering higher action and more volatility. Seven-card stud is also on the decline in the US – while it was once the most popular variant in both the US and UK, it’s lost popularity more markedly in the US.
Most Popular Variants of Poker in Asia
Some of the biggest differences in the prevalence of different poker variants are in Asia. Many Brits won’t have heard of popular Asian variants like Short Deck and Open Face Chinese poker. These games offer strategic depth, which aligns with the culture in large parts of the continent.
Another interesting poker-like card game in Asia, more particularly China, is Guandan, also known as “throwing eggs”. Originating from the wealthy province of Jiangsu, this local version of poker is quickly becoming a standard.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
Although there’s some slight variation in the most popular variants in different parts of the world, the rules of poker seem to be pretty global. The most important differences to keep in mind for UK players travelling abroad are regulations, the prevalence of poker tables and the variants that are most commonly played.
In conclusion, there are seldom any unexpected surprises when you’re playing abroad. If the rules are different, it will be immediately clear because it’s a different variant. If you just learn the most popular variants of poker in your targeted country, you’re good to go!