3/27/2022»»Sunday

European Online Poker Sites

3/27/2022
European Online Poker Sites Average ratng: 3,0/5 8321 reviews

Poker and Community Advisor Teresa is a gaming expert with more than 15 years of experience and is well-known worldwide in the industry. She is a respected figure in the Finnish poker market, as well as an acclaimed poker tournament director with a long career working on the European Poker Tour. As dedicated poker enthusiasts with years of experience in online poker rooms, we know how to examine poker sites through and through. We make real money deposits, play different games and test the platform, do some fact-finding, and summarise the results in a comprehensive review that gives you all the information you may need. PokerStars is an online poker cardroom owned by The Stars Group.It can be accessed through downloadable poker clients for the Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.It is the largest real money online poker site in the world, controlling over two-thirds of the total online poker market. Europeans typically have more options to choose from, as most of the online poker rooms accept Euro players. The three best choices for Euro online poker sites are PokerStars, Party Poker, and 888.

Where should we begin when it comes to discussing the European online gambling market? The European market has seen its fair share of ups and downs, but also have led the way in the introduction of games, betting styles and platforms since the inception of the industry.

We are going to speak of the European market in general terms on this page; obviously, there are some significant differences in each individual country’s approach to online gambling.

For now, let’s review some of the essential common elements that anyone should be looking at when they are choosing an online gambling site to play from Europe.

Here Are Our Top Recommended European Online Gambling Sites:

RankDE Gambling SiteDeposit BonusProductsGet Started
#1100% Up To €250
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#2
Europa Casino
200% Up To €500
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#3100% Up To €400
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#4
22Bet
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#5100% Up To €400
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Also on This Page

Top Recommended Online Gambling Sites
Mobile Gambling
Is Online Gambling Legal in Europe
Find the Best Promotions
Licensing Jurisdiction
Customer Service
Banking Options
Conclusion

We review all the European-facing sites we can find, from the most established brands to the brightest of newcomers. Of course, every site is a little bit different, and many have restrictions depending on where you live. With that in mind, we encourage you to read our individual reviews to learn about each company in detail. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of our top 5 recommended European Gambling Sites above, which we are sure will offer you a fantastic experience.

There is no single answer to this question. With a region made up of so many different countries, it is not surprising to see that there are also various stances on online gambling. While the region is very advanced compared to North America regarding the legalities of online gambling sites, for many countries it is still a work in progress. In fact, the European gaming regulation map looks similar to that of the individual U.S. states.

In each of our individual country reports, you will get an in-depth review of that country’s regulatory environment. With the introduction of the European Union, it seemed like the collective wrote an onion about its stance on many topics, including gambling.

For the purposes of a general review let’s highlight a few in summary form:

United Kingdom

The UK have long been operating in a regulated environment, and in fact, the Internet Gambling Act enforces the fact that to legally accept UK players, an online gambling website needs to apply for and receive a license from the Gambling Commission. This application process is rigorous, and the Gambling Commission does not look favorably at companies who have in the past accepted players from unregulated markets.

Spain

The Spanish Gambling Act was entered into law to help manage the federal oversight of regulated gambling, which was before that left up to the individual states. As a result of this legislation, operators can apply for a license that if received will allow them to legally accept Spanish players to gamble on all forms of online games.

France

The French also have a form of regulated online gambling, which allows licensed operators to allow sports betting, poker, and horse racing. Despite their love of card games, there is no option for obtaining a license to offer online casino games, so any operators who can provide those games in addition to poker and sports in other jurisdictions must shut them off for any players that come from France.

Italy

The Italian government looked to increase tax revenue and capitalize on the country’s love of soccer by introducing legislation to allow sports betting in the mid-2000s. This allowed anyone who acquired a license to take sports betting action either online or in a land-based retail environment. Amendments to that law over the years added other online betting options such as lottery, casino and poker and today Italians have a full range of products to select from when they are choosing an online gambling site.

Of course, all these regulations are regularly updated, so it is important that you review this page often to get the most up to date data and information. Also, even though there are a series of regulations limiting play of some or all games online depending on the country, there is no precedent for a player being prosecuted under these laws. While we cannot definitively tell you that online gambling is legal from a player perspective, it is safe to say that these governments have no current plan to curb the industry by going after every individual who bets online.

From an operator perspective, there are a few European jurisdictions where an online gambling site can get a license which will allow them to “legally” operate their companies. Of course, this license still has to mix with the individual European country laws, so this licensing actually exists as a way to protect players from shady operators stealing their money.

The four jurisdictions in Europe were an online gambling site can apply for a license are Alderney, Isle Of Man, Malta, and Gibraltar. A site does not need to acquire more than one license (although some have) and each location has its own individual benefits.



Aldrerney Gaming Control Commission


Malta Lotteries & Gaming Authority


Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission

Fortunately for European players, the amount of regulation they find in the region opens the doors for all sorts of payment processing options. What this means for players is a choice to use debit and credit cards, third-party payments companies, and even Paypal to make their deposits and withdrawals.

What does this look like? Here is a partial list of third-party e-cash payments providers for the European market:

Some of these may not be available in your country, but there is no doubt that you will have heard of many of these and may even already have accounts with them, which will make your online gambling experience even easier!

Finally, when you are researching what online gambling site to play at, you should look to see if they offer games in your local currency. Most sites will offer games in Pounds or Euros, which covers a significant amount of people, however, if you are in a country with its own currency, we don’t want you to find yourself paying adverse exchange rates just to get the currency into your account. Our reviews of European-facing gambling sites outlines all the currencies that a site accepts.

Mobile Gambling in Europe

As we discussed, the European online gaming market is more mature than their North American counterparts.This is best seen in the way that Europeans gamble on their sports, especially soccer.

Soccer in-game betting is incredibly popular given the nature of the sport and the number of games that end in draws.

Allowing players to gamble from their mobile devices means that the tens of thousands of possible bettors sitting in any soccer stadium have the opportunity to place wagers on what they are watching in real time.

Online operators quickly built mobile-friendly platforms to accommodate this type of betting, and that quickly spread to all forms of sports betting. These days, European players can play all their favorite online games directly from their phones or tablets, including most casino games and poker. Each individual European country has their own laws in place, but many countries also allow for native apps to be downloaded to devices to enhance the quality of the player experience further.

Finding the Best Promotions From European Gambling Sites

When you are looking for a European online gambling site, it’s important to take into consideration what types of promotions a site offers and to make sure that their offers fit your needs. If you are a sports bettor and most of a site’s promotions are free-spin-based, for example, then we wouldn’t recommend you make a deposit. The bonuses you receive at a site are part of the value proposition that will assist in making you a profitable player over the long run.

With so many different games being offered by the biggest online gambling sites, marketing departments for these companies are working overtime to make sure all their promotional offers are attractive to any player who comes along. On top of the free chip and free bet promotions designed to reward players for creating accounts without depositing, you should be looking for the best return on your initial deposits and any loyalty programs the site offers to extend your play.

Finally, with so many countries in play, many online gambling sites tailor some promotions to be localized for specific countries. For example, you may find a poker promotion that rewards players from France only to qualify for a local live tournament or sporting event; those types of promotions offer great value as the player pool is likely much smaller than for the site’s global promotions.

What About Customer Service for All These Customers?

Customer Service can be a minefield for many online gamblers. Getting through to a live person to speak with at the time you need them can be a frustrating process, which becomes even worse when you realize that the person with whom you are speaking does not speak your language. No amount of Google translate can help in these situations; it usually makes the process slow and painful.

Most of the large online gambling sites that offer games to Europeans also provide customer service in several languages. This is usually determined by the number of players from a given country that is in the site’s database. Sometimes this specialized customer service is only available during peak hours, but in a worst case scenario you will always be able to email the site with your issue, and you will most likely receive a response back in your language.

North American online gamblers have a significant amount of envy when they see all the options Europeans have for regulated, legal online gambling.

Europeans in most countries have access to the top operators, software suppliers and banking options in the world.

Add in some killer promotions, and it’s entirely clear that any European that has the ability to gamble online should be able to find exactly what they are looking for to suit their needs.

In the beginning, the idea that only Atlantic City casinos would be granted iGaming licenses made it sound like the number of online gaming sites would be limited to just a handful. That’s all out the window now.

NJ is an established market offering more than a dozen online casinos, but there are still new casinos that pop up every now and then, like Unibet. These new NJ casinos give you the opportunity to try out new games, bonus offers, and rewards programs.

So, what are the newest casinos to hit the market in 2021? Read on to find out or bookmark this page and check in often.

New Online Casinos in New Jersey – Updated March 2021

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Bet365 Casino

Part of the larger Bet365 NJ sportsbook launch, Bet365 online casino comes with all of the company’s experience in the European online gambling market. The site features some familiar slot and table game titles as well as a unique game menu with categories such as “Bonus Slots” and “Arcade.”

Unibet online casino

Unibet Casino is owned by Kindred Group. Its launch in New Jersey marks the first US online gambling entry for the company. Unibet, partnered with Hard Rock Atlantic City, also has an online sportsbook.

BetAmerica online casino

European Poker Sites

The BetAmerica NJ online casino comes from Churchill Downs Inc. via a partnership with Golden Nugget Atlantic City. Powered by SBTech, the site features both a robust slate of casino games as well as a shared wallet with an online sportsbook.

DraftKings Casino

Featuring a shared wallet with DraftKings Sportsbook, DraftKings Casino is part of the Resorts Digital array of online gambling platforms in NJ. DraftKings includes live dealer games, video poker, as well as slot favorites such as Wheel Of Fortune.

Ocean Online Casino

Ocean Online Casino launched a couple of weeks after the former TEN/Revel casino reopened as Ocean Resort Casino, now called Ocean Casino Resort, in Atlantic City. Powered by GAN, the newest online casino in New Jersey features many familiar games but also exclusive slots and the biggest no deposit bonus in the industry.

Hard Rock online casino

Hard Rock Online Casino officially launched the same day as the new casino Hard Rock Atlantic City opened its doors on June 28, 2018. The platform is powered by Gaming Innovation Group (GiG). This is the company’s first foray into the NJ online casino market.

BetMGM online casino and poker site

The MGM brand made its long-awaited debut in the New Jersey market in August of 2017. MGM is the owner of the Borgata and launched under that license in New Jersey. A BetMGM online poker site, BetMGM sportsbook and BetMGM online casino all share a wallet. The software is the same platform that powers the Borgata online casino, and many of the same games that you’ll find at Borgata are available at BetMGM.

Scores online casino

In partnership with the Borgata and Pala Casino, Scores joined the New Jersey market when they launched in July of 2017. The site utilizes the Pala Casino software and offers the same welcome bonus. If you already have an account at Pala, you cannot make an account at Scores. Scores does not offer an online poker site. Read more about the Scores online casino promo code here.

PlaySugarHouse online casino

The PlaySugarHouse New Jersey Online Casino launched in September 2016 with more than 200 games and a number of unique features through a partnership with SugarHouse Philadelphia casino operators Rush Street Interactive and New Jersey online gambling licensee Golden Nugget.

PlaySugarHouse offers leaderboards, free bingo games for bonuses, and real-time player-to-player chat. The SugarHouse NJ online casino also offers a number of easy-to-clear bonuses and promotions. The addition of SugarHouse helped Golden Nugget become the gross revenue leader in New Jersey’s iGaming market.

PokerStars online casino and poker room

The world’s most popular online poker site relaunched as an online poker and casino site in the New Jersey market in March 2016. PokerStars NJ began by offering New Jersey players local versions of the brand’s most popular games, formats, and products. It also includes special New Jersey online promotions, bonuses, and local live events.

The site launched under the Resorts Casino Hotel’s online gambling license. PokerStars originally applied for an online gaming license in 2013. But the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement did not approve the application until September 2015.

Golden Nugget online casino

The Golden Nugget online casino was scheduled to launch with the other online casinos in New Jersey in November 2013. However, technical issues during the beta testing period forced operators to wait. The Golden Nugget New Jersey online casino site eventually launched in December 2013. That delay did not prevent it from gaining ground, however, as the casino is one of the top brands in the Garden State with bonuses, promotions, leaderboards, and 700+ games.

Virgin NJ online casino and Tropicana Online

Tropicana launched TropicanaCasino.com in partnership with Gamesys alongside New Jersey’s other original seven online casinos in November 2013. Just a few months later, in January 2014, the two got together to launch sister site VirginCasino.com, bringing the worldwide entertainment, travel, and gaming brand to the burgeoning New Jersey online casino market.

Betfair online casino

The closure of the Trump Plaza hotel and casino in September 2014 forced Betfair online casino to find a new home for its New Jersey online casino and poker sites.

But the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement allowed Betfair to continue operating temporarily under Caesars online gaming license until it eventually found a permanent home at the Golden Nugget. Betfair quickly closed its online poker site after landing at Golden Nugget. It shares a wallet with the FanDuel Sportsbook in NJ.

888 NJ online casino

European Poker Tour

The 888 family of online gambling brands joined the NJ market via a partnership with Caesars Entertainment. It was one of the original sites to launch in 2013. The 888 Casino shares a wallet with both an 888 Sportsbook and an 888 online poker site.

Caesars online casino

Also part of a robust online sportsbook, Caesars online casino was one of the original sites to launch in 2013. Caesars online casino features an array of games, bonuses and promotions. Caesars Entertainment’s iGaming license also includes a Harrah’s online casino, but it is not affiliated with the Caesars app.

Mohegan Sun and Resorts online casinos

Resorts was the first casino to open in Atlantic City in 1978. It is now one of the top dogs in the online gambling market. A Mohegan Sun property, Resorts AC includes a Resorts online casino and sportsbook. Mohegan Sun online casino also operates under the Resorts license.

Ultimate Poker and Ultimate Casino walk away

When the Trump Taj Mahal filed for bankruptcy in September 2014, Ultimate Casino, and eventually Ultimate Poker, both closed up shop, claiming issues with payments from the online gaming license holder.

Background on the NJ online casino market

Online gaming in New Jersey officially launched on November 21, 2013. Six Atlantic City land-based casinos debuted seven online casinos and six online poker sites.

The seven New Jersey online casinos available at launch included:

  • BorgataCasino.com (Borgata)
  • CaesarsCasino.com (Caesars)
  • HarrahsCasino.com (Caesars)
  • us.888Casino.com (Caesars)
  • TropicanaCasino.com (Tropicana)
  • BetfairCasino.com (Trump Plaza)
  • UltimateCasino.com (Trump Taj Mahal)

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The original six New Jersey online poker sites included:

  • BorgataPoker.com (Borgata)
  • NJ.partypoker.com (Borgata)
  • WSOP.com (Caesars)
  • us.888Poker.com (Caesars)
  • UltimatePoker.com (Trump Taj Mahal)
  • BetfairPoker.com (Trump Plaza)

New Jersey’s iGaming future

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement’s continued willingness to grant approval for out-of-state operators to partner with existing New Jersey iGaming licensees to run online casino and poker sites makes one thing clear: The ceiling for New Jersey’s iGaming market is a lot higher than originally anticipated.

It’s difficult to predict:

  • How many other brands want in
  • How many more partnerships existing New Jersey iGaming licensees want to get involved with, or
  • When the market will reach saturation.

However, it’s easy to see the New Jersey online casino market is still a growing one. The number of new sites is likely to increase alongside it.