Poker and the Law in the UK

Please note, the information contained on this page is intended to provide a general guide to the law relating to poker as it applies in England and Wales.

It should not be relied upon as an authoritative statement of the law or as a source of legal advice. If you think you have a legal problem, you should obtain advice from a lawyer or adviser.

Take That Ltd will not be held liable for any loss, damage or inconvenience howsoever arising nor as a consequence of any use or the inability to use any of the information contained on this site. Visitors who use this website and rely on any information do so entirely at their own risk.

Take That Ltd also takes no responsibility for the contents of linked websites and as such any links should not be taken as an endorsement of any kind.

Poker is a card game involving chance and skill and is therefore classed as gaming under the Gaming Act 1968 (the "Act"). This Act governs gaming in the UK. Any violation of the Act could result in every person involved in the organisation of the offending game being found guilty of an offence. As such, each individual could be found liable on summary conviction and face imprisonment and/or a fine.

The Gambling Act 2005 will repeal this Act at a date yet to be determined. It is expected that this will occur in September 2007.

Click here for the expected Gambling Act 2005 timetable.

NB: The law relating to poker could undergo a radical change depending on the final outcome of the Gutshot case. Despite having kept the police fully informed of their activities, the Gutshot club, a private poker club based in London, was charged with contravention of the Act. The bizarre conclusion of the court, that poker is a game of chance, is being appealed by Gutshot.