European Sites have poker too.
Over the past few years, the popularity of poker has reached new heights. The European countries are a significant market for online poker sites, and the clampdown by the American Government on online gambling has forced operators to focus on the European market in a big way. Although live poker is a passion among Europeans, online poker is quickly catching up with net-savvy players. Countries like the UK, Austria, and Germany even host international poker tours and tournaments.
The continent of Europe comprises several countries that are members of the European Union (EU). Online poker is viewed favorably across the European Union – in fact, online poker sites have not been banned from operating in European markets. However, each member country enforces its own laws regarding online gambling. As such, explaining the legalities of online poker across Europe is quite complex. All member nations of the European Union must accept services from other member nations, but each country has the freedom to decide on the legality of online gambling.
Consequently, some EU members have banned online gambling, a few have legalized it, while others have taken an ambiguous approach. Although it is alright to gamble online, European online poker players must tread with caution – it is suggested that they check the local policy associated with online gambling before deciding to play. Even though online poker sites are taxed and regulated by the European Union, there are differences in the laws of individual member states regarding online gambling.
Best online poker site for European players
European online poker players have a much wider selection of poker sites than US players. The site that stands out from the crowd is 888 Poker.
888 Poker is a household name among European poker sites. And they even give new players a free bankroll of €20—a totally risk-free start to real-money poker! Plus, you are entitled to another €300 bonus on a subsequent deposit. Click here to sign up with 888 and start playing with €20 in real money for free.
For example, the United Kingdom allows its citizens to gamble online and also permits foreign gambling sites to operate in the country. The Netherlands only permits residents to play at online poker sites that have a Dutch license. Eastern European countries, on the other hand, were not into the online gambling race, but of late, with easy internet access, they too have joined the fray. Recently, a proposal was put forth to the EU calling for a uniform regulatory system for online gambling across member states. This would help standardize the licensing process across Europe and simplify it.
As for players on European poker sites, only taxation laws apply to them. Players are taxed by their respective countries and the EU when they deposit at an online poker site based abroad. Different countries in Europe speak other languages. European poker sites generally cater to their clientele in the local language. However, some of the major poker sites today offer their websites in various languages, as their poker software supports multiple languages.
Customer support is also provided in various languages. Apart from English, the poker site may offer French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Danish, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, etc. As with languages, European poker sites accept different currencies. Although the primary currencies are US dollars or UK pounds, the Euro is the common currency in the EU. Poker players from Europe prefer to use the Euro or the UK pound while making deposits at an online poker site.
European poker sites generally offer several deposit and withdrawal options to suit customers from various European Union nations. Standard payment methods at online poker sites include debit cards, credit cards, e-wallets, wire transfers, bank transfers, and e-checks. The easiest and most popular method to fund an online poker account is by credit card. However, some credit card issuers may not approve transactions for online gambling, so it is best to check before opting for this method.
Many poker players find it convenient to fund their online poker accounts using e-wallets. Players can open an account with any of the e-wallet services and fund the account through their bank. The e-wallet account can, in turn, be used to make deposits into the poker account. Popular e-wallets offered by European companies include Neteller, Moneybookers, and e-WalletXpress, among others. The player can choose from many other e-wallets depending on their suitability.
