How We Test Poker Sites
We join each poker room using a standard account, deposit real money, and play a minimum of 2,000 hands across cash games and tournaments. We evaluate software quality, player traffic, game variety, rakeback value, withdrawal speed, and customer support before issuing any recommendation.
Why UK Players Choose Poker Sites Not on GamStop
Online poker has a long and storied history in the United Kingdom, but the landscape has shifted significantly in recent years. Increased UKGC regulation, the introduction of GamStop self-exclusion, and consolidation in the regulated market have left many poker players looking for alternatives. Poker sites not on GamStop have emerged to fill this gap, offering a compelling combination of better rakeback deals, softer player pools, and fewer restrictions on gameplay.
The appeal of non-GamStop poker rooms extends beyond simply bypassing self-exclusion. These platforms frequently offer higher rakeback percentages than their UKGC-regulated counterparts, where promotional spending has shifted increasingly toward recreational players at the expense of regular grinders. Rakeback deals of 25% to 40% are common, with some loyalty programmes reaching effective rates of 50% or more for dedicated players.
The player pools at non-GamStop poker sites tend to be softer too. The mix of recreational players from various international markets creates profitable tables for skilled players. Tournament fields are typically smaller than on major networks like PokerStars, meaning higher probability of reaching paid positions. Multi-table tournament guarantees are often overlaid, providing additional value when the site puts up more prize money than the buy-ins generate.
There are trade-offs to consider, of course. Non-GamStop poker rooms may have lower peak traffic than the largest regulated networks, and the absence of UKGC oversight means you need to be more selective about where you play. That is precisely why our review team has invested significant time testing these platforms, ensuring every recommendation meets our standards for fairness, security, and reliability.
Poker Sites Not on GamStop Comparison
Here is a side-by-side comparison of our top-rated poker not on GamStop platforms, covering the key factors that matter most to serious poker players.
| Poker Site | Poker Bonus | Rakeback | Tournaments | Cash Stakes | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tenobet |
100% up to £1,000 | Up to 35% | Daily GTDs | £0.01/£0.02 - £10/£20 | 9.5/10 | Visit Site |
 MadCasino |
150% up to £750 | Up to 40% | Weekly Series | £0.02/£0.05 - £25/£50 | 9.3/10 | Visit Site |
 Kingdom Casino |
100% up to £500 + Freerolls | Up to 30% | Sit & Go Focus | £0.01/£0.02 - £5/£10 | 9.1/10 | Visit Site |
 Lucki Casino |
200% up to £600 | Up to 25% | Freerolls Daily | £0.01/£0.02 - £5/£10 | 8.9/10 | Visit Site |
 MyStake |
100% up to £800 | Up to 30% | MTT Schedule | £0.02/£0.05 - £10/£20 | 8.8/10 | Visit Site |
 Rolletto |
100% up to £400 + Tickets | Up to 25% | Fast-Fold Focus | £0.01/£0.02 - £5/£10 | 8.7/10 | Visit Site |
Top 6 Poker Sites Not on GamStop Reviewed
Below are our detailed, first-hand reviews of the best online poker not on GamStop platforms available to UK players. Each has been evaluated through extensive real-money play.
Tenobet Poker
Best Overall Poker Room Not on GamStopTenobet operates one of the most complete poker rooms available outside GamStop. The software is smooth and feature-rich, supporting multi-tabling of up to eight tables simultaneously on desktop. Cash games run from micro stakes (£0.01/£0.02) up to £10/£20, with consistent traffic at the low and mid-stakes levels throughout the day.
The tournament schedule is comprehensive, with daily guaranteed events ranging from £500 GTD micro buy-ins to £25,000 GTD Sunday majors. We observed regular overlays in the mid-week events, creating additional value for tournament players. The rakeback programme reaches 35% for active players, calculated using the dealt rake method, and is paid weekly directly to your account. Fast-fold poker is available for players who prefer high-volume action without the wait.
Pros
- Strongest overall player traffic of any non-GamStop poker room
- 35% rakeback with dealt rake method
- Daily guaranteed tournaments with frequent overlays
- Smooth software supporting 8-table multi-tabling
Cons
- High-stakes cash games (£25/£50+) have limited traffic
- Poker bonus clears slowly for recreational players
MadCasino Poker
Highest Rakeback – Up to 40% for RegularsMadCasino offers the highest rakeback programme we have found at any non-GamStop poker room. The tiered system starts at 20% for casual players and scales to 40% for those generating significant monthly rake. For a player producing £2,000 in monthly rake, that is an additional £800 returned, which can be the difference between breaking even and turning a consistent profit.
The poker room features an interesting Weekly Series every Saturday, with a structured schedule of events across various buy-in levels culminating in a £10,000 GTD Main Event. Short Deck Hold'em is available alongside standard Hold'em and Omaha, appealing to players who enjoy the action-heavy variant. Cash game stakes run all the way up to £25/£50, with the highest stakes running during European evening hours.
Pros
- Industry-leading 40% rakeback for high-volume players
- Weekly Saturday Series with £10,000 GTD Main Event
- Short Deck Hold'em available alongside standard variants
- Cash games running up to £25/£50 stakes
Cons
- Lower player traffic during off-peak hours (mornings)
- 60-day bonus clearing window is tight for casual players
Kingdom Casino Poker
Best for Sit & Go and Fast-Fold PlayersKingdom Casino shines brightest for Sit & Go enthusiasts and fast-fold poker players. The Sit & Go lobby runs formats from heads-up to 9-player tables, with buy-ins starting at £1 and reaching £200. Turbo and hyper-turbo structures are well populated, and Jackpot Sit & Go games (three-player winner-takes-all with random prize multipliers) run continuously with strong traffic.
The fast-fold poker pool is the largest we have encountered at a non-GamStop site, making it viable at micro and low stakes throughout the day. Combined with Kingdom Casino's trademark rapid crypto withdrawals, this is the ideal platform for grinders who prioritise volume and quick access to their funds. The weekly Sunday freeroll offers a £2,500 prize pool with no buy-in required.
Pros
- Best Sit & Go selection with Jackpot format available
- Largest fast-fold poker player pool among non-GamStop sites
- £2,500 weekly freeroll open to all players
- Lightning-fast crypto withdrawals
Cons
- MTT schedule is thinner than Tenobet and MadCasino
- 30% max rakeback is lower than some competitors
Lucki Casino Poker
Best Welcome Bonus – 200% Match for PokerLucki Casino offers the most generous poker welcome bonus in the non-GamStop market. The 200% match triples your initial deposit, with a generous 90-day window to clear the bonus through regular play. For a £300 deposit, you receive £600 in bonus funds, providing substantial additional bankroll to work through the stakes.
The player pool at Lucki Casino is noticeably softer than the other sites on this list, making it an excellent choice for recreational players or those working on improving their game. Daily freerolls run with buy-in-free entry and prizes of £100 to £500, providing additional value. The site also offers a solid video poker section alongside the peer-to-peer poker room, useful when live tables are quiet.
Pros
- Unmatched 200% poker welcome bonus
- Softest player pool among non-GamStop poker rooms
- Daily freerolls with no buy-in required
- 90-day bonus clearing window is very generous
Cons
- 25% max rakeback is the lowest on our list
- Limited to Hold'em and Omaha variants only
MyStake Poker
Strong MTT Schedule with Overlay ValueMyStake's poker room is particularly strong for multi-table tournament players. The daily schedule features 30+ events with guarantees ranging from £250 to £15,000, and we consistently observed overlays in the low and mid-buy-in events. Satellite tournaments offer affordable routes into the bigger events, with £1 satellites running into the £50 buy-in Sunday Major.
MyStake is one of the few non-GamStop poker rooms that spreads Seven Card Stud alongside Hold'em and Omaha. While Stud traffic is limited, the availability of this classic variant adds welcome diversity. The VIP programme rewards tournament volume with ticket packages and freeroll entries, providing additional value for regular MTT grinders.
Pros
- 30+ daily MTTs with frequent overlays
- Satellite system from £1 into major events
- Seven Card Stud available for variety
- £800 welcome bonus ceiling is generous
Cons
- Cash game traffic below Tenobet and MadCasino
- No fast-fold poker option available
Rolletto Poker
Fastest Cashouts – Same-Day Poker WithdrawalsRolletto lives up to its name for poker players who value fast access to their winnings. Every withdrawal we tested was processed within six hours, with crypto cashouts arriving in under an hour. For tournament players who may have significant sums tied up after a deep run, the ability to access funds the same day is a genuine advantage.
The welcome package includes £50 in tournament tickets awarded immediately upon first deposit, giving you instant entry into scheduled events. The fast-fold poker pool is adequate for micro and low stakes, and the cash game lobby covers standard Hold'em and Omaha formats. While the overall poker offering is smaller than our top-ranked sites, the withdrawal speed and reliability make Rolletto a solid secondary option for any poker player.
Pros
- Industry-leading withdrawal speeds (under 1 hour for crypto)
- £50 in tournament tickets awarded on first deposit
- Multi-currency support without conversion fees
- Reliable fast-fold poker pool at micro/low stakes
Cons
- Smallest poker room of the six recommended sites
- Limited tournament schedule compared to Tenobet and MyStake
Poker Variants Available at Non-GamStop Sites
One of the appeals of playing poker not on GamStop is the range of variants available. While regulated UK poker rooms have consolidated around No Limit Hold'em, non-GamStop sites often spread a wider selection of games to cater to their international player base.
Texas Hold'em
The king of poker variants is universally available at every non-GamStop poker site. You will find No Limit, Pot Limit, and Fixed Limit formats across cash games and tournaments. No Limit Hold'em cash games are by far the most popular, with stakes typically ranging from £0.01/£0.02 up to £25/£50. Tournament buy-ins cover a similarly broad spectrum, from £1 micro events to £500+ high-roller competitions.
Omaha
Omaha is the second most popular variant at non-GamStop poker rooms, available in both Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) and Omaha Hi-Lo formats. PLO cash games typically run at low to mid stakes with decent traffic during evening hours. Omaha tournaments are included in most sites' daily schedules, though with smaller fields than the Hold'em equivalents. The four-card format attracts action players and creates bigger pots, making it a favourite for those who find Hold'em too conservative.
Seven Card Stud
A classic variant that has become increasingly difficult to find online, Seven Card Stud remains available at select non-GamStop poker rooms including MyStake and Tenobet. Traffic is admittedly limited, with games typically only running at low stakes during peak hours. However, for Stud enthusiasts, any availability is welcome given the variant's near-disappearance from regulated UK platforms.
Short Deck Hold'em
Short Deck (also known as 6+ Hold'em) removes all cards below six from the deck, creating a more action-heavy game where strong hands appear more frequently. MadCasino and Tenobet both offer Short Deck cash games, appealing to players who enjoy the increased pace and altered hand rankings. Flushes beat full houses in Short Deck, and straights are harder to make, fundamentally changing optimal strategy.
Tournament Types at Non-GamStop Poker Sites
Tournament poker is a strength of non-GamStop sites, with many platforms offering surprisingly robust schedules that rival smaller UKGC-regulated networks. Here are the main tournament formats you will encounter.
Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs)
The backbone of tournament poker, MTTs run daily at all of our recommended sites. Buy-ins range from £1 to £500+, with guaranteed prize pools ensuring a minimum payout regardless of turnout. Sunday schedules are typically the most stacked, with higher guarantees and more events. We frequently observed overlays in mid-week events, where the guaranteed prize pool exceeded the total buy-ins collected, representing genuine added value for players.
Sit & Go Tournaments
Sit & Go tournaments start as soon as the required number of players register, eliminating wait times. Standard formats include 6-player and 9-player tables with turbo and hyper-turbo blind structures. Kingdom Casino excels in this category, with its Jackpot Sit & Go format offering randomised prize pool multipliers that can reach 1,000x the buy-in for a three-player, winner-takes-all game.
Satellites
Satellite tournaments offer affordable entry routes into bigger events. For the cost of a £1 to £5 buy-in, you can win a ticket to a £50 to £500 tournament. This pyramid structure makes high-value events accessible to players of all bankroll levels. MyStake and Tenobet run the most active satellite schedules.
Freerolls
Freerolls require no buy-in and award real money or tournament ticket prizes. All six of our recommended sites offer regular freerolls, with Lucki Casino running daily freerolls and Kingdom Casino hosting a £2,500 Sunday freeroll. These represent genuine risk-free opportunities to build or supplement your bankroll.
Rakeback and Loyalty Programmes
Rakeback is one of the most compelling reasons to consider poker sites not on GamStop. While major regulated networks have largely moved away from direct rakeback in favour of gamification and random reward systems, non-GamStop poker rooms continue to offer transparent, calculable rakeback that rewards consistent play.
Rakeback works by returning a percentage of the rake you generate back to your account. If you play at a site offering 30% rakeback and generate £1,000 in rake during a month, you receive £300 back. Over a year, that £3,600 in returned rake can transform a break-even player into a profitable one.
Our recommended sites use different rakeback calculation methods. Tenobet uses the dealt rake method, which credits you for rake paid at every hand dealt to you, regardless of whether you played the hand. MadCasino uses a contributed rake model, which only counts hands where you voluntarily put chips into the pot. For tight players who fold frequently, the dealt rake method is more favourable. For loose, action-heavy players, the contributed model may generate slightly more rakeback.
Rakeback Tip for UK Players
If you multi-table at non-GamStop poker sites, rakeback can become a significant income stream. A player running four tables of £0.25/£0.50 No Limit Hold'em for 25 hours per week might generate roughly £800 to £1,200 in monthly rake. At 35% rakeback, that is £280 to £420 per month returned to your account before accounting for any winnings at the table.
Cash Game Stakes and Traffic
Cash game availability is a critical factor when choosing an online poker not on GamStop platform. Here is a realistic overview of what to expect at each stake level.
Micro stakes (£0.01/£0.02 to £0.05/£0.10): Consistently available at all recommended sites. Multiple tables running 24/7, making these stakes ideal for bankroll building and bonus clearing. Player pools are soft with many recreational players.
Low stakes (£0.10/£0.25 to £0.25/£0.50): Good traffic during European peak hours (18:00 to 01:00 GMT). Typically 3 to 8 tables running at Tenobet and MadCasino, fewer at smaller sites. Competition increases but remains beatable for competent players.
Mid stakes (£0.50/£1 to £2/£5): Traffic becomes more variable. Tenobet and MadCasino are the only sites with reliable mid-stakes action. Tables fill during peak hours but can be sparse during mornings and early afternoons.
High stakes (£5/£10 and above): Limited and sporadic at all non-GamStop sites. MadCasino occasionally runs £25/£50 games with known regulars. Players seeking consistent high-stakes action may need to look at the major regulated networks for sufficient traffic.
Mobile Poker at Non-GamStop Sites
Playing poker on mobile presents unique challenges compared to slots or casino games, and non-GamStop poker rooms have made significant progress in addressing them. All six of our recommended sites offer mobile-compatible poker, though the experience varies.
Tenobet and Kingdom Casino provide the best mobile poker experiences, with responsive interfaces optimised for single-table cash games and tournament play. Multi-tabling is possible on tablets but impractical on smartphone screens. The touch-based controls work well for standard actions like folding, calling, and raising, with bet sizing sliders that are accurate enough for precise play.
For serious multi-tabling grinders, desktop remains the superior platform. However, for recreational sessions, tournament play, and single-table cash games, mobile poker at non-GamStop sites is perfectly functional and continues to improve with each software update.
Video Poker at Non-GamStop Sites
In addition to peer-to-peer poker rooms, most non-GamStop sites offer video poker in their casino sections. Games like Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Joker Poker are widely available, with RTPs that can exceed 99% with optimal play, making them among the most mathematically favourable games in any online casino.
Video poker appeals to players who enjoy the strategic element of poker but prefer playing against the house rather than other players. The key is finding full-pay versions of these games, where the paytable offers the highest possible returns. Non-GamStop sites generally provide better paytables than many UKGC platforms, where video poker machines may be set to lower-paying configurations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Poker Not on GamStop
There is no UK law that makes it illegal for individuals to play online poker at offshore sites. GamStop is a self-exclusion tool, not a legal requirement. However, non-GamStop poker sites are not regulated by the UKGC, so players should exercise personal responsibility and choose sites with reputable international licences.
Yes. All of the poker sites we recommend offer real-money cash games and tournaments. You can deposit using various methods including cryptocurrency, e-wallets, and card payments, and withdraw your winnings at any time subject to standard verification procedures.
Non-GamStop poker sites typically offer Texas Hold'em (No Limit, Pot Limit, and Fixed Limit), Omaha (including Hi-Lo), Seven Card Stud, Short Deck Hold'em, and various novelty formats. Tournament options include Sit & Go, multi-table tournaments, satellites, and freerolls.
Yes. Rakeback is one of the major advantages of non-GamStop poker sites. Many platforms offer rakeback deals of 20% to 40%, with some loyalty programmes reaching effective rakeback rates of 50% or more for high-volume players. This can significantly improve your long-term profitability.
Reputable non-GamStop poker sites use certified Random Number Generators and are audited by independent testing agencies. The poker rooms we recommend use software from established providers with proven track records of fairness. Look for sites with valid gambling licences and transparency about their RNG certification.
Non-GamStop poker sites cater to all bankroll levels. Cash game stakes typically start from £0.01/£0.02 micro stakes and extend to £25/£50 or higher. Tournament buy-ins range from freerolls to £500+ events. There are no UKGC-imposed stake limits at these sites.
Yes. All of our recommended poker sites offer mobile-compatible platforms. Some provide dedicated apps for iOS and Android, while others offer browser-based poker rooms optimised for mobile play. Multi-tabling can be limited on mobile, but single-table cash games and tournaments run smoothly.
"The rakeback deals available at non-GamStop poker sites represent genuine value that has largely disappeared from the regulated UK market. For any semi-serious poker player generating consistent rake, the difference between 0% and 35% rakeback can easily amount to thousands of pounds per year."