Sky Poker Review 2026: The UK’s TV-Backed Poker Room

Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Bala Kumar

Sky Poker is the UK poker room that began alongside Sky’s TV poker shows. It is now a Flutter-owned brand running on the iPoker network.

Since 27 May 2025, Sky players have shared tables with the wider iPoker pool. That means more traffic, HUD and tracker support, and a rakeback scheme worth up to 40%. Most network games now play in euros, so the room no longer feels like the small, sterling-only community it used to be.

Our verdict: 4/5. Sky Poker is a safe, UK-licensed choice with a stronger game selection than before the move. It suits recreational and low-to-mid-stakes players in the UK and Ireland. Players who want a closed, pounds-only room, or who valued the old Sky forum community, lost the most in the switch.

Sky Poker at a glance

From Sky TV to iPoker: a short history

Sky Poker grew out of Sky’s long link with televised poker. Sky Sports broadcast The Poker Million in 2000, often described as the first live poker tournament on TV. BSkyB later launched its own dedicated poker channel in 2007, according to Wikipedia’s history of UK poker TV. For years the room ran nightly televised games and its own events, including the UK Online Poker Series (UKOPS), which launched in 2011.

Ownership changed as the UK gambling industry consolidated. The Stars Group bought Sky Betting & Gaming, including Sky Poker, in 2018. The Stars Group then merged into Flutter Entertainment, which also owns PokerStars, Betfair and Paddy Power.

The biggest change came in 2025. Flutter moved Sky Poker off its own software and onto the iPoker network, where Betfair Poker and Paddy Power Poker already played. WorldPokerDeals reported that the switch happened on 27 May 2025. Existing players did not need a new account.

Welcome offer

New Sky Poker players can earn €40 in bonuses. The official site says the bonus is released in full once you earn 50 Sky Points (SPs), and you must opt in. Daily missions then add further rewards.

What it means in practice. You earn SPs by paying rake in cash games or tournament fees. 50 SPs is a modest target for a regular low-stakes player, but a casual player may need a few sessions to reach it. Read the full terms in the client before you deposit, as offers and time limits change.

Sky Poker Rewards and rakeback

Sky Poker Rewards pays a percentage of your rake back, and the rate climbs as you collect more SPs. These were the tiers at the iPoker launch, as reported by WorldPokerDeals in May 2025.

That is a big step up from the old Sky Poker scheme, which topped out around 20%. Sky also runs weekly Live Rewards, where players who wager at least £50 can win Golden Chips. Check the Rewards page in your account for the current tiers before you plan your volume.

Games and stakes

Sky Poker now offers a much wider range than before the move.

Stakes are from WorldPokerDeals’ review. Omaha Hi-Lo and capped tables are also listed on skypoker.com.

Cash tables are mostly 6-max, and there are no waiting lists. iPoker peak traffic was put at around 7,000 players at the time of the switch. That is enough to find low and mid-stakes action at most hours of the UK day.

Tournaments

The skypoker.com lobby listed 141 active tournaments when we checked on 7 October 2026. These include daily freerolls, Turbo Bounty Hunters, rebuy events and satellites. On Sundays, the iPoker schedule has run guaranteed events such as a €70,000 Main, a €50,000 Eliminator and a €30,000 Masterclass. The network also hosts series with total guarantees reaching into the millions.

For UKOPS fans. The UK Online Poker Series was Sky’s signature festival for over a decade. Check the Sky Poker promotions page for the next UK-focused series, as dates are announced only a few weeks ahead.

Sky Poker app and software

Sky Poker runs on Playtech’s iPoker client. You can play it as a desktop download, in a browser, or on Android and iOS.

•           Desktop: you can play up to 16 tables at once, and HUDs and trackers are allowed. That is a major change from the old Sky client, which capped multi-tabling at four tables.

•           Mobile: the app is built for quick play on the go. It needs location services turned on to confirm you are in an allowed area.

•           Look and feel: iPoker’s tables are clean and familiar. Long-time Sky players lost some Sky-specific features in the move, such as the community forum.

Who should use the app: recreational players who play one or two tables. For multi-tabling or HUD use, the desktop client is the better choice.

Deposits and withdrawals

You can fund your account by debit card, e-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller, and bank transfer. The minimum deposit is £10 on most methods. Withdrawals go back to the method you deposited with.

As a UK-licensed site, Sky Poker requires age and identity checks before you can withdraw. Have your ID ready to avoid delays.

Pros and cons

Is Sky Poker safe?

Yes. Sky Poker is operated by Bonne Terre Gaming Limited, part of Flutter Entertainment. It holds a UK Gambling Commission licence (65519) and a Gibraltar Remote Gambling Licence (156). UK licensing means player funds, fair-game testing and responsible-gambling tools all fall under UK Gambling Commission rules.

Verdict: is Sky Poker worth playing in 2026?

Sky Poker is a good fit if you are in the UK or Ireland and want a trusted brand with steady low-to-mid-stakes traffic. Up to 40% rakeback and HUD support are well above what the old Sky client offered. Players who preferred the tight-knit, pounds-only Sky community lost something in the move, but most will find the games better than before.

FAQs

Bala Kumar

Founder of PokerClubGames.com and a Poker Researcher with 10+ years of experience in SEO, WordPress development, and gaming content strategy. Specializes in researching online poker sites, poker apps, tournaments, bonuses, and poker strategies. Experienced in poker platform reviews, affiliate marketing, and creating SEO-focused poker content for global audiences.

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