Dublin Europe's Poker Capital 2009

Irish luck or not? For the second consecutive year, London saw the title of 2009's European Poker Capital awarded to Dublin, in a vote by Bluff Europe Magazine.

Dubliners are ardent players of the game, and city dwellers and visitors alike benefit from an abundant variety of outstanding card clubs, and player-friendly tournaments. In the vote, countries with severe, game-killing gambling policies were simply ignored, as were venues where players are excessively exploited in terms of cash games rakes. In this election, criteria for the award included more lofty values, such as variety, enthusiasm, and action.

Even though London took second place, it was still praised for its sublime venues and tournaments, as well as for the massive growth of pub poker the city has seen these past two years, praise in which fellow runners up Vienna, Tallinn and Galway also received their share.

According to Bluff Europe's editor Philip Conneller, Dubliners are absolutely "mad for the game," and the Irish passion for poker is overwhelming. He even claims that the "table banter is just - well - better."

Lucky for you and me we can easily get acquainted with the Irish sense of fun and fair play, thanks to a broad variety of online poker sites where an encounter with these and other poker enthusiasts is always within easy reach!