Bluff’s Poker Mecca!

Find out why this year, all the world’s greatest professionals will be heading off to Dublin. Recently crowned as Europe’s best poker destination, it’s not hard to guess why.

The online and offline poker industry’s most popular magazine, Bluff, has recently announced that the best city in Europe in which to play poker is Dublin, Ireland. The best selling poker magazine selected Dublin as the title winner over a range of other popular destinations, including London (last year’s winner), Barcelona, Vienna and Amsterdam. Bluff accredited Dublin as the top poker location due to the city’s vast selection of poker gambling facilities and events, among them the Irish Poker Open, the Fitzwillian, and the Sporting Emporium and Silks.

Bluff’s choice of Dublin was not well received in London, a city that is somewhat protective over its well known elaborate poker environment. As Philip Connoller, the editor of Bluff Europe commented, there was “a lot of snickering”. However, as he further explained, Dublin was a more than worthy winner of the title not only because of its many poker locations but also because of the tight-knit poker community established there, which give off a more friendly feeling. As a smaller city than London, this made Dublin the only real candidate according to the magazine’s judgment.

According to the man who is famous for introducing Texas Hold ‘em into Ireland, Liam “Gentleman” Flood, the decision was too obvious. The more than prominent Flood told reporters following the decision that Dublin is different from other destinations because of its diversity of players: “Everybody is catered for in Ireland, from the €10 player to the guy who wants to play for €1,000.” Flood explained that the poker players of Dublin have great character, and this is something that doesn’t go unnoticed at the tables. Furthermore, he too noted the widespread popularity of poker among the city.

Flood also explicated to reporters that unlike English poker players, who are known to be tight, Irish players are always up for a gamble, and even though you can find players of all kinds, this is an important factor when looking for a serious poker destination. Additionally, Flood made aware that the massive success of the Irish Open poker tournament could be reason for the recent interest in the city as a poker destination at all. This year the tourney brought in 1000 players from around Europe to pay up €4,500 in entrance fee for the chance to win the €3 million prize pool, sponsored by Paddy Power.