FORGET horse racing, greyhounds or virtual casinos. The UK’s fastest growing online gambling activity is poker, with more than £40 million a day being staked compared with just £6 million 12 months ago.

According to the Poker Britain Report, the card game has enjoyed a sharp resurgence in the wake of widespread TV coverage and increased ease of access to the internet from the comfort of one’s front room.

Students, in particular, are being gripped by the game, according to the report, while televised celebrity poker tournaments featuring the likes of Ben Affleck and Robbie Williams are also said to be adding to its allure.

Another attraction of online poker is the way that it gives “rookie” players the opportunity to pit themselves against the world’s top professionals. Only last year, the appropriately named Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker and $2.3 million (£1.3 million) after qualifying online via a $40 event.

The report, which is published today by Ladbrokespoker.com, part of Hilton Group’s Ladbrokes gambling empire, suggests that last year’s sixfold increase could be repeated this year, with a survey showing that 2.9 million adults would be interested in playing poker over the internet.

Some 90 per cent of all play is said to be with the five biggest operators, of which Ladbrokes is the only European company, the rest coming from the US.

However, the big operators could soon be challenged by an internet poker site set up four years ago by two poker-mad Swedes. PokerRoom.com recently announced plans to invest £1.75 million in the UK with the aim of applying for a licence once gambling is deregulated.

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