Nipping down the local for a ‘quick one’ has taken on a whole new meaning, as pubs across the UK are playing host to regular poker leagues despite a government crackdown on illegal gambling activities.

The Gambling Commission recently issued guidelines to local authorities classifying what games and activities are allowed in public houses. Inevitably, playing poker for cash in unlicensed premises wasn’t given the go-ahead. But poker players won’t be thwarted so, rather than breaking the law, organisers have exploited a loophole in the legislation, by setting up pub leagues where you can play for points and prizes, which is all perfectly legal.

Leagues, such as Poker in the Pub (www. pokerinthepub.com), the Amateur National Poker League (www.anpl.com), and The Nuts Poker League (www.thenutspokerleague.com), as seen on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, have been springing up to accommodate the recent poker boom.

ANPL managing director Sarah Meehan said: ‘Poker is the new trivia. Pubs and clubs are desperate to get involved.’

If you want to get in on the action at your local, have a word with your landlord to see if there’s a game on, or refer him/her to one of the league’s websites to set one up.