PokerStars is the largest online poker room in the world thanks to a massive player base and widespread popularity which it has enjoyed since its launch in 2001. Undoubtedly the top online poker site for traffic, PokerStars attracts a huge numbers of players both recreational and experienced. Not belonging to any network, PokerStars stands alone and has its own original software.
Games: In addition to the standard choice of Texas Hold’em (Limit and No Limit), Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo, PokerStars offers its players a host of other cash games from 7 Card Stud, Razz, Triple Stud to 5 Card Draw, 5 Card Omaha, to alternative options of Courchevel and Badugi. Sit ’n’ Gos are offered with buy-ins starting at pennies (with single and multi-table variations of all the same games they offer in ring game play available in Sit ‘n’ Go format).
Traffic: Being the most popular online poker site in the world, there should be no problem finding a running game at any time of the day. Daily traffic tends to average at around 15,000 to 22,000 players at any given time, and often much higher. PokerStars is so massively popular that players can find any game with any skill level of player they prefer. Competition is usually pretty soft for the small stakes games but the higher stakes games come with much more advanced competition, with players observing that they’re much tougher than they used to be. While many of the players on this site are beginners or recreational, it also has a significant concentration of difficult to beat players, often professionals.
Promotions & Bonuses: PokerStars offers a tempting 100% bonus with first deposit (up to the equivalent of $600) and most players find that the bonus clears at a pretty good rate. PokerStars VIP Club members can win rewards, by building VPPs (the base points that determine a player’s VIP tier) that calculate bonus levels. VIP players that move higher up the scale can convert their Frequent Player Points (FPPs) into cash.
Tournaments: PokerStars is renowned for having excellent and frequent online poker tournaments with large and small buy ins, and huge prize pools. The tournament structure is arguably the best you’ll find online. Dozens of multi table tournaments are offered by PokerStars every hour. The weekly Sunday Million tournament has a guaranteed whopping $1m prize pool, with a $215 buy-in. The Sunday Warm Up has a similarly impressive prize pool of $400,000. Through PokerStars, players can qualify to live poker events on the circuit every year, including the European Poker Tour (EPT) and the UK & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT). PokerStars offers the World Championship of Online Poker series (essentially the largest tournament series in online poker, which grows every year).
Software: PokerStars software is incredibly well-designed and exceptionally easy to use. The lobby is functional and informative with detailed information about each ring table and or tournament. The software is loaded with impressive and helpful features, like the player note-taking support, instant hand history and current session statistics.
Banking: PokerStars arguably offers more deposit options than any other site and facilitates fast cash-outs and withdrawals.
Customer Service: It’s available through the option of email 24/7, 365 days a year also and response is fairly swift. The site also has a contact support feature available in the client for answering queries.
Conclusion: PokerStars has a huge active player base and sees a regular influx of new players, meaning games can be softer here than at other poker sites. This also means that you won’t have to wait long to find a real money cash game or tournament.
Verdict?: 9/10
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