Empire Poker is a gateway to the Party Poker network with shared software and player base. However, the sites contain slightly different graphics and are managed and owned separately. This network has grown tremendously since launching in August 2001.
The games are among the most profitable in the world as they are very soft. The network currently boasts by far the highest traffic in cash games and tournaments in the world. Empire Poker has quite a few promotions including a 20% deposit bonus up to $100 available through the links on this website, a player rewards program with cash-back, a referral program, freeroll tournaments and money-added tournaments.
Empire Poker’s software is quite good with the proviso that the network and its servers probably have slightly more delays and disconnections than at the other leading sites. Players are allowed to play as many as three tables simultaneously. The average pot size of the last 20 hands is displayed. The software provides a personal playing statistics function and a player notes function has now been added.
Empire Poker provides a nice feature in the form of intra-account money transfer capabilities.?? The number of real money cash game players at Empire Poker during peak times is between 7,500 and 10,000 players. At peak times, the tournament traffic reaches between 12,500 and 15,000 players. EmpirePoker currently ranks first in combined cash game and tournament traffic.
Games Offered At Empire Poker
Empire Poker’s game variety is typical includes:
- Hold ‘Em
- Omaha
- Omaha-8
- Seven Card Stud
- Stud-8
- Limit, Pot-Limit, and No-Limit Variations
- Full Ring Tables, Short-Handed Tables, Heads Up Tables
- Cash Games, Multi-Table Tournaments and One-Table Sit-N-Go Tournaments
Rake Fees At Empire Poker
The rake at EmpirePoker is industry average with one exception: 5% of the pot taken in intervals, $3 or lower cap on rake per pot, lowering of the cap for short-handed tables and one-on-one tables and no rake taken if all players fold on Third Street. The exception is that the rake runs as high as 10% in $0.50/$1 and $1/$2 games as 50 cent is raked when the pot reaches $5.
Game Quality And Opponent Skill Levels At Empire Poker
Empire Poker is renowned, justifiably so, for the softness of its games. Thus, even with the slightly unfavorable rake at the low limits, the games at those limits as well as others are considered the easiest to beat and most profitable in the world.
Empire Poker Bonus And Clearing Requirements
Empire Poker offers an initial deposit bonus of 20% up to $100 through the links on this website. The bonus is earned at the rate of $1 for each five raked hands in which the player is dealt cards. The bonus is released when all of the required raked hands have been played. There is a thirty day restriction from the date of deposit in which the deposit must be earned. There are promotional freeroll tournaments and money-added tournaments.
Empire Poker offers a referral bonus program that pays $50 to the referrer and $25 to the new member initially and increased amounts as the number of referrals grow. Additionally, they award EPoints by playing at the real money tables. After earning 5000 EPoints, the player is made a member of Empire Poker’s the VIP Club. Membership allows the player to accumulate EPoints at twice the rate of non-members. The EPoints can be redeemed for merchandise, tournament entries and cash-back at the rate of $1 for each 100 EPoints.
They provide email, live and telephone support. EmpirePoker is financially very secure as it is part of the largest poker network in the world. There have been few, if any, reports of financial or payout problems or irregularities.
Empire Poker Deposit And Cashout Banking Options
Deposit and withdrawal options include VISA, MasterCard, NETeller (including InstaCash), FirePay, Citadel, Electronic Check Processing, Western Union, wire transfer, money order, cashier’s/certified check, company/personal check and inter-account transfers.