PokerStars is a market leader in tournaments, particularly multi-table tourneys, and has high cash game traffic. PokerStars has emerged as an important player in the industry not only due to this ambitious program of frequent and large tournaments but also providing excellent software and customer support.
PokerStars offers all players a $600 first deposit bonus who use the bonus code Stars600 and the marketing code “PSP7781″.
Poker Stars Online Poker Review
Overall, PokerStars is professionally managed with a good poker atmosphere and demonstrates responsiveness to the needs of poker players. In July 2002 PokerStars organized the first World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP), which is still ongoing today.
Poker Stars Software
The software has a good look and feel with good security. PokerStars is positioned as the online tournament leader due to its high tournament traffic and quick and reliable software. Often, there are tournaments with over 500 players and sometimes over 15000 players without any server or network problems.
The software has special tournaments features. For example, PokerStars ensures that there is an even balancing of the tables during the course of the tournaments and also prevents tactical slowing down of tempo with individual time banks. After your time bank is exhausted, you must act in the normal allotted time or else your hand will be folded.
Also, near the end of tournaments all tables are played “one hand at a time” time so that no table can wait out the others to escape the dreaded last no-pay placements.
The player has a great overview of his or her stand in the tournament relative to all other players. PokerStars was a leader in the industry by introducing support of notes on other players but even more importantly playing statistics functions.
PokerStars Lobby Features
There is good lobby information with view flop percentages as well as other statistics. Poker Stars supports personal uploaded images at the tables.
Poker Stars Network And Tournament Traffic
The cash game traffic at peak times at PokerStars is between 100,250 and 200,750 players. At peak times, the tournament traffic reaches over 100,000 players. PokerStars currently ranks second in combined cash game and tournament traffic.
Poker Stars Demographics
A big part of the clients are European, which makes the site busy also at evening time in Europe. The site has greatly benefited from being the innovator and leader in the multi-table tournament area and a dedication to stay at the top with special promotion events.
Poker Stars Real Money Games And Variations Offered
PokerStars game variety is typical and includes:
- Hold ‘Em
- Omaha
- Omaha-8
- Seven Card Stud and Stud-8
- Fixed Limit, Pot-Limit, and No-Limit Variations
- Full Ring Tables, Short-Handed Tables, and Heads Up Tables
- Cash Games, Multi-Table Tournaments and Sit-N-Go Tournaments
Stud Poker At PokerStars
The Seven Card Stud games, both high and high-low, are offered at lower ante structures than elsewhere. For example, the ante at the $3-$6 limit is 25 cents compared to 50 cents at other sites and the ante at the $1-$2 limit is 10 cents in contrast to 25 cents at other sites. This is a plus for the tight player.
Poker Stars Rake Charges And Tournament Entry Fees
The rake at PokerStars is industry average: 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.??
Poker Stars Game Quality And Opponent Skill Level
The ring games are very tough at PokerStars due to its poker savvy clients. The view flop percentages seem to be lower than the average online. As the largest tournaments site, a lot of non-experts take part as well. Thus, the competition is quite tough, but less so in the tournaments.
PokerStars VIP Rakeback Program
A Frequent Player Point (FPP) is awarded for each raked hand and five points are awarded for each $1 paid in tournament registration fees. The FPPs can be redeemed for entries in weekly and monthly special tournaments and other promotions. Other promotions are mostly limited to tournaments only. There are infrequent 20% deposit bonus for existing and new customers for very short periods such as before the WCOOP and on certain holidays and occasions.
Poker Stars Deposit And Cashout Options
Deposit and withdrawal options at PokerStars include VISA, MasterCard, NETeller (including InstaCash), FirePay, Western Union, wire transfer, money order, cashier’s/certified check, company/personal check and inter-account transfers.
Poker Stars Support And Customer Service
PokerStars has good email support, very quick. However, there is no live or telephone support. They are financially very secure as the second largest poker room in the world. There have been few, if any, reports of financial or payout problems or irregularities.