Poker Stars Review

Review Summary

Poker Stars is arguably the largest and most popular online poker destination, not just in the UK but in the entire world. Launched in 2001, they are a trendsetter on the online poker scene, with more than 200,000 players logged in every day. Poker Stars alone share almost 50% of all the traffic in real-money online games.

Being the largest in the business, PokerStars is dedicated to providing the best game products and services to their customers. They have an unrivalled poker game selection, the biggest poker tournaments, lucrative bonuses and top-notch customer service. They are also known for being the safest and most financially secure poker site in the world. No wonder more and more people are turning to them to enjoy their favourite pastime whilst getting the chance to win big prizes.

Current Promotions

Poker Stars is teeming with attractive promotions so players will always have something new to look forward to.

Poker Stars also gives out reload bonuses from time to time, so make it a habit to check your inbox for promotional emails since it’s where PokerStars usually promote their bonuses.

Ongoing Promotions

Poker Stars has great bonuses for new players. Simply make your first real-money deposit using the bonus code STARS600 and PokerStars will reward you with a 100% bonus up to £395. If not, you also have the option to deposit using the bonus code FREE20 and claim your £13 bonus to play games for free. Whichever you choose, rest assured that Poker Stars will reward you with a free ticket to play their 100K Privilege Freerolls where lucky players get to win a share of the prize pool.

PokerStars is known for offering some of the best promotions online, so make sure to check their Special Offers page for more opportunities to win great prizes and treats.

VIP Loyalty Program

Loyal players can earn two types of loyalty points which can be earned each time they play for real money – VIP Player Points (VPPs) and Frequent Player Points (FPPs). VPPs are used to determine a player’s VIP level and cannot be exchanged for cash or prizes. FPPs are used to purchase various products in the Poker Stars’ online store, and can either be converted to money or used to take part in special points tournaments.

There’s a total of seven tiers in PokerStar’s loyalty scheme. The higher the VIP level, the faster the points accumulation and the better the perks and benefits a player gets. Some of the perks include exclusive access to VIP-only tournaments, faster payouts, better cashback offers, and exclusive freerolls.

Device Reviews

Want to play your favourite poker games on the go? PokerStars has one of the best and most innovative mobile poker apps in the market – and you can download it for free! It’s available on iOS and Android devices, with industry-leading features that make you feel like you’re playing right on your PC. You can play for real money, deposit and withdraw funds, and play multiple tables at once – anytime and anywhere!

Cashing In / Out

The standard minimum deposit amount is £5 unless stated. Withdrawals are processed quickly, although some methods may take longer than others. E-wallets or e-cheques usually process within a couple of hours or even instantly, whilst regular cheques and wire transfer could take anywhere from 5 to 7 working days.

Wagering Requirements

Poker Stars have implemented wagering requirements that you need to meet in order to claim your bonus. The bonus funds will be sent to your account in £10 increments as you play cash games and earn VIP Player Points along the way. You can deposit any amount. As long as you have a total of £395 made within 3 deposits into your account, you can claim the full bonus amount within the first 90 days of registering an account with them.

Games Available

Poker Stars has an extensive collection of online poker games. They range from Sit ‘n’ Go to ring games, with plenty of multi-table tournaments that cover every base of Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud poker. Recently, Poker Stars also added Courchevel and Pot Limit 5 Card Omaha to their portfolio.

If you want some live poker action, head to the Live Poker page for some of the best and most exciting live tournaments across the world. If you want a more private poker session with your friends, check out Home Games to learn more about how you can create your very own online Poker Club where you can set up your own games whenever you want, with your best poker buddies!

Game	Operators with Game	Play Game
Texas Hold’em	5	Play Texas Hold’em
Omaha High	1	Play Omaha High
Omaha Hi/Lo	2	Play Omaha Hi/Lo
5 Card Omaha and 5 Card Omaha Hi/Lo	1	Play 5 Card Omaha and 5 Card Omaha Hi/Lo
Courchevel and Courchevel Hi/Lo	1	Play Courchevel and Courchevel Hi/Lo
Seven Card Stud	2	Play Seven Card Stud
Seven Card Stud Hi Lo	1	Play Seven Card Stud Hi Lo
Razz (7 Card Stud Low)	1	Play Razz (7 Card Stud Low)
Triple Stud	1	Play Triple Stud

Site Usage

The overall design and layout of Poker Stars’ website is simple and player-friendly, with a black, red and white colour scheme that’s visually pleasing. You won’t find any unnecessary elements to distract you, and you’ll easily find and get to where you need to be.

The poker rooms are impressive and don't include a lot of distracting details The poker games are fast and smooth, and they support playing multiple tables at the same time. Poker Stars has also recently added mobile versions of the site, so you can now play and win on the go.

Overall, Poker Stars has an extremely user-friendly website that’s clutter-free and easy to navigate.

Software Rating

Poker Stars is operated by proprietary software that’s built especially for online poker players. There are rarely any glitches, and the speed of all actions while playing is at an optimum level. Poker Stars was amongst the first to offer fully resizable tables for those who want to take advantage of multi-tabling. Sitting at tables and moving between them during tournaments is a breeze, as well as reloading chips and dealing hands amongst players. Poker Stars wastes no time in these areas, so players can fully enjoy their favourite games. What’s more, players can add their own photo as their avatar, which adds a personal touch to the games. Not all poker rooms have this feature.

Other notable features include the ability to filter games from the lobby, note-taking in the chat box, and a useful hand-history replayer. The lobby is sleek and fuss-free, and players can easily navigate between different games and tournament styles.

Pros and Cons

Poker Stars is the most popular poker sites in the world, with a truckload of tournaments and cash games available around the clock. They have a great number of poker variants so players won’t run out of games to play and enjoy. What’s more, they offer the most rewarding VIP loyalty program and bonuses, so players will always have something to look forward to each time they play for real money.

Poker Stars has software that ensures all products and services they offer are the best and most secure. Their site is mobile-friendly and is compatible with Mac devices. They host a number of satellite games for major live poker events, which is good news for those who want to take part in, or just observe, poker events in various regions across the globe, in real time.

There may be a few things Poker Stars should address. There is no live chat facility where customers can contact the customer support team directly. Poker Stars stopped accepting players from the US due to changes in the law.

Conclusion

Poker Stars is at the forefront of innovation when it comes to online poker, providing the best poker games, creating the biggest online poker tournaments, and offering fantastic bonuses and promotions. Customer satisfaction is their top priority.

There’s a lot to like about this poker site. They manage to stand out from the competition and remain on top of the online poker industry. If you haven’t registered an account with Poker Stars yet, now’s the time to do so!

Tournaments and Freerolls

PokerStars is host to the largest and richest online poker tournaments in the industry, with a number of internationally acclaimed tournaments. The high traffic they get ensures that players looking for the best tournament will find the perfect one to suit their budget and preference. They have two special annual poker series: The Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) which is held every April and May; and the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) that runs every September. SCOOP offers low, medium and high buy-in levels, with prize pools often reaching the £1 million mark; while WCOOP includes buy-ins that range from £50 to £5K.

For those who want to play regular tournaments, make sure to take part in the weekly Sunday Million where huge prizes await lucky players. You can also join Sunday Warm-Up tourneys where you can win up to £3,500, with a £140 buy-in that constantly exceeds its guarantee.

Besides world-renowned poker tourneys, PokerStars is also home to the best freerolls. They offer daily, weekly, and monthly freeroll poker tourneys on popular poker games like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and 7 Card Stud. They also have special freerolls, like the limited 100K Privilege Freerolls for new players and the 2.5K PokerNews-Exclusive Freeroll tournament. The latter is open to both new and existing players who are signed up to PokerStars and are using PokerNews links and marketing codes.

Payment Method	Name
	EntroPay
	Instadebit
	MasterCard
	Paysafecard
	Ukash
	Visa
	Cheque
	WIRECASHOUTS
	eChecks