PokerStars is the largest online poker room on the internet, by a long way. PokerStars attracts around 20,000 real money cash game players at peak times, more than any other room. PokerStars has had the courage to stay in the US market which is one reason for the high number of players the other is that PokerStars work ethos is Poker, Poker and more Poker. PokerStars has always been known as the tournament poker room of choice but it is also now the cash game poker room of choice.
There is a huge selection of cash games including some mixed game types, H.O.R.S.E and H.O.S.E, and some unusual poker variants like 2-7 Triple Draw, Five Card Draw and Razz. Due to the vast number of cash game players you are guaranteed poker action at any time of day. Real money limits range from $0.01/0.02 to $100/$200.
As previously mentioned PokerStars tournaments are the biggest and the best. The number one tournament online at the moment is the PokerStars Sunday Million which has an entry of $200+$15 guaranteeing a prize pool of $1 Million, however the field is so large that the prize pool often exceeds $1.5 Million. Added to this on the last week of every month the Sunday Million has a $500+$30; the prize pool for this one can go over $2 Million.
It’s not only the guaranteed tournaments that are world class their satellites and qualifiers are also. PokerStars runs qualifiers for all the top land based events including WSOP, WPT, EPT and the Aussie Millions and runs several major online tournaments including the World Championship of Online Poker.
2003 WSOP winner Chris Moneymaker entered poker mythology by qualifying for the 2003 WSOP event via a $39 PokerStars WSOP satellite. Not only has world champion Chris Moneymaker but also Greg Raymer and Joe Hachem all came from PokerStars. In 2006, three of the nine final table players got to the WSOP through PokerStars satellites.
PokerStars proprietary software, written by PokerStars, is highly rated for functionality with a clean layout and graphics, offering fast play which is very reliable.
Bonuses & Promotions
WeLike-Poker Bonus $50
WeLike-Poker Deposit 100%
Although, PokerStars sign-up bonus is not the largest out there they make up for it by running some very inventive and fun promotions. Some of the past promotions include: ‘The BIG 10 Billion’ 10 billionth hand celebration with $6.5 Million given away, ‘World Championship of Online Poker’ with a main event prize of over $600,000, ‘PokerStars Caribbean Adventure’ with a main event prize of over $1 Million, ‘Moneymaker Millionaire’ a Freeroll with a main event prize of over $1 Million.
PokerStars run a very good ‘comp’ program called PokerStars Frequent Player Points, FPP. Accumulating Frequent Player Points is as easy as playing poker. For every real money hand you play either in a cash game, Sit & Go or Multi-Table Tournament you earn FPPs. Frequent Player Points can be used for a wide variety of purchases, from tournament entries, to clothing, to exclusive items you'll find only in the PokerStars FPP Store.
Traffic & Competition
Peak real money cash game player numbers are over 20,000, as of May, 2007
With this number of players there is the full range of play from soft to very good pro-players especially on the higher limits.
Software & Extra Features
The software offers the ability to load up you own avatar, which brings some weird images including girlfriends, pets and kids, as well as the more bizarre. The software also offers very good multi-table cash game play with up to eight tables in play at a time and unlimited tournaments action.
The software also offers the usual array of player statistics although there is no ‘buddy’ facility.
Rake
Pokerstars has a below than industry rake with the house commissions between 0% and 5% of each total pot.
Game Variation & Limits
The best selection available Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo, Razz, Five Card Draw, 2-7 Triple Draw and the mixed games HORSE (Hold’em, Omaha, Razz, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Eight or Better) and HOSE (Hold’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Eight or Better).
No side games available, but there again what would you expect from PokerStars, only Poker.
Customer Service
PokerStars support is done via email.
Deposits & Cashouts
Multi currencies available: $US, € Euro, British ?
Deposit Options:
NETeller, VISA, MasterCard, Diners Club, epassporte, Western Union, Cashiers Cheque and Moneybookers.com.
Cashout Options:
NETeller, Wire Transfer, Bank Transfer & Bank Draft (cashier’s check).
Home
