PokerStars review
PokerStars –The World Largest Poker Site
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Signup Bonus:
MarketingCode: Bonus code: |
100% up to $600
PSP7435 STARS600 |
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Summary
With the unmatched success of the site sending players to the World Series of Poker (WSOP), such as Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer and Joe Hachem, the PokerStars site has adopted the slogan “Where Poker Players Become World Champions”.
There are very few sites that can make similar claims of having so many WSOP champions playing for them. In fact, there are even fewer sites that can compete with PokerStars for offering the player a genuine poker experience.
No matter whether you are hoping to become a world champion or a very successful poker player, PokerStars offers you almost anything you could possibly need. Offering one of the most important factors, the tables are always crowded with up to tens of thousands of players who are simultaneously connected.
Software & Graphics
PokerStars has had one of the most reliable and functional software out of any online poker game rooms ever since opening with their extended beta testing stage. The software always runs smoothly and quickly even with the large tournament sizes of more than a thousand people.
There are some players who complain about the graphical theme, but according to your own personal taste, you can actually replace the classic Poker Stars look with one of the other themes offered.
Even though some may feel that PokerStars does little to satisfy with graphics, the software has reportedly only had less than a day of downtime since starting in 2001. That is a very impressive number, which shows as well the priority that the site places on stability and speed of their software.
Due to huge public demand, PokerStars has finally released a Mac compatible version of their software. This makes for a wonderful addition to an already great site which will permit all hard-balling Mac poker players to join in without any hassle.
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Game Variety
PokerStars offers their players a very impressive game variety, including High and High/Low versions of Omaha and Seven-Card Stud. You are also able to play H.O.R.S.E. and Razz, as well as Omaha High/Low with a very hard to find no-limit structure.
PokerStars was the first of its kind, a poker room introducing really low-stakes games, with blinds starting at an incredible $0.01/$0.02, and without any rake at all! This concept offers more value to the large community of poker newbies and voluntary small-timer players than can even be put into words.
Poker Traffic
Leading the market in traffic, PokerStars has what has been considered the world’s most visited poker network. There are about 80% of the real money players playing at tournaments, but regular ring games are catching up the pace as well. With these numbers, PokerStarts has rights to claim their position as a tournament leader.
There is no other site online where you will find tournaments that offers several thousand entrants on a regular basis. Ranging everywhere from $1 to $5000, the sit ‘N’ goes are hugely popular.
There are some which are really high buy-ins, but there are also many cheaper tournaments as well, including the weekly Sunday $100K with a low buy-in at $11. Against all odds, tournaments always run without technical problems.
Even throughout the harsher times of stricter gambling regulations, PokerStars has always kept its doors open to US players. Even though Americans are always welcome, many of the players at the site are based out of Europe. This makes for very good poker action at European evening time, with the peak hours typically happening around 2 PM, PT.
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Bonuses and Promotions
PokerStars offers players a first deposit bonus from 100% up to $600, (simply enter the marketing code PSP7435 when registering your account, and use STARS600 when adding your first deposit). There are also occasional re-load bonuses, typically around 20% up to $120.
Players also have the chance to earn Frequent Player Points (FPP) simply by playing real money games.
These points can be used to enter tournaments or make purchases in the FPP Store. All players are also offered a VIP Club, with a variety of membership levels which are based on the total amount of Frequent Player Points they earn each month.
PokerStars is a truly remarkable poker network, the biggest and best of its kind. Although it may be lacking in sign up bonuses and a better system for rewarding loyal players, it more than makes up for it offering top notch tournaments, incredible software and a unbelievable variety of games to be played.
In truth, there may be little value to entry users who are only seeking a large sign up bonus. The site offers great games, but if having to define PokerStars with one word it would have to be “tournament”. The competition is tighter than at most other sites.
Customer Support
Access to customer support is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by email – there is no live chat or telephone support at this time. However, responses are usually received within minutes for the majority of enquiries, and the overall quality of the responses is excellent.
Some of the best customer support representatives in the business, offering competent answers and help, provide tremendous support for PokerStars.