PokerStars review – the best online poker room
PokerStars is widely regarded as the top poker room, and many others have attempted to replicate its success over the years. Although the implementation of some unpopular changes has somewhat tarnished its reputation among poker players, it remains firmly in first place.
The room is owned by the Stars Group (formerly known as Amaya, which was rebranded in 2017), which acquired PokerStars and Full Tilt from their founders, Rational Group, in 2014. The company operates under the Isle of Man license and boasts the most active online poker player field and high-quality software. It has won multiple awards as the best poker operator.
Players can access PokerStars on their computer, laptop, or mobile and tablet devices. Here a comprehensive review of PokerStars.
PokerStars 100% First Deposit Bonus
If you’re new to PokerStars, you’ll be pleased to know that you’re eligible for a 100% First Deposit Bonus of up to $600. This bonus is a great way to kick-start your online poker journey and give yourself an extra edge at the tables. Here’s how it works.
The first thing you need to do is make a deposit into your account. The minimum deposit amount required to qualify for the bonus is $10. Once you’ve made your deposit, you’ll need to earn redemption points by playing real money poker games on PokerStars.
For every $1 you pay in rake in Cash Games or tournament entry fees, you’ll earn 5 redemption points. This means that if you pay $10 in rake, you’ll earn 50 redemption points. The same formula applies to other currencies, such as £, C$, or €. For example, if you pay £10 in rake, you’ll earn 6.5 redemption points.
Every time you reach 75 redemption points, PokerStars will credit your Stars Account with $5. So if you earn 150 redemption points, you’ll receive $10. You have four months after each qualifying deposit to earn all the redemption points needed to release your bonus.
To keep track of your bonus progress, you can view any bonuses you have, alongside information on expiry dates, redemption point requirements, and more, under the ‘My Rewards’ menu.
It’s important to note that you can only claim this bonus once, and it’s only available to new players. Additionally, the bonus is released in increments, which means you need to earn enough redemption points to release each increment. But don’t worry, the more you play, the more you’ll earn, and the closer you’ll get to unlocking your full bonus amount.
In conclusion, the 100% First Deposit Bonus is a fantastic way to boost your bankroll and start your online poker journey with a bang. Just remember to make your deposit, start playing real money poker games, and earn those redemption points to unlock your bonus.
Redemption points clearance rates are as follows:
| Currency | Clearance Rate |
|---|---|
| USD ($) | $5 for every 75 redemption points |
| EUR (€) | €5 for every 90 redemption points |
| GBP (£) | £5 for every 100 redemption points |
| CAD (C$) | C$5 for every 75 redemption points |
Stars Rewards Loyalty Program
PokerStars Rewards offers up to 25% in rewards for playing real money games, with personalized rewards based on your favorite games. Earn reward points for every dollar paid in rake or fees and unlock Chests with increasing rewards as you level up. Monthly Poker Challenges can earn you up to an additional 40% in rewards, and you can manage your rewards in the ‘My Rewards’ area of your account. With PokerStars Rewards, you get more value, transparency, and ways to win rewards built for players, by players.
Playing real money poker games allows you to earn reward points and track your progress through a progress bar. You can earn 100 reward points for every USD $1 in scheduled tournament rake or cash games, as well as 100 points for every USD $1 in Zoom, cash games or other tournament fees. This translates to 130 points for every £1, 80 points for C$1, and 110 points for $1.
As you collect reward points, you can earn Chests filled with valuable rewards, such as free play, StarsCoin, which can be exchanged for cash bonuses and tournament entries, and other prizes available in the official Store and Rewards Store.
There are six Chest levels of increasing value, ranging from Blue to Black, and you must earn at least one Chest within a 28-day period to maintain your level. Additionally, if you collect more than 10 Chests, you will be upgraded to the next level.
| Chest Level | Reward Points Requirements | Number of Chests to Level Up | Chest Value | Poker Reward % | Monthly Poker Challenges % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 333 | 5 | $0.50 | 15% | Unavailable |
| Bronze | 935 | 5 | $1.50 | 16% | Unavailable |
| Silver | 2,850 | 7 | $5 | 17.5% | Up to 40% |
| Gold | 10,800 | 7 | $20 | 18.5% | Up to 40% |
| Diamond | 37,500 | 10 | $75 | 20% | Up to 40% |
| Black | 100,000 | N/A | $250 | 25% | Up to 40% |
PokerStars’ loyalty program has recently added Monthly Poker Challenges, which can increase your rewards by up to 40%. This means you could potentially receive up to 65% of rake back with PokerStars Rewards. Despite previous criticism from players regarding the removal of Supernova loyalties, PokerStars has demonstrated a renewed focus on its players through every aspect of its loyalty program.
PokerStars Promotion
- Get $30 for free when making your first deposit of at least $20 using the promo code THIRTY. This offer includes 20 Spin & Go tickets worth $1 each and $10 in cash bonus, and it lasts for 6 days.
- Receive a 100% bonus on your first deposit (up to $600) by using the promo code STARS600. This offer is available for the first three deposits made within 60 days.
- Stars Rewards is a loyalty program that rewards players with chests containing random prizes when they accumulate enough play points to fill up their progress bar.
- Play The Deal and get a chance to win a jackpot.
- Zoom Early Bird is a promotion for players who enjoy fast poker games on PokerStars.
- Compete for daily prizes worth $17,500 on two Spin & Go leaderboards.
- In cash games, players can use the All-In Cashout feature to cash out their hand when going all-in.
- Participate in the daily Cash Game Leaderboards on PokerStars for a chance to win a share of the $20,000 prize pool.
Review the PokerStars Software
PokerStars boasts one of the highest quality software offerings available in the world of online poker. Its interface is primarily designed using black, gray, and red tones, and its lobby is neatly organized with separate tabs for cash games, fast ZOOM-poker, tournaments, Sit&Go, Spin&Go, Power Up, Knockout poker, and current events and online series. The client is also available in various languages, including Russian.
However, it is worth noting that if you are using off-site supporting software, the language of the poker room must be set to English.
In addition to the customizable interface, players can also configure the appearance of the game table and card deck to suit their preferences, as well as upload a personalized avatar to their account. The lobby of the poker room can also be configured for convenience, and players can choose their preferred colors for certain tournaments and other events.
PokerStars also supports the use of popular statistics collection programs, such as Hold’em Manager and PokerTracker, as well as specialized software for automating the gaming process and enhancing the overall user experience (e.g., StarsCaption).
To access the PokerStars client, players can download it onto their computers (Windows and Mac) or mobile devices (iOS and Android) via the official website of the poker room. Alternatively, a flash version of the software is also available for playing directly in the browser without requiring any downloads.
While playing, you can access your regular game information, statistics, and chats, as well as a note-taking function to record reads on your opponents for future reference. To keep up with the competitive poker world, special features are continuously added. Below are some of our favorite features:
- Emotes that you can use to interact with other players, including tissues and balls, to express emotions such as frustration or irritation.
- Side-bets within a poker game.
- Hand history, which you can choose to visualize.
- Time banks that keep track of how many you have left and which have run out.
- Your Chip Graph, which shows how your chip stack has progressed throughout the game.
- Early payouts (min cash) for most MTTs.
- PokerStars VR, which allows you to play interactive PokerStars games in exotic locations (hardware required).
PokerStars Avalaible for mobile and tablet
If you don’t have access to a PC, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on playing on PokerStars. Instead, you can use your mobile device or tablet to access the poker room. To do so, simply download the mobile application from the PokerStars website or open a mobile browser.
PokerStars mobile poker is compatible with Android, iPhone, and iPad devices. The mobile client looks quite different from the desktop version and has been simplified and adapted for mobile use. While not all of the games available on the desktop version are accessible via the mobile client, most tournaments and low-stakes cash games can still be played on the go.
Moreover, the PokerStars Mobile client offers access to fast poker and the popular Spin&Go games.
The availability of games and the level of traffic in the PokerStars room
PokerStars boasts the highest online poker traffic among all the poker rooms. Every day, tens of thousands of people converge here to participate in tournaments or cash games.
On average, around 10,500 players join cash games for real money, and during peak hours, the number of players surges to over 16,000. Peak activity is typically observed between 11 AM – 1 PM Pacific Time (10 PM – 12 AM MSK). This traffic data was obtained from pokerscout for April 2020.
PokerStars: Your Destination for Fast Deposits, Secure Account Segregation, and Quick and Easy Withdrawals
As an online poker player, you want to be able to focus on the game without worrying about the safety and security of your funds. That’s where PokerStars comes in. With features like Fast Deposits, Secure Account Segregation, and Quick and Easy Withdrawals, PokerStars is the perfect choice for players who demand the best in convenience and security.
Fast Deposits: Quick and Convenient Funding Options
The Fast Deposit feature is an even quicker way to fund your PokerStars account. It supports many popular deposit methods, including Visa, MasterCard, and NETELLER. When you see the Fast Deposit logo beside the deposit method in the Cashier, you can enable this as your ‘Fast Deposit Account’ and submit transactions directly from the table. This means that you can add funds to your account in a matter of seconds, without ever having to leave the game.
Secure Account Segregation: Protecting Your Funds
At PokerStars, we take the security of our players’ funds very seriously. That’s why we use Secure Account Segregation to ensure that your money is always safe and secure. This means that your funds and account balances are held in segregated accounts and are not used for any operational expenses. These segregated accounts are managed by a leading European bank, which provides further reassurance that your funds are always secure with us.
Quick and Easy Withdrawals: Get Your Winnings Fast
When it comes time to withdraw your winnings, PokerStars makes it quick and easy. Simply click ‘Cashier’ in the desktop Lobby and select ‘Withdraw’. You will then be prompted to enter a withdrawal amount. Enter and click ‘Submit’, and your withdrawal will be processed as quickly as possible. Our goal is to make sure that you get your winnings fast, so that you can focus on what really matters – the game.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a safe, convenient, and secure online poker experience, look no further than PokerStars. With features like Fast Deposits, Secure Account Segregation, and Quick and Easy Withdrawals, we’re dedicated to making sure that you can play with confidence and peace of mind. So why wait? Join PokerStars today and start winning big!
In conclusion, PokerStars offers a wide variety of real money poker games, secure and fast deposit and withdrawal methods, and generous rewards programs such as the 100% first deposit bonus and PokerStars Rewards. With a strong commitment to player security and fair play, PokerStars is a trusted and popular online poker platform for players worldwide.
If you have any questions or concerns, the AllPokerDeals support team is available 24/7 to assist you. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help or guidance. Start playing today and experience the thrill of online poker with PokerStars.