Sign-up bonus:100% up to $600
PokerStars is Your Ticket to Poker Stardom!
I. Overview
Pros:
-largest online poker room
-proprietary software
-Mac and Linux support
-home to the world’s largest tournaments
Cons:
-US Players restricted
II. About the Company
Despite no longer accepting US players, PokerStars is the largest online poker room in the world and has garnered several awards including “Best Poker Operator of the Year”, an award given by eGaming Review in 2005. PokerStars holds its license with the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission. They gained much popularity through their association with the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and thanks to advertising, the brand is well-known to poker fans who enjoy watching games on TV.
PokerStars is a proud member of the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) and is owned by Rational Entertainment Enterprises Limited, a company based in the UK. The site’s online security is managed by Cigital.
III. Games and Tournaments
One of the best things about PokerStars is the variety of their game offerings. PokerStars poker games, brought to you by their very own proiprietary software, are Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo, Draw, 2-7 Triple Draw, 2-7 Single Draw, Razz, and Badugi. Mac users should rejoice as they support Mac operating systems. They even feature HORSE and an 8-Game Mix format which is the same format used in the WSOP. If you’re set on one day wearing a couple of WSOP bracelets, PokerStars is a good place to start, as their satellite tournaments have produced WSOP champs such as Chris Moneymaker, Joe Hachem, Joe Cada and 2010 champion Jonathan Duhamel.
In fact, PokerStars’ PokerSchoolOnline (PSO) is a free and informative program featuring simulated games and advice from top PokerStars players—at the end of the course you are awarded free Sit & Go tournament tickets. PokerStars encourages players to interact with each other at their very helpful forums.
PokerStars has the most number of tournaments among top poker sites. Some of its more popular weekly tournaments include the Sunday Million and the Sunday Warm-up where players get a chance to win prize money worth thousands of dollars. PokerStars tournaments are also great places for players to qualify for top live poker tournaments including the annual World Championship of Online Poker and the Spring Championship of Online Poker.
IV. Bonuses and Promotions
PokerStars bonuses are another draw for audiences. The online poker site offers a 100 percent bonus of up to $600 on a player’s first three deposits. The two later deposits can be made up to 90 days after the first one. For players looking for huge prize pools, then PokerStars is where they will find them.
Expect massive tournaments on this site, as PokerStars has already been listed twice on the Guinness Book of World Records for hosting the largest online poker tournament: first in 2009 which saw 149,196 players vie for $50,000, then in 2011 with 200,000 players and a guaranteed $250,000 prize pool.
V. Payment Methods
Visa, Visa Electron, Entropay, Visa Debit, Neteller, Instant checks, et cetera.
VI. Customer Service
You may email support@pokerstars.com or fill out a contact form found in the game software to contact customer service.
