PokerStars Review – Providing All Your Poker Needs

When it comes to poker gaming, no site does it better than PokerStars. The online poker platform launched in 2001 and since then has been serving players from all over the world. It is famous for hosting some of the biggest poker tournaments, thus giving gamblers opportunities to try their luck. Two World Series of Poker winners qualified for the tournament at PokerStars, which contributed to the popularity of the site. You don’t have to be joining an online tournament to play here, though. The poker site has a variety of cash games as well. This comprehensive PokerStars guide tells players what to expect when playing online poker on this platform.

PokerStars Bonuses and Promotions

The operator is always looking to make online gaming worthwhile. At any one point, PokerStars has one promotion or other running. It’s known for pretty elaborate offers that keep customers coming back. Players get an array of promotions that give them more options when playing for real money. PokerStars also has a few free online poker offers that are perfect if you are new to the website and hoping to try out first. The promotions cater to all kinds of customers from new to existing ones; high rollers to small budget players. Find out about the main offers below.

Welcome Bonus

Creating a new account at PokerStars makes you eligible for the new player offer of 100% up to $600. The deposit bonus is not available in a lump sum, though. You need to make three qualifying deposits. The PokerStars welcome bonus is credited based on the redemption points you earn. So, after funding your account, play real money games to collect points. For every 180 points, you get $10 in cash. Note that the clearance rates vary with the currency. You need a PokerStars bonus code – STARS600 – to activate the offer. Alternatively, new customers can use the promo code THIRTY to claim the $30 PokerStars bonus after depositing $20 or more.

Other Promotions

A host of other PokerStars promotions are available. So, your online poker requirements should tell you the most suitable one. The site has sit & go tournament leaderboards where participants can win cash prizes. Players can join the 10 or 50 leaderboards. An Early Bird Zoom promotion boosts your reward points three times for playing the high-speed online poker game. The Deal gives you the chance to hit the progressive jackpot that starts at $25,000. Even if you don’t reach the jackpot stage, you can share up to $300. PokerStars also has a rewards scheme where customers collect points for playing real money games. You can then redeem the points for free play or StarCoin.

Pokerstars Tournaments Available

If you wish to join an online tournament, then PokerStars is the place to be. The poker boasts an impressive choice of poker tournaments that cater to various online gaming demands. It provides all kinds of competitions, ensuring that whatever your gambling skills, you can find something suitable. In a poker tournament, all participants pay the same buy-in. However, the antes and blinds change throughout the competition. Some main tournament types are:

• Multi-table – Players at several tables play for their opponents’ chips. If you lose all your chips, you leave. The remaining players then join other tables for balance.
• Sit &Go – The tournaments don’t have schedules; they start when the required number of players is reached.
• Progressive knockouts – Each entrant has a bounty. So, when you beat an opponent, you get their prize. However, you receive half the prize while the rest is added to your bounty.
• Satellites – Joining these allows you to win entry into a bigger online tournament.

Players who prefer the rush and big-money wins of major tournaments are in luck because PokerStars hosts some of the best. These include: Spin & Go Max, Sunday Million, Sunday Billion, Women Sunday, Bounty Builders and the Hot Turbos, among others.

Poker Games Variety

Are you at PokerStars for No-Limit Hold’em? Are you hoping to try different games? Whatever your online gaming plans, this poker site can fulfil them. At any one time, PokerStars has thousands of online poker players because it provides a wide variety of games. The platform claims to offer more poker variants than any other site. Although we can’t prove that, we can assure gamblers of the diversity on offer. Whether you prefer pot limit, no limit or limit games, PokerStars casino has everything. Players also have the choice to join the action at poker tours on PokerStars Live. Below are some main game types on the website.

Texas Hold’em

If you are getting into online poker for the first time, then Texas Hold’em is the right game for you. This variant is the most popular for a reason; it’s extremely easy to learn. Players have to make the best five-card hand to win. In this version, you start with two cards then get three community cards to make your winning hand. The PokerStars online site offers different types of Texas Hold’em. The limit version has a pre-determined betting limit while in no limit you can bet any amount. Pot limit lets you wager up to the pot size and mixed Texas Hold’em alternates between limit and no-limit rounds. All options are available to play for free or real money.

Omaha

An offshoot of Texas Hold’em, Omaha poker is another exciting variation that you can play at PokerStars. If you know Hold’em, learning this version is not difficult. It uses four hole cards instead of two. However, you still need to use two of these to make the best five-card hand. Players then get the community cards. Omaha can have a fixed limit game that has a set betting limit. The other options are no limit and pot limit. At PokerStars, players can bet on different types of Omaha, including Hi/Lo (8-or-Better), 5 Card and 6 Card.

Other popular poker games

Whether you are at PokerStars Live or playing regular online poker, expect to find a huge selection of games. Besides Texas Hold’em and Omaha, the platform has a long list of other poker variants. If you prefer draw poker, the site has Five Card Draw, 2-7 Triple Draw and 2-7 Single Draw among others. For Stud poker, Seven Card Stud and Stud Hi/Lo are the main offerings. HORSE, Badugi and Razz are other variants you can play here. Whatever game you choose, PokerStars has a comprehensive how to play section that should help you learn the rules.

PokerStars Mobile App

Your poker fun doesn’t have to be limited to your PC. With the PokerStars dedicated apps, you can play from anywhere on your iOS or Android device. The gambling platform worked hard to replicate the exciting desktop experience on mobile. It developed two of the best poker apps on the market. iOS and Android users can download the apps from their respective stores. The platform brings PokerStars real money and play money games closer to the player. You can bet on cash games or tournaments from wherever is comfortable for you.

PokerStars offers a Mobile Cashier for players to manage their bankrolls on the move. You can use the feature to deposit real money and begin playing. Both the Android and iOS apps come with robust security measures, including high-grade encryption to keep players safe. The platform is highly responsive, allowing you to access games with a single click.

Security and Fairplay

When playing online poker on the website, you can be confident that your information and money are safe. The operator uses the latest encryption technology to guarantee that customers can send data securely. Players funds stay in segregated accounts to ensure that they are always safe. PokerStars is a fully licensed online gaming platform, which assures customers of fair play. As a regulated poker site, the operator has to abide by a strict code of practice. Besides that, the company partners with Gaming Labs to provide independent game audits. So, every cash game, or tourney has to be certified as fair for commercial use.

Software Providers

PokerStars provides software licensed by TSG Interactive Gaming, the site’s parent company. Customers have to download the software on their personal computers or laptops to access the website’s offerings. The quality of the platform is one reason this operator enjoys such dominance in the online poker market. PokerStars provides a highly intuitive website that loads easily and fast. It’s surprisingly light, which is always a concern when playing at tournaments. Even though the platform hosts several thousand players at a time, we didn’t have trouble accessing games. Whether you are using PokerStars Live, playing a sit & go or freeroll tournament, the platform delivers crisp graphics, superb interactivity and fantastic responsiveness.

Payment Options

The easy-to-use banking options make sure that players can transact conveniently. Players have a long list of payment methods from which to pick. Given the popularity of the operator and the many regions it serves, it makes sense for it to support a big number of banking solutions. The website accepts credit cards, debit cards, virtual wallets, instant checks, prepaid cards, online banking and bank wire. It has specific payment methods for certain regions. Therefore, you have to check which alternatives are available to you. Note that some methods only facilitate deposits while others are only used for withdrawals. Examples of common payment methods are:

• MasterCard
• Skrill
• Paysafecard
• MuchBetter
• EcoPayz

Customer Support

PokerStars prioritises customers and that is evident through the level of support it provides. For starters, the site has a how-to section that contains a lot of well-researched information. Novices have many resources to help them navigate the world of online poker. The PokerStars School is perfect for those who want to learn about specific poker aspects. For assistance with common issues like account verification and deposits, click on ‘Help.’ The section addresses popular concerns. So, you only have to navigate to the relevant category.

If you wish to contact the support team, then try the live chat facility. This option is suitable when seeking urgent help because the response time is less than a minute. Alternatively, you can send an email or messages through the provided social media pages. Unfortunately, we didn’t see a customer service number. The site supports multiple languages.

Conclusion – Why Play at PokerStars

Any poker player searching for extensive gaming solutions will more than like PokerStars. The poker website is the ultimate online gaming platform. It goes above and beyond when it comes to games. From PokerStars Live to ring games to PokerStars tournaments, this operator outshines the competition. Beginners, intermediate players and pros will all find the online poker site adequate. Besides the games, gamblers have a lot to look forward to in the way of promotions and rewards. Players get PokerStars freerolls and play money chips to gamble for free. Although the website itself could do with a makeover, it works well and serves customers satisfactorily.

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