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PokerStars Review (With a 100% Bonus Offer)

The Nuts: Huge traffic.  The best tournament schedule around.

The Muck:  Stingy rewards and promotions

US Players?  Yes 

Banking Options: eChecks, ClickandBuy, Moneybookers, NETeller, VISA, VISA Delta, VISA Electron, Gift and Prepaid VISA, Mastercard, Gift and Prepaid Mastercard, Diners Club International, Solo / Maestro, Cashier's Check, Money Order, Bank Draft, Local Bank Transfer, and paysafecard 

Featuring the biggest money games in the world, with an amazing tournament schedule and track record of superior customer service, no one is bigger; and few are better than Poker Stars 

Poker Stars is the home of superstar Daniel Negreanu and former WSOP champions, Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, and Joe Hachem. 

Traffic (10):  Poker Stars is the world’s largest online poker room, with an average of almost 90,000 players logged in at a time (during the period of this review).. 

Game Selection (10): Poker Stars offers a hugely diverse selection of tournament and ring games. 

    Game Fixed  Limit Pot Limit No Limit
    Texas Hold’em ♦ ♦ ♦
    Omaha ♦ ♦  
    Omaha Hi-Lo ♦ ♦ ♦
    7 Card Stud ♦    
    7 Card Stud Hi-Lo ♦    
    Razz ♦    
    2-7 Triple Draw ♦ ♦ ♦
    HOSE ♦    
    HORSE ♦    
    5 Card Draw ♦ ♦ ♦
    Hold’em SnGs ♦ ♦ ♦
    Omaha SnGs ♦ ♦  
    Omaha Hi-Lo SnGs ♦ ♦ ♦
    5 Card Draw SnGs   ♦  
    7 Card Stud SnGs ♦    
    7 Card Stud Hi-Lo SnGs ♦    
    Razz SnGs ♦    
    HO SnGs ♦    
    HORSE SnGs ♦    
    Hold’em MTTs ♦ ♦ ♦
    Omaha MTT   ♦  
    Omaha Hi-Lo MTTs ♦ ♦  
    5 Card Draw MTTs   ♦  
    HORSE MTTs ♦    
    Razz MTTs ♦    
    7 Card Stud MTTs ♦    
    7 Card Stud Hi-Lo MTTs ♦    
    2-7 Triple Draw MTTs ♦    
 

Buy-ins

  • Fixed Limit Games:  $.02-$.04 to $1000-$2000
  • No Limit/Pot Limit Games:  $.01-$.02 to $200-$400
  • Sit and Go Tournament Buy-ins:  $1.00+$.20 to $5000+$100
  • Multi Table Tournament Buy-ins:  $.10+$0 to $10300+0 (NLHE Heads Up)

Software Performance (10): Poker Stars has one of the most stable software programs available.  Problems are almost nonexistent. 

Graphics (9):  Graphics on Poker Stars are clean and easy on the eyes.  Tables include the option of 4 color decks and the ability to upload your own avatars.  Poker Stars also offers installable themes like “saloon” or “renaissance” that changes the look of your table. 

One thing that I didn’t like is that the pot amount is displayed directly over the table rather than over the pot, making it more difficult to locate and read. 

Game play/interface (8):  Poker stars offers note taking, a hand history feature that sends histories directly to your email, and a handy stat tab that lists your chip stack amount and player ranking during tournament play. 

The betting interface is pretty standard and includes a slider bar for selecting betting amounts. The preselect buttons for fold, call, and raise could be a little bigger.

Multi-tablers will like the “pop up active table” option offered by Poker Stars, although user options must be accessed through the lobby which is annoying.  Poker Stars should include an options tab at the tables instead. 

Competition (7): While there are softer sites, Poker Stars has broad enough exposure through its marketing and advertising to draw in plenty of fishy players. 

Rewards/Promotions (4):  Poker Stars rewards program is one of the weakest I’ve found. 

Poker Stars offers a 100% match up to $50 on new deposits.  The bonus is cleared by earning Frequent Player Points.  You need to earn 10 FPPs for every dollar in bonus.  You have 6 months to clear the bonus.

One FPP is awarded for playing a hand in which the rake reaches:

  • $0.40 for fixed limit poker games with stakes $1/$2 and lower
  • $0.40 for NL/PL poker games with blinds $1/$2 and lower
  • $0.40 for "1-on-1" poker games (this applies only to "1-on-1" tables, not to regular tables which have only two players seated)
  • $1.00 for all other games

Two FPPs are awarded for playing a hand in which the rake reaches:

  • $2.00 for all 6-max tables (this doesn't apply for games being played 6- handed at 10/9/8 player tables - just 6-max tables)
  • $3.00 for all other tables

Three FPPs are awarded for playing a hand in which the rake reaches $5.00.

One FPP is awarded for each dollar spent on tournament fees. 

Screenshots

Pokerstars Lobby Pokerstars Table


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