Poker Stars Review

If you tend to dream big, don’t let mediocrity get in the way of your aspirations. Why deal with wannabe poker rooms when the industry’s biggest and arguably best poker room can deliver the best experience anywhere? When it comes to playing poker, there’s simply no point settling for second, let alone, seventeenth best. Choose Poker Stars to go where the action is and start playing with the big boys. No other site or network has more players, a better games selection, or more lucrative promotions. When you factor in support for mobile poker and just how easy it is for Kiwi players to get in the game, there’s little reason to bring your bankroll anywhere else.

History and Headquarters

Poker Stars is sensational by most measures, but it is by no means an overnight sensation. The site has paid its dues over the past dozen years. Initially launched as a play money site in late 2001 from the confines of Costa Rico, Poker Stars is now headquartered in the Isle of Man. Now the largest real money poker site, Poker Stars principle license is with the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, but that’s just the beginning. Poker Stars takes its reputation seriously and aims for total transparency, which is why you can count on additional licences from the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Commission and the governments of Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Spain, France, Denmark, and Estonia.

Casino Screenshots

Traffic Talk

With more than 50 million registered players, it’s no surprise that PokerStar has more traffic than any other site. In fact, Poker Stars has more live players than all the other top 20 leading poker sites combined. Whether you play for free, enjoy cash games, or are addicted to tournaments, you’ll be amazed by how many players there are. While other sites brag about having a couple of thousand players across their entire network, it’s not uncommon to see close to 50 000 players on Poker Stars. We saw more than 30 000 players enjoying cash games on a Sunday, which was nearly ten times more than PokerStars’ nearest competitors.

The number of players competing for tournament prizes varies widely. We spotted close to eight thousand players chasing a guaranteed $1M US prize pool but only 830 playing for a $300K US tournament with a larger buy-in. With lots to choose from, the field doesn’t have to be crowded.

Huge Tournaments

Poker Stars really shines in the tournament department. You might have already heard of the famous Sunday Millions, which guarantees $1M US each Sunday, but you’ll also find a Sunday Warm Up that guarantees another $500K US and the weekly Sunday Storm which yields another $300K US. Due to the site’s popularity, it’s not rare to see guaranteed prize pools exceed the posted amount by fifty or even sixty percent.

Expect to find more than $3M in guaranteed weekly tournament cash spread throughout the week. That’s a huge amount to be dealing with.

Pros & Cons

Loyalty Is The Name Of The Game

It’s no secret that most poker sites have modelled their loyalty program on Poker Stars’ famous VIP program, but you can’t exactly blame them for copying the best. You’ll start getting the VIP treatment from day one and you’ll earn points every time you play. The more you play, the better rewards and perks you’ll get and the faster you’ll earn them. Play frequently and get rewarded with cash bonuses, the latest electronics, poker gear, freerolls, gift certificates, and live tournament entries.

Everyone can expect perks starting on the day you sign up, but you’ll increase your earning power and status as you play. The good news is the perks aren’t reserved for top tier supernova elite players. New players get plenty of benefits with bronze status.

Valuable Promotions

You might think a site like Poker Stars has enough players and doesn’t need to roll out the red carpet to attract new players. The fact is Poker Stars isn’t content to rest on its laurels, which means you can cash in. Take advantage of initial deposit bonuses that will make your bankroll balloon. Although offers change frequently, you can expect to double your money up to $600. You’ll also find other offers that give you freeroll entries and a smaller bonus, which is a better deal if your first deposit is small.

Poker Stars also offers something called missions, which are basically poker assignments. When you complete these poker missions, you’ll win cash, prizes, and tournament entries. That’s on top of what you’ll win during your regular games. If you’re tired of waiting around, take advantage of zoom poker, which delivers more poker as fast as you can handle it.

Get In The Game

Poker Stars doesn’t just welcome Kiwi players. The site makes it easy for players to get in the game quickly and securely. If you live in New Zealand, you’ll be able to fund your account using Skrill, Neteller, Visa, MasterCard, entropay, webmoney, or local bank transfer. It’s worth noting that not all deposit methods are supported on the mobile version.

Getting Paid Quickly

When you feel like spending your winnings in the real world, PokerStars will get you your cash fast. It’s easy to get paid by Skrill, Neteller, entropay, visa, webmoney, or wire transfer. You can even opt for a cheque by mail if you feel like wearing it as a badge of honour and showing your friends.

Reliable Customer Service

You can’t be the world’s overwhelming number one choice without providing the service to back it up. Poker Stars offers extensive 24/7 support, although it’s primarily through email. Although that initially seemed disappointing, we were pleased to have our questions thoroughly answered, sometimes within minutes. There’s also a live chat feature and available deposit assistance if you face technical difficulties funding your account.

The site also features exhaustive help resources that obviously took years to craft. That’s in addition to the tutorials, courses, and training videos that will help you master the game.

Extensive Game Variety

As the number one poker site the world has ever seen, Poker Stars offers more poker varieties than any other site. Expect to find pretty much anything you’d want to play including Texas Hold’em, Omaha High, Omaha Hi/Lo, 5 Card Omaha, Courchevel, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, Razz, Triple Stud, HORSE, Five Card Draw, Deuce to Seven Triple, Single Draw, and Badugi just for starters.

Stellar Software

Poker Star’s award winning software proved to be stable even when playing multiple tables at the same time. Take advantage of the option to install custom themes and give your poker room a look of your own. Use the hand replayer and instant hand history to relive past glories and learn from your mistakes. Get graphical previews of ring games, so you can see the action from the lobby. Create your own private tournaments or cash games for your family and friends with the popular home game feature. New Zealanders will love the BOOM! replay feature that lets you share your hands on social media.

Downloading The Fun

New players can get in the game within minutes including registration time and downloading the software. Although Poker Stars doesn’t offer a no download version of its software, they do provide software for several platforms. Mac and PC users can install great versions of the software for their setup.

If you feel like taking the show on the road or wherever you prefer to roam, download the mobile version. iPad, iPod touch, and iPhone users will find the app in Apple’s iOS app store. If you have an Android tablet or smartphone, your app download is right on the poker stars site. You’ll use the same login credentials no matter which version you choose. That means you can start at your desk and set yourself free while remaining in the game.

Conclusion

Poker Stars has long been considered by many to be the best online poker room around. Of all online poker rooms, Poker Stars has the largest selection of games. They also provide players with a huge number of diverse tournament and sit and go opportunities. Poker players in New Zealand will find that Poker Stars is a fun and welcoming site.

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