Poker Stars Review 100% Bonus and Current Promotions
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Overview
Three of the last four World Series of Poker tournament champions - Chris
Moneymaker (2003), Greg Raymer (2004) and Joe Hachem (2005) choose
only one online poker site, PokerStars.com. Poker Stars offers the largest
poker tournaments and qualifies more players for the World Series of Poker,
World Poker Tour and European Poker Tour than anywhere else.
One of the greatest things about playing on Poker Stars is the ability to turn
a small buy-in into a monster payday. Every day they run countless satellites
with little or no cash buy-in. If you play your cards right, you could end up
winning thousands or even millions of dollars in prizes.
Independent Staff Review
Overall Rating: 8.5
Poker Stars offers the best online tournaments and is considered by most to
be a market leader in online poker tournaments. They bring in thousands of
new real players on a daily basis. The competition at Poker Stars varies
depending on the stakes of the game. The ring games with higher limits can
offer some pretty tough competition. However, due to a steady number of
new player signups, there are many ring games that have softer competition.
For tournaments, there is a much more varying level of player quality.
Tournament play at Poker Stars tends to be much softer than at ring
games. Most of the stronger players tend to play in high stakes sit 'n go's
and regularly scheduled events. Poker Stars attracts a high number of new
tournament players, so the competition is average in ring games, with some
softer competition in many of their tournaments.
Overall, Poker Stars offers some good promotions for their regular players
and has loyalty bonuses and promotions. They offers a wide variety of
satellites to most of the land-based tournaments, such as the World Poker
Tour, World Series of Poker and European Poker Tour.
Poker Stars software has top of the line security and almost always runs
smoothly. Poker Stars tournaments are the best on the net, due to their
special software features. For example, the software makes sure that there
is an even balance of tables for the entire tournament, and has individual
time banks to ensure there is no tactical slowing down of the game.
Poker Stars offers email support which is quite quick and their customer
service representatives maintain good poker knowledge. They currently do
not offer live support or telephone support.
Pros:
- Fast and reliable software
- Solid email support
- No Rake micro-limit games
- Player Images and Notes
- Great selection of tournaments
- Stackable reload bonuses
Cons:
- No Live or telephone customer support
- Pretty stiff ring game competition at higher limit games
- Generally, they do not offer new player signup bonuses
- Scrolling is difficult for the lobby and chat
- Players must click on each individual table to join the waiting list
- Freerolls offer low prizes
Current Promotions
PokerStars Sunday Million Guaranteed Tournament
PokerStars was the first card room to offer a $1 Million Guaranteed no limit
hold'em tournament every week. Each Sunday, the event gets better and
better. First prize in this event is always more than $100,000.
Most weeks, the buy-in to the event is $215. The last week of every month,
the buy-in is $530. Finally, four times a year, PokerStars offers a $1,050
event for the best of the best. Every week, somebody turns one of those
buy-ins into enough money to buy a house. Even better, PokerStars offers
satellites to the Sunday Million so you can get into the big event for just a
few bucks.
Poker Games Offered
PokerStars offers the following poker games:
- Texas Hold'em (No Limit, Pot Limit and Limit)
- Omaha (Pot Limit and Limit)
- Omaha Hi-Low (No Limit, Pot Limit and Limit)
- Seven Card Stud (Limit only)
- Seven Card Stud Hi-Low (Limit only)
- 5 Card Draw (No Limit, Pot Limit, and Limit)
- 2-7 Triple Draw (No Limit, Pot Limit and Limit)
- HORSE (Limit only)
- HOSE (Limit only)
Limits and Rake
Poker Stars often has $30/$60 Hold'em tables active, and at peak times a
$100/$200 Hold'em game is active as well. Micro limit tables are always in
play for every game, and games are offered at limits anywhere from .02/.04
to $100/$200.
The rake at Poker Stars is comparable with the competition. Generally, a
rake with a $1 - $3 cap is the rule. Shorthanded games have an abbreviated
cap to allow for more game play. Caps on the rakes are similar to that of
other sites, and comparable with industry standard.
Deposit Options
Poker Stars offers their players the following options for deposits:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Diners Club International
- FirePay
- eChecks
- Central Coin
- NetTeller (No charge for instaCASH, minimum deposit $25)
- Solo/Maestro/Switch (Available to UK players only)
- Cashier's Check/Money Order/Bank Draft (Minimum deposit $100)
Frequent Player Points
The Poker Stars VIP club recognizes the dedicated poker player, and
rewards them for choosing to play on the site recognized as the one of the
industry's best. PokerStars has always provided great games and the best
tournaments.
Now they offer new rewards with the VIP Club. You become a Poker Stars VIP
the moment you start playing for real money on PokerStars. With your first
raked hand, you become a BronzeStar VIP. The more you play on PokerStars,
the higher your star will rise. Each level adds more exciting and innovative
rewards. Your VIP Club star level is based on your monthly Poker Stars real
money play.
At the heart of their new program are VIP Player Points (VPP). You earn one
VPP every time you earn a Frequent Player Point (FPP) playing in a real
money ring game or tournament. You achieve BronzeStar, SilverStar, GoldStar
and PlatinumStar tiers by earning a certain number of VPPs during a single
month.
Software and Playability
Excellent software of a very high standard, not many pauses or delays. Any
server down time is announced well in advance so there is not much chance
you will be involved in a game when they go down. Poker Stars has an
extensive FPP store containing their own merchandise and many other poker
related items.
A nice clean cut layout in the lobby makes for easy navigation around the
tables. The cashier is nicely set out with frequent player point information as
well as real money account and play money account details. The tables are
excellent for playability, no eye strain involved at all.
Features
- Notes - Fast and easy to use. This is an excellent reference tool and
will help you to keep track of players.
- Hand Histories - Check back on a full transcript of your previous 200
hands. A good way to pick up on any mistakes you've recently made.
- Stats - How many flops are you seeing? Are you too loose, too tight?
These extensive stats will assist your game play at PokerStars.
- Player Images - You have the option of selecting a personalized image
to represent you in their Internet poker room. When you open your
account you will have the option of supplying your own picture.
- Multi-Table Poker Tournaments - PokerStars has top notch poker
tournament software, the best on the Internet. From satellites to re-
buy poker tournaments to freezeouts, they will keep you coming back
again and again.
- No Limit and Pot Limit Play Money Games - Whether you want to try
No Limit Texas Hold'em, the Cadillac of Poker, or prefer the strategic
intricacies of Pot Limit Omaha, you'll get a great chance to hone your
big-bet poker skills in our popular No Limit and Pot Limit poker games.
- Displayed Internet Connection Status - PokerStars gives its players
information about the Internet connection Status of other players. The
Internet connection status of any player can be viewed by moving your
cursor over his or her player image/name.
Customer Service
Poker Stars offers their players a conscientious and dedicated service. The
PokerStars support team is ready to answer e-mails 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. They provide a prompt response to any inquiries, and their players are
always kept well informed.
UltimatePokerForum.com The Ultimate Poker Site
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First Time Deposit Bonus - only through December 31st, 2008
Get a Poker Stars 100% New Player Signup Bonus through the end of
2008. Join Poker Stars and make your first deposit and you will receive a
100% Bonus up to $50. This is a limited time offer and PokerStars rarely gives
out new player bonuses. Take advantage of this Deposit Bonus offer and join
Poker Stars today.
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PokerStars Table Screenshot
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PokerStars Lobby Screenshot
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