Poker Stars
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Homepage Network US Friendly Software |
www.pokerstars.com Independent No very good |
Current Bonus Code – STARS600
When making your first deposit, use the bonus code “STARS600” to receive a 100% up to $600 first deposit bonus. You may make up to three deposits in total to claim the full bonus amount, but they must be made within 90 days of the first deposit. Players making their first deposit using the “STARS600” code, will also be rewarded with a free ticket that gives you entry to unlimited PokerStars $100K Depositor Freerolls for a period of 31 days (more below).
Players have 6 months in which to earn the full amount of the bonus and will release in $10 increments and has a clearance rate of 17 VPP per $1 of bonus.
Software – very good
A good look and feel, with top-notch security and it always runs smoothly. It can seem a little old-fashioned at times but with great customizable options, it’s easy to create your own environment.
Playability – very good
Very simple at the tables with all buttons and options clearly marked. The lobby can be a little daunting due to the amount of tournaments and games available but with a little common sense, things will fall into place.
The player also has a great overview of his or her stand in the tournament, relative to all other players. Poker Stars.com showed the way for the industry by introducing support of notes on other players, but even more importantly playing statistics functions.
Traffic – excellent
Certainly at the very top of online poker sites on the net. There is a very ambitious weekly program of both fixed schedule and sit-and-go tournaments, where many high stakes games are available.
Support – good
Support is good and relatively fast considering the volume of players at the site. All the major deposit and withdrawal methods are supported and this is probably one of the securest sites on the web.
Summary – very good
Good tournament traffic and quick, reliable software. There are often tournaments with over 500 players and even up to over 1500 players, without any platform problems. Unfortunaelt, PokerStars, are no longer open to US players.
The software has special tournaments features. For example, they ensure that there is an even balancing of the tables during the course of the tournaments. The software also prevents tactical slowing down of game tempo with individual player time banks, and in the end of tournaments by playing all tables ” hand for hand” (so no table can wait out the others to escape the dreaded “bubble”). There is also lots of really good lobby information with view flop percentages etc.
Extra Information
Poker Stars 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 and the total guaranteed prize pool is currently set at a cool 1.5 million.
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, Poker Stars 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, Poker Stars offers satellites to the Sunday Million so you can get into the big event for just a few bucks.
$100K Depositor Freerolls
Use special code “STARS600” when making your first deposit and you will be rewarded with a free ticket that gives you entry to unlimited freerolls for a period of 31 days. Each freeroll has a prize pool of at least $1,000, with more added for every rebuy for just $0.30, boosting the prize pool each time. Freerolls run every day at 11:00, 17:00, 22:00 and 04:00 EET and can be found in the PokerStars lobby under Tourney –> Freeroll.
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