Full review of Poker Stars

Summary
Poker Stars is the runner up in online poker tournaments and since late 2003 also second in ring game traffic. Poker Stars has a very ambitious weekly program of both fixed schedule and sit-and-go tournaments, where many high stakes games are available. The software is top-notch both in terms of functionality and graphics. Players are on average of very high quality - as lots of sophisticated players play here. The customer support is well above average. Overall, Poker Stars is very professionally managed with a real "feel for poker". There is currently no sign-up bonus. Real money player statistics - July 2005: 4500-5500 ring game players at peak hours, 20000-23000 tournament players at peak hours.

Software and graphics
Poker Stars' software has a great look and feel, with top-notch security and it always runs smoothly. Poker Stars is today positioned as the online tournament leader, with it tremendous tournament traffic and quick and reliable software. There are often tournaments with over 500 players and even up to over 1500 players, without any platform problems. 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 and also prevents tactical slowing down of tempo with individual time banks (after time bank is up you must act in the normal allotted time or else the hand will be folded) and in the end of tournaments by playing all tables ″one hand at a time″ time (so no table can wait out the others to escape the dreaded last no-pay ″bubble″ placements). The player has a great overview of his or her stand in the tournament, relative to all other players. Poker Stars showed the way for the industry by introducing support of notes on other players, but even more importantly playing statistics functions. There is good lobby information with view flop percentages etc. Poker Stars supports personal uploaded images at the tables, which makes playing more personal (and quite hilarious). Mac users can play at PokerStars using VirtualPC, but it's not optimal.

Ring game traffic
PokerStars' ring game traffic is lower than at the tournaments, but is nevertheless in the second spot (after Party Poker) in the world on almost any given day. It has been picking up lately, supported by the tournament players. At peak hours the traffic is currently 4500-5500 real money players. A relatively large share of the players is European, which makes the site reasonably busy also at evening time in Europe.

Tournament traffic
The traffic at Poker Stars tournaments is the second highest in the industry (after the Party Poker network). At peak hours the traffic currenlty reaches 20000-23000 real money tournament players. The site has greatly benefited from the ″first mover advantage″ in the multi-table tournament area and a dedication to stay at the top with lots special promotion events and the WCOOP (World Championship Of Online Poker) hosted annually during summer.

Game variety
Poker Stars has a good game variety, with the world's leading heads-up action and good volume in all major games. The games includes both Hi and Hi-Lo versions in Omaha as well as seven-card stud. The site also offers no-limit Omaha Hi-Lo games. Poker Stars started the trend with with their micro-limit tables, going as low as $0.01/$0.02 in Holdem, and Omaha Hi. At these micro-limit tables there is no rake! The ″sit-and-go″ tournaments have a 10-minute increase in blinds, instead of 10 hands at many other sites. The players also get 1500 worth of chips. This gives more play for the money and better odds for the good players. The Holdem tournament tables seat 9 players, as do the no-limit and pot-limit Holdem and Omaha ring game tables. Fixed limit ring game tables seats 10 players.

Rake
PokerStar's rake is at the average of the industry, with better offers at micro-levels and somewhat better at the highest stakes.

Soft competition
The ring games are very tough at Poker Stars, due to its very poker savvy players. The view flop percentages are markedly lower than the online average. For example, at the 9 player no-limit Holdem tables ($1/$2 and up) the view flop percentage is often in the mid 20-ies and low 30-ies. In Omaha there are some loose games with view flop percentages up in the 40-ies and 50-ies, sometimes in the 60-ies (at $1/$2 and up). The tournament player quality is of more varying level. Of course there are mostly strong players in high stakes sit-and-go and the main fixed schedule events. However, a lot of non-professionals take part as Poker Stars attracts many tournament players as the tournaments leader. In short, the competition is quite tough, but less tough in the tournaments.

Sign up bonus
No sign-up bonus at Poker Stars, but private freeroll for PokerListings players. See above and below.

Loyalty bonus
A Frequent Player Point (FPP) is awarded for each raked hand and five points are awarded for each $1 paid in tournament registration fees. The FPPs can be redeemed for entries in weekly and monthly special tournaments and other promotions, as well as the very well maintained member's store.

Promotions
Overall, Poker Stars has decent promotions for the regular players. There are frequent re-deposit bonuses where you typically get 20-25% bonus match of deposits up to $600 for $100-$120 bonus. There are a lot of special event tournaments, which can be found at the home page. There are tons of free rolls, but they are of very low value as they are only satellites to weekly free roll finals.

Support
Poker Stars has good email support, which is very quick and with great poker knowledge. However there is no live or telephone support.

Financial security
Poker Stars should be very secure, as the second largest poker room in the world, with no earlier recorded problems. Top score.

Deposit & withdrawal options
Deposit options:
VISA, MasterCard, NETeller, FirePay, CentralCoin, Western Union, cashier's check and money order.
Cash out options:
NETeller, FirePay, CentralCoin and check.