Pokerstars Review
If you’re looking for an online poker site that’s open to Canadians, then PokerStars should be at the top of your list. PokerStars is a complete online poker platform that will let you experience the excitement of poker by playing against real opponents for real money. Daniel Negreanu, the world-famous poker celebrity, is the face of the PokerStars brand and although there are a lot of really good poker players in the PokerStars rooms, the site is also suitable for new players. This is also due to the fact that PokerStars offers a nice range of buy-in prices and stakes so that you can start slow and work your way up. In this review, we will try to cover a number of the features of the PokerStars platform so that you can know going in what the strengths and weaknesses of this brand are.
Ratings
- Poker Variety – 5.0
Besides the popular Texas Hold’em, there’s a huge variety of poker variations to choose from such as Omaha, Stud, HORSE, and Badugi. - Banking – 5.0
PokerStars offers lots of options for Canadians to deposit and withdraw with. Just choose the payment option you prefer. - Welcome Offer – 4.0
The PokerStars welcome offer will reward you with bonuses for your first deposits. This is a great way to boost your bankroll from the start. - Promotions – 4.5
PokerStars has a nice level of promotional activity going on as well as tournaments throughout the year, some of which are rake-free. - Support – 4.5
PokerStars has earned its reputation as a professional brand and this can be seen in the way they treat their players. Customer support is friendly and there’s a lot of info on the site to help you out. - Mobile – 4.5
You can play poker at PokerStars on either an iOS or Android device and the app also includes learning tools for improving your poker.
Poker Platform
One thing you’ll notice pretty early on about PokerStars is that it’s a big site. There’s a huge number of rooms on offer and lots of players, sometimes surpassing 100,000 in a single day. The PokerStars software is very reliable and we haven’t experienced any glitches of any type. Because of the vast number of poker types and rooms on offer, you can use the filter feature to find the room you’re looking for. This is a great option if you’re looking for some tournament action. The platform provided by PokerStars really is top quality so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding your way around the interface. We advise that you try out a number of poker types and do some exploring at first before you settle down into one section of the platform.
Casino Games at PokerStars
You’ll be happy to know that PokerStars also offers a nice selection for casino games and even a sportsbook. While these sections aren’t the focus of the website, it’s nice to have the option available. If you feel like you need a break from the suspense of the poker rooms, you can always just head on over to the casino section and spin a few reels on a slot machine or try your luck at a roulette table.
Banking
Since a large portion of the players at PokerStars are Canadian, it follows that the site has taken great lengths to make sure the platform is accessible to poker fans in Canada. There are a number of convenient ways for Canadians to make deposits and withdrawals at PokerStars. The major credit cards are of course available, but there are also a number of additional payment options on offer such as Instant eChecks, Instadebit, Entropay, and PaySafeCard. For players using the PokerStars mobile app, you can fund your account and manage your bankroll directly from your mobile device thanks to the PokerStars Mobile Cashier.
Welcome Offer and Promotions
PokerStars offer new members a special First Deposit Bonus as part of their welcome offer. As a new sign-up, you get a 100% up to C$600 bonus. The interesting thing about the PokerStars welcome bonus is that to make the most of its value, you can make up to 3 qualifying deposits over a period of 60 days.
How Does the PokerStars First Deposit Bonus work?
After making your deposit, as you play, the system will start counting your real-money bets as VIP player points (known as VPPs by PokerStars). Every time you accumulate 200 VPPs, PokerStars awards your account with C$10 in cash. In essence, that’s a rebate of around 27% for every dollar you spend. After every qualifying deposit you make, you have 4 months to earn all the VPPs you need to release the bonus.
Customer Support
PokerStars is an extremely professional poker platform and this can be seen by the way they handle their customers and their issues. The support team is both friendly and professional and will help you take care of anything you need sorted out.
The PokerSTars website also has a huge database of artices that are organized into categories. The subjects of these articles range from everything from technical problems to poker playing tips and information about events. This is a great way to stay in-the-know about everything and anything poker related.
Mobile Poker
PokerStars has developed a fully-operational mobile version for that platform that is available for both iOS and Android devices. The app has proven to be very popular and that’s no surprise. It’s a great way to enjoy top-class poker action. The app also offers a nice selection of learning tools so that you can hone your skills and start working your way up to the tougher competition.
In Conclusion
PokerStars has become a leader in the field of online poker rooms and it’s not really surprising. The software is reliable and entertaining and there’s just so much poker action on offer. We also really like that there’s a lot of tournament activity going on to keep things from getting stale. PokerStars has a range of players too. While other poker platforms like Full Tilt have sometimes been criticized for being too professional in terms of the levels of the players they attract, PokerStars has a more balanced mix. Whether you’re a shark looking to take some of that serious tournament cash or a newcomer looking to sharpen your skills, PokerStars will have what you’re looking for.
