PokerStars Review

PokerStars is the world’s largest and best online poker room, where you can join competitive tournaments with some of the best poker players anywhere. There are options to play for free or against players who are more on your skill level, too. PokerStars is home to multiple Sit & Go tables and the Sunday Billion, the piece de resistance that lets players pursue a one-billion chip prize pool!

Approximately 15,000 players worldwide are in the app’s poker rooms daily, so you should consider joining ASAP to enjoy the action. Sign up for a new account in as little as five minutes and get started for with a $10 deposit or a first bet of $1!

PokerStars is available in multiple countries worldwide, but only in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania inside the United States. Newcomers can earn a 100% match on their first deposit up to $600 or get $150 in bonus play for a $1 bet in the first five days.

In addition to its world-renowned poker rooms, PokerStars also has an online casino game section for US and other international players and a sports betting division open to residents of Ontario, Canada.

Our PokerStars review will highlight all the betting and gambling its members can enjoy. We’ll also cover how to join as a new member, make deposits/collect payouts, and access the service from the device that best suits your lifestyle. This review of PokerStars is an honest, unbiased look at the service; we ultimately rate them 4.4/5 stars.

PokerStars Highlights

We’ll get the ball rolling on this PokerStars review by reviewing what the online poker room offers its members and some background information on the company itself. If you feel PokerStars is a good fit and this will be the start of a beautiful friendship, we’ve provided some sign-up links below, and we’d encourage you to join.

It costs nothing to sign up and register a new account. Based on your welcome promotions, you can get started with a minimum bet of $1 and an initial deposit of $10. PokerStars makes things simple for newcomers to get plugged in quickly and earn some extra funds to pad their bankroll.

What’s not to like? PokerStars has many daily games and tournaments, high member participation, convenient banking options, and speedy payouts for players who want to collect their winnings PDQ.

Again, we’d recommend that any of our readers who live to play poker try PokerStars. Use the sign-up link below to join for free in as little as five minutes.

Contents of the Page

Use the jump links to navigate where you need to go. To capture some of the highlights of our PokerStars review, check out the FAQ section.

Overview of PokerStars

PokerStars got its start as an online card room back in September 2001. It was initially owned by the Costa Rican company Rationale Enterprises, though its larger parent company was the Canadian-based The Stars Group. 

Pros and Cons

Being the most popular and widely used poker app in the world, PokerStars naturally comes with a ton of perks and benefits. But there are some downsides to the app as well; it’s not without its fair share of problems despite its widespread popularity and high user engagement.

All in all, there’s much more to love at PokerStars than to hate, but one of the biggest knocks must be the severe lack of representation in the United States. You must be in Michigan, Pennsylvania or New Jersey to use the app; anywhere else, and you’re out of luck. It’s also not a great place to play if you’re a poker scene novice or have little experience playing and betting on cards.

PokerStars Bonuses & Promotions

Though PokerStars Sports doesn’t offer any welcome bonuses to newcomers, there are a few for those playing in the poker rooms or using the Online Casino. They can earn extra funds on their first deposit or bonus play on their first bet. Discover how to make a little extra for your bankroll as we highlight the best PokerStars welcome bonuses available on the app.

PokerStars Welcome Bonus #1

PokerStars Welcome Bonus Terms & Conditions

• Download the game software, visit the PokerStars website, or download the mobile app.
• Register a free account by entering your personal details. Perform all the sign-up steps to completion.
• Make your first deposit of $10 or more.
• Use promo code STARS600.
• Your first deposit is matched 100% up to $600.
• Join a poker room or tournament, and your bonus funds will be loaded into your playable balance. You can use them toward chips.

PokerStars Welcome Bonus #2

How to Redeem Your PokerStars Bonus Code Offer

• Download the game software, visit the website, or download the mobile app.
• Register a free account by entering your personal details. Perform all the sign-up steps to completion.
• Visit the Challenges Window to find this welcome bonus.
• Play one hand in a real money cash game or place a $1 bet on any poker game in the first five days from when you signed up to qualify.
• $150 in bonus play funds will be released as tickets over the next five days.

Bonus Play Release Schedule

• Same Day: 2 x $5 SAG tickets & 50 x $1 SAG tickers
• 1st Day: $10 casino instant bonus
• 2nd Day: 2 x $5 SAG tickets 1 x $10 ticket
• 3rd Day: $10 casino instant bonus
• 4th Day: 2 x $10 ticket
• 5th Day: $30 casino instant bonus

PokerStars Poker

In its twenty-plus years in the business, PokerStars has always been on top in online poker games and tournaments worldwide. They experience 15,000 visitors daily in the poker rooms and Sit & Go tables. It’s not only in its wide range of poker games and formats but also in its top-notch software, promotions, and rewards program that has helped maintain its top-dog status.

Poker Highlights

• 15,000 bettors participate in the poker rooms and table tournaments every day.
• Sunday Billion lets you compete for a billion-chip prize pool.
• Play satellite tournaments that are directly linked to the World Series of Poker. Become the next Chris Moneymaker!
• Play poker on your iPhone or Android mobile device.
• Play a wide variety of games (No Limits Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, or Five Card Draw) with all sorts of limits.
• Fast-fold games are available under “Zoom.”
• New players get 35,000 chips for registering a new account at PokerStars.
• Earn rewards every time you play poker. Every $1 is worth 100 VIP Program rewards points.

Poker Games Offered

How can someone get in on the action at PokerStars? Several popular poker formats draw the crowds to the app daily, and we’ll highlight the game formats that get the most traffic and attention.

You can always count on PokerStars to have some tough competition, that’s for sure. But you can choose from many different tables to customize your experience and deal with players on your skill level.

Buy More Chips

All new poker players at PokerStars receive 35,000 chips upfront for simply registering an account. It might seem like a lot, but you can blow through this amount quickly if you get too aggressive too fast or use a sloppy strategy. Fortunately, you can purchase more chips if you’re running low or looking to expand your bankroll.

At certain times of the year, PokerStars might run a flash sale where they discount their chip bundles so players can earn upwards of 150% more chips for a lower price!

PokerStars VIP Program

PokerStars members earn frequent player points (FPPs) every time they participate in poker tournaments, join poker rooms, or get in on Sit & Go games. All new members begin in the Bronze Star Tier and can work their way to the Supernova Elite Tier. The more involved you become with PokerStars, the higher you’ll climb into the upper echelons of the VIP Program.

We could go on and on about what you get with each tier of the VIP Program, but we decided to break down everything in the tables below:

Bronze-Gold Tiers

Platinum-Supernova Elite Tiers

PokerStars Online Casino

PokerStars has a decent online casino side to their app, offering enough action for players who want to take a break from the poker rooms and tournaments. This portion of the app gives players a little respite from the competitive poker tables. The Malta Gaming Authority licenses this online casino and features various games from software companies like IGT, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Gaming.

Casino Highlights

• All games are provided by a wide range of software providers: Pragmatic Gaming, NetEnt, International Game Technology, etc.
• The Malta Gaming Authority licenses the casino.
• PokerStars Casino has more than 1,000 games altogether.
• Enjoy instant deposits and withdrawal methods that pay you in 48 hours or less.
• Get a 100% match on your first deposit up to $600 with a minimum deposit of $10.
• Get $150 in bonus play for a bet of $1 on any casino game in your first five days.
• Take online casino gaming on the go with the PokerStars mobile app.
• All slot games have return-to-player rates of 90% or better.
• Licensed with the PA Gaming Control Board, New Jersey Division of Game Enforcement, and the MI Gaming Control Board.

Slots

Like many other real money casino apps, PokerStars Casino has various slot titles, including progressive jackpots and Megaways games. Players can search for slots using the “Popular” and “New” tabs, finding the titles that most people enjoy and keeping up to date on the latest additions.

This list doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface, but these are some of the best slot machines currently available on the PokerStars casino app:

We appreciate that all PokerStars’ slots are outfitted with 90% or more return-to-player rates.

Table Games

PokerStars also offers several excellent table games. These run on random number generators, so any cards shuffled or dice rolled are all left up to chance. Check out some of these single-player table games:

Don’t forget to use a basic strategy to increase your chances of winning. Table games can be some of the most lucrative real money casino fare out there, as a simple game strategy can bring down the house’s odds of winning.

Live Dealer

The platform has a live dealer table selection, too. Through a simple video connection, players can enjoy their favorite table games, play against other members of the PokerStars app, and interact with a real live dealer who handles the duties of the table.

Overall User Experience

The PokerStars online casino is superior compared to other casino apps you’ll find in the market. It’s something that impressed us because their bread and butter are their poker rooms and daily tournaments. We were delightfully surprised because we weren’t expecting the casino app’s quality to be so high.

PokerStars makes it easy for casino game players to deposit their funds, find the games they need on the main menu, view stats like RTP (return-to-player) rates or volatility, and collect their payouts when the time comes.

PokerStars Sportsbook

PokerStars offers a sports betting section as a part of their services, but it’s not open to US bettors as of 2024. This division of the app is only available to residents of Canada, specifically those in the Ontario province.

Sportsbook Highlights

• PokerStars Sports is available in all of Ontario.
• Has a wide range of sports markets, including NFL, NHL, NBA, college sports, and various international soccer leagues.
• Nearly all payout methods allow bettors to get their winnings instantly.
• Early cash out is available, so you don’t have to wait until the end of the game if the outcome is already apparent.
• Bet on live sporting events. The odds and lines change as the game, event, or match progresses.
• The Malta Gaming Authority, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, and iGaming Ontario license the app.

Sports/Leagues Offered

PokerStars Sports has several sports markets and leagues for Ontario bettors, but it’s not the huge variety. It’s decent enough to get the job done, but it’s clearly the most underdeveloped part of the app.

Live Betting

Bettors can place wagers on live sports events, including all twenty-four markets offered on the platform. The odds and lines will change as the match or game progresses, so bettors must act quickly to take advantage of new betting opportunities. The live betting interface is rough, definitely not the best we’ve seen, but it’s serviceable enough for bettors who want to place wagers during a live event.

Legal States Where PokerStars Is Available

One of the significant downsides is that they don’t have the largest base of US-based customers. If you look at a map of the United States, you’ll find there are only three states that allow its visitors or residents access to the PokerStars website or mobile app.

Legal States

Legal Countries

There are also a massive number of countries across the world that allow their residents access to the PokerStars app. In fact, you can go to any country at random, and you are more likely to be able to use the service there than within the United States, considering all the state restrictions.

PokerStars App Compatibility

Being the world’s most popular online poker room, PokerStars offers its members the chance to play using a handy mobile app for on-the-go action. You can check out PokerStars: Online Poker Games at the App Store (4.4/5 stars) or Poker Stars Poker Real Money at Google Play (4.0/5 stars).

iPhone/Android Comparison

Compatible Devices

The PokerStars mobile app is available at the App Store and Google Play, making it compatible with several iOS and Android devices such as smartphones, tablets, etc. On top of that, you can visit the website using the web browser on your mobile device or by visiting on your desktop computer or Mac. They make it easy to access the platform no matter where you are.

User Interface

A few key differences exist between using the PokerStars app and the website. Each one comes with unique pros and cons, so it’s hard to say definitively which is better.

Keep Your OS Updated

Nobody wants to experience significant lagging, errors, or glitches during an online poker room session. The same goes for sports betting and other online casino gameplay such as slots or blackjack. One of the best things you can do with your computer or mobile device is to keep your operating system updated. The smoother your device functions, the better your experience using the PokerStars website or mobile app.

How to Sign Up with PokerStars

PokerStars is beloved for reasons beyond their exciting games and competitive tournaments. Funny as it sounds, many people appreciate the app, making it incredibly easy to get on board as a new player. Little time and effort go into becoming a new member, five to ten minutes at the most.

Follow the instructions below to join. Remember, you must be a resident or located in Michigan, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania to join.

Banking Options

The deposit and payout methods differ between the PokerStars app’s sportsbook and online casino. There’s a lot of overlap with similar banking methods, but there are some key differences when it comes to minimum deposits/withdrawals and processing times. For your convenience, we’ve outlined all banking methods for both sides of the app below.

Online Casino Banking

Casino Deposits

Casino Payouts

Online Sportsbook Banking

Sportsbook Deposits

Sportsbook Payouts

Deposit Funds

Follow the steps below to get money in your Poker Stars account. These steps work the same for the app’s sportsbook and online casino.

Collecting Your Payouts

To get your payout at PokerStars, use the following steps to get paid out quickly after your bets or wagers come through. It’s similar to depositing new funds into your account.

PokerStars Customer Service

Gamblers and bettors using PokerStars for poker tournaments, sports betting, or online casino gameplay can reach the customer service center using several methods, including one that allows 24/7 access.

Find out how you can get help if issues arise.

• Live Chat: Available 24/7
• Email: support@pokerstars
• Phone: N/A
• Twitter: @StarsSupport (casino) or @PSSSports (sportsbook)
• Support Languages: English + 32 others

We tested the customer service options and found they were satisfactory, but there were a few minor issues we felt were worth mentioning:

• A team of virtual assistants staffs the live chat feature. While it’s great that you get to see a “face” and that the feature is available around the clock, it’s not the most efficient way to tend to customers.
• PokerStars will suggest help articles based on the trouble you’re experiencing, but sometimes, they are useless because they don’t always address the topic correctly.
• If you push hard enough for a real customer service representative, you can eventually reach them, but you must first jump through a few hoops to make it happen.

Overall, it’s not the worst customer service center we’ve encountered. It may take work, but you can generally reach a human assistant 24/7 via live chat to address any problems or concerns during your PokerStars experience.

So, Is PokerStars Worth It?

PokerStars will be worth the time and effort for some and not for others, especially considering how little of the US jurisdictions they cover. If you’re uncertain about it being a good fit, look at our top reasons why it’s worth the time and energy to join.

Frequently Asked Questions

See what our customers and readers have been asking about the PokerStars app. If you’re looking for some highlights and key points, you’ll find them here instead of skimming our entire review.