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Since 2003, Poker Stars has held second place for both online poker tournament traffic and ring game traffic. The ranking is down to a number of factors that the site is  doing right. They have a very impressive weekly program of both sit-and-go and fixed schedule tournaments, with many high stakes games available. They offer a good game variety with the most popular poker games at limits from $0.01/$0.02 to $100/$200. Poker Stars' software is top-notch for both graphics and functionality. The players on Poker Stars are on average high quality with many advanced players, making the games generally quite tough. The site has a real feel for poker and is very professionally managed with above average customer support. The real money player statistics are very impressive, especially for tournament players at peak hours, reaching 20,000-23,000 players.
The software at Poker Stars has a great look and smooth operation, with first-rate security. As an industry leader, their tournaments often attract over 500 players and up to as many as 1500 players, without any software or platform problems. A number of special tournament features have been built into the software. For example, they ensure an even balancing of the tables during the course of the tournaments. They also prevent 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 at the end of tournaments all tables are played "one hand at a time" (so no table can wait out the others to escape the dreaded last no-pay "bubble" placements). The player is given a great overview of their standing in the tournament compared to all other players. Poker Stars was the first to introduce the function of notes on other players, and the playing statistics functions. The software also supports the personal upload of images at the tables, making playing more personal and sometimes a little comedic.
On almost any given day Poker Stars' ring game traffic is second in the world. While not as high as at the tournaments, the numbers have been picking up lately. Currently the traffic during peak hours is 4,500-5,500 real money players. There is a large share of European players making the site busy during the evening time in Europe.
Tournament traffic at Poker  Stars is the second highest online in the world. During peak hours the traffic reaches 20,000-23,000 real money tournament players. Poker Stars has benefited from lots of promotional events and from hosting the annual World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) during the summer.
Poker Stars has a good variety of games with high traffic in all the major games. These include both Hi and Hi-Lo Omaha and 7-Card Stud. In addition they offer no-limit Omaha Hi-Lo. The trend of micro-limit tables in Hold'em and Omaha Hi started with Poker Stars. The micro-limit tables, going as low as $0.01/$0.02, have no rake. Poker Stars' sit-and-go tournaments have a 10 minute increase in blinds instead of the 10 hands increase at many other sites. The Hold'em tournament tables and no-limit and pot-limit Hold'em and Omaha ring game tables seat 9 players. Tables in fixed limit ring games seat 10 players.
The rake at Poker Stars is at the industry average. Better rates are found at micro-level and at the highest stakes.
The competition in the ring games at Poker Stars is very tough with many very savvy poker players. However, there are some loose Omaha games to be found. The tournament players are at more varied levels. Poker Stars, as the tournament leader, attracts many non-expert tournament players, but of course the high stakes sit-and-go and fixed schedule events typically have stronger players. Be sure to view the flop percentages before joining a game to determine how tight the play is.
Poker Stars currently does not offer a sign-up bonus. There are however, bonuses for frequent re-deposits, where you ear a 20-25% bonus match for deposits up to $600. They also have a Frequent Player Points program where points are earned on raked hands and for paid tournament registration fees. The FPP's are redeemable for entry into weekly and monthly special tournaments and other promotions. In addition Poker Stars holds a lot of special event tournaments and tons of free rolls.
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Info - support@pokerstars.com
Customer Service - cashier@pokerstars.com |
