PokerStars opened its doors in 2015 under Rational Entertainment Enterprises Limited Casinos, making it quite new to the business. However, only four years of experience in the field has not stopped this gambling destination from rising to become among one of the most successful online gambling destinations, especially in the provision of online poker services in both its regular and live casinos.
Within one year of its establishment, PokerStars was offering games and casino products in six of the seven global continents. However, the gambling club would lose one of its biggest markets, the United States due to the UIGEA law. Since the casino was ruled to have been running gambling operations illegally in the nation, seeing that UIGEA came into effect in 2011, it was forced to pay heavy fines. Since then, PokerStars has only provided its services in regulated markets. Nonetheless, since most regions across the globe have incorporated the gambling industry for revenue generation, the casino has remained quite popular.
As of the moment, PokerStars and its operating company are the property of Amaya Gaming, one of the giant gambling firms in Canada. The gaming site’s parent company was purchased for a whopping five billion dollars, which has returned with profit over time.
Casino Bonuses
Such staggering success has been achieved by PokerStars online casino with the stocking of select offerings, among them, being bonuses and promotions. This establishment starts players off with a 100% match promotion that can go as high as five hundred dollars for the first real money deposit. This amount is accompanied by ten free spins that can only be used to play in Dragon and Alibaba slot machines.
The Welcome package also extends over the second and third deposit to offer a twenty-five per cent matchup that goes up to two hundred and fifty dollars for each. Bonus codes have to be used when claiming these incentives as follows:
- First deposit bonus – WELCOME1
- Second deposit bonus – WELCOME2
- Third deposit bonus – WELCOME3
Only newcomers can claim these packages, and the maximum amount that can be received is one thousand dollars. Aside from the twenty free spins given for the Dragon and Aloha Slots, gamers can also claim one thousand free spins for use in Stars Mega and Millionaires Island. Instead of carrying a wagering requirement, players are expected to gain three bonus redemption points for every dollar awarded in the bonus. These points can then be converted into cash that can be withdrawn. Players are not limited to the games they can use these amounts, but the contribution rates for each category varies with slots having the highest rate of one hundred percent.
PokerStars does not have any definite incentives listed for return clients, but they are included from time to time. As of the moment, one of their biggest offers is the PokerStars Players in Hold’Em Championships that grants winners up to thirty thousand dollars in live poker events. Another reward that can be claimed is the Spin and GO bonus that gifts every twenty-dollar deposit with thirty extra dollars.
PokerStars Games
When PokerStars Casino was first launched, it aimed to serve the needs of poker enthusiasts, hence its name. With time, the entity incorporated other popular canadian casino game categories so now players can enjoy Playtech, Microgaming, Net Entertainment, Games Warehouse, Red Tiger Gaming, 2 By 2 Gaming, and Big Time Gaming slots at PokerStars. Video poker is also another popular provision at the site with options like All American, All American Double Up, and Double Feature from top developers like iSoftBet and Amaya Software. Roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat, and craps comprise the table games category, which also comes with a live dealer option. Of all these games classes, PokerStars slots are the most.
All these games can be accessed on both desktop and mobile devices, with the latter being the most preferred option by most PokerStars fans. The mobile version is made compatible with popular operating systems like Android, Windows, Blackberry, and iOS. Players can choose to use the instant play version that requires no download, or the download version that is provided as an application.
Cashier Options
Worldwide real money gambling access has been made possible by PokerStars’ partnership with some of the most prominent money transfer channels such as:
- WebMoney
- MasterCard
- Neteller
- Online Bank Transfer
- Yandex Money
- Direct Bank Transfer
- AstroPay Card
- Visa
- Visa Electron
- Paysafecard
- Mobile bill
- Todito Cash, etc.
The use of these methods for deposits and withdrawals differs, with deposits getting the most options. Even so, those used for withdrawals are extensive enough to cater to the needs of players in different countries. The minimum limit when cashing in and out is ten dollars. However, gamblers cannot withdraw less than fifty dollars when using bank transfers. No maximum limit is provided for deposits, and one can go as high as the payment method being used allows. The maximum limit for withdrawals stands at fifteen thousand dollars, but that of bank transfers goes as high as forty-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine dollars. These limits are for daily withdrawals, but cashing out cannot be conducted during the weekend.
Withdrawals take longer to be processed than deposits, which reflect in casino accounts immediately or almost immediately. E-Wallets are the swiftest options with a waiting period of not more than twenty-four hours. Credit and debit cards take between three and five days while bank transfers can extend to the seventh day. Cheques take the longest time which lasts from seven to fifteen days. Before these pending periods can apply, players have to wait for their withdrawal to be cleared by the entity, and this takes between twenty-four and forty-eight hours.
PokerStars Licenses
Being one of the largest poker-providing companies the world over means that PokerStars has pocketed several licenses in its time of operation. Three of the most significant of these licenses are from the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, and Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission. These institutions are the most esteemed across the globe with their licenses counting in other countries. The UKGC and MGA smoothen the running of operations in Europe, where this gambling destination dominated in poker provision in most nations. As for the IMGSC, it allows the casino to run in the Isle of Man, the biggest gambling region in the crown dependent jurisdiction of Ireland.
As a licensee of these operators, PokerStars is expected to meet certain strict standards for the provision of fair play and security to gamblers. In matters security, this gaming site is at per with its licenses regulations with a one 128-bit SSL digital encryption system. This system is similar to the ones used in banking institutions and keeps important data in an unreadable form that is challenging to make readable.
Restricted Countries
This gaming site is among the most widely accessible online gambling establishments, but players in some nations cannot access PokerStars games including:
- France
- The United States
- Australia
- Hong Kong
- Iran
- Colombia
- Asia
- South Africa
- Sudan
- Senegal
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Netherlands
- Saudi Arabia, etc.
Gamblers in these nations are limited to both free and real money play options unless a virtual private network is used. Even then, engaging in real money play would be difficult since verification is required when making the first withdrawal. In countries where account registration is accepted, only players above the age of eighteen can gamble for cash wins.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Pokerstars Casino
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Overview
PokerStars took a hit when they were kicked out of the American Market, which was one of their biggest markets since their establishment. However, the company has quickly recovered, mainly thanks to its acquisition by Amaya. Players can contact the casino’s client care team for help resolving any issue using a live chat channel, dedicated emails, and phone. These client care channels are only of use to those who have created accounts with the gaming site.
