Poker Stars Casino review
PokerStars is a well-known online gambling brand. It launched in 2001 as a poker-focused site; following a change in ownership in 2015, it added a casino section alongside poker.
A casino account gives members access to thousands of online casino games, a large online poker network and the Bet Stars sportsbook. The review describes multilingual desktop and mobile apps, as well as instant play in a web browser across platforms.
Poker Stars Casino
100% up to €500 + 50 Free Spins
Bonus Code: BUNDLE100
Minimum Deposit: $10
Wagering: Based on Redemption Points
The review describes a broad casino catalogue from providers such as Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, BTG, NYX and Blueprint. It lists more than 800 slots, along with a smaller range of virtual table and card games, including blackjack, roulette, poker, video poker and baccarat.
Features
The review commends the site's clear layout, designed for desktop and mobile. It says the downloadable apps follow the browser version's easy-to-navigate style. Games are available in free-play and real-money versions, except for live dealer titles.
According to the review, PokerStars casino race slot tournaments run around the clock. A Poker Stars casino account also connects to the Poker Stars multiplayer poker room and sportsbook.
Highlights
- More than 800 Video Slots
- Mobile-Friendly Design
- Downloadable App or Instant Play
- A Wide Range of Bonuses
- A Long-Running Brand
- Playing Guide
- Desktop App Available
Drawbacks
- No Craps Tables
- Mixed Feedback on Support
- No Live Chat for UK Players
- Wagering Rules Can Be Complicated
Poker Stars Casino at a Glance
| Online | Operating since 2017 |
|---|---|
| Licence |
| Software | |
|---|---|
| Owner | The Stars Group |
MORE DETAILS
| Restricted Countries | |
|---|---|
| Currencies | US Dollars (USD), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollars (CAD) and British Pounds (GBP) |
| Language | |
| Support | Email, live chat, FAQ |
| Contact | [email protected] |
PAYMENTS & CASH-OUTS
| Deposit Methods | |
|---|---|
| Min Deposit | $10 |
| Min Withdrawal | €20 |
| Withdrawal Limits | Not specified |
| Payout Timeframes | E-wallets: 24 hours Credit / Debit Cards: 3-5 days Bank Transfers: 3-7 days Cheques: 7-15 days Pending Time: 24-48 hours |
Brand History
PokerStars launched in 2001 as Rational Enterprises, which Amaya Inc acquired in 2014. Amaya adopted The Stars Group name in 2017 and partnered with Microgaming; its Quickfire platform was later integrated into the casino. Flutter Entertainment agreed to acquire The Stars Group in 2019.
Licensing, security, and fair play
Stars Interactive held gambling-related licences and permissions in 17 jurisdictions. The review describes separate European and UK entities. In the UK, Stars Interactive Limited held a United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence. In Europe, Stars Interactive operated Rational Intellectual Holdings Limited and TSG Interactive Gaming Europe Limited; the latter held a Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licence.
The review says PokerStars used separate websites for UK, North American and European players outside the UK, and that each was licensed. It also reports processes covering the casino's RNGs, player financial accounts, member privacy and online security, which it characterizes as measures to support safety and trust. These claims reflect the review and do not confirm authorization in Canada.
The review references a Gaming Laboratories International, LLC (GLI) certificate indicating that Stars Interactive Limited’s random number generators (RNGs) were evaluated against industry standards.
Bonuses and Promotions
Poker Stars is described as offering members a wide range of recurring casino promotions intended to add value to membership.
Welcome Bonus
According to the review, the welcome bonus differs between the UK and Europe. PokerStars changes its promotions often, so the offers described here may change.
UK Welcome Bonus
On a first deposit with bonus code ‘BUNDLE100’, players receive 50 free spins and a 100% deposit match, up to $500.
Poker Stars EU Welcome Bonus
For players in other European countries, the review describes a bonus paid in US$. Across 3 deposits, it lists a maximum $1,500 deposit match and up to 2,020 free spins.
- 1st Deposit: Match up to $500 with 'WELCOME1' and get 20 free spins on progressive jackpot slots with $1 million jackpots
- 2nd Deposit: Get a deposit match up to $500 with 'WELCOME2', plus a mystery chest that may hold up to 1,000 progressive jackpot free spins
- 3rd Deposit: Get a deposit match up to $500 with 'WELCOME3' and another mystery chest, with a chance to receive an additional 1,000 progressive jackpot free spins
Each reward has a 1 month redemption window. After claiming the initial welcome bonus, each later deposit must be made within 14 days of the previous deposit.
Wagering Rules
The review says each bonus must be wagered through within 28 days. Once you earn 50 ‘redemption points’, $10 is released as cash. Because games award ‘redemption points’ at different rates, calculating the required wagering can be complicated.
- Slots points depend on the RTP of the slot. A game with an RTP of 96.64% - 96.95% awards 1 ‘redemption point’ for every $10 wagered
- Video Poker point rates vary by game. Bonus Deuces Wild awards 1 ‘redemption point’ for every $14 wagered, the lowest requirement
- Roulette awards 1 ‘redemption point’ for each $12 staked on RNG-operated games
- VIP Blackjack awards 1 ‘redemption point’ for every $53 wagered on RNG-operated games
For the full game-by-game points table, the review directs readers to the welcome bonus page through the ‘redemption points’ link.
PokerStars says jackpots won with free spins are paid in cash without wagering or withdrawal conditions. According to the review, other free-spin winnings are credited as a ‘Casino Instant Bonus’ and require 20 ‘redemption points’; all spins must be used within 7 days of receipt.
Additional Promotions
The review describes Poker Stars as offering generous recurring promotions and seasonal campaigns around Thanks Giving, Christmas, New Years, Easter, Halloween, and winter or summer.
Stars Trivia: Members can enter daily prize draws for free. Entrants answer questions for a share of the prize pool, paid as cash rewards, according to the description.
Random Casino Rewards: Signing in may trigger a surprise chest containing free spins, cash or instant bonuses.
The review also mentions giveaways such as ‘spin of the day’, described as guaranteeing a prize. It further claims that Poker Stars casino guarantees a progressive jackpot win every day; this is a claim reported by the review.
Loyalty Rewards
According to the review, a progress bar fills as members wager on real-money games. When it is full, the chest is ready, with rewards tailored to the member's gaming style.
Members also earn reward points that can be converted to cash or exchanged for merchandise, cash or race tickets through StarCoins. The review describes 6 chest tiers, with rewards increasing in size and value. Level 1 is the blue chest with $0.60; Level 6 is the Black Chest, worth between $35 and $700 in free cash. Members can move to a higher or lower chest tier.
Payment Options
The review says visitors signing in from Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland or the UK see deposit and withdrawal methods for their country.
Depositing Funds
To deposit, the review instructs members to open the cashier, enter an amount and choose a payment method. It lists VISA, MasterCard, Maestro Card, Neteller, Skrill, Giropay, Rapid Transfer, Sofort, Paysafecard, MuchBetter, Trustly, ecoPayz, Neosurf, EPS, Local Bank Transfer, WebMoney and Online Bank Transfer among methods available in many countries. PayPal and Mobile bill are listed for Ireland and the UK. Direct Bank Transfer and WIRECASHOUTS are listed as unavailable for deposits.
Deposits are credited after approval by the payment provider. The stated minimum deposit for most listed methods is $10.00.
Withdrawing Funds
PokerStars does not publish a maximum withdrawal amount, although the review notes restrictions related to processing times. Available withdrawal methods depend on the player's country. Direct Bank Transfer and WIRECASHOUTS are listed as withdrawal options.
The review says withdrawals are not available through Paysafecard, Rapid Transfer, Neosurf, Mastercard, Local Bank Transfer, EPS, Sofort, Maestro Card, Online Bank Transfer, Trustly, Sofort, Mobile bill or Giropay. Other options listed under ‘Making a Deposit’ may be used for withdrawals and generally have a $20.00 minimum.
The review estimates processing at 24 hours for e-wallets, 3 to 5 days for debit/credit cards, and 3 to 7 days for bank transfers.
Game Catalogue
The review groups games under 5 main menu choices: ‘Home’, ‘ Casino Races’, ‘Slots’, Live Casino’ and ‘Card & Table’. It also describes switches between ‘Poker Stars’, ‘Poker Stars Casino’ and ‘Bet Stars’. These menus lead to the casino's game listings.
The home page groups titles into sections such as ‘Game of the Week’, ‘Featured’, ‘New’, ‘Card & Table’, ‘Casino Races’, ‘Slots’, ‘Daily Jackpots’, ‘Megaways’, ‘Exclusive’, ‘Live Casino’, ‘Book Shelf’, ‘Gold Rush’, ‘Vegas Slots’, ‘Classic Slots’ and ‘Video Poker’. The supplied text also starts to refer to themed slots but does not specify a theme.
A search tool helps players find titles.
Game Providers
The review lists several established slot and table game studios on the Poker Stars casino site: Playtech, Microgaming, NetEnt, Quickspin, BTG, Leander Games, Playson, 2 by 2, NYX, Blueprint Gaming, Games Warehouse, Push Gaming, RTG, Live 5 Gaming and The Games Company.
Slots
The catalogue is described as containing more than 800 slot titles, which can be sorted by ‘Popular’, ‘New’, ‘Jackpot’, ‘Exclusive’, ‘Megaways’, ‘Vegas Slots’, ‘Recommeded’ and ‘Recently Played’.
Among the games singled out in the review are Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Starburst, Dead or Alive II, Immortal Romance, Jumanji, Twin Spin, Big Bad Wold, Vikings, Ted, Narcos, 3 Blind Mice, Monopoly and Spartacus.
The review says more than 160 listed slots have progressive jackpots. Examples include Microgaming’s Mega Moolah, Playtech’s Age of Gods, The Goonies and Deal or No Deal Megaways from Blueprint Gaming, and PokerStars' own UFC Main Event jackpot game.
Table Games
The review identifies Poker Stars Casino’s ‘Card & Table’ area as a weaker part of the catalogue, with a relatively short game list. It includes single-player or multiplayer blackjack and roulette, plus heads up hold’em in either format. Other listed options are classic blackjack, Playtech premium blackjack, lightning Roulette First Person and baccarat.
This category also includes 14 video poker titles, which the review suggests could fit better in a separate section.
Live Dealer Casino
The review describes a polished live dealer area with a wide range of table games, streamed over fast connections using high-definition webcams. Tables offer live chat with dealers and croupiers, and some games are hosted in different languages.
Live dealer games can be filtered by ‘Popular’, ‘Game Shows’, ‘Roulette’, ‘Blackjack’, ‘Baccarat and Sic Bo’, ‘poker’ or ‘ Other’.
The roulette lineup includes Roulette, Lightning Roulette, American Roulette and Poker Stars Roulette. The blackjack section lists 3 options: Blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack and Infinite Blackjack. Live dealer game shows include Monopoly, Football Studio, Side Bet City and Dreamcatcher.
Baccarat and Sic Bo listings include Baccarat, Dragon Tiger and Super Sic Bo. Poker offerings include Three Card Poker, 2 Hand Casino Hold’em and two progressive jackpot live dealer poker games: Casino Hold’em and Texas Hold’em Bonus. The ‘Other’ category features Lightning Dice.
Mobile Casino
The review says PokerStars serves mobile users through Quickfire's multi-platform delivery system. It mentions downloadable apps for Android and iOS; other devices can access the casino through instant play.
Instant play works in supported browsers such as FireFox, Chrome, Safari and Internet Explorer. The review lists Android, iOS, Blackberry and Windows Mobile among the systems whose users can access Poker Stars Casino in a browser away from a computer.
Help and Support
The review says support options vary by region. For UK players, it lists email support through a form; European players are said to have live chat and email, with higher reported satisfaction. Overall, feedback about PokerStars customer support is not especially positive.
- Live chat
- Email support
- FAQ section
Getting Started at Poker Stars Casino
Poker Stars is presented as a casino for desktop and mobile, with apps for both and instant play for operating systems that support a web browser.
The review highlights welcome and recurring bonuses, as well as Stars Rewards, as ways members can receive bonus funds. It also notes that progressive jackpot wins from free spins are described as having no restrictions.
Slot fans may be drawn to the catalogue: the review counts more than 800 themed titles from several providers, with varied features and bonus rounds. It also points to a substantial progressive jackpot selection, while the suggestion that a jackpot could make someone an overnight millionaire is promotional language, not a prediction.
For table and card games, the review describes several versions of blackjack, poker and roulette. It concludes that Poker Stars is a capable all-around online casino with organized management.
