PokerStars is expanding its enormous online poker platform into the Keystone State thanks to the recent changes for legal online poker in Pennsylvania.
The company became the first online poker site in the state when it began live testing on Nov. 4. The site was fully approved two days later. The client integrates the online poker site with the FOX Bet app and the PokerStars online casino.
PokerStars Review - Spotlight On Tournaments. Again the massive number of games means I need to split this section up. Since there are enough games for even the most hardened multi-tabler to feel happy, in every poker game and huge spread of buy-in levels, I'll break them up by size - starting with the feature events and drilling down to the bread and butter tournaments kicking off every. PokerStars Casino is part of PokerStars.com, one the largest online poker brands in the industry. This online casino offers a variety of virtual and live casino games powered by well-known software providers including NetEnt, Microgaming, Quickspin, iSoftBet, Leander Games, Blueprint, 2 By 2 Gaming and several others. The games are accessible through the PokerStars website.
- The DGE conducted an extensive review of the sale of the Rational Group to Amaya, a review that took over a year to complete. On September 30, 2015, the DGE announced that Amaya, Inc. Received a transactional waiver that will allow them to operate PokerStars and Full Tilt in New Jersey.
- PokerStars Review Posted on Jan 25, 2018 Updated on Sep 7, 2018 by Tim Glocks PokerStars is the largest online poker room in the world, is home to exciting features such loyalty rewards, mega tournaments, and great bonuses.
Want to play poker, casino, and bet on sports in PA from a single account? Sign up for FOX Bet today, get $20 free and access to all three!
The company provides a similar online poker experience as that of its New Jersey operation when it comes to game selection, banking options, bonuses, promotions and more.
What’s on tap for bonus offers?
Players in Pennsylvania have an attractive welcome package along with plenty of monthly reload-match offers.
The reliable software package from PokerStars comes equipped with a plethora of customization options to give the company the advantage in a brand-new market.
The in-house team at PokerStars has also done a fantastic job implementing new varieties and styles to ensure the most significant assortment of game types in the US.
With that in mind, let’s take an in-depth look at the potential bonus offers that you can expect as a new player. Then we will share other promotions designed explicitly for its loyal customers.
Also, we will walk you through the game selection, tournament selection, and payment methods before we conclude our review with poker software and customer support.
PokerStars PA bonus offers
PokerStars PA entered the market with some attractive welcome offers, including limited-time freerolls.
There are two deposit bonuses, but players must make a choice between them.
$30 Free or 100% welcome bonus, up to $600
Players can choose between one of two deposit offers. The first offer promises to give players $30 free if they deposit $20 into their new accounts. Use the marketing code FREE30 for this offer.
The other offer is a 100% deposit match up to $600. The marketing code for this offer is STARS600. However, as is the case with most deposit matches, there is a significant playthrough requirement attached to this promotion.
So, players will have to decide how they want to proceed. Honestly, though, there really isn’t a wrong choice.
PokerStars marketing code
| Online Poker | PokerStars PA |
|---|---|
| PokerStars Marketing Codes | FREE30, STARS600 |
| Welcome Offer | $30 free after $20 deposit OR 100% match up to $600 |
| Last Verified: | February 2021 |
PokerStars game selection in Pennsylvania
Even though players are most excited about the classic poker variants, other variations are expected to make their way to Pennsylvania on the PokerStars platform.
In fact, PokerStars in New Jersey currently impresses with the biggest selection of online poker varieties with a total of 17 games.
You should be able to find the perfect online poker game by using built-in filters to find games by type, the maximum number of players, stakes and buy-in levels. Furthermore, you will have the option to hide full tables for added convenience.
Online poker enthusiasts in Pennsylvania will also have the same features and customization options as players in New Jersey when it comes to saving filters for future use.
The wide range of poker games that will likely make their way to Pennsylvania include:
- 2-7 Single Draw
- 2-7 Triple Draw
- 8 Game Mix
- Badugi
- Five Card Draw
- Five Card Omaha
- HORSE
- Omaha
- Omaha Hi/Lo
- Razz
- Stud
- Stud Hi/Lo
- Hold’em
We anticipate that No-Limit Hold’em will dominate the games lobby where limits should range from $0.05/$0.10 up to $25/$50. However, Limit Hold’em will also be quite popular among players with stakes going as high as $100/$200 on most days.
The table limits for these games will coincide with the limits for Texas Hold’em. However, it will greatly depend on player traffic and the variant you wish to play on the day.
Player traffic at PokerStars PA
Once PokerStars in Pennsylvania launches, you should see more than 400 players on various cash games at any given time.
Player traffic generally peaks between 7-8 p.m. That’s when you should see an increase to 700-800players, if not more.
Over the weekends, player traffic should even increase to around 1,000-1,200 players at any given time.
During the first week of play, PA’s numbers outpaced NJ and had more than 500 players on a weekday.
Tournament selection at PokerStars Pennsylvania
Poker tournaments are going to be one of the most attractive features for the online poker community in Pennsylvania. These should eventually become ever more populated.
To successfully build a robust tournament schedule, along with a selection of options, there needs to be a sizeable player pool to join in on these events. As we’ve all witnessed with new online poker rooms, it takes time before poker tournaments gather momentum.
However, with PokerStars aiming to become the biggest online poker operator in the Keystone State, we expect to find a wide variety of tournaments with some sizeable prize pools.
Poker tournaments are ideal for transforming a small buy-in into a massive payday. This is especially true for tournies that come equipped with guaranteed prize pools.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the poker tournaments that should make their way to Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania’s Championship of Online Poker
The PokerStars platform in the Keystone State already provided a Championship of Online Poker tournament series to players in the newly legalized state. The first PACOOP blew the guarantees out of the water, leading PokerStars to bump them up twice from $1 million to $1,225,000.
Sunday tournaments
Sundays are the most important day when it comes to online poker in New Jersey; we expect that it will be the same in Pennsylvania.
You will notice that all the Main Events will occur on a Sunday at PokerStars Pennsylvania, usually between the hours of 6-8 p.m. every week. The required buy-ins will likely range between $5-$250, depending on the size of the prize pool that should be worth $10,000 or more.
You can also participate in multiple satellite tournaments throughout the week. These award entries into the larger tournaments on Sunday for a fraction of the original entry price.
Spin & Go tournaments
Spin & Gos are considered the most popular tournaments at PokerStars New Jersey. We believe that these will eventually prove just as popular in Pennsylvania.
The welcome bonus at PokerStars PA is the same at PokerStars NJ, a $10 bonus for Spin & Go play.
These tournaments are essentially the same as Sit & Gos, complete with a smaller number of players and much faster gameplay.
The initial buy-in should be relatively low, while a multiplier spin feature will determine the prize pool. The multiplier value can reach up to 1,000 times the current buy-in value.
Multi-table tournaments
Once player traffic reaches a sizable figure within the Keystone State, PokerStars will provide an arsenal of multi-table tournaments (MTT). MTTs will impress with smaller buy-ins and bigger payouts due to the size of the player base involved.
As you play and advance throughout the tournament, you will be seated with winners from other tables. You eventually will make it to the final table or you fall out due to running out of poker chips.
MTTs take a lot longer to complete when compared to Spin N’ Go tournaments.
Daily tournaments
There should be hundreds of smaller daily tournaments available, allowing you to enjoy poker variations like Omaha or Texas Hold ’em in the Keystone State.
These tournaments will come equipped with extremely low buy-in requirements and a decent prize pool. PokerStars is already renowned for providing the most extensive selection of tourneys in the Garden State, so we expect the same for players in Pennsylvania.
Your daily tournaments should also include a good mixture of change-up, turbos, and knockout tournaments.
Mobile compatibility
The PokerStars software should provide Pennsylvania customers the convenience and flexibility to play on their desktop computer, along with the ability to play via a mobile browser-based website and mobile app. Apple and Android apps are available.
The PokerStars mobile poker app will give you access to all the cash games and tournaments. Also, you can claim promotions, contact support, make deposits, request withdrawals and more. The mobile poker apps should run smoothly, much like the Pokers NJ app.
PokerStars payment methods
In a state with many available banking options, PokerStars made it a point to have a variety of choices from the outset.
The professionalism of PokerStars shines brightly when you look at how quickly it handles deposits and processes withdrawals through the poker software.
That efficiency should surely be the case for Pennsylvania players, regardless if you are using your desktop computer or mobile device.
Deposit methods at PokerStars PA
- ACH e-check
- Cash at the Mount Airy cage
- Neteller
- PayNearMe
- PokerStars’ instant online banking
- PokerStars Online Play+ card
- Skrill
- Visa or Mastercard
One missing PA option for now is PayPal, which is available in NJ.
Each deposit method will allow you to deposit funds instantly without having to worry about any hidden fees or charges from the operator’s end. Each payment method is safe and secure.
All of your financial and personal details will be safeguarded using SSL-encryption technology.
Withdrawal methods at PokerStars PA
- ACH e-check
- Cash at the Mount Airy partner’s cage
- Neteller
- PokerStars online Play+ card
- Skrill
When it comes to withdrawing your winnings, PokerStars PA will be able to process your payment within 24 hours. Examining the NJ site, you should receive your winnings within 3-10 working days, depending on your preferred payment method.
E-wallet options will reflect in your funds within 48 hours, while ACH can take up to five days to clear your funds.
Customer support at PokerStars Pennsylvania
The customer service center at PokerStars is renowned for providing professional support quickly and effectively. We expect the support desk at PokerStars PA to be no different.
You’ll be able to reach a PokerStars representative in several ways to ensure your query or request is dealt with as soon as possible.
The contact methods should include:
Pokerstars App Windows 10
- Live chat facility
- Email support
- Telephone support
The customer service center in Pennsylvania should be available 24/7. Alternatively, you should also have access to a comprehensive FAQ section on the official site. It can assist you with a range of queries from registering a new account to making a successful withdrawal with step-by-step instructions.
- Poker Bonus
- Game Selection
- Support
- Banking
Summary
PokerStars in Pennsylvania follows in the footsteps of its New Jersey counterpart and offers one of the best online poker sites in the state. Likewise, bonuses are generous and simple to clear.
PokerStars Bonus und Bonus Codes
My Pokerstars Account
Given how lackluster the PokerStars VIP is, their sign-up bonus options are surprisingly good. The match bonus worth up to $600 (bonus code STARS600) can be claimed over up to three separate deposits and clears easily ($10 bonus cleared per $36 rake paid) giving players an effective rakeback of 28%.
Players which play only casually should pick the free play bonus (bonus code THIRTY) instead. With a deposit of at least $20 new players receive 25 Spin & Go tickets plus $10 cash over the course of 6 days. There are no strings attached and players keep all winnings from the bonus tickets. This is great value for low and micro stakes players.
PokerStars Rake and Tournament Fees
PokerStars is one of best poker rooms in terms of rake. The cash game rake is never more than 5% and the cap is $3 or lower for all but the highest limits. While most other operators cap the rake at $4 (or even €4) PokerStars has considerably lower caps, especially at the lower limits. Tournaments have a fee of roughly 10% of the buy-in – which is industry standard.
The only reason we’re not giving full five stars is that the rake for their Jackpot Sit & Gos (Spin & Go) and almost all turbo tournaments is too high, making those games virtually impossible to beat.
PokerStars FAQ
Does PokerStars accept US players?
Currently the only US state that PokerStars operates in is New Jersey. Players living in or visiting New Jersey can play at a special PokerStars NJ client for real money. For the time being PokerStars does not have licenses for other US states.
Can you play PokerStars with a VPN?
It is not allowed to use a VPN to play at PokerStars and the operator strictly enforces that rule. A player who uses a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to circumvent country restrictions risks having all their funds forfeited and their account closed permanently.
Is PokerStars legal?
PokerStars is operated by a company listed in the Nasdaq and is regulated in over a dozen jurisdictions all over the world. Players at PokerStars are in a save legal environment and can trust the operator with their money.
Who owns PokerStars?
PokerStars is run by the Canadian company Stars Group Inc. The company was formerly known as Amaya or Rational Group. Stars Group has over 4,000 employees and also offers casino games and sports betting.
How to contact PokerStars?
The easiest way to contact PokerStars is via email by sending a message to support@pokerstars.com with the email address that the account is registered with.
How long does a PokerStars withdrawal take?
The withdrawal time on PokerStars depends on the method used for Withdrawal. Skrill and Neteller are usually the fastest options, but processing can take between 2 and 4 business days on average.
Is PokerStars rigged?
No, PokerStars is not rigged. The poker provider is operating since 2001 and since then not a single case of rigged games, super users or suspicious activity by the operator has happened. PokerStars makes billions each year by operating a legit poker site. The company (or any other big poker provider) doesn’t jeopardize this immense income by “rigging the games”.
How to cheat at PokerStars?
You cannot cheat at PokerStars. The servers are secure and it’s impossible to gather any game information that isn’t publicly available. The only way to cheat would be to hack the computer of your opponent via 3rd party software (for example to see their cards). This has happened before, but only after a virus was injected on the computer via USB flash drives, not through the internet.
How long does a tournament on PokerStars take?
Big tournaments on PokerStars can last the entire night or even more than one day. But quick turbo tournaments can be over in a matter of minutes. Check the tournament lobby to get an idea of the specific tournament structure. This will tell you roughly, how long it will last.
Pokerstars Home Game Review
What are poker sites like PokerStars?
PokerStars is the biggest poker site online with the biggest tournaments. But several competitors are emerging, trying to overtake PokerStars: GGPoker (or other poker sites from the GGNetwork) and partypoker are PokerStars’ biggest competitors and also have a huge player pool.