Advantages of the game from Smart Poker
- Free datamining for our players.
- SmartHudPro for free for a registration.
- Access to our VIP-club for $50 rake per month.
Registration
- in your browser.
- Visit this website and Sign up.
- You should use marketing code “SMP” when signing up.
- Let us know your login so we can confirm you are eligible for all the benefits.
Room description
For more than 10 years PokerStars has been rightly considered “the poker room #1”. Thanks to competent management actions back in 2011, the room managed to not only survive the events of “Black Friday” with minimal losses, but also redeem its main competitor — Full Tilt Poker. In 2014, PokerStars was bought by Amaya Gaming. Since then, PokerStars has become primarily concerned with poker ecology, which has led to worse conditions for regulars. Even though in recent years there is basically no such thing as a rakeback at PokerStars, for many players it still remains the favorite room. The main advantages of the room are: huge traffic, convenient software and excellent work of Security Department, which regularly bans violators of the rules.
Pros
- The highest traffic;
- Great action in all types of poker;
- The best software;
- HU-tables both in NLHE and PLO.
Cons
- Non-existent rakeback after first deposit bonus ends.
Traffic review
PokerStars has the biggest traffic amongst all poker rooms. Even outside of the peak hours the number of connections exceeds 50 000. During the peak hours (in the evening in Europe) there are over 100 000 players at the tables.
At regular tables at limits up to NL200 you can find action any time of the day. Fast poker “Zoom” is available at different stakes from NL2 up to NL5000 inclusive. At all stakes up to NL100 there are usually more than 200 connections per limit. At NL100, NL200 and NL500 you can find a little more than 100 connections per limit. At stakes higher than NL500 the action is irregular.
HU-tables are available only in the fast poker “Zoom” format. At stakes from NL50 up to NL500 the total amount of connections reaches 50.
PokerStars is the best poker room for MTT players. The MTT schedule is pretty diverse and suitable for any bankroll. Every day there are lots of tournaments with different buy-ins. Several times a year, the room holds traditional online series (SCOOP, WCOOP, etc.) with increased guarantees. And, of course, let’s not forget about the legendary Sunday Million. Every poker player dreams of winning this famous weekly tournament.
Unlike most poker rooms, PokerStars has a pretty decent traffic in SNG tournaments. But most of the action is focused in lottery SNGs called “Spins”. NLHE spins are available at stakes from $0.25 to $500. PLO spins are represented by 5 stakes from $1 to $30.
In 2019, PokerStars added Holdem 6+, which is very popular in offline poker games in Asia. Currently, 13 limits available: from NL2 to NL20000.
Software & trackers
The PokerStars client is rightly considered the best poker software. In addition to stable performance and friendly interface, the client has a bunch of various features designed to make a grind as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
The client has versions both for PCs (Windows and macOS) and mobile devices (iOS and Android).
The lobby contains standard filters (by game type, stakes, number of players, etc.). Waiting lists are available for cash tables.
Trackers (Holdem Manager, PokerTracker, Hand2Note) and other third-party software work directly.
Rake structure
In cash games the rake varies from 3.5% to 5% with caps depending on the limits and the number of players at the table:
| Limit, $ | Rake, % | Cap (2 players), $ | Cap (3-4 pl.), $ | Cap (5+ pl.), $ |
| NL2 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| NL5 | 4.15 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 |
| NL10 and NL16 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 1.5 |
| NL25 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 2 |
| NL50 | 5 | 0.75 | 0.75 | 2 |
| NL100 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2.5 |
| NL200 | 5 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 2.75 |
| NL400 | 5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 3 |
| NL500 | 5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 3 |
| NL600 | 5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 3.5 |
| NL1000 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 3 |
| NL2000 | 4.5 | 1.75 | 1.75 | 3 |
| NL5000 | 4.5 | 2.25 | 2 | 3 |
| NL10000 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 5 |
| NL20000 and higher | 4.5 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
In all types of micro-stakes PLO the rake varies from 3.3% to 4.25%:
| Limit, $ | Rake, % | Cap (2 players), $ | Cap (3-4 players), $ | Cap (5+ players), $ |
| PLO2 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| PLO5 | 3.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 |
| PLO10 | 4.25 | 0.5 | 1 | 1.5 |
| PLO25 | 4.25 | 0.5 | 1 | 2 |
Currently, cash games at PokerStars have one of the lowest rake rates.
In MTTs with buy-ins from $20 and above, the rake is 10% (also taken from rebuys and add-ons). In tournaments with buy-ins up to $20 the rake is a big higher — 12%.
In spins the rake varies from 5.16% to 8.16% depending on the limits.
Rakeback & bonuses
The room offers a first deposit bonus of 100% up to $600. The bonus code is “STARS600”. The bonus is paid in chunks of $10 for every $36 of rake and provides a 27% rakeback. You will have 4 months to clear the bonus. This bonus also applies to the next two deposits made within 60 days after the first one.
The loyalty program called “Stars Rewards” is based on a system of individual rewards. While playing for real money, a special scale is filled in the lobby. When it is filled in, the player is rewarded with a chest with random prizes: cash, tournament tickets, points for filling the scale. This loyalty program provides about 4-5% of rakeback.
For full information about the rakeback in this room — please, contact our managers.
Deposits & cashouts
At PokerStars you can use the following payments methods: VISA/Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, WebMoney, Yandex.money, QIWI. Cashouts to payment systems take up to several minutes. Cashouts to VISA/Mastercard are usually made within 3 business days.
