Updated January 9, 2006

Overview
Poker Stars is the second largest online poker site. It hosts many multi-table tournaments, which has rocketed its popularity among online poker players. The competition used to be considered fairly stiff at Poker Stars, but it is now about average among all the online poker sites.

Ease of Competition
This is the main thing I don't like about Poker Stars. The games are tough once you get to mid-stakes and higher. However, their lower stakes games are certainly beatable, and they spread many low-stakes and micro-limit games. This poker room is pretty good for newer players looking to improve their skills at low-stakes games.

Cashouts
Poker Stars is very quick about cashouts. Most cashouts are done within one or two business days.

Bonuses
Poker Stars does not have a deposit bonus, though they often have reload bonuses. These bonuses are typically 20% up to $120, and they typically occur about once every month or two.

Promotions
Poker Stars has several promotions. First, they have a newly introduced VIP program, where players can use their FPPs (Frequent Player Points) to purchase an array of merchandise. Players earn FPPs by playing real money games at Poker Stars, and these FPPs can be used to by items ranging from poker books and Poker Stars merchandise to sports cars and WSOP entries.

Poker Stars also hosts many satellites to major land-based tournaments. In addition to sending many players to WSOP and WPT tournaments, players can win seats to many European Poker Tour events.

Customer Service
Poker Stars's customer service is only done through email. I have used it a couple of times, and they were very helpful. However, I generally like it when a poker room also has phone and live support in addition to email support. Nevertheless, they get a very good score because their customer service is among the most competent in the industry.

Software
Many people really like Poker Stars' software. I think it's a bit too colorful, and I do not like the sounds.It's a bit too 'clunky' in my opinion. However, I do think the software works well for tournaments. Under your "info" tab, it will display your position so far in the tournament. This is nice so you can quickly keep tabs of where you stand in the tournament. Many people consider Poker Stars software to be the clear industry leader for poker tournaments.

Ring Games offered
Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo

Ring Games stakes
Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo Fixed Limit: $.02-.$04, $.05-$.10, $.25-$.50, $.50-1, $1-2, $2-4, $3-6, $5-10, $10-20, $15-30, $30-60, $80-160, $100-200 (only Hold'em)
Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Hi-Lo: $.04-.$08, $.25-$.50, $.50-1, $1-2, $2-4, $3-6, $5-10, $10-20, $30-60
Poker Stars offers pot-limit and no-limit games starting by $0.01/$0.02 to $5/$10.

Tournaments offered
Multi-table: Hold'em Limit, Hold'em NL/PL, Hold'em Heads-up NL, Omaha PL, Omaha Limit Hi-Lo, Stud Limit, Stud Hi-Lo Limit

Tournament Buy-ins
$1 to $1000.

Minimum Deposit: $25