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PokerStars Marketing Code:	psp2331
Bonus Amount:	100% up to $600

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Ratings

Popularity	10
Security	9
Competition	7
Software	9
Support	9
Ethics	9
Promotions	7
Overall	8.6

The Quick Summary

The enormous popularity of PokerStars makes it a great place to play based purely on the large number of players. Stars goes out of its way to make sure it has more than just the most traffic though. Their customer service and security is exceptional and their game selection can't be beat.

Popularity: 10 of 10 - Excellent

With a stable of famous sponsored pros, numerous television commercials, and a host of successful poker tours around the world it is no wonder that PokerStars is currently the most popular online site. At the start of 2009, PokerStars averaged 20,000 real money players at any given time, with higher traffic on the weekends. The site also boasts a wide range of games, offering everything from No Limit Hold'em to an 8-game mixed game to Badugi. There is also non-stop multi-table tournament and Sit N' Go action so it is very easy to find a game at any hour of the day.

Security: 9 of 10 - Excellent

In addition to explaining how their random number generator functions on their website, PokerStars security measures have also been independently verified by the outside consulting firms of Cigital and BMM International. Their software is frequently updated with new security updates to keep the site as safe as possible. The site also has a very strict collusion policy and promises to investigate any and all customer complaints regarding suspicious play.

Player Competition: 7 of 10 - Good

There are plenty of soft games to be found at the micro-stakes on Stars, but the competition becomes more difficult as the stakes increase. What may seem like a relatively low stake like $1/$2 is actually populated with a number of serious grinders and the soft spots are becoming harder to find. As a result of PokerStars good reputation and the quality of their tournament schedule, the higher buy-in tournaments, like the $100 rebuy, have fields comprised almost entirely of pros. On the positive side, the site's marquee tournaments like the Sunday Million and Sunday $200 Grand are still huge fields with a large number of purely recreational players.

Site Software: 9 of 10 - Excellent

Stars is constantly introducing new games and features to its players. The software can be personalized with one of a number of "themes" customers can download and install. The look isn't the only thing customizable about the lobby. The site offers an extensive filtering system so only specific buy-ins and types of games appear on the list of available games.

Players are also able to upload photos to serve as their avatars, which can be changed easily and frequently. Another recent addition is the "replay" button, which allows players to watch a fully animated replay of their last hand with a simple click. PokerStars has also revamped their search feature to allow players to search for and track multiple people at the same time.

The server is still prone to overloading or slowing down during peak traffic times like Sundays, but other than that, the software is new, efficient, and reliable.

Customer Support: 9 of 10 - Excellent

The only way to contact PokerStars support is via e-mail, but the staff is typically quick to respond to e-mail inquiries. The site also employs a number of moderators that are available 24/7 to handle any problems that arise at the table. PokerStars is also big on customer feedback and even offers a test version of their software that registered players can log into and try out new software and games for play money.

Company Ethics: 9 of 10 - Excellent

PokerStars isn't just the biggest site out there-it also has the best reputation. The site has come down hard on multi-accounters and instances of collusion in the past year, but most players seem to agree that their treatment is almost always fair. The presence of well-respected sponsored pros like Barry Greenstein, Greg Raymer, and Daniel Negreanu also helps to cement PokerStars reputation as the industry leader in customer service and integrity.

Site Promotions: 7 of 10 - Good

Perhaps because they have such a large customer base, Stars does not offer as many bonuses and perks as some other sites do. There is a new rewards program in place called the PokerStars VIP, but it requires a significant amount of play each month in order to qualify for the higher VIP levels. The famed Supernova Elite status is only reserved for the highest stakes players who play nearly full time. Most everyone else can earn Frequent Player Points to redeem for cash bonuses or gifts from their in-house store, but it takes several thousand points in order to purchase the nicer products like electronics or gift certificates.

There are also a number of satellites available to the various tours PokerStars hosts. The site offers large multi-table tournament satellites as well as the popular Sit N' Go steps, where players can win their way into events by playing through a series of single table tournaments.

Overall Review: 8.6 of 10 - Very Good

PokerStars is an industry leader, offering some of the best software, security, game selection, and customer support around. Its biggest flaw is the difficult competition at the mid and high stakes, but other than that, there aren't too many things to complain about. The site continues to come up with new and innovative ways to appeal to their customers and so far it seems they are only going to get better.