Pokerstars

PokerStars is a huge operation that currently has the distinction of being the biggest online poker site on the internet. The company started operations as a Costa Rican company in 2011, under Canadian ownership.

At the moment, this brand is in an interesting situation regarding ownership. Our findings for this PokerStars review suggest that Flutter Entertainment currently owns this platform. It acquired it in a multi-billion dollar transaction that began in 2019 and finished in 2020.

However, you will find a different company name if you look at the casino’s website footer: Rational Intellectual Holdings Limited. This company controls and manages the PokerStars brand across its distribution in both the USA and Europe. From a financial standpoint, the casino still works under Flutter, whose actions are listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

It would be somewhat disingenuous to consider that this online gaming platform has PokerStars sister sites. Flutter has several gaming brands that it currently operates in other markets than the USA. However, we consider that PokerStars is in a class of its own due to its sheer brand size.

Platform Looks & Optimization

We won’t spend much time on this subject since the casino looks essentially the same regardless of the state in which it operates. The website looks simplistic and well-organized and employs a signature red and black color scheme.

You will find the website accessible for both your PC and mobile gameplay preferences. The intuitive layout style and the fast loading times contribute to this direction. The overall feeling is that this brand won its reputation among online casino brands for a good reason.

There is also an official app that enhances the mobile experience. We will detail it later in our PokerStars review.

License & Security

We value the sanctioned operations of an online casino above everything else. Each state’s jurisdiction comes with a set of rules that has the player’s safety and interest at heart. We check this aspect thoroughly as part of the way we review casinos.

This online casino brand currently has 3 licenses that deem its services legal in 3 states:

• New Jersey – 2016 was the year when PokerStars NJ launched, as per the decision of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (permit NJIGP 19-008)
• Pennsylvania – the second American license came in 2019. PokerStars PA currently provides gaming services to Pennsylvanians via the IG-109344-1, awarded by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
• Michigan – the PokerStars MI website became the first poker site that the Michigan Gaming Control Board licensed (certification IGSL007434-20-001, awarded in 2021).

SlotsCalendar Advice: Competitive players from NJ and MI can compete among themselves, thanks to a regulatory act called the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. This multi-licensed piece of legislation that multiple states agreed upon facilitates accessing the same gaming services across the borders of those states.

The current gaming landscape dictates that a gambling website needs to provide adequate data security. The standard tool is the encryption protocol – a safety procedure that securitizes data and money transfers. All of these casino brands work in a safe direction from this point of view, relying on strong encryption protocols.

PokerStars Registration Process

Our experience during the data-gathering phase of this PokerStars review pointed out that the registration process is identical for all the casino’s state variations. It involves a simple and fast procedure that will take a few minutes to complete. We will detail how it went for us – from completing the registration form to finalizing the KYC procedure:

1. We recommend reading the entire PokerStars review before proceeding.
2. You can click the ‘VISIT SITE’ button if you want us to send you to the casino’s site.
3. The registration process begins with pressing ‘Join’ in the top-right corner, right next to the PokerStars login function.
4. The first registration step is to provide your email, username, and password.
5. Continuing to the next step will require you to acknowledge that you’re over 21 and that you agree to the terms of service (which we strongly suggest you read).
6. You will have an established account, which will require entering the rest of your personal details.
7. You also need to install and activate the geolocation software that will confirm that you’re playing from the right jurisdiction.
8. Completing the KYC procedure will involve sending proof of identity, address, and payment. Doing so will ensure that you will have a smoother experience withdrawing your money when the time is right to do so.
9. You will need to contact the casino staff if you wish to find out how to delete PokerStars account at any point.

Promotions and Loyalty Scheme

Our efforts in creating a complete PokerStars review include the bonus benefits that you may enjoy while playing here. We were curious about any similarities and differences in how PokerStars rewards players from the three states where it operates.

We began with the bonus incentivization aspect, which is one that the SlotsCalendar team studies very closely. We always try to gauge how the American iGaming market treats bonuses. Ultimately, we decided to go for a focused approach and created a dedicated page that analyzes the current PokerStars bonus codes and any future promotional trends.

The next step was to look for any form of systematic reward. We first found a mention of a PokerStars VIP program. This system is genuinely true to its name because it’s a form of exclusivity; it’s an arbitrary decision that the operators make. They will monitor your investment and gaming level and will bestow VIP privileges if you qualify for their standards.

SlotsCalendar Advice: You may contact the operators and ask to be made a VIP if you have this status at another casino within the same state jurisdiction. The qualified casino staff will review your request and decide if you are to receive the same treatment.

Loyalty Program

You may get your hands on other forms of loyalty-based benefits by partaking in the PokerStars Rewards program. It adopts the familiar system of using PokerStars loyalty points. You can win them by wagering a specific amount of money in various games.

SlotsCalendar Advice: The site provides a detailed breakdown of how your bets convert into points. Please use its content to determine how your favorite games will lead to gaining more loyalty points. The guide is in the ‘Earn’ subsection of the loyalty program’s page.

Raising enough points over a 28-day period will mean earning a chest. These chests have a value according to the tier. Each of these tiers will give out a number of chests – not winning a chest over this time period will lead to your demotion to a lower tier.

Some of the rewards that you may win are the StarsCoins. You may gain them as chest drops and use them to buy merch at the dedicated Rewards Store, exchange them for bonuses, or use them as buy-in credits.

The structure of this loyalty program is the same in NJ, MI, and PA. The following table is applicable to any state where PokerStars provides services:

PokerStars Payment Methods

We concluded that it’s best that we split the discussion about the PokerStars payment methods for each state where the brand operates. The payment system is generally similar to most points of view. The one exception that made us decide to take this approach is the number of available methods.

Some states have different ways of processing payments to online casinos. We will detail them for each relevant section. However, let’s begin by discussing the commonalities among these website variations.

One that we need to detail is the minimum deposit. We found that the $10 sum is the universal minimum that you can invest into your PokerStars account as an American player. The daily maximum you can withdraw per day is $10,000. Each payment method may have its own maximum threshold – you’ll find them in the cashier section once you log in.

New Jersey

We will begin with the New Jersey version and note that the processing time for a withdrawal can go up to 24 hours. The withdrawal time that may follow is up to each payment method operator. The timeframe range is featured in this table.

As you can see, the assortment of payment methods is quite standard from an iGaming point of view. The NJ-specific novelty is the possibility of in-person transactions at a casino’s cage. You’ll have to check the terms specific to this payment method to see which resorts accept payments on behalf of PokerStars.

Pennsylvania

PA’s case is quite interesting due to a detail we found during the PokerStars review research. We found that the process of withdrawing your funds must happen through the same payment method as the one used for deposits. This is a normal practice, but there is another detail that is truly notable.

The casino will allow you to use alternative payment methods by deleting the former one. They will eliminate it from the system and will not be able to use it again – the casino will not reinstate it. Remember that you will have to offer your confirmation for this process and a reason why the deleted payment method is no longer usable.

Another fact worth pointing out is that the operator’s withdrawal processing time is also 24 hours.

Michigan

The main particularity of Michigan’s PokerStars variation is that the maximum processing time rises from 24 to 72 hours; the payment method collection is also smaller than in the cases of the two other states.

PokerStars Games & Software Providers

There are significant variations in how the PokerStars games look in each state. We analyzed the gaming libraries for each casino variant and encountered similar game numbers. The searches we did for this PokerStars review also suggest some variation in how the provider list looks.

New Jersey

New Jersey’s website variation is the only one that provides PokerStars slots from IGT, Big Time Gaming, and Lightning Box. It encompasses over 700 slots and a live casino section. Games like Ted, Mercy of Gods, and Buffalo Blitz are truly outstanding.

Pennsylvania

The PA variation is the one with the lowest amount of providers and games. Its novelty names in the provider list are HighGames and StarGroup, along with Electric Elephant. It has over 500 games and includes a live casino section as well.

The most interesting slots we found during our PokerStars review testing process are Double Shamrock, Jack in a Pot, and Bankin’ Bacon.

Michigan

The last game-related entry of this PokerStars review will address the games found on the Michigan website. You’ll enjoy games like Vegas Cash Eruption, Tiki Fortune, and Epic Ape in a collection of almost 800 games. Providers like Yggdrasil, Push Gaming, and WhiteHat Gaming complement the IGT slots and the live casino section!

PokerStars Responsible Gambling Policy

The PokerStars responsible gambling policy is relatively uniform on all the state variations we reviewed. The approach to safe gaming proves a profound understanding of your safety when you play games of luck. We chose to treat this section as a general key point of this PokerStars review since the assistance methods are similar across all platforms.

We will begin with the awareness part. All three of these website variations provide information about the risks related to gambling. They also offer helpful advice on how to reduce any risks and how to identify them. The formatting of this information is really important because it’s showcased as a cleanly organized list.

Another outstanding informative aspect is a special subsection dedicated to the debunking of gambling-related myths. The SlotsCalendar team finds this part of the page very important because it relays the realities of playing games of luck rather than relying on word of mouth. The sites also emphasize self-assessment by offering an in-house test and referencing other such tests.

Self-Imposed Limits

These self-imposed limits are necessary for every online casino. They are the most helpful tool for self-control, especially when you can customize them according to your available time and funds. It’s crucial to remember that they are preventive measures that you need to respect to have them genuinely work.

You can find and use them regardless of the (accepted) state you’re playing from. As such, players from Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania can use them indiscriminately. You will find them in the ‘Responsible Gaming’ section of your account. You may set them daily, weekly, or monthly, and will involve a pending time of 24 hours in case you want to modify them. Here are the limiters that PokerStars provides:

• Limits related to finances – you can set limits that will allow you self-control over how much you deposit or spend during a set-up interval.
• Limits related to the gaming product you use – you may set limiters for either the casino or poker gaming part of this brand’s offerings. The poker limits refer mainly to buy-in for tables and tournaments.
• Limits related to spent time – this is a straightforward limit and will allow you to set a threshold for how much time you spend at this casino.

SlotsCalendar Advice: There is another limit we wanted to highlight and recommend: the withdrawal cancellation restriction. It has the simple task of disabling the possibility of cancelling withdrawal requests. Its main function is to stop any impulses to keep the money inside your gaming account. This is a permanent restriction – meditate on this possible decision as profoundly as possible!

Self-Exclusion & Getting Help

This part is where some responsible gaming elements slightly diverge across states.

Firstly, you need to know that you can self-restrict yourself from gaming on PokerStars. You can find this measure in your account section as well. Head toward the same ‘Responsible Gaming’ part of your account and go to the ‘Exclude me from playing’ section. Set this option up if you need it, but remember that this action is irreversible.

Secondly, each state has its own universal self-exclusion program:

• The Internet Gaming Self-Exclusion Sign Up Procedure – this program will exclude you from playing at any online gaming operator that accepts players from New Jersey.
• The PGCB Voluntary Self-Exclusion List – you will be restricted from playing at online casinos that offer services to players from Pennsylvania.
• The MGCB Disassociated Persons Program – online gambling platforms accepting Michigan-based players will restrict your access to their platforms if you sign up to this list.

Each website provides resources according to the state you’re playing from. We kindly recommend you take advantage of such help if you necessitate it!

PokerStars Mobile: Play on the Go

We have already mentioned that the website platforms work well due to adequate optimization. Our PokerStars review testing methods included trying out the casino’s offerings on several devices, including a brand-new iPhone 15 and a Samsung Galaxy S23. We wanted to see how the current PokerStars mobile experience behaves on both Android and iOS.

We will focus mostly on the mobile app rather than the instant play part. The PokerStars brand is familiar with dedicated apps as it uses such a platform for PCs as well. This app client is for poker gameplay. The mobile apps provide access to all the casino games as well.

You will find the PokerStars app download feature in two ways: by searching the applications in your dedicated store or via redirection. The first download avenue necessitates going for the apps by name-searching them in either your Play Store or App Store. The redirection method requires going to the website’s footer and clicking ‘Play on mobile’ beneath the ‘Casino’ column.

We observed interesting details while testing the state-coded sites during our PokerStars review process. The MI and PA variations will come with two separate buttons, each redirecting you toward the download process for your dedicated operating system. The NJ variation will provide a simple ‘Download button.’

SlotsCalendar Advice: Opt for this app if you’re only interested in casino games. The page explaining this app mentions that you can play slots, roulette, and blackjack here. You will find another ‘Play on mobile’ button beneath the ‘Poker’ column if you want to play poker specifically.

App Feasibility and Behavior

It was important for us to do more than just mention this app’s existence. We downloaded the casino app for both iOS and Android and started experimenting with it. PokerStars provides all of its instant client functions in the mobile app format as well.

The app streamlines the payment factor and allows you to experience the casino’s gaming collection in its entirety. The primary takeaway is that you will experience a dedicated format that is tailor-made for mobile devices.

Customer Support Service

We’ve tailored our PokerStars review research according to the jurisdictions where the casino currently operates. There is a general approach to how the brand elects to communicate with its customer base.

New Jersey

The PokerStars NJ case is the most special among the casino’s variations. It’s the only one that will allow you to speak to customer support staff telephonically. You won’t be able to do it via a dedicated PokerStars contact number but through a callback service.

You’ll need to head towards the ‘Help’ center and open a dedicated form for customer support. The ‘Request Callback’ is what you’re looking for. You will need to select a specific category for your callback request. Don’t forget to also add any details about this query. Your contact number is the essential element of this contact method.

The callback service is available between 10 am and 10 pm ET. According to the casino’s site, the support staff will contact you within 60 minutes of your request, as long as it is between working hours.

The other communication channel you may want to use is the email. This is the universal contact method that will always be at your service.

Pennsylvania

This brand’s Pennsylvania experience comes with the standard approach to customer support: communication via email. You will not find a PokerStars live chat service if you are familiar with this contact channel.

The table above provides the two emails you can turn to in case of queries or necessary problem-solving. Please remember that the casino’s staff is keen to help you out in this direction with a 24/7 working schedule. Expect a reasonably quick response every time you mail the PokerStars PA staff.

Michigan

PokerStars MI has a customer support service that is very similar to that of its Pennsylvania counterpart. The only available contact channel is email, which has a set of two addresses where you can direct your necessities.

The casino will answer in a reasonable time and will assist you from whichever point of view you deem necessary. The customer support team is well-trained and will answer dutifully and concisely.

FAQ/Help Center

We’d like to mention the help center as well. It’s the primary (and most streamlined) information source. It mainly works with general information that will apply to all the states where this brand operates.

These answers can be helpful, especially if you find the general terms to be a bit too complicated to read. Our recommendation is to read them as an entry point to the general terms – perhaps even before registering!

SlotsCalendar verdict