Full Review
PokerStars was founded in 2001 and dominated online poker for over a decade, at its peak holding over 60% of global online poker traffic. The "poker boom" of the mid-2000s — triggered in part by the success of their satellite programs that sent players like Chris Moneymaker to the WSOP Main Event — made PokerStars the defining platform of an era.
Though GGPoker has overtaken it in overall traffic, PokerStars remains the gold standard in several areas: software quality (consistently rated best in the industry), tournament depth (the SCOOP, WCOOP, and Sunday Million are iconic events on the online poker calendar), and game variety (no site offers as wide a selection of variants, from PLO8 to HORSE to Badugi).
The site's EPT partnership gives online players a pathway to the most prestigious live circuit in Europe through online satellite programs — a tradition that has produced some of poker's most remarkable underdog stories.
Best For
Pros
- ✓Enormous tournament schedule (SCOOP, WCOOP, Sunday Million)
- ✓Best software in the industry
- ✓Massive player pool across all stakes
- ✓Licensed in most regulated markets
- ✓EPT partnership — qualify online for live events
- ✓Widest game variety: PLO, mixed games, Spin & Go
Cons
- ✗Higher rake than most competitors
- ✗Tougher player pool than GGPoker
- ✗Rewards program less generous than before
