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I have been a member of PokerStars for a long time. I was there for “Black Friday”, when it was one of three major sites to block US players. I was there when it launched a casino under a different name. It was so long ago I have genuinely forgotten what it was called (Stars Play? Stars Casino? Answers on a postcard please).
I have spent hundreds of hours on the poker site, dozens of hours on the sportsbook, and I have dabbled on the casino.
I’m not sure if that means I’m the perfect man for this review or if I’m biased. Either way, I returned to PokerStars Casino after a short hiatus and spent some time on the site. These are my thoughts.
Welcome Bonuses
PokerStars Casino has a welcome bonus that matches your first deposit 100% and is capped at £200. It sounds perfect, but there are some annoying little terms getting in the way.
Firstly, you must deposit at least £20 to qualify for this, which is twice the size of the site’s minimum deposit.
Secondly, while the site accepts web wallets like PayPal, you will only qualify for the bonus if you deposit using a Visa or MasterCard debit card.
Finally, there is a wagering requirement that must be met before the funds clear.
If you check the bonus terms, you’ll notice that it says you must earn £5 in redemption points per £1 of casino bonus cash. It makes it seem like a poker loyalty bonus, the ones that unlock steadily as you play. But it’s not. This is just the site’s way of structuring its wagering requirements.
It’s actually not that bad of a requirement and is fairly low when compared to other sites. The only downside is that you’re rather limited with regards to the slots you can play during the wagering period.
Some sites will let you play hundreds, but with PokerStars Casino, you must play the following slots if you want every penny of your wager to count:
- Big Bass Bonanza
- Big Blue Bounty
- Book of Dead
- Cashzuma
- Eye of Horus Megaways
- Gates of Olympus
- Legacy of Dead
- Starburst
Loyalty Offers
Some of my favourite bonuses on PokerStars Casino are the tournaments, often referred to as races. You have probably seen and played slot tournaments before. You just play a qualifying slot to earn points and climb a leaderboard, with the highest-placed finishers winning prizes at the end.
PokerStars Casino has these, but it also has live casino tournaments known as “Live Casino Races”.
And even those aren’t a patch on the PokerStars Rewards program, of which I have been a member since the beginning.
You fill a meter every time you play. Make it to the end of the meter and you’ll get a box. Just open it up to unlock a perk and then keep playing to advance to the next level and the next box.
As you advance, they get more rewarding, and there are lots of perks and prizes to unlock.
The great thing about this program is that it extends across all sections of the PokerStars website, not just the casino.
Bingo Games and Slots
PokerStars Casino works with developers like NetEnt, Blueprint Gaming, and Playtech to offer an abundance of top slots. Its roster includes many top jackpot slots, including Jackpot King, my favourite of them all.
Jackpot King is a Blueprint Gaming creation. It is the only jackpot bonus I have ever triggered (unfortunately, I didn’t win the grand prize) and it’s available on some brilliant slots. If you’re new to it, I recommend checking out Ted and King Kong Cash. Just be prepared, as these are high volatility slots.
The inclusion of Playtech means that PokerStars Casino also has the massively popular Age of the Gods jackpot.
Moving away from the slot machines, PokerStars Casino has a big live casino that utilises both the Playtech Live and Evolution Gaming platforms. It means there are dozens of live table games, game shows, wheel-based games, and live slots.
Deposits and Withdrawals
PokerStars Casino deposits are free, the minimums are just £10, and the withdrawals are rapid. It’s so quick that I often receive “you have money” emails from PayPal before I have even closed down the cashier window.
Verdict: PokerStars Casino Review
If a site is best-known for its sportsbook, the casino rarely provides a complete experience. If it’s known for its bingo rooms, there is even less of a chance you’ll find a big and unique casino.
If it’s known for being a poker site, your chances are next to nothing.
But PokerStars Casino is a different beast. Instead of signing a deal with Microgaming and NetEnt, listing a few hundred classic slots and then calling it a day, it has built a massive, dedicated site packed with jackpot slots, Megaways slots, and two of the biggest live casino platforms around.
Add one of the industry’s best loyalty programs to the mix, toss in some real money tournaments, and give players access to a sportsbook and poker room with a single click, and you have an unbeatable destination.
For me, PokerStars Casino is up there with the best of them.
FAQ
PokerStars Casino is part of The Stars Group, which itself is part of Flutter Entertainment. It’s a massive parent company that owns a number of top betting brands, including Betfair.
Have you been banned from the poker room or sportsbook? Have you self-excluded from Paddy Power, SkyBet, or Betfair? If so, you likely won’t be allowed to access PokerStars Casino as it is part of the same network.
Yes, if you have an account on PokerStars Casino then you can use it to bet on the sportsbook and play games in the poker room.
PayPal is one of several payment methods accepted here.