Website: www.PokerStars.com
Welcome Bonus: TBA
Games: Table games and virtual pokies, along with dozens of online poker variants
PokerStars already ranks among the very best online gambling sites, with tens of thousands of virtual poker rooms covering cash games, scheduled tournaments, and sit-and-go events every day. Now the Web’s most prolific hold’em poker operator is looking to expand its repertoire dramatically with the addition of real money casino games, including blackjack, roulette, and online slot machines.
PokerStars Australia Casino Launch
PokerStars’ Canadian parent company, the Amaya Gaming Group, announced in mid-2014 that it was looking to add more strings to the PS bow in order to offer its 50,000+ members the most complete Internet gambling experience possible. Having already introduced a few casino games at Full Tilt Poker, Amaya decided to try a similar thing with FTP’s big brother by adding real money roulette and blackjack to PokerStars’ Spanish and Italian sites.
The results must have been rather encouraging, as the PokerStars online casino is now set to launch worldwide. It is already live in several European markets, and the word is that all regions will have access to these new gaming options by the end of 2014. The exact date of the upcoming Australian release is not yet known, so watch this space for further developments over the coming days and weeks.
Online software client for PC & Mac
The PokerStars desktop download is one of the most usable, reliable, and versatile software clients for Internet gaming. The standout feature is its compatibility – for while most downloadable gambling software is optimised for Microsoft Windows, this one works just as well on Mac OS X and alternative operating systems.
The new range of online table games and pokies machines will only be available via PokerStars 7, the latest version of the software. To install it now on your computer, head over to PokerStars.com and hit the ‘Download & Play’ button in the navigation bar at the top the screen. Then follow the simple installation steps and in a couple of minutes you should have the PokerStars lobby up and running.
Unlike most Internet casinos, PokerStars does not currently offer a Flash-based instant play platform for quick Web browser access. Whether the company plans to introduce a no-download gaming interface remains to be seen, but right now the only option is to install the poker/casino software client for desktop play.
Real money slots on desktop & mobile
The PokerStars virtual casino is expected to host a wide range of online pokies games down the track, covering everything from vintage reel slots and fruit machines to advanced feature pokies and progressive jackpot games. There is no confirmation yet on which provider will stock PokerStars’ pokies catalogue, but it would be no surprise see popular software brands like Microgaming, BetSoft, or Net Entertainment in the mix.
What we do know, however, is that PokerStars Casino is now available on mobile. This includes most smartphone and tablet operating systems which support open-source applications, such as Google Android (Samsung Galaxy, HTC One, Sony Xperia), Windows Phone (Nokia Lumia), and BlackBerry.
Secure banking Methods
PokerStars.com supports more than a dozen trusted deposit and withdrawal methods for real money, with all transactions safeguarded by the same 128-bit SSL (Secure Socket Layer) technology used by leading financial institutions worldwide. Accepted online banking options include credit cards and debit cards, Web wallets, prepaid money vouchers, and direct wire transfers.
The following cash transaction methods are available via both the desktop casino suite and the mobile cashier. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are eligible for PokerStars’ Fast Deposit feature, which allows you to cash up your account while you play.
- Visa *
- MasterCard *
- Neteller *
- Skrill *
- Entropay *
- Ukash
- Paysafecard
- Online bank transfer
- Direct wire transfer
- Cheque
24/7 customer support
The PokerStars support team is one of the best in the business, offering round-the-clock assistance seven days a week. Type in a query on the ‘Help & Support’ page at the PokerStars website, send a message via the ‘Help’ menu in the desktop client, or shoot an email to [email protected]. There’s also a vast selection of helpful FAQ articles at www.PokerStars.com, organised into clear categories to make DIY troubleshooting a breeze.