PokerStars Casino is an established brand in the UK, despite being founded in 2019, and offers a complete product to its customers. With dedicated sections for poker, casino and sports betting, is it worth signing up on the site? Our review takes a look at everything you need to know.
Bonus | 2 |
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Sportsbook | 3 |
Casino | 4 |
Customer Support | 5 |
Payment | 5 |
Licensing Safety | 5 |
Design and Usability | 4 |
Overall | 4 |
The marketing team at PokerStars certainly works overtime, as UK customers will have definitely heard or seen the brand in recent years. It is clear, then, that the investment in advertising carries over to the product itself.
As you would expect, the casino and poker areas are phenomenal, featuring a ridiculous number of different games, both traditional and not. Furthermore, regular tournaments in slots and the table areas make it feel more competitive, adding an extra edge to your betting.
The sports area, admittedly, does need a little work, but it is not a bad area by any means. We also found that withdrawals are incredibly quick on the site, or at least they can be, as we got the money instantly despite withdrawing with a debit card. In short, Pokerstars has stuff going for it.
⚽ Football Coverage (PL game) | 150+ markets |
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🏇 Horse Racing Coverage | UK, Ireland + International |
🏦 Betting Margins (Average) | 6.12% |
👷 Bet Builder | ✅ |
📱 Mobile App | ✅ |
💰 Minimum Deposit | £8 |
⏱️ Fastest Withdrawal Method | Visa (A few seconds in our test) |
🔢 Overall Rating | |
👉 Visit Site | Join PokerStars |
Pokerstars was founded this side of the millennium, and has gone from strength to strength as online betting has gotten more and more popular. However, many will not see it as more than a poker site, which is why we're here.
Of course, the main focus is on the typically high-stakes table game, but there are also casino and sportsbook offerings. The latter launched in 2015, though many are still likely unaware of its existence, something that is probably due to a relevant sign-up promotion.
It is also worth shining a light on the general casino area, which has a very pristine feel to it, elevating the experience when using it. None of this is hardly surprising, though, as PokerStars is ultimately backed by the gambling conglomerate Flutter, which also owns Betfair and Paddy Power.
In this review, we take a look at everything offered, whilst highlighting the pros and cons. Hopefully, by the end, you will be able to make a decision on whether PokerStars is for you.
As you would expect from a site like Pokerstars, it has every licence that it should have, especially considering it is one of the go-to options for playing poker. Founded more than 20 years ago, its reputation exceeds itself, and this would not be the case if there were issues.
Long story short, the site is completely safe, legit and trustworthy, meaning you can sign up with safety in mind. For what it is worth too, the sport, casino and poker areas are all listed on the license, so you are absolutely fine.
Most UK betting sites have a poor rating on Trustpilot, especially when casino games are involved, with most claiming that the site is against them. So, to see a rating of 2.4 is not really a shock at all. Considering Bet365, our favourite bookmaker, has a rating of 1.3, make of it what you will.
In the UK, there have never been any fines given to PokerStars, or the parent company Stars Interactive Limited, which is very good to see. Of course, it is not make or break if a fine has been given before, but it is good that they have not had one.
Admittedly, the PokerStars welcome offers look very enticing to the blind eye. However, like most casino offers, there is more to be seen and we could consider the ones in question to be very poor, for a variety of reasons.
Customers must deposit and stake £10 to get 400 free spins using the code UK10, which seems excellent. However, the wagering requirements are really, really poor, meaning you have to wager a lot more than you will probably win.
Then, there is also a return offer, where you get 100% of your money back up to £500, but this comes with a 40x wagering requirement. Again, it is a really poor offer.
On the face of it, two fantastic offers, but when you look deeper at the terms, it really is not value for the customer.
Operator | Welcome Offer | Bonus Code | Claim Offer | |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Welcome Offer 100% Up To £500 + 50 Free Spins | FIRST500 | Claim Offer | New casino players only. Min deposit £20 with 'FIRST500' required. Max deposit £500. 5 redemption points per £1 required to convert Casino Instant Bonus into cash. Casino Instant and Free Spins expire in 7 days. Selected slots only. Terms apply. 18+ Play responsibly. BeGambleAware.org |
![]() | Welcome Offer 150 Free Spins No Deposit + Bet £10 Get 250 Extra Free Spins | UK10 | Claim Offer | New casino players only. Subject to account verification. For deposit offer min £10 deposit with code 'UK10'. Debit card only. Valid on selected Slots. 7-day expiry. Wagering requirements attached to clear bonus. Terms apply. 18+ Play responsibly. BeGambleAware.org |
There is a lot to like about Pokerstars, especially when it comes to the number of different payment methods available for customers. In fact, there are 16 different options to choose from, even for new users. Included in this list are Apple Pay, e-wallets like PayPal and bank transfer payments; you will certainly be covered.
However, the payment minimum is quite strange, with customers required to deposit at least £8 per time, rather than a flat figure of £5 that we see on many sites. This is due to the American pricing, though, so whilst the site offers American payments (a flat figure of $10), it converts to GBP for £8. Confusing, but hey ho.
Below, we have collected everything you need to know about deposits at PokerStars:
Payment Method | Min. Limit | Max. Limit | Transaction Fee | Processing Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Visa | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Instant |
![]() Mastercard | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Instant |
![]() Google Pay | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Instant |
![]() Apple Pay | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Instant |
![]() Skrill | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Instant |
![]() Neteller | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Instant |
![]() Paysafecard | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Instant |
![]() Bank Transfer | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Instant |
![]() Paypal | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Instant |
![]() MuchBetter | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Instant |
If you are new to the process, you can read our step-by-step guide for depositing funds into a PokerStars account below.
To begin the deposit process, look to the top right corner of the screen and tap 'Cashier', and this will bring you to the payment area.
After entering this area, you will be offered the choice of several payment methods - an impressive amount actually. However, we chose to use a Visa debit card, as usual.
Following this, you will need to enter your payment details for your chosen method - a pretty bog standard step on bookmaking sites.
Finally, you will need to enter the amount which you would like to deposit into your account - we chose the minimum of £8, and then tap deposit. From here, the payment will be confirmed, and you can begin betting.
Customers are not offered the same generosity when withdrawing funds, though this is not uncommon. PokerStars will almost always default to the method that you have used most recently, unless you have an account with a negative balance with one payment method.
The process of withdrawing funds is quite good, it must be said, despite the 10 business day estimate. In fact, we received our money instantly and this is one of the fastest tests we have registered. Below, we have collected everything you need to know about withdrawing funds at PokerStars:
Payment Method | Min. Limit | Max. Limit | Transaction Fee | Processing Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Visa | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | A few seconds in our test |
![]() Mastercard | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Within 10 Business Days |
![]() Google Pay | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Within 10 Business Days |
![]() Apple Pay | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Within 10 Business Days |
![]() Skrill | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Within 10 Business Days |
![]() Neteller | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Within 10 Business Days |
![]() Paysafecard | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Within 10 Business Days |
![]() Bank Transfer | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Within 10 Business Days |
![]() Paypal | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Within 10 Business Days |
![]() MuchBetter | £8 | Not Specified | No Fee | Within 10 Business Days |
If you haven't withdrawn money from PokerStars before, you can follow our step-by-step guide below:
Once you have entered the app, ready to withdraw funds, you will notice the 'Cashier' box is no longer there. However, this will be replaced by a cash amount, so we tap the box again to enter the cashier.
Once you have entered the cashier, tap the 'Withdraw' option at the top of the screen, and then enter the amount you would like to withdraw.
After this, you should read the terms of the withdrawal. Of course, it is no different to usual, and there is nothing massively glaring. However, it is worth taking note of the fact that the site requires you to withdraw with the same method used to deposit last.
Once this has been done, you can complete your withdrawal. After, you will be shown this screen, suggesting that the waiting time for your funds could be 10 business days, which is rather poor.
However, we received our money instantly. Visa Direct usually allows for fast withdrawals anyway, but this might just be the fastest that we have seen in our tests.
Know Your Customer is one of the most important parts of any betting site now, and with PokerStars, it is no different. So in the sign-up process, the bookmaker will do everything to ensure that there is no extra verification is needed. However, this is not always the case.
In these situations, the site may ask you for certain details to get an account verified.
This can be due to several reasons; however, it is normally due to an error in your details. For example, your ID may say Steven, but you put Steve (as this is what you go by), or your address may not have been updated.
In other words, there is no reason to worry.
Despite not being the primary product, we still felt that it was necessary to review the sportsbook offered by Pokerstars. After all, most UK customers will seek out a sportsbook when looking for a new bookmaker.
Football, without a doubt, is the most popular sport to gamble on in the UK, and the site has a large focus on it as a result. So, it is not a surprise to see that elite fixtures, like the Premier League, have more than 150 markets available per game.
As well as this, customers can actually make bet builders, though it is a way off the best options on the market, it must be said. Nevertheless, it is certainly a start that can be built upon. Additionally, PokerStars offers the 2-Up promotion, which is a big incentive to use the site.
Following football, it is horse racing that UK punters swarm to, and you will be well supported by the bookmaker, should you wish to use it. The site sections UK & Irish races very well, and the same can be said for international ones.
Furthermore, there is a 'Next' section, allowing you to find the closest races (time-wise) to when you look. An incentive indeed, if you are looking to back something just before the start of a race.
It is also worth noting that the markets are really strong, with customers able to back winners, 'Winning Distance' and places, among other things. A really rare sight indeed, more so due to the site's focus.
More than 25 different sports can be accessed by customers, including other popular options like tennis and snooker. However, the site also offers access to political betting markets, e-sports of various types and special markets, meaning there is a lot of variety.
Customers should also be aware of the betting margins offered. At 6.12%, we were really quite impressed by the level of value offered by the bookmaker, especially with some more prominent names offering margins double that of the site.
The casino product, undoubtedly, is the jewel in the crown for Pokerstars. After all, the site is named after one of the most popular casino games online and in physical locations: poker. So, one would expect the site to offer a good casino section.
For the most part, this is true. PokerStars offers a phenomenal range of different slot games, which are brought from a range of top promoters. In other words, if you are looking to play one of the classics, you can find it.
However, it is certainly not the easiest area to get around, admittedly. The lack of a search bar means you have to scroll to find what you are looking for, which is rather frustrating. In fact, it is a really big holdback, in our view.
We also need to shine a light especially on poker - for what reason might that be (?) - and it is fair to say that we are talking about dominance here.
There are eight different types of games available for poker players, including tournaments, 'Hold'em' and 'Sit & KO', meaning there is plenty of variety for those who are looking for a different experience.
Furthermore, the inclusion of tournaments is a real draw. When playing poker online, you normally play against a dealer. However, you get that games night-y kind of feel with PokerStars through the tournament area, making playing much more fun.
For anyone who enjoys playing one of the most popular table games, you will be looked after by PokerStars. After all, that is the expectation with a site named after the game.
PokerStars boasts three mobile apps on iOS and Android, which is somewhat to be expected, considering there are three big offerings; those are PokerStars Texas Holdem Poker, PokerStars Online Casino Games and PokerStars Sports Betting.
Of course, you can also use the website, which some may prefer as everything is in one place. Things load pretty quickly, and it definitely does a job, and it certainly could be seen as more convenient than the app. Either way, whichever you choose, you will be well looked after.
It is vital that betting sites offer responsible gambling measures, both easily and effectively, and PokerStars does this and more. In fact, the amount of options available to players is superb, and is, we'd go as far as saying, admirable. The following tools are all available:
In addition to this, the site pushes deposit limits onto customers from the start, which is welcomed. Furthermore, GambleAware and GamSTOP tools are shown at the bottom of the page, meaning professional help is regularly available.
Getting support on PokerStars is very simple to do, as you would hope. Head to the 'Profile' area and then tap 'Help and Support', normally this brings up a few options, but with PokerStars it actually takes you to the FAQ area.
Of course, you can go through the FAQ section, but should you wish to speak to someone, you can tap the 'Contact Us' option, and you will be connected to an advisor instantly. Simply put, getting help is very easy, whether you wish to search the FAQs or speak to someone. A lot to like, indeed, especially with everything being so comprehensive.
Chat | Yes |
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Contact Form | |
Phone | - |
Opening hours | 7 Days a week, 24/7 |
If you would like to create an account at PokerStars, follow our step-by-step guide on how to do so below:
You could also use our link at the top of this page, which will bring you straight to the welcome offer and the sign-up process. Alternatively, you can sign up with the app. In either case, tap 'Sign Up' shown in the top right corner.
First of all, you need to provide some information for your account. So, the site will ask you to create a username and password, as well as provide an email address and Country of Residence.
Following this, you will be asked to confirm how you would like to receive marketing from the site. However, it is worth noting that these can also be opted out of.
Along the same lines, the site will then ask you to confirm that you are over 18 and have read the terms and conditions. As well as this, you will need to accept the privacy notices.
Finally, you will need to provide some personal details, such as your name, date of birth and title. Then, you will be asked for your address, though this is again for the verification of your account. Once done, you can finish the sign-up process and begin betting.
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