PokerStars has been around for a long time across various markets, first launching in 2001, but UK poker players had to wait until 2014 to use to the online site. Two years later, the casino section was added to the site and today, there is a sportsbook as well. The Stars Interactive Limited-owned brand thus offers a complete package.
Stars Interactive are licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission in the UK under account number 39108. The most interesting part, however, is the fact that Flutter Entertainment acquired Stars Interactive and the entire Stars Group in 2019. Flutter also owns big brands such as Betfair and Paddy Power, meaning PokerStars has great backing.
Of course, this also means that PokerStars has a few sister sites for punters to join. On the other hand, most probably have an account with Betfair and Paddy Power already, so we will take a look at some other sites as well below. But first, what makes PokerStars so good?
Personally, I believe a lot of punters/players appreciate the versatility of PokerStars. Sure, the sportsbook is not the best you will find, but having the option along with casino and poker is never a bad thing. On top of that, the bookie has been offering a no-deposit offer for quite some time and that is something new customers love.
The backing of Flutter Entertainment also helps, given that it oversees some of the biggest betting brands around in Betfair and Paddy Power. The PokerStars app is also highly rated across all app stores and that makes a huge difference these days, as most punters prefer to place bet or play slot games on the phone.
Since most already know Betfair and Paddy Power as a couple of the best brands in the world, we thought it would be better to take a look at some good PokerStars alternatives. That is exactly what we have done below.
Offering separate sections for sports, casino, bingo and poker, it's clear right off the bat that Unibet is a good alternative to PokerStars. Perhaps except for the poker, most would even agree that the Kindred-owned brand offers a better overall product, and that is especially true when it comes to the sportsbook.
Unibet also has a dedicated welcome offer for poker, which isn't always the case, so that certainly bumps up the rating. We have tested the Unibet app before and we were impressed, while the withdrawal time was just over three hours. There are many positive things to say, in other words, but the main pro here is the versatility.
Bet365, just like Unibet and Paddy Power for that matter, is known for being very versatile and we have to assume that most punters/players already have an account here. However, if you don't, then now is the perfect time to sign up as the bookie offers very good welcome offers for sports, casino, poker and more.
Indeed, there is a dedicated offer for the poker section - which is very proper we must say - and the latter even has an app of its own. We have tested the main bet365 app and were very impressed, so we must assume that the poker app is good too, which is something the app store reviews attest to.
Wrapping things up with a site that might not be as familiar as the others, we think Lottoland is a good option for most players. Of course, the big caveat here is that the bookie does not offer a poker section, so the only poker you will find is through the live casino. Not necessarily a bad thing for everyone, but something to note as tournaments are missing.
Lottoland has some decent welcome offers to claim and there is a good app to download as well. The main thing, however, is that Lottoland has grown a lot over the last few years and continues to push out new features to compete with the best. As such, it's a site to keep an eye on.
There are some good welcome offers to claim, as already mentioned, and we have listed these below.
Operator | Welcome Offer | Bonus Code | Claim Offer | |
---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Offer £500 Play-Through Bonus + £20 Extra on Deposit | No code required | Claim Offer | 18+. T&Cs apply. New Customers Only. £20 extra = one cash game ticket of €8 and 4 x UK Tour tournament tickets of €4. £500 Playthrough bonus = €600. Both bonuses are activated upon first deposit from the poker client. Tickets expire after 35 days and the playthrough bonus after 60. £1 GBP = €1.1875. Selected games only. BeGambleaware.org. |
| Welcome Offer Deposit £10 Get a £40 Casino Bonus | No code required | Claim Offer | New Customers Only. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Minimum deposit £10. 50x wagering requirement apply. Bonus will expire 30 days after opt-in. Further T&C’s apply. |
| Welcome Offer €365 bonus and additional rewards | No code required | Claim Offer | Create an account and log in to receive your Welcome Package. €365 bonus is redeemed in instalments based on Bonus Points earned. Tickets and prize wheel spins expire after seven days. Time limits, exclusions and T&Cs apply. |
| Welcome Offer Stake £10 Get 100 Free Spins | No code required | Claim Offer | Deposit and stake £10 on eligible Casino games to get 100 Free Spins. Time limits, game restrictions and T&Cs apply. Registration required. |
| Welcome Offer Up to 200 No Wager Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza | No code required | Claim Offer | 18+. Sign up, deposit and stake on Big Bass Bonanza, and receive Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza. 30 day bonus expiry. Ends 14/02/25 at 23:59 GMT. Full T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org. |
| Welcome Offer Bet £10 Get a £10 Free Bet | No code required | Claim Offer | Add a bet to your betslip with the minimum stake of £10 and tick “promotion opt in” on the betslip before placing your bet. Once accepted we’ll credit you with a £10 free bet. Minimum odds on qualifying bet 1/1 (2.0). Your qualifying bet must be placed within 7 days after claiming the offer. Maximum winning £500 from free bet. Ends 31/12/24 at 23:59 GMT. Full T&Cs Apply. |
Isak is an experienced content writer with a background in sports journalism. Having focused mainly on football in the past, he certainly knows a thing or two about the betting industry and what makes a good bookie. At BettingLounge, he makes sure that the content is up-to-date and presented in the best way possible.