PokerStars Review

PokerStars Casino Overview and Site Design

When you first visit PokerStars Casino, you’ll be treated to a colourful show of the most popular games played in the UK. The featured image is the game of the week, showcasing a real gameplay video. Above that, you’ll see a banner about the PokerStars Casino’s deal with the Red Bull F1 team called Casino Races.

From there, you’ll see what games you can play. Everything is laid out in a grid; the first category on the platform is "New Games". Next up is the Jackpot Games selection, followed by the Casino Race games below. Yet, if you’re after RNG table games rather than online slots, you’ll see all the exclusives and the most popular underneath.

The site's footer contains all the essential information, including responsible gambling resources, UK payment options, and customer support.

PokerStars Casino Welcome Bonus Offer

All brand-new UK players automatically qualify for the welcome package. It's a 100% up to £500 bonus, plus 50 free spins. Just note that you must use the PokerStars bonus code FIRST500 when making the minimum deposit of £20 via a debit card (all other methods are excluded), and free spins winnings are capped at £100.

Additional Bonus Offers & Promotions

While writing our PokerStars Casino review, we saw some interesting promotions. Below, we’ve included two of the promotions that caught our eye. Please note that PokerStars promotions may vary depending on the time of year you visit the PokerStars Casino site.

Live Casino Races

You must first opt in via the “Casino Races” lobby or widget to take advantage of the live casino races promotion. It’s 100% free, and once you’ve registered, play any qualifying live race games to earn points. Points are awarded at the rate of 10 points for every penny won.

It’s a leaderboard-style promotion, so the more points you win, the more prizes you collect. There are plenty of cash prizes to win every week, and with no fee to join, there is only an upside to playing.

Free Spins

When you register for a PokerStars casino account, there will be ongoing free spins promotions all year round. You’ll be rewarded with free spins in certain situations, such as a reward for a completed challenge or a promotion the casino offers when a new game is launched.

Check your “My Stars” tab in your account settings to see which free spins you are eligible for. In addition, it’s worth noting that the free spins will only be available on selected games. The free spins promo is the only no-deposit bonus we could find at PokerStars.

PokerStars Promotions and Loyalty Rewards

At PokerStars Casino, everyone is treated like a VIP. So, let’s take a look at the VIP loyalty programme…

PokerStars Rewards

All UK players can opt in to PokerStars Rewards. You can claim up to 25% in rewards and earn 100 points for every £1 wagered. All the rewards are tailored to each player, and to earn points, you need to complete the progress bars to win chests.

In these chests, you’ll find your reward. It can be cash prizes or free spins – though we’re sure some extra goodies are hiding, too. There are six levels to the chests, and the higher you progress, the better the prizes. The six levels are blue, bronze, silver, gold, diamond and black.

How is the Game Selection at PokerStars Casino?

The gaming selection on the online casino platform is very small! Besides traditional casino games and poker, you can also use PokerStars for sports betting. You can wager against the bookie on everything from football to tennis – or even bet against others on the exchange.

Yet, when it comes to PokerStars Casino UK, you have an average range of top-quality casino games (850+ in total). We’re talking about everything from the most popular online slots to live dealer games and, of course, the game that made the site famous: poker.

What Game Developers Does PokerStars Casino Have?

Game developers are the backbone of our recommended online casinos in the UK. Therefore, you’ll be glad to hear that PokerStars UK Casino is supplied by some of the biggest names in the industry. For slots, enjoy top-quality Big Time Gaming titles; for table games, you can try Playtech’s casino games; and for live dealer games, Evolution Gaming is the primary provider.

In total, PokerStars Casino is supplied by 20+ gaming providers. This is excellent news; you’ll always have a new game to play. What’s more, the latest releases are added weekly.

PokerStars Slots Overview

With only a few hundred titles to choose from, PokerStars Casino UK is lacking in this area compared to its rivals. You can play the most popular games in the country, like Starburst or Nitropolis 3. You can even choose which theme of slots you want to play, ranging from ancient to Wild West and TV/movies.

The games on the slot's homepage are organised in a grid format. From there, you can pick the Most Popular, New Slots, Jackpots, Megaways and Exclusives. The icing on the cake is the Exclusives section, as there are over 100 to play, such as Shaman Spins and Irish Gold.

Jackpot Slots Overview

Suppose you want to win big, head to the PokerStars Casino jackpot slots section. With 200+ jackpot games, you’ll always have the opportunity to win life-changing money. In fact, on many titles at the time of writing, the jackpot was a minimum of seven figures, and you can even play some exclusives, too, like Blitz Joker.

You can play Jackpot King’s titles, where the grand prize was more than £3 million when writing our review. And who can forget about Megaways? With over 117,000 ways to win, you can get lucky by winning the jackpot of £1 million+ on more than 50 different titles. Some of the most popular Megaways games are Eye of Horus and Deal or No Deal.

Table Games Overview

The table games section at PokerStars Casino is modest, to say the least, with just over 20 games to choose from. However, the good news is that all the most popular games, namely roulette, baccarat, and blackjack, are covered.

For high rollers, you’ll find convenient tags on the games suitable for players with big budgets. We’re talking about the games called High Roller Blackjack and Premium Roulette. Both of these allow you to stake up to £5,000 per round.

Live Casino Overview

A live casino is where you can play if you prefer table games. But now you can even try your luck at game shows and slot games. Evolution and Playtech supply the games. Both studios do their utmost to make the experience as authentic as possible.

Recently, game shows have become popular in the UK, so that you can take advantage of Monopoly Big Baller Live and Candyland Bonanza, for example. All live dealer games are streamed live 24/7 in HD quality, where you can interact with the dealer and other players.

Banking & Payment Options at PokerStars Casino

The choice is excellent for making deposits and withdrawals at PokerStars UK. There are 14 UK payment methods for deposits and 11 for withdrawals.

Deposits can be made using mainstream debit cards, such as Visa and Mastercard, bank transfers, or e-wallets like Neteller, Skrill, MuchBetter, and Luxon Pay. You can also use digital cards like Apple Pay and Google Pay. If you prefer a bank transfer, please note that this option is only available for withdrawals. Lastly, you can use prepaid cards via Paysafecard. There's even an option to deposit via PokerStarsTopUp vouchers, available in denominations of £10, £25, £50, or £100, online or at more than 20,000 PayPoint shops in the UK. Sadly, PayPal deposits are not an option at PokerStars.

The number of options at PokerStars Casino is much higher than at other online casinos. Thus, PokerStars online casino scores highly in this criterion.

PokerStars Deposits, Withdrawals & Payout Speed

With all deposit methods, funds will be credited to your PokerStars Casino account immediately. Moreover, you will not be charged any fees and can deposit in pounds sterling. Nevertheless, not all methods are available for both depositing and withdrawing. One example is bank transfers, which allow only withdrawals, not deposits. On all payment methods, the minimum deposit is £10.

Regarding withdrawals, the excluded banking methods are Trustly, Neosurf, and Maestro. For PokerStars Casino withdrawals, processing times vary by method. The fastest options we tested are e-wallets such as MuchBetter, Neteller, and Skrill, which typically deliver your winnings within 1 hour. Next are debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, which require you to wait three working days for your money. The last option is a bank transfer, which will take 3-5 days for your funds to arrive.

KYC Process & Documents

• KYC is performed upon registration at PokerStars
• After entering your info, you’ll need to upload documentation
• This can be either a copy of your passport or driving licence
• It may take up to 24 hours for your account to be approved
• KYC requirements are obligated by UK law

Customer Support at PokerStars Casino

If you’re ever stuck whilst playing at PokerStars Casino, then the first thing you should do is head to the footer area for support. The deposit and withdrawal policy has its own section. For everything else, click the “Help” link.

There, you’ll find frequently asked questions ranging from queries on promotions to technical issues. However, if you need further support, your next best option is to contact the 24/7 live chat. It’s open to everyone, whether or not you are a registered player.

While writing this PokerStars Casino review, we tried the live chat. First, you’ll be asked if you have an account. If you don't, you’ll be transferred to a live agent. We found the answers to our questions to be informative, knowledgeable, and quick.

• Live Chat: 24/7 via website

PokerStars Mobile Compatibility

We downloaded the PokerStars Casino app to thoroughly review it. It is available for free download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. We found it fast and nicely laid out, so navigating to different games or account settings is simple.

Most crucially, the app's experience and features are identical to those on the website, ensuring that all games are available and deposits and withdrawals are easy.

However, if you prefer playing in your mobile browser, that's no problem! The games load fast and are optimised for your screen size. This helps give you a largely unmatched gaming experience whenever you play at PokerStars Casino on the go.

Player Safety & Responsible Gambling

While writing this PokerStars review, we concluded that the casino operator takes responsible gambling seriously. This is great to see. The app features a dedicated responsible gambling section, and the website includes responsible gambling links in its footer.

When you click the link, you’ll see two main sections: What you can do to help yourself and What PokerStars Casino can do to help you. The former offers the option to set deposit limits on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Additionally, you can request a time-out or click on third-party support links, such as GAMSTOP and gambleaware.org, to find further advice.

In the section where PokerStars can help you, you’ll find self-exclusion tools and the age verification procedure. On the responsible gambling page itself, there’s a handy questionnaire to complete if you think you’re experiencing problem gambling.

Licenses & Security

When you play casino games, you want to know that everything is safe. And when you win, you’ll want to know that you’ll be getting your winnings. At PokerStars Casino, we are confident this is the case because the platform is licensed and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) under account number 39108.

Why does this matter? Because if you ever have a problem with PokerStars UK, you can file a complaint with the UKGC. The regulator will examine your case and provide impartial advice with recommended actions. In short, the UKGC is always on your side.

Lastly, PokerStars Casino utilises the latest TLS encryption to ensure your data remains secure.

PokerStars Company Information

• Name: PokerStars Casino
• Company: Stars Interactive Limited
• Address: Stars Interactive Limited, Douglas Bay Complex, King Edward Road, Onchan, Isle of Man, IM3 1DZ
• Established: 2001
• License: UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
• License No.: 039108-R-319334-024

Which Company Owns PokerStars?

PokerStars Casino is owned and operated by Stars Interactive Limited, headquartered in the Isle of Man. However, the parent company of the entire operation is the Flutter Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker $FLTR.

The Flutter Group is a massive gambling company that owns many UK household casino and sportsbook brands.

PokerStars Sister Sites

Flutter Entertainment operates several sites. While technically sister sites of PokerStars, Betfair and Paddy Power continue to operate independently.

PokerStars Casino Compared

Let's find out just how well PokerStars can hold its own against some heavyweight UK online casinos…

PokerStars Vs 32Red Casino

PokerStars Casino offers just 850+ games, including poker, slots, and live casino, with a strong focus on poker tournaments. Its complicated wagering requirements make it a chore, but it's great for poker enthusiasts.

32Red Casino offers over 3,000 games, with a focus on slots and live casino, and features much lower wagering requirements of 0x on 250 free spins. It’s well known for its excellent customer support and exclusive slot games.

Verdict: Choose PokerStars for poker and tournaments, or 32Red Casino for better customer support and a wider selection of slots and other casino games.

PokerStars Vs Bwin Casino

PokerStars Casino offers a diverse range of games, including poker, slots, and live casino, with plenty of poker options. It is the top choice for poker enthusiasts who enjoy tournament play alongside other casino games.

Bwin Casino offers 1,000+ games and plenty of sports betting options, but there is no welcome bonus for new UK players. Thus, it is an excellent option for players who want casino gaming and a strong sports betting platform.

Verdict: Choose PokerStars for poker-focused gaming, or Bwin Casino for a mix of casino and sports betting.

PokerStars Vs 888casino

PokerStars Casino focuses on poker, offering a decent range of poker tournaments alongside slots and live casino games. It’s ideal for players looking for a poker-first casino experience, but its complicated wagering structure may be off-putting.

888casino offers a diverse selection of over 1,500 games, including exclusive slots, a live casino, and sports betting. Its 10x wagering requirements are much easier to understand than those at PokerStars, and it offers a more varied range of games.

Verdict: Choose PokerStars for poker-focused gaming and tournaments, or 888casino for a wider variety of casino games.

Pokerstars Casino Trustpilot User Reviews

PokerStars.uk has a Trustpilot score of 3.2/5, rated "Average" based on over 8,000 reviews.

Key Points from User Reviews:

• Frequent complaints about account suspensions and frozen funds
• Customer service is widely described as unresponsive or unhelpful
• Withdrawal delays and verification issues are common
• Many users warn about withheld winnings and complicated bonus terms
• A minority of reviews mention positive experiences with gameplay or promotions, but these are heavily outweighed by negative feedback