Pokerstars FAQ
Sure, Pokerstars is considered the largest online poker room, but are they really THAT good? Is Pokerstars even legal? Is Pokerstars rigged? If you’re new to online poker there’s no doubt that those questions have crossed your mind. Heck, they even cross the minds of veteran online poker players from time-to-time. That’s why I’ve put together this PokerStars FAQ.
Here, I’m going to try to address the basic questions and concerns I know most new (and some existing) players have when deciding to play poker online. I’m going to give simple and direct answers to common questions regarding PokerStars software, security, games, and bonuses.
What is PokerStars?
Poker Stars is an online poker site that allows you play online poker from the comfort of your home. It’s considered the largest online poker room with upwards of over 100,000 real money players each day. I consider it to be the best site to play Texas Hold’em poker online.
Can I play free online poker at PokerStars?
You sure can! If you’re completely new to poker, I recommend you start by using the play money PokerStars give you. If you already play poker, you can play for real money at Poker Stars as well.
How do I set up my free PokerStars account?
It’s simple. If you are on a Windows PC you can go to the regular PokerStars download page. If you want to play at Pokerstars using a Mac, you can go to the Mac download page. Poker Stars has done a great job of providing quality installation instructions, which should only take you a couple of minutes.
Is PokerStars legal? or is Pokerstars illegal?
If you’re wondering if it’s legal or illegal to play for real money at PokerStars, you are most likely from the US. You’ve probably heard all the rumors surrounding the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act) that online poker is banned. Well, that’s not exactly the truth. The law that was passed makes it illegal for the poker sites to accept funds from United States IF the underlying gambling activity violates local state or tribal law. This doesn’t make YOU (the player) liable in any way.
If your state or local jurisdiction has not passed a law to make Internet poker illegal, you shouldn’t have any problems playing at Pokerstars.
Where is PokerStars located?
Poker Stars is located on the Isle of Man, which is off the coast of the UK (United Kingdom).
I heard someone say that “PokerStars is rigged”, is that true?
Rumors about online poker being rigged, and PokerStars being rigged, have circulated the Internet since online poker began. In all honesty, you shouldn’t be worried about reputable Internet poker sites. This is because online poker sites like PokerStars, make their money from the rake, not whether you win or lose a particular hand or tournament.
PokerStars generates millions of dollars in rake every day. They would much rather provide a safe and enjoyable experience for their loyal customers, than rig the games and risk losing all their players. Whether you agree with my logic or not, the fact is that no one that has claimed that PokerStars (or other online poker sites) are rigged have been able to provide any hard evidence to support their claim.
I saw “Pokerstars cheats” available for download, if Pokerstars is so safe, how are people cheating there?
Most of the Pokerstars cheats you see are either free poker odds calculators or some other software that Pokerstars allows. Most cheats that people download are junk.
Actually, players who download these supposed Pokerstars cheats, run the risk of getting taken advantage of themselves. It’s quite simple to attach a Trojan virus to some type of free poker program, and then call it a cheat program. Once you click on the program the Trojan is installed. These programs can help hackers gain access to your login information and perhaps help THEM cheat you in other ways.
Couldn’t two or more friends with a Pokerstars account, just talk on the phone or by instant messenger to cheat?
Yes, people probably try to join the same table and communicate via instant messenger or by phone to share their card information. This method of cheating is called collusion, and is the lamest form of cheating. It simply doesn’t make the cheaters enough money to justify the effort. Personally, I play online poker almost daily without concern of cheaters or poker sites being rigged. Take that for what it’s worth.
How do I fund Poker Stars and play for real money?
Once you have set up your PokerStars account (and validated your email address) you simply click; Cashier > Buy Chips
You will be provided with a list of deposit options to choose from. I would recommend trying your Visa or MasterCard first, and then using Instant E-checks if your card doesn’t work. Both of these options are free and provide instant use of the funds on PokerStars.
What is the Poker Stars Deposit Bonus Code and how do I use it?
This year, as an incentive to play at their site, PokerStars is offering a first time deposit bonus of 100% up to $600 as long as you use the latest Pokerstars bonus code for 2009. This is a great bonus for first time online poker players since it gives you a chance to build your PokerStars bankroll for very little up front.
9) How do I use Pokerstars FPPs?
PokerStars has it’s own VIP program where you generate Frequent Player Points for number of raked hands you play.
After you’ve started earning FPPs you can use them in the PokerStars FPP Store to buy cool stuff. This is part of the way that I built my poker library! They also have everything from Ipods and plasma TVs, to WSOP packages and new cars!
I started playing on PokerStars nearly two years ago. It was right around the time the US government passed the UIGEA to combat online gaming. I had been playing on Party Poker and they stopped accepting US poker players. I knew PokerStars was a popular and reputable online poker site, so I signed up. Everything was a breeze, and now PokerStars is one of my favorite online poker sites to play on.
But don’t just take my word for it, try out PokerStars for free first. You can also read my review of Pokerstars.com for more information.
