Jump to
Top 3 Online Poker Site Reviews
#1 Party Poker
If you’re willing to believe the hype, Party Poker is not just one of the biggest but it is THE biggest poker site on the internet. If you’re the type of player that doesn’t want to wait for a game, then you will love the high traffic and constant action of Party Poker. In this no-nonsense review, we’ll put Party Poker’s best (and worst) features on the table.
- The Site
If you spend more time in online casinos than poker rooms then you may be disappointed by Party Poker’s skeletal design and lackluster layout. The front page is plain to the point of being stark and graphics are sparse. If however you are looking for a poker room that gets right into the game, or you simply want an experience that’s as close to real poker as possible, then you may be more comfortable with Party Poker’s straightforward style and easy to navigate pages and rooms. The lobby shares the spartan outlook on web design, making it somewhat boring but nevertheless user-friendly.
The good news is that while the tables are also simple, they have quick and easy play at the heart of their design and are nevertheless pleasant to look at. Few international players will be turned away, what with the site’s thirteen different languages and acceptance of even U.S. players. The only downside is that currency is limited to dollars and pounds. Party Poker carries over another popular online casino tradition by offering both free and cash play, giving new players a chance to experience the games prior to investing money.
- The Software
Party Poker is powered by the PartyGaming group and backed by iGlobalMedia software. This software not only provides the high quality online poker players have come to expect from the larger rooms, but it also has the power and technology to support some new and unique features. Experienced players will enjoy Party Poker’s table filter system which makes finding exactly the tournament or cash game you want easy. It also allows for table resizing, so multi-tablers can watch all their games at once.
Other popular software features include the ability to turn off animations, customize buttons, track personal statistics, and track opponent statistics through revisable player notes. Players that like to focus on the game can turn off avatars and chat, while players that come to socialize can create buddy lists and private tables. Regardless of how you personalize your player account, the game play remains fluid and reliable.
- Bonuses and Promotions
Party Poker is very generous with promotions for both new and existing members. While the first deposit bonus is a stingy 20% match, Party Poker occasionally offers an instant cash bonus of up to $75 (which makes finding the right code invaluable). They also offer “new player” tables and tournaments, weekly freerolls, and a variety of ongoing promotions from themed tournaments to jackpots to special events. - Customer Service
While Party Poker offers phone and email support, U.S. players are limited to email and there is no live chat to guarantee immediate service.
#2 Pacific Poker (888Poker)
Pacific Poker is 888’s poker-specific online portal, so you know it’s gotta be good! Like 888’s other sites, Pacific Poker is built to please everyone from the first-timers to the amateurs to the pros. The site is well-designed, well-supported, and full of bonuses and other benefits for new and returning members. Pacific Poker is one of the most popular poker rooms on the web, and with its consistently strong performance across the board, we expect it to remain at the top.
- The Site
The Pacific Poker website in many ways resembles its parent site 888 Casino but with an obvious spin toward poker players and with a slightly more sophisticated web design. The site continues the muted gray, green and blue color scheme that pays homage to its name. And while the layout might come across as a bit humdrum to casino players used to more elaborate schemes, it nevertheless makes a great backdrop for the excellent graphics and detailed game screens.
As with 888, the Pacific Poker site and interface are incredibly easy to navigate and nine different language options (English, French, German, Italian, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Portuguese, and Spanish) make the page friendly for international players from all corners of the world. The site also includes several player help pages. There is a “How to Play” page for every game type as well as a helpful glossary and an overview of basic rules and etiquette. One of the best features of Pacific Poker is their poker school which offers free tutorials for poker newbies.
- The Software
Pacific Poker’s custom software is hard to fault. Players can download the package in mere minutes or choose to play the stripped down Flash version of the site (which is readily available on the front page). Pacific Poker’s tables are sleek and streamlined to keep all eyes on the action but still offer avatar options and the popular automation features for players looking for something extra. Another feature that thus far remains unique to Pacific Poker’s 888 software is the ability to view your cards and “ghost cards” even after folding. This eliminates the age-old question of, “What if?” - Bonuses and Promotions
Pacific Poker knows that nothing excites players more than a little extra cash. Their welcome bonus is one of the best with a 100% matching bonus of up to $400. The best part is that all players get 25% of that bonus immediately. No clearing required! Long-term players will also benefit from a freeroll entry for every deposit, a variety of tournaments, friend referral bonuses, and accumulated Frequent Player Points (FPP’s). - Customer Service
888 Casino and its partner properties have become synonymous with customer service. Pacific Poker patrons have instant access to a number of detailed “how-to” pages. More pressing issues can be resolved via the site’s service center which offers four telephone numbers, multiple emails, an on-site problem reporting page, and live chat.
#3 Titan Poker
Titan Poker is an online poker room that for once holds true to the greatness implied by its name. Titan Poker is without a doubt a titan in the world of online casinos. This state-of-the-art online poker room is one of the premier sites for the Euro Partners program (formerly iPoker). It draws very impressive traffic with 50,000+ players at peak hours and offers those devoted members some worthwhile rewards. Read on for our detailed appraisal.
- The Site
Online casino fans should know in advance that true to its name Titan Poker is designed with poker players in mind. You can access casinos of the same quality and style through the Euro Partners program (of which Titan Poker is a member), but the games offered on this site are limited strictly to poker variations. Titan Poker offers no limit, limit, and pot limit versions of: Texas Hold ’ em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Five Card Stud, and Seven Card Stud.
If you’re a poker fan then this is no doubt fine by you. In fact, if you like poker then we guarantee that you’ll love Titan Poker. The site itself is easy on the eyes; done in a muted blue, burgundy, and gray color scheme with big, easy to read text and strategically placed graphics. The poker tables are especially nice with personalized 3D avatars, a 360-degree view of the room and other players, and tables designed for playability.
- The Software
The quality of the site and the games it provides should come as no surprise to players familiar with the PlayTech brand of software. Online poker is an extremely competitive market, and it takes the best of everything to keep players at your room. Titan Poker definitely didn’t skimp when they chose PlayTech for their software. Despite the advanced interface and game screens, every page, room, and table at Titan Poker runs flawlessly. The only downside to this site’s exceptional poker download software package is that players accustomed to playing Flash versions of their favorite casinos will have to download Titan’s full software package in order to play their games. In addition to being able to choose your own avatar, Titan Poker’s software gives players several other in-game options including easy to use and organize betting and playing buttons, automation functions, and the ability to resize tables for multi-table play. - Bonuses and Promotions
While Titan Poker’s current sign-on bonus leaves a lot to be desired with a mere 50% match for deposits of up to $200, it makes up for its scanty sign-on with a wide array of ongoing promotions. In addition to the initial match bonus, new members will also get freeroll entries with every deposit they make. You can earn $75 for each friend referred and will not only earn points in the VIP program but are also eligible for top hand and bad beat bonuses. - Customer Service
Titan Poker’s customer service is exemplary to say the least. In 2006 and 2007 they won Gambling Online Magazine’s coveted Gold Award for customer support, and their standards remain high. Members can contact customer service via phone, email, fax, or live chat any day and any time.
