888 Poker
Once recognized as Paradise Poker, 888 Poker is the new name behind one of the longest running poker operations online. Started way back in 1997, Paradise Poker was a pioneer in their industry and remains one of the best poker rooms online.
If you’re looking for a poker site that has it all, then look no further. 888 Poker is one of the most trusted names in poker. They have been publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange since 2005 and have won numerous awards for their outstanding software and service. In fact, in 2011, 888 Poker won Best Poker Operator from the leader in online gaming reviews, EGR (eGaming Review).
Bonuses and Promotions
New players at 888 Poker can enjoy a generous 100% up to $400 first time deposit bonus. You will also be awarded free entry in the $100K first depositor’s free roll upon completing your new account.
The bonus is released in $10 increments straight into your poker account. To start earning your bonus money, all you need to do is play real money cash games, tournaments or Sit N Go’s. Each time you contribute money to the rake or pay a tournament fee, you will be awarded with points. For every 100 points earned, $10 will be credited to your account.
Loyalty Program
To keep the value coming, 888 Poker has a lucrative VIP program that lets you climb the ranks and earn cash back just for playing poker. There are 10 levels in all, and the more points you earn, the more rewards you get.
The highest spot; VIP Diamond, gets you 36% cash back each month. Cash back is a portion of the rake you pay given back to you each month. For example: If you paid $100 in rake and are at the highest VIP level, you would get $36 back.
You will also earn points at a faster rate the higher your VIP status is. You can track your progress while you play which is a nice feature. At every table you sit at, the VIP progress bar will be visibly displayed to let you know where you stand at all times.
The points you earn can also be used to purchase merchandise from the 888 poker Store. Items such as: poker chips, clothing, books, electronics and much more. Or, use them to buy into special free rolls or tournaments.
Along with the deposit bonus and VIP programs, you will find a wealth of ongoing and special promotions that we find to be some of the best around. One of our favorites is the Team Poker promotion. Represent your favorite football (soccer) club two times a week in these unique tournaments. Even if you bust out early, you are still eligible for cash prizes if your team scores the most points.
Ongoing promotions include the Monday Twins Challenge where you can win fee cash by showing off your skills. Place in the money in both Monday Challenge tournaments and win free entry into the following tournaments. More prizes are awarded for making both final tables and you can even win an extra $10,000 for winning them both on the same day!
You will also find plenty of special promotions that run all the time at 888 Poker. Win entry into some of the biggest live tournaments and even win a piece of an actual race horse. Be sure to check the promotions page often to see what’s new and how much extra free cash you could add to your bankroll.
Software
When 888 Poker was introduced as the new name of Paradise, they also introduced their new software. Dubbed; Poker 6, it has all the functionality one could ever want in a poker room. You can play on 888 by choosing the download or the flash version. This makes 888 Poker compatible with any type of computer you may use including Mac and Linux based operating systems.
They claim to have added over 100 new features to the software that make for one of the best poker playing experiences. All of your standard options like: four color decks, hand histories, resizable tables and note taking are all included with a bevy of upgrades.
The new lobby has one of the easiest to use search functions which makes finding your favorite game a breeze. We especially enjoy the new 3D table graphics that make game-play a bit more fun and easy on the eyes.
One aspect that definitely stands out is their emphasis on being user friendly. While playing, you will have instant visibility to your cahier, VIP status and one click access to casino games. All aspects of the software are right in front of you for a seamless integration of function and quality.
Game Selection
Most standard forms of poker are ready for play on thousands of tables across the site. While most of the action takes place at the Texas Hold Em tables, you can also find games running at Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo.
The cash games get a decent amount of traffic and can be considered one of the busier poker rooms online. Limits range from the micro stakes all the way up to high stakes. The games are soft as many players come from the casino side of the site to spend their casino winnings.
The tournament section is full of guarantees and free rolls making it worthwhile to add into your schedule. The Daily Challenge Series lets you play for your share of $1 million in prize money each month. You will find a buy in for every level and even daily free rolls that top $64,000 in prize money each month. For the Sit N Go player, you will find all the popular types running nonstop, including Double or Nothings.
Support
You don’t get to be one of the best in your industry without having quality customer support. A friendly and well trained staff is on call 24/7 that can be reached by way of 3 options.
- Toll Free Number
- Live online chat
Response times are fast and questions or problems are almost always taken care of with your first chat. Should you need assistance with banking or have other questions, a customer service agent is always ready to help guide you to a solution.
Banking
To put this as simple as we can, if you have money, you can play at 888 Poker. They offer one of the largest selections of deposit and withdrawal options of any poker room. All your common methods like: credit cards, Neteller, Skril and bank transfers are all readily available. You will also find more obscure methods and country specific options for those living outside the U.K.
Deposit Options
Visa, MasterCard, EuroCard, Diners Club, Solo, Maestro, Bank Transfers, E-Checks, PayPoint Invoice, Wire Transfers, Commerz Bank, Direct Debit, Instadebit, Neteller, Skrill, EntroPay, Paysafe Card, uKash, Click and Buy, Deutsche Bank, ELBA, hansabank, Dankort debit cards, (Denmark), Nordea (Sweden-Finlad), PayPal (Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, U.K.)
Withdrawal Options
Visa, MasterCard, Skril, PayPal, Neteller, Wire Transfer, Cashier’s Check, Debit Cards and Direct Bank Transfers
All cash outs are held for 3 days before being processed. Once processed, pay out times are very fast and reliable. All withdrawal services are also free of charge.
